Pocket Speak & Read
MODEL: PVCO, PVCO-C
INSTRUCTIONS
4th Edition
INTRODUCTION
ii
The Pocket Speak and Read VCO® (Voice Carry Over) is an innovative
product specially designed for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing who can use
speech to communicate with others. The PVCO allows you to make a phone
call independently without the assistance of another person. you can make a
phone call anywhere, anytime, by using any phone with the assistance of your
state Relay service. You will find the Relay number of every state in American
at the end of this manual.
The PVCO is the smallest and easiest product that allows you to speak directly
to the caller using your own voice with no typing. You can make a phone call
at home with a landline phone, or enjoy the freedom of using a cordless phone.
You will be free from sitting by the phone through a long coversation. Put the
PVCO close to a speakerphone and it will give you the opportunity to enjoy
handsfree conversation when you are working on the other projects at home or
office. Another benefit of the PVCO is you have the ability to take the PVCO
with you when you travel. You can call home while on the road by using either
the pay phone or the cellular phone. In an emergency, the PVCO will allow
you to use the call boxes located on the most major interstate highways to con-
nect with the 911 operator to make your call for assistance*. At the airport, in
the hotel, on the airplane, you always can speak directly to the person you are
calling without a barrier and read the message back form the Relay operator or
the person with a TTY.
The PVCO is lighweight, thin, pocket sized and also comes with a carrying
case and a belt loop attachment making it easier to carry and use wherever
you go.
* Krown Manufacturing, makes no representation that the 911 operator
will properly respond to a TTY/TDD call.
2
2.5mm Audio Cellphone &
Cordless Connector
Acoustic Coupler
Backlight ON/OFF
Battery Pack
6. Elastic Straps
7. Power ON/OFF
8. Signal LED
9. VCO Microphone
10. VCO Request Button
Display
INSTALLING BATTERY
I
The Pocket Speak and Read VCO® (PVCO) is powered by two AAA
alkaline bateries. Install new batteries before you first use the PVCO. When the
batteries begin to weaken, the PVCO will flash, “!!BATTERY LOW!!” four
times when the PVCO is first turned on. At this time, it is best to replace the
batteries immediately to ensure good working condition for the PVCO.
To install the battery please follow these easy steps.
1. Press ON/OFF button to turn off the unit.
2. Open the battery compartment cover by pushing in the direction of the
arrow shown in the figure below.
3. Remove old batteries, if necessary, and install new batteries as indicated
by the polarity symbols (“+” and “-”) in the battery compartment.
4. Replace the cover.
4
OPERATIONS
II
Pocket Speak and Read VCO® is very friendly to use. After installing the
batteries, turn on the PVCO power by pressing the ON/OFF button (the center
button). You should see the sign-on message, “Krown Manufacturing” on the
display. The PVCO now is ready to use.
To make a telephone call, contact your state Relay service to set up the call for
you. At the end of this manual you will find the list of Relay services for all of
the United States. The Relay listing will be invaluable to you when
communicating in your personal and professional life.
1. DIALING RELAY SERVICES
Pickup the handset of the telephone you
are going to use. Put the PVCO firmly on
the earpiece and watch the signal light
(LED) on the left hand side of the display.
The LED will light up when the telephone
is ready to use. This light means that the
PVCO is receiving a dial tone and is ready
for you to make a phone call. If the LED
does not light up you may want to try again. If the second try results in the
LED not lighting up, you may want to ask for assistance to see if there is
another procedure required to make an outgoing call. Using the PVCO to make
an outgoing call dial the Relay number on the phone keypad. Watch the LED
for the progress of the call. If you see the LED turn on and off in 2 second
cycle ON and 4 second cycle OFF, this indicates the ring feedback from the
line. If the LED is flashing in half-second cycles, the line may be busy. You
may want to hang up and try again.
If the LED is flickering, someone may be attempting to talk to you by voice. In
this case, you need to explain your situation by using your voice. Speak
directly to the caller and request they call Relay. When you dial Relay, the
operator will identify themselves to you. Now it is time to send your VCO
request to Relay Operator.
