Hey,
Its okay to pray for VN's, been there and done that. LOL You can
download a text copy of the manual from humanware's web site. Hope this
helps though.
*********
2 BrailleNote BT Hardware.
2.1 AC Adapter and Battery.
The BrailleNote BT can operate from its internal rechargeable battery or
from its AC adapter. The length of time you can run the BrailleNote BT
from a fully charged battery is typically over 20 hours before it
becomes flat. Activities like printing, e mailing and communicating
using the serial or infrared port increase the drain on the battery.
Using the built in modem also drains the battery more than editing
documents. PC cards that draw their power from the BrailleNote BT's
battery reduce the available battery life too.
The BrailleNote BT warns you if the battery is getting low. When the
battery gauge indicates that the battery is down to 10% full or less the
following warning is displayed periodically: "Battery is low."
If possible, connect the AC adapter to re charge the battery now. You
typically have about 2 hours of battery life remaining. If the battery
continues to run down and becomes nearly flat, KeySoft displays the
following message: "Battery is critical."
If this message is displayed you should act within the next 30 seconds
or your BrailleNote BT may switch itself off. The time available to
switch off may be as little as 30 seconds but it is typically 15 to 20
minutes if you are not using high current accessories. You have two
options. You can connect the AC adapter and carry on working
indefinitely, or you can save your current work and switch off. To save
your work, just return to the Main Menu. If the BrailleNote BT switches
itself off, it cannot be switched on again until it is powered from the
AC adapter.
Your BrailleNote BT automatically manages its power usage to give you
the maximum life from the battery. The hibernate mode is entered after
approximately 10 minutes of inactivity. Pressing any key will end the
hibernate mode, but it is recommended that you momentarily press the
ENTER and BACKSPACE keys to end the hibernate mode. This will avoid the
possibility of inserting unwanted characters if a document was open when
the unit entered the hibernate mode. You can help by switching off your
BrailleNote BT when you are not going to be using it for a while.
Remember that you can switch your BrailleNote BT off and on without
affecting your work in any way and your BrailleNote BT resumes from
where you were when you switched off.
2.2 Charging the Battery.
To charge the battery, simply plug the AC adapter in and the BrailleNote
BT looks after the battery charging itself.
If the BrailleNote BT battery is flat and the AC adapter is connected,
the battery is fast charged in about 2 hours. Charging takes less time
if the battery is only partially discharged. You can charge the battery
and run the BrailleNote BT simultaneously although the battery may take
longer to charge. You can leave the AC adapter connected indefinitely
without any risk of damaging the battery. To connect the AC adapter,
locate the power socket on the back of the BrailleNote BT, near the
left hand corner of the case. Insert the plug on the AC adapter cable
into the socket, and plug the AC adapter into a wall socket. The
BrailleNote BT displays: "AC adapter on."
The message is displayed even if the BrailleNote BT is switched off. If
this message is not displayed after a second or two, check that the AC
supply is switched on, and that the plug on the end of the AC adapter
cord is inserted securely into the BrailleNote BT's power socket.
When the battery is charging, if the AC supply is interrupted, or the AC
adapter is disconnected the BrailleNote BT displays: "AC adapter off."
This message, too, is displayed even if the BrailleNote BT is switched
off.
The messages are both spoken and appear on the Braille display, assuming
both speech and Braille are on. Of course, if speech is off, the message
only appears on the Braille display. If the Braille display is off the
message is only spoken.
2.3 Checking Power Status.
You can check the state of charge of the battery and whether the AC
adapter is connected from anywhere in KeySoft by pressing SPACE with O,
then P.
First, the battery state of charge in percent is displayed: "Level c
percent,"
where c is the battery's state of charge. Then the AC adapter status is
displayed: "Adapter (status),"
where "status" is either "on" or "off." After these messages are
displayed, you are returned to your original place in KeySoft. To clear
the battery status message from the Braille display, press ADVANCE.
2.4 Battery Care.
Like all rechargeable batteries, as the BrailleNote BT battery ages its
capacity reduces. If your BrailleNote BT is used every day we expect
that the battery will last typically 18 months before the battery's
capacity is noticeably lower than it was 18 months before. We recommend
that you send the BrailleNote BT back to an authorized BrailleNote BT
service center to replace the battery. Replacement batteries are
expected to last typically 18 months before they too, need replacing.
