PITCHCOM PitchCap Baseball Communication System Instruction Manual
- June 6, 2024
- PITCHCOM
Table of Contents
PITCHCOM PitchCap Baseball Communication System Instruction Manual
Welcome to the PitchComSystem-the world’s best and most secure baseball
communication system.
The PitchCom System consists of two components-a transmitter (also, the
“PitchRemote”) and a receiver (also, the “PitchCap”). The type of pitch and
its location are securely transmitted to the pitcher wearing the receiver, who
will hear audio tracks reciting the selected pitch and pitch location (e.g.
“fastball low inside).
USING THE PITCHCOM SYSTEM-Basic Component Functions
Receiver
The receiver is shown in Figure 1. There is an on/volume up button; and
off/volume down button; a speaker opening; a micro USB port; and a red LED
(not shown) that lights while the receiver is charging.
The on/off buttons turn the receiver on and can easily be felt and pressed.
The on button will be closer to the front of the head, the off button will be
closer to the back of the head. A short press and release of the on button
will turn the receiver on (you will hear “System On”), and a long (3 second)
press and hold of the off button will turn the receiver off (“System Off”).
The same buttons adjust the volume up and down in steps to a comfortable level
for the pitcher and fielders. To increase the volume one level, press the
on/volume up button once.
You will hear the new volume level announced (e.g., “Volume 6”). Depending on
the crowd noise conditions, the volume should be increased or decreased
accordingly so that the wearer can hear easily, but not a nearby competitor.
As will be explained later, depending on the transmitter mode, the audio
tracks will play the type of pitch selected and the pitch location, or just
the pitch itself. One of the tracks will also play “cancel” if the catcher
cancels the pitch called.
Transmitter
The transmitter is shown by itself in Figure 2. The transmitter does not have
an on/off switch, and is always ready to transmit. There are 9 pitch/location
buttons, a cancel button, and two catcher volume adjustment buttons. Also, the
transmitter has a micro USB port through which the transmitter is charged and
can receive firmware upgrades, an antenna wire, and a status LED above the
cancel button. A white LED is also provided, whose function will be described
below.
The same nine (9) buttons are used to select both the type of pitch (“pitch
type”) and pitch location (“location”). Currently, the pitches corresponding
to buttons 1-9 (as numbered in the photo) are 1-four-seam fastball,
2-curveball, 3-slider, 4-change up, 5-cutter, 6-sinker, 7-splitter,
8-screwball, 9-two-seamfastball. The locations also correspond to the same
buttons 1-9, and are arranged in an intuitive pattern. Currently, the
locations are 1 high inside, 2-high middle, 3- high outside, 4-middle inside,
5-middle middle, 6-middle outside, 7-low inside, 8-low middle, 9-low outside.
The wider spacings between buttons 4 and 5 and between buttons 5 and 6 also
allow the catcher to instantly know where his thumb is located on the
transmitter keypad without looking.
For pitchers that only want to hear the pitch selection, and not the location,
a separate transmitter mode can be used that will send a pitch selection after
only one button is pushed.
No location is given in this mode. Changing transmitter modes is easy to do
and can be done during the game by the catcher.
The transmitter has volume up and volume down buttons which control the volume
of the catcher’sreceiver, since the catcher won’t be able to easily control
the volume through the cap.
Instead, the catcher presses the volume up and the volume down buttons on the
transmitter to adjust the volume levels of his receiver.
Calling a Pitch and Location
To call a pitch, the catcher pushes any one of the buttons 1-9. The white LED
light (not shown in Figure 2) on the transmitter will light up and stays lit
after the first push of a button. No sound will be heard through any receiver
after only the first push of a transmitter button. To call a pitch, the
catcher pushes any one of the buttons 1-9 again. This second push causes the
transmitter to automatically and immediately send out an encrypted signal to
each of the receivers. Within milliseconds, the encrypted signal is decoded at
each receiver and causes each receiver to play an audio track that announces
both the pitch type and the pitch location.
As an example, the catcher first pushes button 2 and then button 9. This sends
an encrypted signal to each of the receivers. Each receiver decodes this
signal and will play “Curveball low outside”. Upon pushing the second button,
the white LED will turn off.
