Reply IQ

The Smart Choice For Audience Response Professionals

Reply® IQ is a revolutionary advancement in true two-way wireless audience interaction technology. This "smart" choice for audience response, electronic voting, and market research industry professionals includes a large graphics LCD to display multiple lines of text as well as confirm multiple character user input. Also, there are enhanced features available for specialty applications (secure delegate registration and voting, moment-to-moment polling, and more). Best news? All this comes in a package that is smaller, more powerful, and less expensive than the products it replaced (Reply DX and Reply PS).

Technical Specifications

Enclosure

• Sleek, compact, and rugged molded plastic case.
• Dimensions: 5.7" L x 2.8" W x 0.9" H.
• Weight: 4 ounces. (Add 1.4 ounces for 3 AAA batteries.)

User Input

• A total of 21 keys are placed in common use zones that don’t intimidate or confuse the user.
• Natural focus is on the practical-sized numeric keys for entering multivalue, multiple digit information.
• Soft keys across the top are well-separated from the numeric keys to clearly stand out as alternative inputs for items displayed on the LCD directly above.
• Dedicated function keys (alert/raised hand, backspace, clear, send) are shaped and colored differently than the other input keys.
• Input can be “Speed Scored” to accurately identify the order of user responses for gaming, team competition, and other time-sensitive applications. Resolution is 0.05 second (50 millisecond).
• A “Moment-to-Moment” function offers continuous polling for advertising testing and other real-time perception measurement/analysis applications. Resolution settings are variable to 0.25 second (250 millisecond).
• An "Alpha" mode allows short text messaging.

Display

• Large backlighted graphics LCD. Size: 128 x 64.
• Displays multiple lines of easily readable alphanumeric text and symbols for dynamic messaging. Up to 6 lines of 20 characters message length per line can be viewed.
• This messaging function is commonly used to display a question with its associated response choices, or deliver contextual feedback to user entries, or report interactive session results.
• A reserved user entry line displays/echoes user inputs up to 16 characters in length.
• These entries can be numeric, alphabetic, and symbolic for multidigit response, name entry, equations, or other complex inputs.
• The LCD coordinates with the 5 special function keys below it. Depending on keypad firmware version, software applications can create prompts above these "soft keys":
• - - - 0 + ++ for perception/preference measurement or continuum/scale evaluation
• A B C D E (or A B C, etc.) for common multiple choices and easy rank ordering
• 89 93 94 etc. for more complex multiple choices
• Yes No (or Y N A, etc.) for simplified voting
• (Custom designs only) Supports logos, special character sets and/or reformatting of the graphics display. Minimum quantities, engineering costs, and extended delivery terms apply.

User Identification

• Each keypad has a unique RF device identity ("address") between 1 and 1500 plus a RF channel identity.
• Addresses are user programmable.
• Under command of software, users may enter IDs up to 16 alphanumeric characters in length. These entries may be used to request authorization to enter a polling session.
• Software controls all registration/login processes by monitoring keypad activity, interrogating user entries, and positively acknowledging those entries with appropriate acceptance/rejection/assistance messages to the keypad LCD.
• (Optional) An innovative miniature module can plug into the keypad’s expansion port to serve multiple advanced functions such as user identity confirmation and data storage for votes cast.

RF Technology

• Two-way RF keypad uses eligible license-free/license-exempt frequencies for communicating key presses to the Base Station and receiving Base Station control information and messages.
• Employs Fleetwood UHF radio transceiver modules that offer excellent range, immunity to interference, and security.
• There are 2 module styles: spread spectrum (frequency hopping), and synthesized frequency (multichannel). International radio regulatory agency rules dictate the type module offered with each keypad. (For example, FCC rules allow both modules for US operation in the 900 MHz band, whereas EC rules permit use of synthesized modules on both 869 and 433 MHz.)
• Multiple channels provide installation flexibility. Up to 15 channel identities support up to 22,500 keypads per room.
• Patented and proprietary radio protocol.
• Creates a secure communications network between keypads and their associated Base Station.
• User entries can be verified (acknowledged) by Base Station.
• Permits Reply systems to operate reliably in the presence of other RF devices (WLANs, PDAs, phones, etc.).
• Integrated error checking discriminates system signals from all other RF traffic to ensure data accuracy.
• Internal antennas are integral to the circuit boards and protected by the keypad enclosure.