2.5 Support Information Mode.
You can check the battery and battery gauge characteristics using the
Support Information mode. Included is an option to "drain" the battery
which assists with re calibration of the battery fuel gauge. To enter
the support information mode from anywhere in KeySoft press SPACE with
O, followed by SPACE with I. You can now select the following options:
1. To find out if the battery gauge has been calibrated and is accurate,
press A. For example, if the battery gauge is calibrated KeySoft will
prompt: "Gauge is accurate."
If the gauge is inaccurate, it means that the battery charge level may
not be being reported correctly. Refer to item 6 below for instructions
on how to re calibrate the battery gauge. After executing this command
you are returned to the Support Information mode.
2. To determine the "Last charge" information for the battery, press B.
The reported time indicates the time it took to fully charge the battery
after plugging in the AC Adapter. The report is in the form:
Last charge: 234 minutes.
Completed: Friday, February 9, at 2:47pm.
Started: Friday, February 9, at 10:53am.
After executing this command you are returned to the Support Information
mode.
1. To determine the charge available from the battery, press C. For
example, a typical message is: "Nominal available charge 16,640."
The higher the value the greater the capacity. After executing this
command you are returned to the Support Information mode.
2. To review the last measured discharge count of the battery, press D.
The last measured discharge is the learned battery capacity. For
example, a typical discharge message is: "Last measured discharge
26,136."
The higher the value the greater the capacity available from the battery
when it is fully charged. The factory default value is 33,904, which
indicates that the gauge is not calibrated. This could happen for
example, if the BrailleNote had been in storage for several weeks and
the battery had completely discharged. After executing this command you
are returned to the Support Information mode.
3. To review the cell voltage critical warning value, press E. This
value cannot be changed. After executing this command you are returned
to the Support Information mode.
4. There are two types of battery "drain" mode. These modes are used for
flattening the battery in order to re calibrate the battery capacity
gauge. To have KeySoft continuously repeat the message, "I'm talking
until my battery goes flat. This repetition is enough to drive me crazy.
How about you?" press F. Alternatively, to drain the battery using the
Braille display if your model has one, press X. This causes the rows of
dots on the Braille display to pop up and down in turn. To prematurely
stop the battery drain mode once it has begun, press SPACE with E.
Follow these steps:
a) Fully charge your BrailleNote BT by leaving the Adapter connected for
at least 3 hours. Check by pressing SPACE with O, then P, that the
capacity is showing 100%.
b) Disconnect the AC Adapter from the BrailleNote BT.
c) To start the "battery drain" mode, place the BrailleNote BT in a
place where it won't indeed "drive you crazy", and allow it to continue
until the unit completely freezes. During this process the BrailleNote
BT will first report many times that the "battery is low", eventually
followed by "battery is critical". Some time thereafter the unit will
freeze. Pressing SPACE while the "battery drain" message is being spoken
will announce the time at which the process started, and the elapsed
time.
d) Re connect the AC Adapter, and the BrailleNote BT should restart. The
message "AC Adapter On" should be spoken, followed by the message that
the "Battery test is completed". To hear details on the battery test,
press SPACE. The time taken to Discharge the battery from its fully
charged state is given.
5. To determine the charging status, press S. For example, if the AC
adapter is connected, the BrailleNote BT displays: "Fast charging." If
not, BrailleNote BT displays "Discharging."
After executing this command you are returned to the Support Information
mode.
6. To display the cell voltage of the battery, press V. For example:
"Cell voltage 1.5 Volts"
After executing this command you are returned to the Support Information
mode.
To return to the place where you selected the Options menu, press SPACE
with E.
2.6 Long Term Storage.
If you store a BrailleNote for more than two to three weeks, the battery
will become completely flat. If the battery was less than fully charged
prior to storing the BrailleNote, the time for the battery to become
fully flat will be shorter. This is because BrailleNote's battery self
discharges internally and because BrailleNote BT draws a very small
amount of current even when it is switched off. The battery gauge will
be inaccurate at that point, and if you use this feature, you will need
to re calibrate the gauge as described in page 2.7 Calibrating the
Battery Gauge.
