1. technology and computing
2. consumer electronics

COMBAT
Phone: 888-950-1221
Fax: 262-458-1010
[email protected]
640 North Prospect Drive
Whitewater, WI 53190 USA
www.iCOMBAT.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Rev 1.1
Thank you for being a loyal iCOMBAT tactical laser tag operator! In this guide, you will find common
questions and solutions to those issues. We recommend saving or printing this guide to have on hand
for easy referrence. Next to each question, you can quickly see which products are related.
CAUTION
The developers at ICOMBAT have taken great care designing a product that can be
used safely. We have developed our product around IR LED technology. Our IR LED
(light emitting diode) barrel transmits invisible infrared light, just like your television
remote. These LEDs are basically a small light source that emits invisible infrared
light. Our units are designed to operate at safe levels and do not constitute any form
of health hazard. However, as with any light source, we recommend that the user take
precautions to avoid unnecessary exposure by never looking down the barrel at close
range or aiming the barrel at someone’s eyes while firing the system.
CAUTION
Always pay attention to the game organizer and safety briefings when instructed. Be
aware of any signs or special hazards in area.
CAUTION
Never modify your ICOMBAT systems in any way at any time for any reason.
Repairing the product may only be done by a certified iCOMBAT technician or with
their permission. Disassembly of the products might damage sensitive electronics or
internal components and immediately voids the factory warranty.
ICOMBAT is a division of Universal Electronics, Inc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Liability Statement
This product is surrendered by iCOMBAT with the understanding that the purchaser and or user assumes all liability
resulting from unsafe handling or any action that constitutes a violation of any applicable laws or regulations.
iCOMBAT shall not be liable for personal injury, loss of property or life resulting from the use of this product under any
circumstances. All information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice. iCOMBAT reserves the
right to make changes and improvements to products and manuals without incurring any obligation to incorporate such
improvements in products previously sold.
Warranty
iCOMBAT warrants that this product is found free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year
from the original date of purchase by the initial owner/purchaser. This warranty does not apply to a) defects discovered
after purchase which were caused by the unauthorized modifications, alterations or misuse of the purchased product;
b) consumable parts such as batteries, o-rings, or other components designed to diminish or may wear out over time;
c) cosmetic damage, including but not limited to, scratches, dents, rips, tears, or broken plastics and metals; d) damage
caused by accident, abuse, misuse, liquid contact, fire, flood, or other external cause; e) damage occuring from operating
product outside of iCOMBAT’s published guidelines found in this manual or otherwise; f) damage caused by service such
as upgrades and expansions performed by anyone who is not a representative of iCOMBAT; g) iCOMBAT products that
have been functionally or capability modified without written permission from iCOMBAT; h) defects caused by normal wear
and tear or otherwise due to normal aging of the iCOMBAT product; i) an iCOMBAT product in which the serial number
has been removed or defaced, or is otherwise illegible. Determining a product’s warranty status is solely the responsibility
of iCOMBAT. iCOMBAT will repair or replace, without charge, any of its products that have failed through defect in material
or workmanship.
IMPORTANT: Do not open or otherwise disassemble your iCOMBAT product without express written permission
from an authorized iCOMBAT representative. Opening or disassembling the product may cause damage that is
not covered under warranty.
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED HERIN, THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, BY OPERATION
OF LAW OR OTHERWISE, OF THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES FURNISHED BY ICOMBAT. ICOMBAT SPECIFICALLY
DISCLAIMS AND EXCLUDES ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES
WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE DESCRIPTION ON THE FACE HEREOF. ICOMBAT SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR,
NOR DOES ICOMBAT AUTHORIZE ANY PERSON TO ASSUME FOR ICOMBAT, ANY LIABILITY IN CONNECTION
WITH THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES FURNISHED BY ICOMBAT INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITING THE
GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, LIABILITY FOR LOSS OF PRODUCTION, PRODUCT, EQUIPMENT OR PROFITS
OR LIABILITY FOR DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES TO
PERSONS OR PROPERTY. PURCHASER AGREES THAT PURCHASER’S SOLE REMEDY FOR LIABILITY OF ANY
KIND, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FURNISHED BY ICOMBAT
SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE REMEDIES PROVIDED IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY.
Service
If you begin to notice odd performance with any of your iCOMBAT gear, please contact iCOMBAT Customer Service at
888-950-1221 right away. You may also email iCOMBAT Service at [email protected].
