User's Manual Part 1

THE READALL INTERROGATOR User Guide
Revised January 2001
Page 8 of 62
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. This recommended cover protects the touch
screen from stones, dirt, grime, and sharp objects. The cover can be removed and
replaced when needed.
When the ReadAll 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 ReadAll
will perform that function.
The ReadAll 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 READALL’S CONTROLS
Besides the touch screen, the ReadAll has four additional function buttons above 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
ReadAll will interrogate the transponder. If the meter uses no automatic meter reading
technology, the ReadAll will display the numeric keyboard for entering the meter reading
manually.
The left-inside button marked with “I/O” is the on / off button. Pressing the button when
the unit is off will turn it on. Pressing the button when the unit is on will turn it off.
When you turn the unit back on, the ReadAll will display the same screen that was active
when you turned the unit off.
The right-inside button marked with a “” is a special key to use when you are unsure of
your next ReadAll entry. The “” key will cancel the current the ReadAll function and
return you to the main menu screen. This key is especially handy if you believe you are
in the wrong function and you wish to restart at a known state, or if you are lost and not
sure what you should do next. Simply press the “” key and the ReadAll will cancel the
current function and return to the main menu.
READALL INTERROGATION PROCESS
The ReadAll Interrogation process is slightly different than the PI process because of
differences in the makeup of the receiver electronics. The PI used a wide band receiver
to receive meter readings from transponders. The wide band in the receiver, however,