Introduction
This guide is intended as an aid memoir to the comprehensive Guides available
both from the Comark website andfrom the Gateway itself. When using this guide
it is recommended that you download and have to hand copies of the manuals available
for RF500, which willprovide many of the answers to your questions, and are
referenced throughout this guide.
Index
1. How to Upgrade my Gateway
Think this should be re-written
for RF500A with Marvin to do it all from here....
If your gateway
and transmitters are not up to date with the latest software and firmware you
may well be missing some features and upgrades that you could find useful.
From Internet Explorer navigate to this web address to enter your details
to download the upgrades. Here you will also find a ‘How to Guide’.
http://rf500.comarkltd.com/upgrade-form - This link is old and needs to be updated
All Comark guides and manuals are downloadable as PDFs. You will need a
free reader to open these files.
Please download that from
www.adobe.com
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2. Help Files
Several Help Files/Manuals are provided with the Gateway. These provide
much detail on the setup and operation of the Gateway.
RF500-SystemManual.pdf |
Download from the Gateway Home Page or as
printed copy supplied with the Gateway. |
RF500-WebViewHelp |
This HTML Help |
RF515 Guide.pdf |
Download from the Gateway Home Page |
CSV Data Export Guide.pdf |
Download from the CSV Data Export Page. Navigate to Administration-Data
Backup-CSV Data Export on the Gateway. Data export setup information
can be found in the RF500-WebviewHelp.pdf, see above. needs updated
information for Marvin
|
Back to Index
3. Error codes – what do they mean?
Note: Error codes are to be read as ‘Information’ rather than ‘Errors’.
Error Code |
Meaning |
Resolution |
xx4 |
Fault with Radio Module |
Return transmitter to Distributor or Comark
for repair. |
010 |
Battery is Dead. |
Replace the battery. |
100 |
Date and time lost |
Wait for the transmitter to receive correct date and time from the
Gateway |
400 |
Invalid Programmed Task |
Program a new task from the Gateway |
500 |
Errors 100 & 400 combined |
Resolve Error 100 & Error 400 individually |
Note: The Errors can combine together, e.g. Error 110 is Error 100 + Error
010 and so on.
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Index
4. Gateway Fault Conditions
Under certain conditions the Gateway Fault LED can flash to indicate an
error. The possible faults which can cause the Fault LED to flash are:
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5. How to change a battery?
Click
here for instructions on how to change a Transmitter Battery. (Opens in
a new Browser TAB)
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6. What happens in the event of Power Failure?
In a power failure the Gateway will continue to work as normal for between 0
- 4 Hours (RF500LITE – 0 Hours, RF500 – Up to 4 Hours, RF500A – Up to 1-2 Hours).
However, your network might not be working. If an alarm goes off and you have
an Autodialler, then so long as the battery backup is working this too will
continue to work and try to send phone messages, subject to the phone line being
available. Meshing transmitters will also continue to work. Battery life of
a meshing unit on just battery power is up to 4 days in total.
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7. Why does low battery not clear?
The Low Battery ICON on the Home Page of the Gateway (