All iCOMBAT products are covered under a 1 year limited warranty from the time of purchase. If your iCOMBAT product
must be serviced, contact iCOMBAT Customer Service at [email protected] to receive return instructions. If your
product is found to be outside of warranty, iCOMBAT will contact you with any charges before proceeding to repair your
product. You are responsible for all shipping charges to and from iCOMBAT for both warranty and non-warranty repairs. In
most cases, iCOMBAT can simply send you the parts you require for repair if a technician has approved.
AS STATED ABOVE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SHIPPING CHARGES TO AND FROM ICOMBAT FOR ANY/
ALL SERVICES BOTH UNDER WARRANTY AND NOT UNDER WARRANTY.
ICOMBAT is a division of Universal Electronics, Inc.
2
Frequently Asked Questions
Reader Notes
iCOMBAT Entertainment systems include the Barracuda and Eagle Eye.
iCOMBAT Tactical includes the irM4, irPistol, and StressX Belt.
All iCOMBAT systems are designed to work together.
Why does my log in information no longer work with the CCM software?
Products affected: CCM server, iCE
The new laser tag gaming software, the iCOMBAT Engine (iCE), no longer requires an account to use
and run basic games. Ranked games do require an iCOMBAT license, which includes a log-in to use
the ranked features such as facility management and player scoring. Your old log-in information will
not allow you to access the ranked game features.
Please note, you will no longer be able to log-in to previous versions of the CCM software once you
sign out. We recommend upgrading to iCE as soon as possible.
I set up my match but when I hit Create Match, the game never loads.
Products affected: iCE, CCM server, all iCOMBAT equipment
All of your equipment must be updated in order for it to work in a game. It might still be able to sync
and your match set up can look ok, but the guns will not load the data if they are out of date. You can
update quickly and easily by plugging in your equipment with the USB cord. Even if one gun is out of
date, your games will not be created.
If your equipment is updated, ensure that everything is sycned to iCE and their status is listed as
ONLINE. You can auto sync all your previously synced gear if the equipment is on and you hit the
autosync button (blue arrows) above the unassigned players box on iCE.
How do I update my equipment?
Products affected: all iCOMBAT equipment
You can update easily by plugging your equipment into your computer via USB while iCE is running.
After a moment, your product will appear on the screen. Current version and equipment data will be
displayed. If there is an udpate available, it will notify you and you can click “Update” to apply.
If you have older Barracudas and Eagle Eyes, you might have to follow a two step update process,
ICOMBAT is a division of Universal Electronics, Inc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
but you only have to do this once.
My CCM server does not work and/or does not show up in iCE.
Products affected: CCM server, iCE
If your CCM is recognized by iCE, but you are unable to sync anything, it needs to be updated. Click
on the CCM Server under USB devices on the left hand menu of iCE. It will tell you if an update is
available. Click update to install.
If your CCM is not being recognized by iCE, you might have a driver issue caused by Windows. You
can download the iCE driver package directly from:
Windows 32 Bit: http://update.icombat.com/v1/actions/ICombat.Setup.FtdiDriver_x86.msi
Windows 64 Bit: http://update.icombat.com/v1/actions/ICombat.Setup.FtdiDriver_x64.msi
You can also uninstall iCE, delete the iCombat folder found at C > Program Files (x86) > iCombat,
and then download and reinstall iCE from www.icombat.com/software.
Does iCE work on a Mac or tablet?
Products affected: iCE
iCE will not work on a Mac. It will work on Windows Vista, 7, and 8. Users with a Mac can install and
use Virtual Machine software to run Windows, but this requires a very fast computer. A second option
is to install Bootcamp, which installs Windows natively on a separate partition on the Mac. iCOMBAT
does not recommend nor support any iCE usage on a Mac computer.
iCE is designed to work on a touchscreen device or monitor. It will not install onto a tablet, but several
operators have used streaming software to connect their tablet to a desktop running iCE. They share
the screen and control the desktop with the tablet over a WIFI network. Multiple apps are available for
this purpose including PocketCloud, TeamViewer, Splashtop, LogMeIn, and GoToMyPC.
Does iCE have multiple languages?
Products affected: iCE
Currently, language support is built into iCE but we have not yet loaded any languages besides
English into the database. Spanish, German, and French are being added first. If you have a
language request, please contact us. You can fill out a language sheet which we can then upload into
the program. Language can be changed in the Global Settings menu on iCE.
ICOMBAT is a division of Universal Electronics, Inc.
4
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my players back into the game if their equipment disconnects?
Products affected: iCE, Barracuda, Eagle Eye
Yes, players who drop from a game due to dead batteries, being out of range, or a dead gun can be
brought back into the game. Simply resolve the problem with the equipment and power it back on.