What is PVCO? VCO means “Voice Carry Over.” The pocket speak and read is
specially designed for the deaf and hard of hearing who has a good speech ability and
want to use their voice when making a relay call. How does relay work? Dial your state
relay number (if there is a number for the VCO caller, use this number [see page 13 for
list of relay service]). Tell the agent the phone number you want to call. The agent will
notify you when the hearing person answers. Go ahead and speak to the mouthpiece.
The hearing person will hear you voice directly. When they respond to you, the agent
will type what they say to you. The relay service is free of charge and 100%
confidential. If you have any difficulty understanding a conversation for various
reasons, you can request translation during the call. ]
II. Operation (CONT)
2. REQUESTING A VCO CALL
Move the PVCO down to the mouthpiece
of the handset. Press the “VOICE” button.
The machine is now sending a message to
the Relay operator to make a VCO call. At
the same time the machine will tell you to
wait with the message “SENDING PLS
WAIT.” After 2 seconds, the display will
tell you “MOVE TO EARPIECE NOW.”
Please move the PVCO to the earpiece of the handset and tighten the elastic
strap to the back of the unit around the handset. At this time, the Relay operator
will request you to use voice to communicate with him or her by message
(TALK NOW) or (VOICE NOW). The VCO call has now started.
3. VCO CONVERSATION
Speak the number you want to call
directly into the mouthpiece of the
handset. Say “GA” or “Go Ahead” after
finishing the sentence. The LED lights
up either when it is receiving from the
operator or when you are speaking to the
microphone. The progress of the call will
show on screen from the Relay operator.
Now you can really enjoy the convenience of this PVCO. Simply speak to the
phone and read the other person’s message back from the display.
4. END THE VCO CALL
To end the VCO conversation, you say “SK” or “Stop Keying”. Turn off the
PVCO by pressing the POWER button again and hang up the phone.
5. USING PVCO IN THE DARK
When you use the PVCO in the dark
you can turn on the blue-green
backlight to illuminate the screen. The
button has the light bulb icon and is
located on the left-hand side of the
PVCO.
6. TAKING PVCO WITH YOU WHEN YOU TRAVEL
Prior to a trip, verify that the machine is ready. Turn on the unit. You should
see the sign-on message. If not, install new batteries. Always carry extra
batteries in the pouch for easy replacement. Discard the old ones, do not put
them back into the pouch. It is a good idea to record every phone number into
the phone book which is included in the PVCO owner’s manual.
6
II. Operation (CONT)
7. IN CASE Of EMERGENCY
Dial 911 on the phone pad and wait until the operator answers. All 911 centers
are answered by a staff person who determines if the call is a voice or TTY
call. Move the unit down to the mouthpiece and press voice button. Wait until
you see the message indicating it is finished, then move it back to the earpiece.
Now you can talk to the Emergency operator and you can read the message
from 911 on the display.
Note: Krown Manufacturing makes no representations that the 911 service will
properly respond to a TDD/TTY call.
8. USING THE PVCO WITHOUT RELAY ASSISTANCE
If you know the hearing person has a TTY acoustic coupling with a telephone
you can dial them direct without calling Relay service. Explain to the hearing
person how PVCO works. The hearing person will listen to your voice and type
back the answer by using their TTY/TDD. The PVCO user should wait
approximately 3 seconds after seeing “GA” to speak. This time allows the
person using the TTY the opportunity to pick up from and connect to the TTY
without missing any of the conversation. It also ensures the conversation
between you and the caller is strictly private.
9. USING THE PVCO WITH A CELL PHONE
The PVCO-C is modified to work with select digital cellular phones or cordless
phones with a headset output. Consult your cellular phone manual for how to
set up TTY/TDD mode. Set your cell phone to work with TTY compatible
mode. Plug the communication cable to the cellphone and the PVCO-C.
First turn on the power for the PVCO-C and the mobile phone. Second, dial
a TTY number or your State Relay Service on the mobile phone keypad.
Watch the LED on the PVCO-C for calling progress. If you did not see any
action for 15 seconds, hang up and redial that number. Third, waiting for the
other party to answer your and end by a “GA”. It’s your turn to speak. Hold the
PVCO-C close to you and speak clearly. Always end by saying GA or go
ahead. Continue the conversation until both parties are ready to hang up. Hang
up the mobile phone and turn off the PVCO-C.
7
II. Operation (CONT)
Charge your mobile phone every night to a full charge to make sure it ready
to use next day. Use only the supplied cable to connect the PVCO-C to the
mobile phone.