)
might not clear immediately you change the battery on the transmitter.
If
the battery was changed soon after first warning the user the low battery message
will clear quickly off the Gateway if it was in radio contact.
However, if
the transmitter had been left for some time before the battery was changed there
is a high possibility of their being data in the transmitter that has not been
sent previously to the Gateway. You can check this by looking for the last data
on the Home Page for the transmitter. When the data is up to date then the low
battery warning should clear.
If the battery warning message does not
clear then try removing and refitting the battery or re-task the transmitter.
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8. Low battery showing but battery voltage still showing as OK
Lithium batteries are very useful for their high performance and long life,
especially at low operating temperatures. However, monitoring their end of life
is difficult as they can give a false positive result of their condition. For
this reason RF500 will latch a battery low warning as soon as one is recorded.
It is important not to ignore the low battery warning and change the battery
as soon as possible.
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9. My Transmitter goes no signal
Transmitters go No Signal when they have been out of contact with the Gateway
for 5 times the radio rate plus a minimum of 1 hour. So for the standard radio
rate of 15 minutes, this amounts to approx. 1 Hour 15 minutes before a ‘No Signal’
is flagged. In that time the Gateway has determined that it has not received
a valid signal/data packet from the transmitter.
What
to look for |
Remedy |
Are other transmitters are going ‘No Signal’ |
If yes then check the Audit trail for RF Network Reset Messages.
These are normal. Transmitters will re-connect automatically and there
is no reason for alarm. |
Has the Gateway reset? |
This will cause transmitters to drop off the Gateway, but they will
quickly re-connect. |
Is it just one or two transmitters? |
Then the issue could be related to the location of these transmitters
and or the meshing units supporting them in the mesh network. Go and
visit the transmitters and check to see that all is well with the local
meshing units. |
Have they got flat battery warnings? |
Change the battery as soon as possible. |
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10. My batteries only last a few months?
Battery life quoted for RF500 Transmitters makes a number of assumptions
about the operating use and conditions. Transmitters are assumed only to
transmit data to the Gateway every 15 minutes, and operation of the transmitter
is assumed to be at ambient, approx. 23°C. Deviations from this specification
will have an effect on the battery life of each transmitter.
For
example;
Prolonged use at extremes of low or high temperature will
reduce the battery life.
A transmitter that has lots of alarm occurrences
will also have a reduced battery life.
Hidden from the user but also
a significant factor in the life of the battery will be the general health
of the system. A system with poor radio coverage where the transmitter has
to constantly re-send its data to the Gateway will reduce the battery life.
What to look for |
Remedy |
Transmitters
in cold environments |
Possibly move
the transmitter/fit a power supply/use the hi-capacity upgrade battery |
No Signals on the Gateway |
Check the status of the meshing units
in the system. |
Lots of Temperature Alarms |
Adjust alarm limits or cure the cause
of the alarms. |
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11. I can’t log on to the RF500
What to look for |
Remedy |
Confirm correct shortcut/IP address? |
Try another local PC |
Check the Gateway to confirm it is switched on. |
Green light on solid, Green light flashing or
Flashing Orange or Orange solid and Gateway is not active. |
Gateway appears to be switched off. |
Turn on Gateway using switch on side. Wait for
it boot up. Log on and check Audit trail for cause of it switching off.
If necessary report fault to Comark/Distributor |
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12. I cannot find some data for a particular Transmitter.
Log on to the Gateway and navigate to the transmitter in question. Click on
the graph from the home page to view the main summary page for the transmitter.
At the top of the page look for Task x of y and Period x of y.
When
you re-task a transmitter a new task is created. You can use the browse tasks
link to view old tasks and the data associated with the task.
If for
example you change the battery on a transmitter then the transmitter will create
a new period of data. The task will remain the same. Use the browse period link
to view data for older periods of data.
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13. My Transmitter is no longer working – I’ve checked its power supply and
that is OK.
What to look
for |
Remedy |
Any error codes on the LCD |
See Question 1 |
Is the LCD still showing temperatures? |
No: Try replacing the battery. |
Is the antenna symbol still showing? |
No: Try provoking the transmitter. Else return
for service. |
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14. What happens for Daylight Saving Time?
The Gateway does not have automatic Summer Time/Daylight Saving adjustment.
In order to change the clock by an hour forward or back simply visit
Administration-Set Clock and change the clock. The Gateway will reset. All
transmitters will start a new period of data from the new time. No data will
be lost.

|
Comark
recommends that the Gateway is run on standard time all year round. |
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15. My backup is not working
What to look for |
Remedy |
Are you using PC Software? |
Yes: Check PC to confirm
software running as expected. Consult the help guide provided with Backup
Software. |
|
No: Check Administration-Data Backup and review
any error messages. |
Click
here to see Help for Backups. (Opens in New Browser TAB)
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16. Emails stopped working
What to look for |
Remedy |
Are you e-mails working
on your PC? |
No: Speak to IT. |
|
Yes: Navigate to Administration-Setup E-mail.
Click Output button and review messages Confirm that offending e-mail address
is correct with no typing errors. Click E-mail Account button and confirm
e-mail account details are correct. Clear E-mails and send a test. Speak
to IT. |
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17. Change my password
Click
here to change your password
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18. My password has expired
Ask an Administrator of the system to re-instate you. Change your password as
per company policy.
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19. I’ve forgotten my password
Ask an administrator to change your password.
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20. My gateway is beeping
Log on and check the Home page for error/transmitter alarm messages and/or the
Hardware page for faults. Report any to Comark/Distributor.
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21. The mains light is flashing
Could be a Gateway fault or someone has switched the Gateway off.
Log on
to the Gateway and navigate to Administration-Audit Trail. Look for any messages
regards power being lost and then re-instated. If yes then contact Comark for
replacement PSU.
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22. I cannot switch my gateway on
Check to make sure the PSU is fitted.
Has the Gateway been without power?
If yes and the battery pack ran out then the Gateway must be powered for half
an hour before it will be charged enough to switch on. If the button has been
pressed on the side it should switch on automatically. If it fails to switch
on then return for service.
Refer to Chapter Powering On and Off in the RF500-SYstemManual
PDF, downloadable from the Gateway Home page or supplied printed with the Gateway,
for more information.
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23. My Transmitter will not log on to the Gateway
Confirm that you have activated the transmitter and that it is awake.
Confirm that you are in range of the Gateway, if necessary move closer to
the Gateway.
Check to confirm that you typed in the transmitter serial
number correctly.
Are there any Error codes on the transmitter?
See Question 3
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24. How to add new Transmitters to the Gateway
Refer to Transmitter Management in the RF500-WebviewHelp PDF, downloadable
from the Gateway Home page.
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25. Door Alarms
Click
here for information on Door Alarms
Still Need Help? Send Comark an e-mail...

and we'll get back to you.