THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 THE READALL INTERROGATOR - INTRODUCTION Welcome Welcome to using the ReadAll, the Interrogator to use for all meter reading technologies. The ReadAll is unique in automated meter reading in that it is the most lightweight and easy to use hand held interrogator, using touch screen technology to simplify the meter reading process. The ReadAll can gather meter readings in these ways.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 site license application coordination through the Utility Telecommunications Council (UTC). Transmit frequency license application preparation is provided as a service at no charge by Badger Meter, Inc. NOTE: License application submittal, payment, and renewal of fees are the responsibility of the utility. The ReadAll’s Features When using CONNECT, the ReadAll can perform all the TRACE functions.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 • What If Things Go Wrong You’ve almost completed the Introduction section. The Glossary section will introduce you to the terminology of automatic meter reading and the ReadAll Interrogator. The Makeup of the ReadAll describes the different features of the ReadAll Interrogator, and the differences between the ReadAll and the PI. The Details devotes a chapter to each of the ReadAll features, showing you everything you need to know about each one.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 THE READALL GLOSSARY Listed below in alphabetical order are a number of terms used in the ReadAll. Take a few minutes to look them over. It will help to make the following chapters easier to understand. (You may want to mark this page so that if you have a question about a term later on, you can reach this page quickly.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Settings Tamper Text message TRACE Transponder Trouble code Water, Electricity The ReadAll variables that can be changed by the user to control behavior to certain conditions. A status reported by a TRACE transponder showing that the lead line between the RTR and the transponder is cut or shorted (water transponder), or that the transponder has been tilted (gas transponder).
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 THE MAKEUP OF THE READALL The ReadAll Interrogator is made up of a number of functions that all work together to perform meter reading quickly and easily.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 THE READALL COMPANION CRADLE An optional companion cradle is also offered with the ReadAll. The cradle can be used to hold the ReadAll when reading meters in the vehicle. The cradle will charge the ReadAll battery as well as automatically connect the ReadAll to separate transmit and receive antennas for reading TRACE meters.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 The touch screen is actually a pane of glass with special electronics to sense 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 ReadAll also has an additional plastic cover that fits over the touch screen.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 was very sensitive to interference from many different sources. This result of the interference was reduced range and/or inconsistent reading range. Usually this would show itself as being able to read a meter easily at one time, and having problems reading it at another time. The ReadAll Receiver electronics has been changed to use many narrow channel bands for receiving the meter reading.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 battery is 4 hours. The lithium battery pack is designed with a feature that senses when the battery is fully charged and stops the charging process to eliminate over charging. Once a battery pack has been fully charged, it is recommended that it be removed from the charger. CHANGING THE BATTERY Changing the ReadAll’s battery is quick and easy. Because of the ReadAll’s design, meter readings will not be lost when changing the battery.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 working. - Backup battery needed Lithium required for data for integrity integrity when changing batteries.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 message INTERROGATIONS - Transmission power - Time to receive a reading - Reports lead line tamper - Ability to reset tamper - Ability to read a particular meter for final read - Ability to read a module without knowing its serial number - Types of audible alerts given - Automatically retry when no response is received from a transponder - Automatically attempt to clear a tamper condition PROGRAMMING - Ability to program units - Clear tamper when prog
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 OTHER - built-in calculator No Yes GENERAL CARE OF THE READALL Cleaning the ReadAll Interrogator is easy. Use only a slightly dampened (water only) chamois or a clean dry cloth to remove fingerprints or residue from the touch screen and the case. Do not use alcohol or ammonia based cleaners.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 THE DETAILS – THE READALL OPERATION THE READING CYCLE USING THE READALL Using the ReadAll for meter reading is easy. The reading cycle consists of these steps: • STEP 1 – Prepare the ReadAll to accept the route from the Route Management software by pressing the Transfer Routes button from the Main Menu. On the Transfer File Menu, press the Receive Route button.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 information or meter readings stored in the ReadAll during a restart are safe. No information is lost when restarting the ReadAll. The ReadAll begins its processing by displaying the copyright screen. Pressing the Continue button brings you to the Log-in screen. Logging-in to The ReadAll The Log-in screen looks like this. Pressing the Log In button brings you to the ID screen.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 The Log-in screen accepts your 4 digit personal ID number (PIN) and validates it. As you enter your PIN, the ReadAll displays the asterisk character (“*”) in the spot for the digit, so that others cannot see your PIN. When you have entered your PIN, the screen looks like this. Next, press the Enter button. If you enter a valid PIN, the ReadAll displays the Main Menu. If your PIN is not valid, the ReadAll will tell you so. The screen looks like this.