Reply® IQ

The REPLY® IQ keypad is shortly going out of production. Details of the replacement will be posted on these pages shortly, but in the meantime please visit the Plus keypad page.

Reply® IQ Technical Specifications (PDF, 73KB)

Reply® IQ is a revolutionary advancement in true two-way electronic voting keypads. 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).

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 "special function" keys (alert / raised hand, clear, backspace, send) are shaped and colored differently than the other input keys.
A “Speed Scoring” mode can identify the order of user responses for time-sensitive applications like gaming and team competition. Resolution is 0.05 second (50 millisecond).
A “Moment-to-Moment” mode offers continuous polling for advertising testing and other real-time perception measurement / analysis applications. Sampling rates are variable and can achieve 0.25 second (250 millisecond).
An "Alpha" mode allows entering full ASCII response by using the soft keys to navigate through letters, numbers, punctuation, and symbols.
(Optional) A "self-paced" or "offline" survey mode is accessible by the expansion module. Users can respond to the same or different question lists at their own pace. Results are later downloaded via the RF link.

Display

Large graphics LCD. Size: 128 x 64.
Includes backlighting. Light turns off after time delay. Light may also be turned on or off via the RF link.
Displays multiple lines of easily readable alphanumeric text and symbols for dynamic messaging. Up to 7 lines of 20 characters message length per line may 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 large font 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 soft keys below it. Depending on keypad firmware version, software applications can create visible prompts above these keys on the LCD screen.
Depending on keypad firmware version, software applications can display horizontal bars on lines 1 - 7 of the LCD to depict group response for certain question types with specific software.
(Custom designs only) Supports custom logos, special character sets, and other graphics. Minimum quantities, engineering costs, and extended delivery terms apply.

User Identification

Each electronic keypad has a unique RF device identity ("address") between 1 and 1500 plus a RF base station ("channel") identity.
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 ("log in") processes by monitoring keypad activity, checking 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 advanced functions, such as user identity confirmation and storage of all votes cast.

RF Technology

Two-way RF electronic keypad uses eligible license-free / license-exempt frequencies for communicating key presses to the Base Station and receiving Base Station control information and messages.
Patented and proprietary radio protocol.
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

Powered by 3 AAA alkaline replaceable cells (not included).
Power management and “sleep” functions are under software control to 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 additional electronic voting keypads to a Base Station requires them to be set to unused addresses. Up to its purchased permanent capacity (see IQB 500 Design Capacity*), 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.
RoHS compliant.
U.S. Patent Nos. Re. 35,449; 5,724,357. European Patent No. EP 0 697 773. Other U.S. and foreign patents and patents pending.

System Configuration

A basic Reply® IQ system consists of...

one Reply® IQK 1000 electronic voting 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 IQB 500

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: 2 pounds. (Add 1.5 pounds for cables and power supply.)
* Design Capacity: Up to 1,500 electronic voting 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.
Speed: Base station polling cycles are a djustable to optimize speed to group size.
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.

Pricing

TeamTalk sells the entire range of Reply® family of electronic voting products. Please contact us for further information.

Downloads

Technical specifications and pricing are available for download in PDF format.