Ultrasound v2.0

[welshm85]

Someone is giving me an Ultrasound 2.0 soundboard. I was under the assumption that this was an old US soundboard. Is this true? If so does anyone have information on the board? Thanks!

[Dauntless Seven]

Hi.  US did create a 2.0 soundboard so the one you are getting likely is that one.  I would imagine that the Obsidian LITE board is the closest version.  My oldest US board is a 2.1... but I don't know off the top what the difference was. 

[Greywolf]

Let's see…

UltraSound 2.0 Info
This is the latest info (11-29-2008) on setting up your UltraSound 2.0

Known issues.

1. When installing the batteries you may have to break the connection for a second in order to start the board. This is shown above in Ultra's video.

2. Some switches can make getting through the setup menu a pain. Be sure to hold the sound card so it can not move and push the switch firm and quick. Once you get it programmed it should not be a issue.

Here are the instructions at this point.

ULTRASOUND OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS.

This board uses a momentary tactile switch for operation.

1. Tap the button once to turn the saber on.
2. Hold the switch down for 2.5 seconds to turn the saber off.
3. Push button for Clash/Lock Effect.

After saber is activated (in on mode) the user can press once to activate a fast flicker effect
User can again press once to deactivate fast flicker and return to standard operation.

Main Menu: Set-up Navigation

1. With Saber turned off and batteries installed hold the button down to enter the setup menu.
You’ll know you’re in the menu because the board will tell you (it talks).

2. Tap the button to go through the choices.

After you hear the board say the LED type your using or Level of operation desired
hold the button down to select it.

Select Luxeon type...
"Luxeon 3" / "Luxeon 3 Red" / "Luxeon 5" / "Luxeon K2" / "Luxeon 3 Overdrive"

Select Blade Frequency...
"Constant On 1" / "Slowest Pulse 2" / " 3" / " 4" / "Fastest Pulse 5"

Select Sound Level...
"Level 1" Low / "Level 2" High

Select impact sensitivity level...
"lowest sensitivity 1" / "2" / "3" / "4" / "highest sensitivity 5"

Select Motion sensitivity level...
"lowest sensitivity 1" / "2" / "3" / "4" / "highest sensitivity 5"

Your settings have been saved!

4. The saber will exit the setup menu after the blade mode selections.
Installation specifications and requirements.

LED choices:
1. Luxeon 3 all colors white/blue/green (1000mah)
2. Luxeon 3 red/amber/red-orange (1400mah)
3. Luxeon 5 (850mah)
4. Luxeon K2 (1500mah)
5. Luxeon 3 Overdrive (1200mah)

IMPORTANT! (be sure to select the correct LED type installed in your saber)

Battery input voltage.
Maximum for board = 12V
Minimum for Luxeon 3 and K2 = 4.5V
Minimum for Luxeon 5 = 7.2V

IMPORTANT! (be sure to use the correct voltage/power with corresponding LED type)

Switch Type.
Momentary Tactile "Low bounce" type required.
Switch leads should be kept as short as possible for best performance.
(4 inches or less recommended)

Wire Type.
High quality copper wiring is recommended for all connections.
(Flexible silicone sleeve type recommended)
Use appropriate gauge wire for corresponding components.
Example:
Luxeon LED: 20 - 18 gauge
Speaker: 22 - 20 gauge
Battery Power: 22 - 20 gauge
Switch Lead: 24 - 22 gauge
Mounting and Installation Recommendations.
Soundboard should be mounted/secured to a non metal surface.
Plastic Tubing or sleeving is recommended for lining the inner wall of your saber and or to
surround the board preventing and foreign metals to accidentally come in contact with the
board while power is applied)
A plastic mounting plate/case is recommended for attaching to an internal chassis or by
other means of securing it in the hilt to keep it stationary for proper gesture recognition.

Safety and Precautions:

DO NOT leave batteries in Saber while not in use for long periods that would allow
the batteries to completely drain.
REVERSE VOLTAGE or improper LOW VOLTAGE can damage the electronics.
Only Use the specified batteries and observe all battery precautions.
FOLLOW CHARGING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY FOR LITHIUM ION BATTERIES
ACCORDING TO CHARGER INSTRUCTIONS.

and

Ultrasound 2.0 - Quirks :
- Switch bounce issue. Requires a capacitor on the switch leads to function
- Power break on positive lead required for Boot. A recharge port works best.
- Flicker settings 2-5 set incorrectly by manufacturer. reduced blade brightness on all settings by half.

Does this help ?

Note: That 'switch bounce issue' was the most annoying issue of the board; you had to use either a ultra-low-bounce-momentary switch or wire a little capacitor parallel to the switch to take care of that. Otherwise a single button press might result in multiple button clicks registered by the board…

Note2: While the US2.0 can take up to 12V input voltage, 'excess voltage' (above the voltage necessary to drive the LED) will be converted to heat -> better size your battery solution to only provide 1-2V above the required LED forward voltage.

[Dauntless Seven]

Hi this information is most interesting and at first thought that you were describing one of the other guys soundboards.  Have never heard of an US board being able to do all these functions... and my 2.1 certainly can not. 

Is there a video out there where Emory is reviewing the features ?  Am wondering if perhaps Windows 5 was being used or if this board was not computer compatible.

point for finding this 

[Greywolf]

Hi this information is most interesting and at first thought that you were describing one of the other guys soundboards.  Have never heard of an US board being able to do all these functions... and my 2.1 certainly can not. 

Are you really sure? The US 2.1 is only a US 2.0 with updated software (to fix 'flicker settings mess with brightness' & 'power break required for booting' issues).
When the saber is turned off, press the button and hold it -> The blade should not turn on during that and after several seconds you are greeted by a voice saying 'main menu'.
The 'bouncing switch issue' might be the main reason if menu is really difficult to access...

Is there a video out there where Emory is reviewing the features ?  Am wondering if perhaps Windows 5 was being used or if this board was not computer compatible.

Alas not. All YouTube-links I found have been taken down ages ago (afaik it was Ultra himself in those old videos). This 3rd-party video is still alive:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOrpw10pKbg" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win"><b>!</b> No longer available</a>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOrpw10pKbg
The UltraSound was not configurable via PC, though, only via that 'on-board-menu'.

point for finding this 

Thank you


Note3: Recommendation for the capacitor in the switch circuit is 50V, 1uF.

[Infinit01]

I've been following this thread so that I can learn a thing or two about the older soundboard.  Kudos to you Greywolf for being so knowledgeable and finding the video for it. Point incoming.

[Rapine]

Yeah - great find Greywolf!

+1 for sure.

[Greywolf]

I've been following this thread so that I can learn a thing or two about the older soundboard.  Kudos to you Greywolf for being so knowledgeable and finding the video for it. Point incoming.

Well, there are two main sources where you can find information about this kind of stuff:
One purged almost all of its UltraSabers-related content (only the 'UltraSound 2.5 manual' still exists there),
but TCSS has some more information buried deep in their forum. Nevertheless I really was astonished to discover that US 2.0 manual

Note to myself: I installed my Graflex initally with US 2.0 and upgraded it to US 2.5. I think one year later I tried to upgrade it again.
Does this mean the dismantled Graflex is lying in that box on my workbench for more than 8 years now...? Darn, I feel old...

[Dauntless Seven]

Thanks again and for the extra info.  That saber is packed away in storage so don't have easy access to it.  Will at some time have to go and retrieve it.  I like these built in portable features alot.