Comtech EF Data CRS-500 - Manual (Page 118)

CRS-500 1:N Redundancy System Revision 2
CSU Front Panel Operation MN-CRS500
7–2
7.1.1 Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD)
Comtech CRS-500 Switch
for CDM-XXX VX.X.X
The Front Panel Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) is an active display showing two lines of 24
characters each. It produces a blue light with adjustable brightness. Compared to a Liquid Crystal
Display (LCD), it has greatly superior viewing characteristics and does not suffer problems of
viewing angle or contrast.
The CRS-500 “splash” screen appears once power is applied to the unit. The second line of the
display indicates switch operations, as configured to the specific Comtech EF Data modem in
use, and the version of the CRS-500’s installed firmware.
Press any key to display the top-level SELECT: menu. On most menu screens, you will see a solid-
block cursor that blinks at a once-per-second rate. This indicates the currently selected feature,
character, or digit:
M:N MODE:
1 :N
Where a solid block cursor would obscure the numeral or character under edit, the block cursor
automatically changes to an underline cursor:
ACTIVE MODEMS: (ENTER)
1 2 3 – 5 6 – 8 - 10
If you were to leave the unit displaying the same screen for weeks at a time, the display could
become ‘burnt’ with this image. To prevent this, the unit has a ‘screen saver’ feature that
activates after 1 hour and constantly scrolls a message across the screen. The top line of this
message shows the user-created Switch ID; the bottom line shows the status of the switch followed
by the message ‘Press any key…’:
----------------
Press any key...
The message moves from right to left across the display, then wraps around. Press any key to
restore the previous display.