If you intend to leave the BrailleNote switched off for more than a few
days, fully charge the battery beforehand, or leave the AC adapter
connected if this is convenient. If you intend to store a BrailleNote
for more than two to three weeks without the AC adapter connected,
ensure your work is saved by returning to the Main Menu, and fully
charge the battery before putting the BrailleNote into storage.
When you take a BrailleNote out of long term storage, first connect the
AC adapter to recharge the battery. Try switching the BrailleNote on. If
it does not resume normally, press the Reset switch with a pointed
object. The BrailleNote beeps to confirm that it has been reset. Wait a
few seconds while the BrailleNote initializes itself. If the battery has
gone quite flat, you will be prompted to reset the time and date and so
on. Press ENTER several times if you want to leave that for later or
refer to Appendix C, which describes the procedure for initializing the
BrailleNote.
2.7 Calibrating the Battery Gauge.
BrailleNote BT incorporates a battery gauge that is originally
calibrated at the Factory. For best performance, the gauge needs to be
calibrated periodically as the battery ages during its life. Remember
that as the battery ages its capacity reduces. When the battery gauge is
calibrated it measures the battery capacity. If the battery's capacity
is reduced then the battery gauge over estimates the remaining charge in
the battery. The most noticeable sign that the battery gauge needs to be
calibrated again is if the "battery is low" warning is closely followed
by the "battery is critical" warning. There should be a gap of from one
to two hours of continuous operation between these warnings. The battery
gauge should never need to be calibrated more than once every two months
and usually much less frequently.
Note that if the battery goes completely flat, the battery gauge will no
longer be accurate, and it will need to be re calibrated.
To calibrate the battery gauge, first fully charge the unit, and then
run the BrailleNote BT without the AC adapter until the BrailleNote BT
freezes. Next plug in the AC adapter and completely recharge the
battery. To assist with this process, a special "battery drain" mode is
included, as described in the following section, page 2.7.1 Support
Information Mode. As you discharge the battery you need to ignore the
battery warnings and continue to run the battery down. It may be
convenient to continue using the BrailleNote BT normally but make sure
you have saved your work once the "battery is critical" warning is
given.
2.7.1 Support Information Mode
You can check the battery and battery gauge characteristics using the
Support Information mode. Included is an option to "drain" the battery
which assists with re calibration of the battery fuel gauge. To enter
the support information mode from anywhere in KeySoft press SPACE with
O, followed by SPACE with I. You can now select the following options:
1. To find out if the battery gauge has been calibrated and is accurate,
press A. For example, if the battery gauge is calibrated KeySoft will
prompt: "Gauge is accurate."
If the gauge is inaccurate, it means that the battery charge level may
not be being reported correctly. Refer to item 6 below for instructions
on how to re calibrate the battery gauge. After executing this command
you are returned to the Support Information mode.
2. To determine the "Last charge" information for the battery, press B.
The reported time indicates the time it took to fully charge the battery
after plugging in the AC Adapter. The report is in the form:
Last charge: 234 minutes.
Completed: Friday, February 9, at 2:47pm.
Started: Friday, February 9, at 10:53am.
After executing this command you are returned to the Support Information
mode.
1. To determine the charge available from the battery, press C. For
example, a typical message is: "Nominal available charge 16,640."
The higher the value the greater the capacity. After executing this
command you are returned to the Support Information mode.
2. To review the last measured discharge count of the battery, press D.
The last measured discharge is the learned battery capacity. For
example, a typical discharge message is: "Last measured discharge
26,136."
The higher the value the greater the capacity available from the battery
when it is fully charged. The factory default value is 33,904, which
indicates that the gauge is not calibrated. This could happen for
example, if the BrailleNote BT had been in storage for several weeks and
the battery had completely discharged. After executing this command you
are returned to the Support Information mode.
3. To review the cell voltage critical warning value, press E. This
value cannot be changed. After executing this command you are returned
to the Support Information mode.
4. There are two types of battery "drain" mode. These modes are useful
for flattening the battery in order to re calibrate the battery capacity
gauge. To have KeySoft continuously repeat the message "I'm talking
until my battery goes flat. This repetition is enough to drive me crazy.
How about you?" press F. Alternatively, to drain the battery using the
Braille display if your model has one, press X. This causes the rows of
dots on the Braille display to pop up and down in turn. To prematurely
stop either of these modes once they have begun, press reset.