NOTE: When purchase the cell phone and sevice for your PVCO-C. Make sure
your get a TTY compatible unit or look for a TTY-cellular telepphone symbol.
OR
NOTE: Look for the logo on the cell phone box or brochure for a TTY/TDD
Compatible. Always ask for a cell phone with vibrating mode in order to save
you to buy a vibrating battery to use.
10. Answering an incoming mobile call
Make sure to turn on the ringer of your mobile phone to be “ON” and in
vibrating mode. If your battery does not support this mode you may need to
order a vibrating battery from your mobile phone provider.
Connect the communication cable firmly on both mobile phone and PVCO-C.
Answer the call on the cell phone by pressing talk or send button. (Refer to
owner manual for more detail.) Say your greeting message and end by a “GA”
or “Go ahead”. The conversation has begun. When you are ready to hang up,
turn off your PVCO-C and hang up the cell phone.
NOTE: your cordless phone does not support vibrating ringer mode. Buy a tac-
tile telephone signaler pager and install the tramsmitter into the telephone out-
let. Wear the receiver on your belt.
8
MAINTENANCE
III
• Keep the PVCO dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids might
contain minerals that can corrode the internal electronic components.
• Use and store the PVCO only in normal temperature environments. Extreme
temperatures can shorten the life of electronic components, damage batteries,
distort and possibly melt plastic parts.
• Handle the PVCO with care. Dropping it can cause internal working parts to
fail or break the outer housing.
• Keep the PVCO away from dust and dirt, which can cause premature
wear of parts.
• Clean the PVCO by wiping the unit with a damp cloth to keep it looking
new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong detergents to
clean the PVCO.
• When replacing the batteries, use only alkaline AAA batteries. Always
remove old or weak batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that can harm or
destroy internal electronic components.
Frequently Asked Questions about using a PVCO
Q: Can I call without using the state relay service?
A: Yes, you can call a hearing person directly if he or she has a TTY device.
Please refer to your user manual for the procedure.
Q: Do I need to recharge it?
A: No, there is no need to recharge the batteries. The PVCO operates on two
Alkaline AAA batteries. An extra set of batteries is included in the
package. You can carry the batteries in its carrying pouch, which features a
belt loop, two pockets to store two back-up batteries, and the user manual.
Q: What if the area is dark where I want to make a call?
A: There is a button on the PVCO for a backlight on the LCD screen. Please
refer to your user manual for guidance.
Q: How will I know if my phone is ringing or if there is a busy signal?
A: A light signal indicator located in the upper left-hand corner of the LCD
screen will help you to watch progress of your call. If it is blinking fast,
you may have a busy signal.
Q: Why my LED turns on constantly?
A: If you use the PVCO with a cellphone or a cordless phone and get a LED
on constantly, you may have feedback from the antenna. Turn off and turn
it PVCO on to attenuate the EMI noise on the unit. If your LED is on by
itself, you may need to a contact technical support person.
9
III. Maintenance (CONT.)
Q: Will it work with only certain types of cell phones?
A: The PVCO-C is modified to work with the TTY compatible digital cell
phone always looking for these icons before making a purchase for your
cell phone.
OR
Q: If I am going overseas to another country can I still use my PVCO?
A: Some cell phones do not work overseas. Please contact your cell phone
provider about any questions that you may have regarding this subject. If
you plan to stay overseas and want to use PVCO to call home, you may
need to purchase a temporary local cellphone to use with your PVCO.
WARNING: Modifying or tampering with the PVCO’s internal components can
cause a malfunction and might void its warranty. If your PVCO is no
performing correctly, contact the manufacturer for assistance.
10
SPECIFICATIONS
V
Power Requirements....................................................2 AAA Alkaline Batteries
Baud Rate ................................................................45.5 Baud and/or 50.0 Baud
Telephone Connection Type....................................................................Acoustic
Dimensions ...............................................................................109 x 71 x 30mm
Weight..........................................................................104g (including batteries)
FCC REQUIREMENT
• This device complies with FCC Part 15, Subpart B, and IC regulation
ICES-003
• EMC certificate was granted by WO#99108481
• Under the environment with radio frequency interference, the machine may
malfunction and require the user to reset the PVCO.
