This is pure conjecture or malarkey based on one incident where the system user failed to follow the rules.
Brad Wilson spells out the incident pretty clearly in Post #57 at the link below . . . The "Malarkey" was reported by Vern Knowles in the same thread.
Whatever the cause, this situation allowed a single pad controller to override the main system and fire every rocket on every pad simultaneously, without warning. Yes, this was 2015 . . . Yes, changes have been made . . . No, no one saw the problem, until it happened.
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/wilson-fx.37109/page-2
QUOTE :
Hello Wilson, Vern, and everybody else on this thread,
I’m here to make an announcement as well as to answer the questions that have been raised about the Wilson F/X launch control system wireless and hardwired.
Yesterday morning, the 10th of September, I popped onto this forum to see if there were any new posts on the Wilson F/X thread started by Chuck Haislip back in January of 2009. I was reading thru the posts and responses by and to Wilson Alness after he received his WFX single-pad wireless system.
To my utter surprise, I read Vern Knowles post concerning the individual member’s use of his W-F/X single-pad wireless that unintentionally fired off several other rockets on multiple banks. I will admit that I’d like to have heard about this sooner and more directly than in this or any forum. I don’t know when it took place or the individuals involved. I am VERY glad that nobody was hurt.
I had previously let the current owners know the dangers of using their single-pad wireless W-F/X controllers in Armageddon Mode at large launches like BALLS as this would trigger every wireless W-F/X pad-box that was on the field and powered up. My suggestion was that one of the clubs, like Tripoli Idaho, bring their LCU-64 and that each of the single-pad pad-boxes should be “taught” a bank and pad designation. The use of the LCU-64 controller would then eliminate any inadvertent ignitions of other W-F/X pads.
But then the unthinkable happened. Vern Knowles reported the inadvertent incident at a Tripoli Idaho launch with an individual’s single-pad wireless WFX system triggering all the other wireless banks and pads when the individual used his single-pad controller in Armageddon Mode.
There is no doubt that the individual’s LCU-1 single-pad controller was operating in Armageddon mode. The Wilson F/X controllers, 64-pad, 128-pad, and single-pad each have several different modes in which they are able to operate. Each mode has its own purpose, but Armageddon Mode is only one of the modes that are available for use.
As Vern said, “these systems are starting to proliferate.” He's right. Our success has created this problem and it is a problem that must not happen again. When we built this system we did not intend for it to be anything other than a club system. Its only recently that we've been getting questions about buying a single pad system for an individual. This "new situation" has created this new problem. And the Wilson F/X team responds when there are problems.
By yesterday afternoon, Dan and I were in conversation about what to do. We certainly have no desire to have any bad publicity out there about the Wilson F/X systems. And even more so, we desire that there be no repeat of the scenario that Vern reported. So by late last night, Dan and I got in the same room to ponder what we ought to do to fix the situation. We decided that the only safe solution is to separate the two major functions (single-pad and Armageddon) of the Single-pad controller into two separate controllers.
The first controller will remain as the “Armageddon Switch” which will from now on only be available for purchase by clubs with Wilson F/X systems. For club’s that already own an Armageddon Switch, I will be sending them some new labeling in order to make it very obvious that what they have is an Armageddon Switch.
The second controller will be the LCU-1 single-pad controller which will no longer have Armageddon Mode available. We made the changes in the software, got all of our current “stock” reprogrammed and tested to insure that it works like we want it to, and this afternoon I shipped “new” LCU-1 single-pad controllers to those individuals who already own W-F/X single-pad systems free of charge. And I will be sending return postage to each of these people so that they can return their original single-pad controllers in the same boxes and wrappings that they will be receiving their new and actually improved either on Monday or Tuesday of this next week.
I know that some folks will be disappointed that their individual single-pad controller will no longer have an Armageddon Mode, but that is the price that must be paid to keep the “incident” from ever happening again. Wilson F/X is just growing too big to allow for the possibility to remain.
Each LCU-1 single-pad controller will have its own unique designation so that when the owners teach their current single-pad pad-box who it is with their new LCU-1 controller that when they go into hardwired or wireless, no other pad-box will be able to respond to their controller. Certainly, every pad-box that you teach to respond to your controller will respond, but that should not be a problem.
The PBU-1 single-pad pad-boxes can also be taught a bank and pad designation with any WFX 64 or 128 pad controller so that it can be used to augment a club’s Wilson F/X launch system. But we’ve also added a new feature that allows the user to “un-teach” his or her pad-box’s club system designation. It is mode three if you were wondering.
Vern doesn’t seem to like the Armageddon Switch. And with what his club experienced, I don’t blame him. But this solution to the problem should alleviate his worries. Now only clubs will own Armageddon Switches, so no further placing of individual’s single-pad controllers in quarantine should be necessary.
Vern Knowles and Wilson Alness did have one thing wrong, the former LCU-1/ARM had several modes in which it could operate. Armageddon Mode was only one of those modes. It could also operate in single-pad mode so that only pads designated by that controller could respond to that controller. And there was and still is, a dual-key function mode that requires a second “fire command” from a second LCO in order to fire any selected pad. But the earlier LCU-1 controllers were not automatically in Armageddon Mode.
I will be sending instructions to each of the current owners of LCU-1/ARM controllers on how to reprogram their single-pad pad-boxes with their new LCU-1 controllers very shortly.
I hope this clears up the problem. Let me know if you have any questions.
Brad, the “Rocket Rev.,” Wilson