Follow these steps:
a) Fully charge your BrailleNote BT by leaving the Adapter connected for
at least 3 hours. Check by pressing SPACE with O, then P, that the
capacity is at 100%.
b) Disconnect the AC Adapter from the BrailleNote BT.
c) To start the "battery drain" mode, place the BrailleNote BT in a
place where the noise won't indeed "drive you crazy", and allow it to
continue until the unit completely freezes. During this process the
BrailleNote BT will first report many times that the "battery is low",
eventually followed by "battery is critical". Some time thereafter the
unit will freeze. Pressing SPACE while the "battery drain" message is
being spoken will announce the time at which the process started, and
the elapsed time.
d) Re connect the AC Adapter, and the BrailleNote BT should restart. The
message "AC Adapter On" should be spoken, followed by the message that
the "Battery test is completed". To hear details on the battery test,
press SPACE. The time taken to Discharge the battery from its fully
charged state is given.
5. To determine the capacity inaccurate count, press I. For example, a
typical capacity inaccurate count message is:
"Capacity inaccurate count 74."
The battery inaccurate count is incremented for every partial or full
charge discharge cycle. The higher the count, the greater the likely
inaccuracy of the battery gauge. After executing this command you are
returned to the Support Information mode.
6. To display information about the last battery discharge time, press
L. This value is determined during the "battery drain" process, and
indicates the length of time the BrailleNote BT operated from a fully
charged battery to the point where its operation was halted due to the
critically low battery condition. After executing this command you are
returned to the Support Information mode.
7. To determine the charging status, press S. For example, if the
battery is being fast charged, the BrailleNote BT displays: "Fast
charging."
After executing this command you are returned to the Support Information
mode.
8. To display the temperature range that the battery is in, press T. For
example:
"Between 20 and 30 degrees C."
After executing this command you are returned to the Support Information
mode.
9. To display the cell voltage of the battery, press V. For example:
"Cell voltage 1.5 Volts"
After executing this command you are returned to the Support Information
mode.
To return to the place where you selected the Options menu, press SPACE
with E.
2.8 Ports.
The BrailleNote BT has a range of ports available Serial, Parallel,
Infrared and modem.
2.8.1 Using the Serial Port.
Reach beyond the keyboard to the back of your BrailleNote BT and
investigate the layout of the back panel. There is a recessed panel
comprising from the right, a modem jack, female 25 pin parallel port, a
card slot and a nine pin male port. This nine pin male port is the
serial port.
The serial port can be used to provide a connection to a visual display,
PC or other equipment. You can use the serial port to connect to a
terminal, an embosser or printer that has a serial interface, a modem or
to other computers to import and export documents and files. You can use
the BrailleNote BT as a remote speech synthesizer by connecting the
serial port to a suitable driver. You can also run ActiveSync on a PC
and access your BrailleNote BT through the serial port like an extension
of the PC.
Your BrailleNote BT is supplied with a serial cable that has two
identical nine pin plugs on each end of the cable. You don't have to
identify which is the right end of the cable, either end will do. The
connectors can only be plugged in one way. To plug in the connector hold
the plug horizontal and push it gently into the socket. If it does not
engage turn it through 180 degrees and try again.
The cable supplied is called a "null modem cable." This cable works with
most equipment except external modems. A different cable is needed to
communicate with a modem and equipment that emulates a modem.
The 9 pin plugs on each end of the serial cable incorporate two locking
screws designed to secure the plug when it is plugged in. Use of these
screws is recommended to prevent the plug falling out in use. The screws
can be tightened and undone by hand. In the usual way, turning them
clockwise does them up and turning them anti clockwise undoes them. Do
not over tighten the screws; a light force is sufficient to hold the
connector.
Don't forget to disconnect the cable when you are done. As a precaution
check for anything connected to your BrailleNote BT before transporting
it.
2.8.2 Using the Parallel Port.
To the right of the rear panel is a 25 pin female connector. This is the
parallel port. It can be used to connect to an embosser or a printer
that has a parallel interface. A compatible cable is supplied with your
printer. It is convenient to leave one end of the printer cable
connected to the printer. The other end can be plugged into the
BrailleNote BT when required.
