Northeast Innovations Hint #5 - Universal Station Programming Reference

Description

The Model 3006 or Model 3008 Universal Station is a microprocessor controlled telecommunications product. Hand microphones, footpedals, headsets, and other accessories are supported for the purposes of transcription and dictation.

How Transcription and Dictation Systems Work

When you press a key on a telephone keypad, the telephone produces a two-frequency tone. Each number has a unique tone. The tones are sent along to the telephone company when you make a call. The telephone company then decodes the tones you dialed and connects you to the telephone line you are calling.

A dictation or transcription system uses these same tones. The difference is that the tones are not used to connect the user to a different telephone line. Instead, the system acts like a big tape recorder, and each tone represents a function such as play, record, rewind, or fast forward. Some systems use one or more tones for special functions.

The Northeast Innovations Universal Station is designed to produce these tones in a way that makes it easier to use a dictation or transcription system. Instead of having to use a keypad to enter the tones, you can use a hand microphone, footpedal, or other accessory.

Why We Call it the Universal Station

Although there are many variations of transcription and dictation systems, our Universal Station is able to work with virtually any of them. Usually only minimal programming is necessary, and simply telling the Universal Station which tone to use for each function is all that is required to get underway. There are, however, many adjustments that can be made and special features that can be enabled that make the Universal Station as universally useful as we know how to make it. In fact, we are continually improving the Universal Station. When an enhancement that a customer requests comes to light, we make every effort to implement it. We periodically upgrade our software when we find we can add useful new features and enhance reliablilty. We offer an upgrade service to those customers who are interested, so that older units can be given the same new functionality that brand new units possess.

Programming the Universal Station

For many, the Universal Station works fine with the factory default programming. But since the Universal Station is used in many different places in many different ways, some customers will need or want to program it differently. The unit uses a microprocessor. To allow for different uses, there are programmable memory locations. Each memory location remembers something that tells the microprocessor in the station what it should do when the station is being used. The most important memory location is A0. The programming in this key memory location tells the station which tone to use for which function, as discussed above.

The memory locations and their default settings are as follows:

Memory Location	Primary Use	Default Setting
A0	Maps DTMF tones to handmike or footpedal functions	860#*54D
A93	Sets up LCD display options (applies to 3008 only)	306D0000
A94	Sets up station program timing and delays	62020000
A1-A6 A70-A89	Speed dial entries	blank
A90-A92	Reserved	blank
A95 (pseudo-location)	Reset all memory to factory defaults (Use with caution! Refer to Northeast Innovations Hint #3 - Resetting the Universal Station for more information.)	[none]

Programming Basics

The station is turned off by turning the volume control fully counterclockwise. While the unit is turned off the microprocessor is still active, waiting either for the station to be turned on or to be programmed. To program the station, follow these four steps for each memory location you are going to program:

1. Using the volume control, turn the unit OFF

2. Enter the following on the keypad:

   A

   [memory location]

   #

   [memory contents]

3. Using the volume control, turn the unit ON

4. Using the volume control, turn the unit OFF

Programming for that memory location is now complete. The Universal Station will remember the new setting until it is either programmed differently or the unit is reset to factory defaults. This is true even if the unit is disconnected from power.

Note that memory location is 0, 93, 94, 1-6, or 70-92. Also note that memory contents can include the characters 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, *, and #.

Because of this method of programming, you should avoid randomly pressing keys on the keypad while the unit is turned off since unintended reprogramming may occur.

If you ever want to reset the unit to factory defaults and start programming the unit from scratch, you can do so. Please refer to Northeast Innovations Hint #3 - Resetting the Universal Station.

Programming the A0 Memory Location

First, obtain the transcription or dictation system settings from the System Administrator. If you are using a footpedal, you will need to know the digits for stop, play, rewind, and fast forward. If you are using a hand microphone you will also need to know the digits for dictate (record), secretary correct, and letters.

Even if the System Administrator is not available, you can try experimenting with programming the A0 memory location. Keep track of which numbers you enter (in addition, don't forget to try * and #) and use the process of elimination until the station works.

To program the A0 memory location, enter: