USING YOUR MINICOM IV ™ 305-007002
Acknowledgement In 1963, Dr. Robert H. Weitbrecht, an American physicist who was deaf, developed an acoustic coupler that could send and receive teletypewriter signals over the telephone lines. His invention, the Weitbrecht Modem, enabled people who are deaf to use the telephone for the first time. While modern technology now makes it possible to build advanced microcomputer devices like your Dr. Robert H.
CONTENTS Safety instructions p. 3 Introduction p. 4 Overview of the Minicom IV p. 5 Chapter 1: Set-up p. 6 About the control key Ctrl 7 About Auto ID™ (Sending ID) 7 Chapter 2: Calling p. 9 Making a call 11 Answering a call 12 Chapter 3: Advanced Calling p. 13 13 About Turbo Code® Using Turbo Code® interrupt + I Ctrl + Shift Ctrl + Ctrl Turning Turbo Code® on and off Setting the Baudot code baud rate Chapter 4: Care & Repair 13 + 14 B 15 3 p.
Troubleshooting 18 Repair 20 Chapter 5: Using an External Printer Setting up an external printer Turning the printer on and off Other printer information 21 Ctrl + 2 22 22 Sticky keys p. 23 Specifications p. 24 FCC information p. 25 Index p. 26 Conversation etiquette 2 • p.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS General safety When using your Minicom IV, basic safety precautions should always be followed to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and injury to persons. 1. Read and understand all instructions. 2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the Minicom IV. 3. Unplug the Minicom IV from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. 4.
INTRODUCTION Welcome to the Minicom IV™ T T Y from Ultratec. You can use the Minicom IV with any standard telephone and handset to make and receive text telephone calls. Your new Minicom IV has the following special features: Turbo Code® communication protocol. This feature transmits signals to other Turbo Code TTYs as fast as you type. Turbo Code also lets you interrupt the other person’s typing. Auto ID™ alerting system. Auto ID automatically alerts the answering party that you are calling by TTY.
Overview of the Minicom IV ™ Top view Acoustic cups On/Off switch Display Signal light Power light Printer on/off Options key Sensitivity key Interrupt key Back view External printer port (inside) AC adapter jack Battery compartment (underneath) INTRODUCTION • 5
CHAPTER 1 SET-UP All you need to do to set up the Minicom IV is plug it in! You must plug in the AC adapter for 24 hours to charge the batteries. After the batteries are charged, you can leave the AC adapter plugged in all the time unless you need to use the batteries during a power outage or while traveling. Be sure to pull the plastic tab out of the battery compartment on the bottom of the Minicom IV before you plug in the AC adapter. 1. Place the Minicom IV next to a telephone. 2.
About the control key Ctrl The control key Ctrl gives instructions to the Minicom IV when you hold it down and press a function key. There are four function keys: Interrupt, Options.the location of each key. You must hold down the Ctrl key and then press the other key to use a function. For example, to use options, you must hold down the Ctrl key while you press the 3 key. When you use a function, you can use the escape key whatever you are doing and save changes.
Auto ID starts up when you turn on your Minicom IV and continues until you begin a conversation. If you are on-line, you will see SENDING AUTO ID every time the Minicom IV sends out tones. Auto ID will also begin sending tones whenever no one types for a few minutes during a conversation. It will continue until someone starts typing. Turning off Auto ID Ctrl +3 You can turn off Auto ID at any time by following these steps: 1. Press the options key ( Ctrl + 3 ).
CHAPTER 2 CALLING This chapter explains how to make and answer calls. It also describes Turbo Code and how to interrupt the other person during a conversation. TTY etiquette During a TTY call, there are four commonly used abbreviations that you and the other person can type to help your conversation along: GA, Q, SK, and GA or SK. GA means “go ahead.” Type GA or press the GA key when you want the other person to begin typing. When you see GA on the display, it is your turn to type. Q means “question.
Signal light This is the signal light. The signal light shows what is happening on the telephone line in the following ways: Signal light Telephone line Steadily on Dial tone Flashing slowly Telephone ringing Flashing quickly Telephone busy Flickering Person picking up the telephone or speaking. Dialing tips Dial the telephone number on your telephone as you would for any call. In an office, type a 9 or other number to reach an outside line. For long distance, include a 1 and the area code.
Making a call 1. Put the telephone handset in the acoustic cups on the Minicom IV. Make sure the telephone cord is on the left side. 2. Turn on the Minicom IV. 3. Dial the telephone number you are calling. 4. When you see an answer on the display, type a greeting. When your conversation is finished, turn off the Minicom IV and replace the telephone handset.
Answering a call 1. Put the telephone handset in the acoustic cups on the Minicom IV. Make sure the telephone cord is on the left side. 2. Turn on the Minicom IV. 3. Type a greeting and wait for an answer. When you are finished with your conversation, turn off the Minicom IV and replace the telephone handset.
CHAPTER 3 ADVANCED CALLING About Turbo Code® Turbo Code is an enhanced version of Baudot code. It sends and receives signals with other Turbo Code TTYs as fast as you type and allows you to interrupt the other person during a conversation. The Minicom IV automatically connects in Turbo Code or Baudot code, depending on which code the other TTY is using. The Minicom IV uses Turbo Code when you connect with another Turbo Code TTY.
Turning off Turbo Code interrupt Ctrl +3 You can stop the other person from sending interrupts to you by following the steps below: 1.Press the options key ( Ctrl + CASE on the display. 2.Press the Return 3.Press the Spacebar 4.Press the Esc 3 ). You will see PRINT (UP/LOW) key until you see INTERRUPT (ON) on the display. to change the setting to OFF. key to save the new setting and leave options. Turning off interrupt does not affect outgoing interrupts.
