Interwrite PRS User Manual page 26

24 PRS System Installation – PRS Hardware
PRS
Hardware
The PRS hardware, Receivers and Transmitters (Clickers), is available in
two transmission types—IR (Infrared) and RF (Radio Frequency). The IR
Receivers and IR Clickers support a one-way, line-of-sight transmission
from Clickers to Receivers and on to the PRS software. The RF Receiver
Hubs and RF Clicker Remotes support two-way radio frequency transmis-
sion. Responses are transmitted from RF Clickers to RF Receivers to the
PRS software and status messages are returned via the Receiver to the
individual Clickers. Both PRS hardware systems are used to send, capture
and decode signals that are ultimately relayed to the PRS software on the
computer, where they are interpreted as Question Responses. Each
Response has a code attached to it that identifies the Clicker it came
from. The software establishes the connection between that unique
transmitted code and the student's identity, providing the basis for
recording Responses and attributing them to the student. In the IR system,
the unique code is the Clicker ID. It is matched in the Class Roster to the
Student ID and student name. In the RF system, the Student ID is the
unique code transmitted with each Response. As the Student ID is the
unique identifier of students in the Class, a Roster does not have to be in
place in order to have the Responses attributed correctly and recorded.
The Clickers are small, battery-operated, handheld devices. IR Clickers
have a keypad that consists of four rows of lettered and numbered keys
and a Power button. The RF Clickers have an expanded keypad that
includes Input Keys and Navigation Keys. A two-line LCD screen displays
Responses as they are entered and the returned status messages.
The Receivers receive and decode data transmitted to them from the
Clickers. The IR Receiver sends the decoded data via a serial connection to
the computer. The RF Receiver uses a USB connection. In both cases, the
decoded data are analyzed and recorded by the PRS software.
If you are installing a Mixed PRS System that uses both
IR and RF PRS hardware, don't mix up the Power Supply
cables. The Power Supply for IR is slightly different than the
one for RF, and they cannot be used interchangeably.
Chapter 2