The Federal Signal FC is a microprocessor-based remote-control activation point originally designed for outdoor warning siren systems — but its four programmable relay outputs and multi-format radio decoding make it applicable to any process controlled through relay contacts. Installed in a NEMA 4 enclosure on a pole or wall, the FC listens for radio-transmitted activation codes, decodes them, and triggers the corresponding relay sequence. It replaces banks of electro-mechanical timers and tone decoders with a single configurable unit.

What activation formats does the FC decode?

The FC supports six decoding formats on the same hardware: Two-Tone Sequential (300–3000 Hz), DTMF (3–12 digit strings), EAS (Emergency Alert System), POCSAG paging, 1200-baud AFSK, and 512-baud Binary FSK. Each format can be assigned to one of six user-programmable control codes, plus five preset functions (Arm, Disarm, Report, Growl Test, Master Reset). This multi-format capability means a single FC can serve as the activation point for sirens, warning lights, PA systems, and overhead doors — each triggered by a different code or format — without needing separate decoder hardware for each device.

How does the two-way monitoring work on the FCTBD variant?

The FCTBD and DCFCTBD models add status monitoring back to the command center. Sensors report AC power presence, battery voltage, communications link integrity, door intrusion, and siren rotation confirmation. The DCFCTBD operates on battery with AC backup and transmits status changes via radio, IP, cellular, or satellite — so the central console knows not just that a command was sent, but that it was executed. This closes the control loop that a one-way FC leaves open: without two-way monitoring, a silent siren failure is indistinguishable from a siren that never received the activation signal.