Allocating devices: 3 dig code

[shawnam]

Hello all,

I can't seem to get my votes to allocate to a name in named mode (2.4ghz). I see the list of names and codes, press the orange flame until both lights light up and then put in my code. The lights flash a little and ends with the red light flashing red. My user name never turns green. Help!

Also, can someone explain the difference and reasons why you would use either the 3 digit allocation or the allocate to users mode? I have a hard time explaining this to teachers.

Thanks,
Shawna

[saha]

In the 2.4 Ghz votes, do not press the orange central button.
Simply press the 3 digit code and the votes will register.

This is a big difference from the old RF votes

[shawnam]

Yep! That was it. Thank you :)

[Lee Nelson]

Also, can someone explain the difference and reasons why you would use either the 3 digit allocation or the allocate to users mode? I have a hard time explaining this to teachers.

I'll try to explain the differences as I see them. If I'm wrong someone who knows the software better than me can correct me!

The basic difference is that with PIN mode the user can have any device, with allocation mode the user must have the correct device.

The PIN allocation mode allows users to turn up, pick up any device and register it to their name in the class list. The problem with this mode is that you cannot add latecomers to the seesion - the whole class would need to PIN register again.

The allocate to users mode assigns the registered devices to the users in your class list. Your problem now is to make sure the correct person gets their device. You can do this either by going into test and as you test each device assign it to the correct user, or make sure each device is numbered - there is a little window and numbers are provided to do this. Then all you need to do is give the users the same number of device each time. With this mode you can mark users absent, so once you have your classes set up and the numbered devices assigned to users you are set up for good.

I hope I haven't confused you even more!

[shawnam]

Thanks for sharing the differences. :)This makes sense!

[davidlloyd]

Thanks Lee. That's the first time anyone has explained the difference to me. It makes a lot more sense now.[clap][clap]

[magistra]

I have the same problem as the original post but I have the old votes. I'm running 10.4.11 on a MacBook (intel processor). I used to be able to allocate the devices with Build 96 but when I upgraded to 3.6, I lost the ability to allocate and are my students grumpy about it!

Any help for me?

Michelle

[saha]

Hello,
I am not a Mac user at work.
Could a Mac user on the forum help?

What are the symptoms ?Can you vote successfully in anonymous mode? Do you have the latest mac driver ?

[magistra]

Yes, we can do anonymous mode. When we go to allocate the devices, the boxes on the screen are red, some we can get to turn green, others will turn green then revert to red right away and others will be green for a while and then turn red. Sometimes I'll have a kid try a different activote and that will work but mostly it does not. I will do it for them with the same results.

Michelle

[magistra]

And I forgot to say "yes, I have the latest driver" which is the real culprit, I suspect.

Michelle

[saha]

Sounds like a electronics board problem to me. Perhaps the RF receiver on the board is malfunctioning. Or some of your Activotes have gone bad. Also check the battery life on the Activotes
Please call Tech Support and they will be able to help you.

[colobill]

Slightly off topic here, but how can I tell which version of Activote I have? I received a new board and set of voters last July (7-07).
Bill
Denver CO

[saha]

Hi Bill,
If you look at your votes and see a "wave link symbol" on the votes, then you have got the newer 2.4ghz votes.

If you dont see that, then you have the older RF votes.

[Lee Nelson]

Also the old votes connect through either the Activboard or the old style hub that looks like a vote. The new 2.4GHz votes only connect to the new style hub that looks a bit like a USB flash drive.

[colobill]

I have no hub, so I assume I have the older style, connecting through the 'board. Do I have that right?

Thanks,

Bill

[LisaD]

That should be correct, yes.

Lisa

[saha]

Hi Bill,
Please see the attached picture.
If your votes did not come with this hub, then you have the older RF votes which communicate directly with the board.

activhub

http://www.Prometheanplanet.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2893&stc=1&d=1215471463

[mrsb]

I believe I have the RF votes since my board was installed in February '07. If there were 32 votes in the container, should I also have received an Activhub with them?

[saha]

Hi Letesia,
How are things in sunny virgin island? :)

The RF votes (older votes) communicate directly with the RF receiver in the Activboard and hence no hub is needed or supplied with the box.

The new 2.4 Ghz wireless votes communicate through the USB Activhub.

Does this help?

[jepatton]

Hi Leteshia --

I believe I have the RF votes since my board was installed in February '07. If there were 32 votes in the container, should I also have received an Activhub with them?

You can probably still buy a hub for these votes. It looks like a vote, but it has a USB cable coming out of it so you can plug it into your computer. The very oldest boards (the ones with the black oval in the upper left hand corner) do not have the RF receiver built into them, so the hub is needed for the older RF votes to communicate with the board and computer. I'm not sure how many of these are still available though, as Promethean has discontinued these votes in favor of the WIFI ones.

[DBarnwell]

Just a quick note in addition to June's, the 95" board also does not have a built-in RF transciever.

[colobill]

Due to some fortunate miscalculations we may have overfunded this year's tech budget and I may be in the running for a set of Expressions. (lucky me and my students…)

Anyway, will there be any problem using the new Expressions AND my older 'Votes?

I am running AS 3.6 on a Macbook under 10.4.11 (wiht the possibility of upgrading to 10.5.?

Thanks for the input.

Bill

[mrsb]

Gautam,

I'm sending you thoughts filled with sunny skies, sparkling, white sand, and cool island breezes. {} It's another typical day in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Thanks for responding to my post. I do have the older votes that work with RF. So having a hub is a moot point. If installing the Activboard wasn't such an ordeal, I might actually ask my principal for an upgrade. It seems the newer ones are getting more great features and a whole lot more tech fun tools.

See you around the forum!

Leteshia

[mrsb]

June,

Thanks for responding to my post as well. I have the RF votes so having a hub is a moot point. I just thought it may have been something missing from my equipment when my board was installed.
Keep up the good work!

Leteshia

[saha]

Hi Leteshia,
Thanks for the blue skies.
Maybe this will make you feel better.
You are not missing anything out. If you want to use the newer wireless Activotes, then you can still use them with the USB hub that comes with the newer votes. It has nothing to do with the board. So no need to change your current Activboard.
In fact your current board will even work when Activarena comes out. All you will have to do is upgrade to the latest firmware which I understand has not been released to the general public yet.

[mrsb]

Gautam,

As usual, you've shed some light in the darkness. :) Thanks for the info/updates. You are an asset to this website, and I appreciate your posts and your responses.

Leteshia

[Lee Nelson]

Since there is still some confusion about distinguishing between the old and the new style votes can I point out that 'RF' stands for 'radio frequency' so both the old AND new votes are RF, just operating at different frequencies. I'm pointing this out because saying you have 'RF' votes doesn't specify whether you have the old or new versions!

[DBarnwell]

By the way, Bill, that's a good question. The hub is defaulted over the board when it is connected for registering and using devices, including the votes. This is true on both platforms, and on the PC you would need to disconnect the hub before opening the software in order to use the 915 MHz votes again (Or alternatively connect the hub before opening the Expression software to use those devices).

On the Mac, however, you can tell the driver to use the board for Activoting, which will allow you to use your old votes even with the hub attached- just go into system preferences, click on Activboard, and click on Hardware. Select options, and you should see a small window with three drop-down boxes appear. In the box for Activotes, select your Activboard, and you should be able to use your old votes even with the new hub connected.