Arming, Disarming and Module Count

This section has important information about arming your system and managing modules at your event. We will also go over performing a module count that allows an operator to know real-time how many modules are turned on in the field, modules that are armed, and the module address number. 

Module Count

Performing a module count from the 18R2 is a feature provided by the COBRA firing system allowing an operator to always know how many modules are in the field and powered on. This feature also provides a count of all devices. COBRA considers all unique physical units such as a module or audio box as a device. For example, if you had an 18M, 36M, 72M, and Audio Box, the 18R2 would display the number "4" even though the 36M and 72M support multiple banks/channels.

1. Insert key into the 18R2 key switch and turn clockwise to ON position to power on the controller.
    
2. Allow the controller to complete the startup sequence; the sequence is complete when the controller shows the current channel, “c00”, for example.
   
   
3.  The TEST LED on the bottom of the controller will blink indicating the controller is sending data packets to all synced modules.
   
   
4. After the 18R2 has sent and received the initial communication with each device, the controller will display the total number of firing modules or audio box devices in the upper 7-segment display.
   
   In firmware version 6.1 or higher, you can double tap the TEST button in TEST mode to see your total module count. In ARM mode, you can single tap the ARM button to see your total module count for the respective mode.
   
   In firmware 7.0 or higher, the module TEST or ARM LED will blink when downloading script information from the 18R2. Once solid, this is an indication the script is successfully loaded into the module. The script downloading process takes place in both TEST and ARM mode. In previous versions, the script was only downloaded to the modules when armed. This helps speed up the arming process since it's now performed in TEST mode.

Arm 

In order to fire a show, the 18R2 Controller and firing module must first be armed. When the module is powered on in TEST mode, the 18R2 is unable to fire a cue; while in the ARM position, the module is enabled to fire.

1. Insert key into the 18R2 key switch and turn clockwise to the ON position to power on the controller. Allow the 18R2 to complete the startup sequence. The startup sequence is complete when the device displays the channel, for example, “c00".
   
   
2. Press the ARM button in the lower left-hand corner of the controller.
   
   
3. The ARM LED indicator light will blink as devices are recognized as armed and display the total arm count. COBRA considers all unique physical units such as a module or Audio Box as a device. For example, if you had an 18M, 36M, 72M, and Audio Box, the 18R2 would display the number "4" even though the 36M and 72M support multiple banks/channels. The blinking ARM LED on the 18R2 also indicates that the script is being loaded into your firing modules. Firing your show before the ARM LED has gone solid runs the risk of cues not firing as the system has not fully armed itself and the script has not loaded.
   
   
4. If the 18R2 ARM LED does not stop blinking and it displays A followed by a number, this means the 18R2 could not find or recognize a specific device it had found in TEST mode. This means the device is now powered off, out of range, or the key is in the TEST position.

Disarm

After arming the firing system, it might be necessary to unarm the system before an exhibition. 

1. After the 18R2 has been armed, press the TEST/DISARM button on the bottom of the 18R2 to disarm. This will instantly disable modules from firing if a script was running.