Once on, hit Sync and then Sync to server on the unit and it will be brought back into the game at
the appropriate time. The player will have full health and ammo again. They will NOT rejoin the game
exactly how they left off.
If a gun goes out of range, simple come back into range and iCE will re-establish the connection
automatically.
I cannot sync my targets and run target games.
Products affected: iCE, irTarget
First, make sure all your irTargets are updated. You can update them by connecting them to the TCM
(Target Control Module). Once connected, they will show up under devices on the left side of iCE.
Click on them to check their version and update if applicable.
If you still cannot sync your targets, they might have the same ID number. You will have to contact
iCOMBAT support to resolve this. You will not have to send your targets back.
If targets are updated and have the correct ID’s, make sure you have them connected correctly.
From the TCM, ensure the target cable connects into the target on the left hand side (the side with
1 battery). Each subsequent target should be connected on this side. You can have up to 20 targets
connected out to a total of 500 feet. We recommend having batteries for added power, although not
required.
Target cable is similar to phone cable. Consult the irTarget Manual to see how to make your own.
How do I extend my CCM signal for use in large or dense areas?
Products affected: CCM Server
If you are noticing connectivity issues over larger areas, dense woods, or thick bunkers, you might
be able to improve the connection by boosting your CCM signal with a few simple devices. You can
purchase both of these for under $50, total:
High Gain Antenna: http://tinyurl.com/oe23ubo
Signal Booster: http://tinyurl.com/kt3l6ef
ICOMBAT is a division of Universal Electronics, Inc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
You can explore other similar options on amazon.com as well. Just make sure you find something
using the RP SMA connection standard. Learn more about this at http://icombat.com/news/newsdetails/boosting-your-ccm-signal.
What is the battery life of my gear and how can I improve it?
Products effected: all iCOMBAT equipment
Battery life depends on which unit you are talking about. You can find more data in your product’s
instruction manual.
All entertainment systems use AA batteries for multiple reasons. Those being you can swap them out
if on a mobile operation and recharging isn’t feasible, they typically last longer, and the standard is the
same world-wide. New brand name AA batteries will generally last up to 36 hours of stand-by time or
70,000 shots.
You can use rechargeable batteries. Purchase 2 sets for every gun, and have one set on a rapid
charger while the other is in use. Rechargeable batteries may yield less on time, so we suggest
finding some with a high amount of MAh (milliamp hours) and at least 1.2V.
Tactical systems use a lithium ion rechargeable battery. The irM4 will last about 36 hours or 30,000
shots. The irVest will last up to 48 hours depending on activity. The irHeadband can last up to 18
hours. The StressX generally lasts up to 8 hours, depending on the settings. Most systems can fully
recharge in under 4 hours.
Keeping your batteries warm will extend their life. Our technology also allows you to recharge
batteries at any time without damage to the actual battery or charging circuit.
Why can’t I hear any sound from my unit?
Products effected: Barracuda, Eagle Eye
iCOMBAT entertainment systems have a speaker, while tactical systems use live noise. The irVest
and irHeadband have a beeper only. If you do not hear any sound from your Barracuda or Eagle Eye,
the volume might be turned down or off. Go into the Setup menu and ensure you have the volume
high enough and the gun shot sound turned on. If you do and there is still no sound, your speaker
needs to be replaced. Contact support to resolve.
The volume can be adjusted from very low to very high. Their loudness depends on the environment
you are playing in, so you will want to find your ideal volume level after some testing.
My gun sounds like it is working, but why can’t I hit anything?
ICOMBAT is a division of Universal Electronics, Inc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Products effected: all iCOMBAT equipment
Check to make sure your lens is clean. Use a soft object and rubbing alcohol to safely clean the lens.
If your Eagle Eye is not firing, first adjust the Shock Sense in the Setup menu. The vibration on
different paintball guns might not be enough to trigger the unit.
If you are using a Barraucda or Eagle Eye, your barrel LED might be burnt out. This happened on
earlier versions of the product and is covered under warranty if under 1 year. Contact support to
resolve.
Does your equipment work outdoors or in any environment?
Products effected: all iCOMBAT equipment
Yes. Our technology allows use indoors and outdoors, in the cold, hot, rain, snow, or other. We
generally recommend not using the products below 0*F or above 110*F. If your systems get wet,
make sure you let them dry out completely after you are done playing.
How far can my laser tag guns shoot?