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Press the Retry button on the screen and reenter your PIN correctly to display the Main Menu. If you press the Cancel button, you will return to the Log-in screen. On the Log-in screen, if you press the Exit to DOS button, you will have to enter a special PIN. The ReadAll will display the PIN keyboard for your entry. Note that you should not Exit to DOS unless directed to do so by Badger Meter Technical Support.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 • • Transfer Routes – Send routes to the ReadAll for reading, or send readings in the ReadAll back to the PC route software Read / Program Meters – Read the route that is loaded, or program transponders (when installing new units or changing out meters) The ReadAll also displays the current date and time on the bottom of the screen. Pressing any of these buttons begins that function’s operation.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 If the ReadAll currently has no route for meter reading, the ReadAll will remind you to connect the cable to its serial port and the port on the PC. Press the OK button and you’ll see this screen. Pressing the Start button begins the communication process. Note that the ReadAll uses the same serial communications method and the same transfer file format as the PI.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 If you wish to cancel the communications when they are in progress, press the reset button above the touch screen (“ ”). The ReadAll will cancel its communications with the Route Management Software. In a future release, CONNECT will communicate directly with the ReadAll when it is placed into the office cradle. This method will be faster and allow for easier loading and unloading of the routes to and from CONNECT.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Pressing the Send button begins the communications process. When the route has been sent to the Route Management software, the ReadAll will ask you if the route was successfully transferred. The screen looks like this. The ReadAll does this to insure that problems in other systems do not cause the readings to be lost. If the readings were successfully transferred and the Route Management software now has them, press the Yes button.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 happened. Second, the back arrow button near the right READ button (“ ”) allows you to cancel the communications process. If you push the button, the communications process will be halted and the ReadAll will return to the Transfer Routes menu.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 When the ReadAll has completed its work, you will return to the Transfer Files menu. Restore Route Sometimes a route that you have already unloaded to the Route Management software needs to be sent again. For example, you might find that a communication error occurred and the readings in the Route Management software are unusable. Restore Route allows you to transfer the readings from the ReadAll to the Route Management software a second time.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 If you still wish to restore the route, press the OK button. The current route will be removed from the ReadAll and the previous route will be restored. If you do not wish to restore the route, press the Do Not Restore button.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 THE DETAILS – READING METERS WITH THE READALL After loading a route, the next step in the reading cycle is to read the meters in the route. To begin reading, press the Read / Program Meters button on the Main Menu. You will see the first account in the route.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Pressing the Stay button will keep you at the first meter in the route. Pressing the End button will take you to the last meter in the route. Similarly, if you press the Next Account button, the ReadAll will display the next meter in the route. If you are viewing the last meter in the route, the ReadAll will ask you if you want to stay at the end of the route or if you want to display the first meter in the route.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 The functions are: • Searching for specific accounts by name, address, meter serial number, or transponder ID number • Entering comment codes and messages • Perform a manual read for this meter • View the High and Low audit limits for this meter (if you have the permission to do so – more on this later) • Program this transponder • Define a new account • View Progress, settings, or RF diagnostics via the ReadAll Utilities • Return to the main menu •
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 In this example, the customer’s name is Mickey Dolenz, and he lives at 111 1st St.. The transponder ID number is 4368172 and the meter serial number is 99586212. (Note that the order of the name is determined by the Route Management software. If the Route software downloads the last name first, the ReadAll will display the name in that manner. If the Route software downloads the first name first, the ReadAll will display the name in that way.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 To enter a manual meter reading once the numeric keypad is displayed, view the meter’s register and note the reading. Next, enter the reading onto the keypad that is displayed on the touch screen and press the enter key when you are done. Water meters are typically read from left to right, while electric meters are typically read right to left. The ReadAll can handle meter readings gathered in either direction.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 In either case, when the meter reading is completely entered, press the Enter key. If the reading is within the high and low limits, the ReadAll will record the meter reading and advance the display to the next meter in the route. If the reading is above the high limit or below the low limit, the ReadAll will tell you that the entered meter reading was high or low, and it will ask you to re-enter the reading.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 In this case, the meter reading process begins again for this meter. Reading TRACE Meters Once either of the READ buttons have been pressed, or the touch screen has been pressed in the customer and meter area, the ReadAll begins the reading process. For TRACE meters, the ReadAll interrogates the transponder whose serial number is shown on the Read Screen.