Setting the Baudot code baud rate Ctrl +3 Each time you turn on the Minicom IV, the Baudot code baud rate is set to the auto setting. This setting uses whichever code is needed to answer a call by detecting what code the other TTY is using. If you need to specify the code that the Minicom IV uses, you can set it so that it will only use either 45.5-baud or 50-baud Baudot code. When you do, the Minicom IV will not try to use other codes. Follow these steps to change the Baudot code baud rate setting: 1.
CHAPTER 4 CARE & REPAIR Ordinary care of your Minicom IV requires replacing the batteries when they no longer hold a full charge. You may be able to solve other problems by reading the troubleshooting section of this manual. The battery compartment is the only user-serviceable part. Any repair work should be done by a qualified service person. Trying to repair the unit yourself will void your warranty and may damage the Minicom IV. The repair section explains how to get help.
Charging the batteries The AC adapter supplies electricity to the Minicom IV and charges the built-in batteries. Leaving the AC adapter plugged in will not harm the Minicom IV or the batteries. The first time you set up your Minicom IV, leave the AC adapter plugged in for 24 hours to charge the batteries. You can use the Minicom IV at the same time. Checking the batteries The batteries lose their ability to hold a full charge if you keep the Minicom IV plugged in all the time.
Replacing the batteries Replace the batteries every two or three years, or when they always run down within 30 minutes and exercising does not help. To change the batteries, turn over the Minicom IV and follow these steps: 1.Take off the battery cover by pushing in on the latch and lifting up. 2.Take out the old batteries and put in new ones. Be sure the + and - ends match the symbols on the holder. 3.Replace the battery cover. CAUTION! Rechargeable batteries contain nickel and cadmium.
The telephone connection may be weak or the other TTY is sending the wrong signals. If you are using Baudot code, press the sensitivity key (hold down the Ctrl key and press the S key). The display says HIGH SENSITIVITY. Sensitivity returns to normal when you press the sensitivity key again or turn off the Minicom IV. Power • The batteries run down too soon. You may not be regularly using your Minicom IV on battery power, or the batteries are old. See About the batteries on page 16.
Repair Calling for help If your Minicom IV is not working, we may be able to help you solve the problem over the telephone. Call Ultratec at these numbers: (608) 238-5400 (Voice/TTY) Fax: (608) 238-3008 You may also contact us via email at the following internet address: service@ultratec.com Sending the Minicom IV for repair If you need to send the Minicom IV to our service center, follow these steps: 1.Pack it in the original shipping carton or a similar sturdy box. 2.
CHAPTER 5 USING AN EXTERNAL PRINTER ❶ ➋ You can connect a parallel dot-matrix printer to your Minicom IV if you want to print out your conversations. A Centronics-type printer with continuous roll feed will work best.
Setting up an external printer You will need a special cable to connect your external printer to the Minicom IV. Contact Ultratec or your dealer for more information. Follow these steps to connect your printer to the Minicom IV: 1. Take off the printer port cover on the Minicom IV. 2. Plug the printer cable into the Minicom IV printer port. 3. Plug the other end of the printer cable into your printer. 4. Plug the printer’s electrical plug into an electrical outlet. 5. Turn the printer on.
STICKY KEYS Ordinarily, when you use the Ctrl or Shift keys, you must hold down either key while you press another key. If you have trouble pressing two keys at once, the Sticky Keys feature lets you use the Ctrl and Shift keys by pressing one key at a time. To turn on Sticky Keys, press either Shift key five times. The display says STICKY KEYS ON. Now you can type a $ by pressing and releasing the Shift key, then pressing and releasing the 4 key.
SPECIFICATIONS Physical Dimensions Acoustic Coupler Size—10” x 9.5” x 3” (25.4 cm x 24.1 cm x 7.6 cm) Weight—3.75 lbs (1.7 Kg) with batteries Accepts both circular and square telephone handsets Power Automatic code detection on incoming and outgoing calls (Turbo Code or Baudot) Baudot Code: 45.5 and 50 baud Sensitivity = -45 dbm, 67 dBSPL (min) Output = -10 dbm Turbo Code: Enhanced communication protocol with interrupt capability.
FCC Information The Minicom IV has been tested and found to comply with the specifications 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 and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
INDEX AC adapter, 5, 6, 16, 17, 19 jack, 5 Acoustic cups, 5 using, 11, 12, 19 Adapter, See AC adapter Address, Ultratec, inside front cover repair, 20 Answering calls, 12 Auto ID, 4, 7-8 turning off, 8 Batteries, 6, 16 charging, 6, 16 checking, 17 disposing of, 3, 18 exercising, 17 how long they last, 16 low power in, 16 safety, 3 replacing, 18 Baud rate for Baudot code, 15 Cleaning, 3 Control key, 7 Dialing, 10, 11 Electrical power, See Power Escape key, 7 GA, 9, back cover Interrupt key, 13 26 • INDEX
NOTES • 27
Conversation etiquette GA When you talk with another person by TTY, you type while the other person reads. When you want the other person to respond, type GA for “Go ahead.” GA OR SK To say goodbye, type GA OR SK. This gives the other person a chance to say any last words before ending the conversation. SKSK To end the conversation, type SKSK. Q Some people prefer to type Q instead of a question mark because it saves time and is easier to type.