The 25 pin plug is similar to the 9 pin plug but the plug is much
longer. It too can only be plugged in one way. To plug in the connector,
hold it horizontally and try pushing it gently into the socket. If it
does not engage, turn it through 180 degrees and try again.
Use the locking screws to prevent the plug falling out in use. The
screws can be tightened and undone by hand. In the usual way, turning
them clockwise does them up and turning them anti clockwise undoes them.
Do not over tighten the screws; a light force is sufficient to hold the
connector.
2.8.3 Using the Infrared Port.
The infrared port is located at the rear of your BrailleNote BT on the
right, directly behind the ENTER key. Run your hand across the back of
the BrailleNote BT on the extreme right and you will feel a vertical
channel. The infrared port communicates though a window that is located
in the channel.
The BrailleNote BT's infrared port conforms to the Infrared Data
Association specification for infrared communications. This standard is
called "IrDA" for short. This is a new type of infrared communications
that can work up to a high speed.
The BrailleNote BT's infrared port can be used for printing or for
communicating with a remote visual display. You can also run ActiveSync
on a PC and access your BrailleNote BT through the Infrared port like an
extension of the PC.
Using the infrared port, you can print to a printer equipped with an
infrared port. You can also print to a printer that is connected to an
IrDA compatible accessory such as the JET EYE printer adapter. This
adapter is normally connected between a PC and a printer without an
infrared port. Embossing and printing using the infrared port is
described in 6.6.6 Embosser Port.
To communicate with a remote visual display using the infrared
connection, an IrDA compatible port is needed on the PC. The JET EYE PC
is an accessory that provides such a port. It is designed for use in
conjunction with a PC or a lap top computer, plugging into a serial port
on the host computer. Terminal software running on the PC enables the
PC's screen to display output from the infrared port of the BrailleNote
BT. This provides a sighted teacher with a text display matching the
BrailleNote BT display. Using BrailleNote BT's infrared port to
communicate with a remote visual display is described in page 2.12 Using
a Visual Display.
IrDA compatible infrared communications work over a distance of up to
about three feet (1 meter) for standard power devices and up to at least
eight inches (200 millimeters) for low power devices. The BrailleNote BT
is a standard power device. The host's and BrailleNote BT's infrared
ports must face each other but they do not have to be lined up exactly
because the infrared beam is quite wide. After a little experimentation,
you will be able to determine the most convenient arrangement of
equipment that works reliably.
2.8.4 Using the Modem.
The internal modem can be used for sending and receiving e mail.
A modem jack is located on the right of the rear panel. Your BrailleNote
BT is supplied with a modem cable for connecting BrailleNote BT's modem
to a phone line.
If you live in UK, Australia or New Zealand, an adapter that plugs into
a standard "BT" type phone jack is also supplied with your BrailleNote
BT. The modem cable plugs into the adapter and the adapter plugs into a
phone jack.
The modem cable has a phone type plug at either end the cable. Insert
one plug into the BrailleNote BT modem jack and the other end into a
phone jack. To do this, locate the locking clip on one side of the plug.
Orient this side to the bottom of the modem jack, engage the plug in the
socket and push the plug home. A latch holds the plug that should hold
when the cable is lightly pulled. To unplug, squeeze the clip in towards
the plug and pull the cable. The case bottom is scalloped under the
modem jack so that you can easily get your fingertip under the clip.
When the plug is unclipped it releases freely.
Don't forget to disconnect the cable when you are done. As a precaution
check for anything connected to your BrailleNote BT before transporting
it.
2.9 Braille Display Care.
Each cell of the Braille display has eight pins. For each pin there is a
special crystal that lifts the pin to make a dot, and allows the pin to
drop when there is no dot. The pins have to be able to move freely. In
normal use dirt unavoidably accumulates on the display and around the
touch cursor buttons. To prevent the pins from jamming, the display and
touch cursor should be cleaned regularly. Cleaning the Braille display
is not straightforward. We recommend that you send the BrailleNote BT
back to an authorized BrailleNote BT service center every twelve months
to clean the Braille display.
Making sure that your hands are always clean is a good start towards
minimizing problems with your Braille display. We suggest that once per
week you wipe the surface of the Braille display using a soft damp
cloth. The cloth should be squeezed hard to ensure that all excess
moisture has been removed. Use only warm water on the cloth.
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