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 There may be something obstructing the line of site between the ReadAll and the transponder. In any of these cases, getting closer to the transponder or improving the line of site before trying the interrogation again may result in receiving the transponder’s response. • Keep in mind that a TRACE transponder’s radio transmissions are affected by weather conditions and by the way the transponder was installed.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 In the case of a high or low reading, the ReadAll allows you to control the advance of the display through the settings. If there are tasks to perform when a meter reading is high or low (such as dropping off a brochure on finding leaks when a high meter reading is received or checking the meter itself on a low reading or a tamper), not advancing the display allows you to perform the necessary tasks and report information via codes and messages.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 entered that code, the ReadAll will display this screen to allow you to enter a manual read. When you have completed entries for this meter, press the Skip button. Automatic Retry and Tamper Clearing The ReadAll offers two settings to make meter reading more convenient when an exception condition occurs.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 The ReadAll gives you a number of ways to find a particular meter through the searching menu. When you are displaying a meter to read, press the menu button to display the Read Menu screen. From the reading menu, press the Search button. The ReadAll will show you the Search Menu. There are four different ways to search for a particular meter.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Choose what you want to search for by pressing on the name of the field. If you wish to search for someone’s name, press Name. If you wish to search for an address, press Address, and so on. Let’s say you want to search for a particular name. After pressing Name to highlight it, press Name again. The ReadAll will display the large button keyboard like this. Choose the letters in the name you are searching for.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 If this is what you want to search for (a name with the letters LA in it), press the Search button. The ReadAll will display the first account it finds and ask you if this is the one you are searching for. If this is the meter you are looking for, press the Yes button. If this is not the meter you are looking for, press the No button and the ReadAll will continue searching.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 If you find that you need to send information about the meter you are reading back to the office, the ReadAll provides a number of ways to do so. They are: • The Trouble Code • The three Comment Codes (FUTURE RELEASE – IN PROGRESS) • The Text Message (FUTURE RELEASE – IN PROGRESS) The Trouble Code and Comment Codes are two-digit codes you can define and use to send information back to the office. The Trouble Code is usually used to specify a problem.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 From there you can choose the Trouble Code button or the Comment Code button, depending on which code you wish to use. If you choose the Trouble Code, you’ll see this screen. Enter the two digits that correspond to the information you wish to log and press the Enter button. If you enter the code “37” you’d see this screen.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 To return to the Read screen, press the Return to Read Screen button. In some cases, the ReadAll might not display the high, low, or previous readings. On the Settings screen in the Utilities section, there are two choices that control the display of this screen. The high and low audit values will be displayed if you have chosen the Show High / Low setting. The previous reading will be displayed if you have chosen the Show Previous Reading setting.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 From the Read Menu, press the Utilities button and you’ll see this screen.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Current number of unread meters, including meters in which an attempt to read has not occurred • The total number of meters that have been read • The total number of meters whose read attempts have failed • The percentage of meters of the total meters in the ReadAll that have been read • The total number of Radio functions performed since the route was loaded • The number of tamper conditions reported (this total does not include any meters in which t
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 This information is only useful to members of the Badger Meter Technical Support and Engineering groups. Do not use this information unless directed to do so by Badger Meter personnel. To return to the Utilities Menu, press the Exit button. Battery Info If you need additional information regarding the electronics of the battery, press the Battery Info button from the Utilities menu.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Note that, if the Route Management Software (such as CONNECT or RMS) is set to communicate with a PI, the settings are stored internally in the ReadAll. The Route Management Software does not change the settings of the ReadAll when the ReadAll is communicating via the serial port. Here are samples of the three Settings screens. To choose a setting, touch the screen on the empty box and an “X” will appear in the box.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 SETTING Advance on High / Low Beep on High / Low Show High and Low Find on Wrong WHAT IT DOES HOW YOU MIGHT USE IT When a high or low reading is If you wish to investigate a high or low reading, leave a encountered in an interrogated reading and this setting is chosen, brochure with the customer, or perform some other the ReadAll will advance the function on a high or low display to the next account.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Run Consumption Auto Clear Tamper (FUTURE RELEASE) This setting pertains only to programming modules. When chosen, the ReadAll will request you to run a unit of consumption after successfully programming a transponder or a module. Once the consumption is performed, the ReadAll will request that you again read the meter to verify that the consumption shows on the meter reading. This setting is used for TRACE meter reading only.