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Safety/Code of Practice for Radio, Infrared & Bluetooth Controlled Models

By Chris Instone • Published on Thursday 9 April 2015, 3:57pm

Issue 2

Operators of radio and infrared controlled models at TIMS events are not allowed to operate unless they are in possession of a valid label (see below).

Operators of Bluetooth controlled Meccano Spykee Robots or Meccano Meccanoid robots paired to an operating device, such as a mobile phone or iPad, do not come under these rules as the robots in question will only operate with the device they are paired with, but it is the operators responsibility to make sure they connect to the correct Meccanoid/Spykee robot by using the correct serial/i.d number of that robot during the scan by the mobile device being used (10/03/2016).

However, some Meccano Spykee robots are infrared controlled and therefore come under these rules for safe operation.

Reason

  • For the safety of Club Members, the viewing public and models.
  • To avoid inadvertent operation of models by another system.

Control Systems

There are several common UK bands of radio frequencies in use for modellers based on:

  1. 40 MHz 30 channels 40.665 – 40.995 [green label]
  2. 27 MHz 12 channels 26.975 – 27.255 [white label]
  3. 35 MHz 26 channels 35.000 – 35.250 [orange label]
  4. Digital frequencies [black label]
  5. Infrared frequencies [red label]
  6. Special labels [blue label]

Radio Control and Infrared systems are within one or other of these bands.

All operators are to be issued with a coloured label relevant to the frequency they are using (to be supplied by the committee). Operators are not allowed to operate their radio or infrared controlled models without being in possession of a valid label, which will include the following:

  • The label will include the relevant colour of the frequency band
  • The exact frequency in use (if known), e.g. 27.145MHz. If not, the general band frequency, e.g. 27MHz.
  • The operators name
  • The time of issue
  • End time of label validity
  • Signature of the issuing officer

To avoid clash of operation and thus accidents, the following precautions must be observed by operators:

Safety Rules

  1. Operators must check in at the TIMS information desk with their model details, including, when known, exact frequencies, to collect their label, which must be attached to their radio transmitter.
  2. Transmitters and models must be switched off when not in use.
  3. Operators must not switch on and/or operate their transmitter/model until they have checked in at the TIMS information desk as per '1' above, and been issued with a valid coloured label.
  4. A valid label may be cancelled at any time by the duty issuing officer.
  5. If an operator loses his/her label, operation must cease and the duty issuing officer notified. Operation can then only continue with the issue of another valid label.
  6. No label may be issued to operators on the same frequency at the same time.
  7. Any operator operating a model without a valid label may be banned from operating again for the duration of the event, and/or for future events.

Operating Rules

  1. Check your frequency is free from other models by checking in at the TIMS information desk as per '1' in 'Safety Rules' above.
  2. No operation of transmitter/model without being in possession of a valid label.
  3. Switch on transmitter first then model. Do the reverse when finishing.
  4. Young persons operating remote control equipment must be under supervision and follow the same rules.
  5. Always be aware of other models and modellers and, where applicable, the general public. The safety of the public, visitors and members is paramount and takes precedence over all other considerations.

Special Labels

There may be circumstances where a special label [blue label] will be issued. This is to cover the circumstances of the recently introduced Meccanuity TT and the like, where it is likely that all operators will be using the same frequency, but only one model at a time. There will be only one 'special label' issued and it will be given to the operator racing at that time only. In short, if you don't have possession of the special label you can not operate your transmitter/model.

 

This document is © TIMS.