If the catcher wants to change either the pitch type or location after pushing
one or both buttons, he presses the button “cancel”. The word “cancel” will be
heard in each receiver. If the cancel button is pressed after just one button
has been pushed, the transmitter is reset, and the pitch selection and pitch
location can be selected as before. If the cancel button is pressed after both
buttons have been pressed and the audio tracks already played in the
receivers, the word “cancel” is heard, alerting the players to disregard the
called pitch and location, and the catcher then simply calls a new pitch and
location.
After the encrypted signal is sent, the transmitter is reset for the next
pitch type and location selection. If the pitcher doesn’t like the pitch or
location, he simply shakes off the sign as normal, asking for a new pitch or
location. The catcher only needs to push the buttons again to call the new
pitch and location.
PitchCom Transmitter Mode Instructions
The PitchCom transmitter can be placed into three different modes. A first
mode in which the pitch type and pitch location are selected, a second mode in
which only the pitch type is selected, and a third mode in which running game
signals are called instead of pitches. In the first mode, two button pushes
are required, the first selecting the pitch type and the second selecting the
pitch location. In the second mode, only one button is pushed to select the
pitch type. Similarly, in the third mode, a single button push will select and
send the running game signal.
The first mode, in which the pitch type and pitch locations (“Pitch and
Location Mode”) are transmitted, is entered into by first depressing and
holding the cancel and the number 8 button simultaneously. While holding these
two buttons down, the 1 button is pushed to set the transmitter into the first
mode. The white LED light on the transmitter will blink upon setting this
mode. In the Pitch and Location Mode, signals will only be sent after two
button pushes, and each receiver will hear a pitch type and a pitch location.
To switch the transmitter into the second mode (“Pitch Only Mode”), depress
and briefly hold the cancel and number 8 buttons simultaneously, and while
holding these two buttons, press button number 2. buttons 2 and 8. The white
LED light on the transmitter will blink upon setting the mode. In the Pitch
Only Mode, signals will be sent after a single button push, and each receiver
will only hear a pitch type.
To set the transmitter into the third mode, the running game, simply repeat
the process, but instead of pushing button 1 or 2, push button 3 while holding
down the cancel and number 8 buttons.
Switching back and forth between the pitching modes simply requires depressing
the 8 button and either the 1 or 2 button simultaneously. This mode switching
functionality allows the signals provided to a pitcher to be in that pitcher’s
preferred format, i.e., with or without location. We recommend ensuring the
transmitter has switched modes by pushing one or two buttons before using it
in the game. If it has not switched, simply repeat the process.
System Maintenance
The PitchCom System components are designed to be very low maintenance.
The receivers are charged through theirmicro USB ports. Firmware upgrades and
audio tracks are provided through the micro USB ports. Each battery charge
should last at least 6 hours of continuous receiver use. We recommend
recharging the receivers after each game in which the units are used. Any
micro USB plug and standard wall transformer can be used to charge the
receivers.
The catcher transmitter is charged through the micro USB port that is
accessible through a hole in the rubber molding on the catcher wristband.
PitchCap
FCC Compliance Statement
CAUTION: The manufacturer is not responsible for any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance. Such modifications could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
ISED Compliance Statement
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cetappareil numérique de la classe [B] estconforme à la norme NMB-003 du
Canada.
CAN ICES-003 (B)/NMB-003(B)
PitchCap Label
JHCF. LLC
PRODUCT NAME: PitchCom PRODUCT MODEL: PitchCap This device complies with
part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
- This device may not cause harmful interference, and
- this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
CAN ICES-003(B)/NMB-003(B)
Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity
47 CFR § 2.1077 Compliance Information
Product Name: PitchCom
Product Model: PitchCap
Manufacturer: JHCF, LLC
6133 E. Exeter Blvd
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
craig@pitchcomsports.com
www.pitchcomsports.com
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
- This device may not cause harmful interference, and
- this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
PitchRemote
FCC ID: 2A3O2-PRA
IC: 27925-PRA
FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
- this device may not cause harmful interference, and
- this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
CAUTION: The grantee is not responsible for any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance. Such modifications could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Canadian Compliance Statement
This device contains license-exempt transmitter(s)/receiver(s) that comply
with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada license-exempt
RSS(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
- This device may not cause interference.
- This device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.