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Auto Retry This setting is used for TRACE meter reading only. When this setting is chosen and the ReadAll finds a transponder that has not responded to the interrogation, the ReadAll will automatically retry the interrogation for the number of times specified from 1 to 5. To change the retry count, double tap on the number field with your stylus, and enter the new count value.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 successful, and it speeds the process of getting a good read by avoiding the delays caused by the unit waiting for you to press the Read button. You need to determine if the automatic retries will work for you. Calculator If you find you need a calculator, possibly to compute a consumption value, press the Calculator button on the Utilities menu. The ReadAll’s built in calculator will start. You’ll see this screen.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Pressing the Exit button will return you to the Utility Menu. Entering New Accounts The ReadAll can add accounts to the list of stored accounts it received from the Route Management software. But before you add a new account in the ReadAll, be sure that your Route Management software and your billing system can process the new account.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 The buttons perform these functions.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 If you have entries for a new account for name address and transponder number, your New Account screen might look like this. Pressing the OK button will add the account to the route list and clear the fields. Pressing Exit before pressing OK will return you to the Read menu but you will be able to reenter the New Account screen and the information remains on the screen.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 • • • Transfer the route or routes to the ReadAll via the serial communications cable o Transfer Routes from the ReadAll Main Menu o Receive Route from the Transfer Routes Menu o When the transfer is complete, Return to Main Menu from the Transfer Files menu Read the meters in the route or routes o Read / Program Meters from the ReadAll Main Menu o Press either of the Read buttons or the upper portion of the Read Screen to perform a meter reading.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 THE DETAILS – PROGRAMMING METERS USING THE READALL The ReadAll can program TRACE transponders. Regardless of the technology you are using for meter reading, the programming process usually occurs in one of these ways. • The meters to program are loaded into The Portable Interrogator much like a route is loaded for reading.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Then press the Program button. You’ll see this screen. Each transponder must be prepared to receive the programming transmission. For newer Remote transponders (with serial numbers greater than 2,500,000) as well as all Pit transponders, you must place a magnet on the Programming switch.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 When you press the Program button, the ReadAll will send the programming transmission to the transponder. The ReadAll will interrogate the transponder to verify that the programming was successful and will then display the results of the programming. Note that if you are programming Gen 2 transponders, you must first place the programming stick in its spot to do the programming step, and then remove the stick in order to do the verifying read.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Press the Read Menu button to display the menu. Next, press the Program button to display the Programming screen. Enter the transponder ID and the initial reading as described above. Press the Program button to program the transponder in the manner described above. The ReadAll will program the transponder and verify it by performing an interrogation.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 THE DETAILS – OTHER USES FOR THE READALL The ReadAll can be used to perform a number of functions other than reading a route of meters. • Read a transponder whose ID number you do not know • Read a transponder whose meter reading you need for a special use (such as testing and troubleshooting, gathering a final meter reading, etc.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 The TRACE Quick Read process follows these steps: • Enter the ID number of the transponder you wish to interrogate • Press the READ button • Record the reading that is displayed The screen looks like this. To enter the transponder ID number, press the Transponder button. The ReadAll will display the numeric keypad. Enter the ID number (use the Back button to erase an entry) and press the Enter button when done.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 Note that the reading displayed is the full six-digit odometer plus the numeric location of the sweep hand. In the example above, the 6 digit odometer reading is 000003 and the sweep hand is pointing at the 9. If the transponder reports a tamper condition, the ReadAll will display the tamper condition in the Reading box. Once displayed, you can record the reading in any convenient manner you choose.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 For transponders you have just received or are ready to install, each of the IDs is bar coded on a label on the outside of the box. Using the optional bar code scanner connected to the serial port, the ReadAll will accept the transponder ID from the scanner and immediately interrogate the transponder and display the results.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 WHAT IF THINGS GO WRONG In the unlikely event that you experience difficulty using the ReadAll, we’d like you to take some steps to help us return your ReadAll to proper operation. This section gives you guidelines on how to respond to the times when the ReadAll reports a problem. Questions If the ReadAll displays something out of the ordinary, there is no need to panic.
THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide Revised January 2001 problem. If the problem does happen again, please follow those steps and call the Hotline. The Specialist will gather the information for that particular problem, and direct you if further action is needed. Faxing the Technical Support Group The Badger Meter Technical Support Group can also be reached by fax at 1-888-3715982. This may be a convenient way to follow up with your support specialist on particular steps.
