User's Manual

THE PORTABLE INTERROGATOR User Guide
Revised July 2000
Page 7 of 63
• In the office, the cradle holds The Portable Interrogator 400 in place to recharge
the battery.
• When connected to the PC, the cradle allows the PC and The Portable Interrogator
400 to exchange route information.
• When used for meter reading in a vehicle, the cradle holds The Portable
Interrogator 400 in place for convenient meter reading as well as battery charging.
• When used for meter reading in a vehicle, the cradle connects to separate transmit
and receive roof mount antennas for better range in meter reading. When The
Portable Interrogator 400 is inserted into the cradle, it will automatically use the
external antennas. When not in the cradle, The Portable Interrogator 400 will use
the attached antenna.
THE TOUCH SCREEN AND THE UNIT
The most important feature of The Portable Interrogator 400 is the touch screen. The
screen is large enough to make viewing the meter reading functions very easy. The
screen is designed so that glare is not a problem, even in very bright sunshine.
The touch screen is actually a pane of glass with special electronics to know where you
touched the screen. The screen is then sealed and a plastic cover is used to protect it.
You actually touch the plastic cover, not the touch screen itself. This protects the
electronics from moisture, dirt, oil, etc.
In addition to the plastic covering for the touch screen, The Portable Interrogator 400 also
has an additional plastic cover that fits over the touch screen. This optional cover
protects the touch screen from stones, dirt, grime, and sharp objects. The cover can be
removed and replaced when needed.
When The Portable Interrogator 400 displays a screen, there will be boxes shown on the
screen that represents your choices for the next step in meter reading. To choose the
function described by the box, simply press the screen inside the area of the box. The
Portable Interrogator 400 will perform the next step of that function.
The Portable Interrogator 400 software has been designed so that the buttons are easy to
see and touch. If you read meters in cold climates, you’ll be happy to know that the
buttons are designed so that they can be pressed even when you are wearing gloves.
THE PORTABLE INTERROGATOR 400’S CONTROLS
Besides the touch screen, The Portable Interrogator 400 has four additional control
buttons across the top of the screen. The outside buttons are marked “READ” and will
begin the reading process for the meter displayed on the screen. If the meter is attached
to a TRACE transponder, The Portable Interrogator 400 will interrogate the transponder.
If the meter is attached to a DIALOG module, The Portable Interrogator 400 will