Range

• A room's geometry and RF propagation characteristics will influence actual range experienced. Assuming base station placement as recommended in operating guidelines:
• (Spread spectrum models) Designed for reliable operation in an indoor area 600 x 600 feet.
• (Synthesized frequency models) Designed for reliable operation in an indoor area 400 x 400 feet.
• Elevating the base station results in a performance advantage.

Power and Power Management

Power

• Powered by 3 AAA replaceable cells.
• Power management and “sleep” functions under software control extend battery life.
• (Optional) Powered by 3 AAA rechargeable cells. Requires separately purchased charging rack/shipping case combo. LED on keypad illuminates to indicate charging state.

Communications Security

• A response verification protocol integral to the patented radio design provides a high degree of signal security.
• (Spread Spectrum models) Frequency hopping communications and a proprietary data communications structure are additional deterrents to interference and clandestine data interception.

Control and Scalability

• Firmware resides in flash-structured, high performance microprocessor chips that can be reprogrammed to facilitate upgrade during the life of the product.
• Adding keypads to a Base Station requires them to be set to unused addresses. Up to its purchased permanent capacity (see IQB 500 Design Capacity spec*), no change is required on the Base Station when pads of the same radio channel are added.

Compliance and Patents

• FCC, IC, CE certified. Call for details regarding these and other international regulatory certifications.
• U.S. Patent Nos. Re. 35,449; 5,724,357; 6,021,119; 6,665,000. European Patent No. EP 0 697 773. Other U.S. and foreign patents and patents pending.

System Configuration

A basic Reply (Worldwide) system consists of...

• one Reply® IQK 1000 Wireless Keypad per participant
• one Reply® IQB 500 Base Station per 1,500 keypads* of the same radio channel in a room, and
• one copy of value-added application software.

Optional accessories (purchased separately) include base station carrycases and keypad carrycases.

Training, on-site technical support, and similar 'for fee' services are also extra.

Primary Components and Accessories

Wireless Keypad Model IQK 1000

• See above specification.

Base Station Model CRS940

• A compact, dual diversity, programmable interface to PCs and networks alike.
• Dimensions: 11.5" W x 4.5" D x 1.9" H.
• Unit Weight: Approx. 2 pounds (3.5 pounds with cables and power supply).
• *Design Capacity: Up to 1,500 keypads per base station. Each base station ships with default permanent capacity of 300 keypads that can be expanded (for a fee, before or after purchase) in groups of 300 up to the design capacity.
• Max capacity per system per site:
• 9SS (North America): 15 channel sets allow 22,500 pads
• 43X (Export): 4 channel sets allow 6,000 pads
• 86X (Export): 1 channel set allows 1,500 pads

Note: 43X and 86X systems can be combined to allow 7,500 pads in Europe and other eligible international regions.

• Speed: Base station polling cycles are adjustable to optimize speed to group size.
• When 50 pads are polled, the base station’s transceivers process and acknowledge responses in a fraction of a second. When 300 pads are polled, the cycle is approximately 2 seconds. And when a single base is communicating with 1500 pads, the polling cycle is approximately 9 seconds.
• When multiple base stations are operating on different channels, they can communicate with associated keypads concurrently. (For example, this allows US spread spectrum systems to poll up to 22,500 keypads in a stadium application in approximately 10 seconds.)
• RF: A special dual diversity transceiver design delivers superior coverage while providing redundancy in the event one transceiver becomes inoperative. A pair of high gain antennas are included.
• Connections: Attaches to the operator’s personal computer by Ethernet (RJ45) or serial cable (DB9). TCP/IP-addressable controller and both styles of cables are provided.
• Power: Universal rated low voltage power supply. Input: 110-220 VAC. Output: 12 VDC. Current draw: less than 0.5 A.
• Does not include software or carrycase. These and other accessories are available and priced separately.

Carrycases

• Several styles of ruggedized carrycases are available. Configurations include base + keypads, keypads only, keypads with integrated charging rack. Wheeled versions are also available.