Products effected: all iCOMBAT equipment
The irM4, Barracuda, and Eagle Eye can shoot up to 200 ft (60m) in bright sunlight. They can shoot
more on cloudy days and over 500 ft (150m) indoors.
The irM4 however has a low, medium, and high power setting that determines the strength of the
beam. The low setting has similar properties found on the Barracuda and Eagle Eye. On high, the
irM4 can shoot up to 1,000 ft (300m) in bright sunlight.
The irPistol also has a low, medium, and high power setting that determines the strength and range
of the IR beam. Low power shoots about 20 ft (6m) while high power shoots up to 150 ft (45m). Adjust
the setting accordingly for indoor or outdoor use. Using high power indoors might result in the IR
beam “bouncing” around the arena and making it extremely easy to hit others.
How safe are iCOMBAT laser tag systems?
Products effected: all iCOMBAT equipment
All iCOMBAT equipment is manufactured to the highest level, following the ISO9000 standard. The
laser beam emitted is technically an IR signal, similar to that found on your television remote. That IR
ICOMBAT is a division of Universal Electronics, Inc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
emitting LED diode is FDA approved and harmless to the human eye.
The 2.4Ghz RF signal used for communication between all products is also a world-wide standard,
completely harmless to the human body.
iCOMBAT has ATF certification for most products as a non-gun, meaning the products cannot be
converted into actual firearms at any time.
iCOMBAT also has US State Department classification as non-ITAR, meaning the weapons are
approved for sale and export to any country not currently on the embargo list.
Contact support for documentation if required.
What type of maintenance is needed on my laser tag systems?
Products effected: all iCOMBAT equipment
For iCOMBAT tactical equipment such as the irM4 and irPistol, little maintenance is required. We
recommend wiping the equipment down with a lightly oiled rag (supplied gun oil, Hoppes #9 synthetic
or similar), and then applying a few drops of oil to the unit as desribed in the manuals. The irM4 bolt
oring can be oiled through the air vents on the side of the unit, while the irPistol has an oil hole on the
top of the slide.
The Barracuda and Eagle Eye should be wiped down if dirty, and batteries removed if being stored for
more than 2 weeks.
The irVest and irHeadband can be wiped down with a clean rag, clorox wipe, or something similar. Do
not use bleach or corosive cleaners.
Are iCOMBAT laser guns water proof?
Products effected: all iCOMBAT equipment
iCOMBAT systems are designed to be used in all types of weather conditions. They are water
resistant but NOT water proof. They can be used in the rain or snow but should be thoroughly dried
out after use before being used again.
If your laser tag equipment does get completely submerged in water, immediately power it down,
remove the batteries (if applicable), and let it fully dry out for 48 hours before using again.
Can you guys ship anywhere in the world?
ICOMBAT is a division of Universal Electronics, Inc.
8
Frequently Asked Questions
Products effected: all iCOMBAT equipment
Yes. We can ship anywhere US goods can be lawfully shipped. We have an additional, official “non
ITAR” classification from the US State Department, allowing seamless shipping for all of our laser tag
guns specifically.
We have distribution warehouses in the US and Belgium to make shipping as cheap and quick as
possible.
Where can I find 12 and 8 gram CO2 cartridges?
Products effected: SmartMag, irM4, irPistol
You can usually you can find these cartridges readily available in most parts of the world. In the US
and Europe, you can find 12 gram cartridges in big box stores such as Wal-Mart and Carrefour, and
hardware stores such as True Value and Ace. The 8 gram cartridges are slightly harder to find, but
they can usually be located in restaurant supply stores or even head shops. Paintball and airsoft
stores also tend to carry 12 gram cartrides.
You can always order directly from iCOMBAT or Amazon.com as well. Make sure you order nonthreaded cartridges.
How much does it cost to start a laser tag business?
Products effected: all iCOMBAT equipment
The cost to start your own laser tag business depends on your location, your business plan, and the
amount of equipment you wish to buy. You can check out our Start A Laser Tag Business page on
www.icombat.com to get a head start. Contact [email protected] for more information. Most people
can get up and running from anywhere between $10,000 - $250,000.
Running a mobile or rental business is often the least expensive, while opening up an iCOMBAT
premier location requires a lot of time and money, but offers the greatest player experience.
Does iCOMBAT offer financing?
Products effected: all iCOMBAT equipment
iCOMBAT does not offer financing directly, but we work with a third party leasing service that offers
great rates and plans for laser tag businesses. Contact [email protected] for more information.
ICOMBAT is a division of Universal Electronics, Inc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
ICOMBAT is a division of Universal Electronics, Inc.
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