11
RELAY SERVICES NUMBER
VI
Nationwide number for making VCO calls: 711. If it is not available in your area, please
use the number in your area listed below.
United States of America
Alabama
Arizona
California
Connecticut
(800) 548-2546/T Alaska
(800) 367-8939/T Arkansas
(800) 735-2929/T Colorado
(800) 842-9710/T Delaware
(800) 770-8973/T
(800) 285-1131/T
(800) 659-2656/T
(800) 232-5460/T
(800) 955-8771/T
(800) 643-8833/T
(800) 526-0844/T
(800) 735-2942/T
(800) 648-6056/T
(800) 437-1220/T
(800) 439-2370/T
(800) 627-3529/*
(800) 735-2966/T
(800) 833-7352/T
(800) 735-2964/*
(800) 852-7899/T
(800) 662-1220/T
(800) 366-6888/T
District of Columbia (800) 855-1234/T Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Mississippi
Montana
Nevada
(800) 255-0056/T Hawaii
(800) 377-3529/T Illinois
(800) 743-3333/* Iowa
(800) 766-3777/* Kentucky
(800) 846-5277/T Maine
(800) 735-2258/* Massachusetts
(800) 649-3777/* Minnesota
(800) 582-2233/* Missouri
(800) 253-4091/T Nebraska
(800) 326-6868/T New Hampshire
(800) 326-4013/V New Jersey
(800) 659-8331/T New York
(800) 735-2962/T North Dakota
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
(800) 750-0750/* Oklahoma (North) (800) 722-0353/*
Oklahoma (South)
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Texas
(800) 522-8506/* Oregon
(800) 654-5984/T Puerto Rico
(800) 745-5555/* South Carolina
(800) 877-1113/* Tennessee
(877) 826-1789/V Utah
(800) 735-2989/T Salt Lake Area
(800) 253-0191/T Virgin Islands
(800) 828-1120/T Washington
(800) 982-8771/T Wisconsin
(800) 877-9965/T
(800) 735-2900/*
(800) 240-2050/T
(800) 735-2905/*
(800) 848-0298/T
(800) 346-4128/*
(801) 298-9484/*
(800) 440-8477/T
(800) 833-6388/T
(800) 947-3529/*
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wyoming
Canada
Alberta
Manitoba
Quebec
British Columbia
(800) 267-6511/T Ontario
Saskatchewan
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
New Foundland
Prince Edward Island
* = Voice, TTY, VCO
T = TTY/TDD
V = VCO
12
WARRANTY
VII
Krown Manufacturing warrants that the PVCO2000 or PVCO-C sold by
Krown Manufacturing is free from defects in materials and workmanship under
normal use and service for one year. This warranty is applicable only to the
original purchaser of the PVCO2000 or PVCO-C when accompanied by a
sales receipt stating the date of purchase and the name of company from which
purchased. This warranty is in lieu and excludes all other warranties, expressed
or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness and of
any obligation on the part of Krown Manufacturing. If the PVCO2000 or
PVCO-C shall prove to be defective, then Krown Manufacturing shall either
replace or repair the PVCO2000 at no cost to the original purchaser. Within
one year period, the user may return the PVCO2000 to Krown Manufacturing
at the following address:
Krown Manufacturing Inc.
3408 Indale Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76116
Shipping charges are at the customer’s expense. Please include a check or
money order made out to Krown Manufacturing in the amount of $10 to cover
shipping and handling. This warranty does not extend to any PVCO2000 sold
by Krown Manufacturing which has been subjected to misuse, neglect,
accident, improper application, improper installation or to use in violation of
the instruction furnished by Krown Manufacturing. This warranty does not
extend to or apply to any PVCO2000 which has been repaired or altered by any
persons who have not been expressly approved by Krown Manufacturing.
Krown Manufacturing shall not be liable for any special consequential
damages, for loss or expense directly or indirectly arising from use of the
product, any inability to use them either separately or in combination with
other equipment, product accessories or from any other cause. This warranty is
only applicable to a product purchased through Krown Manufacturing,
CompuTTY, or a Krown dealer. Other than as stated herein, there are no other
warranties whether by the sample or model, by description or quantity, whether
expressed or implied, and there are no implied warranties of fitness for a
particular purpose or of merchantability.
13
NOTE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
|