Almex Optima Installation and operation manual

Draft Page 1 of 10 03/11/08
Lee Shephard
Almex Optima Driver Manual
Almex Optima Drivers Guide
Issue
Draft
Date
03/11/08
Author
LS

Draft Page 2 of 10 03/11/08
Lee Shephard
Almex Optima Driver Manual
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
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2
Optima Layout Explained
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3
The ‘Start Screen’
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4
Logon Sequence
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5-6
The Main Screen
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7
Driver Functions
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8-9
Drivers Menu
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10

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Almex Optima Driver Manual
The Optima Layout Explained
Passenger
Display
The SmartCard
reader is built
in behind this
part of the lid
SmartCard
‘Traffic Lights’
Selection Keys
(Quick Issues)
Menu Keys
Numeric
Keypad
Multiply key
Drivers
Menu
(Function)
Issue
Clear/Cancel
Destination List Caller on
‘Main Screen’.
Menu descriptions
display toggle keys
Boarding Stage
Retard
Destination
Stage Change
Stage Advance

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Almex Optima Driver Manual
The Start Screen
The start screen tells the
user if the machine is ready
for action. At the start of
each day, where the bus is
at a depot with an access
point the driver needs to
ensure that the machine has
downloaded. You can check
this by looking at the
‘Transfer Status’ and
ensuring that it reads ‘OK’.
Should the machine be
reading open or failed you
can invoke a manual download by pressing ‘F1’. The machine will then ask for
confirmation that you want to download. If you want to download the machine,
press ISSUE to continue otherwise press ESC. On pressing ISSUE the
machine will then attempt to connect and download all updates. If this has
happened successfully, then when back on the ‘Start screen’your status will
have changed to OK. Should the machine read ‘overdue’ then the machine will
refuse a driver logon until the machine has been downloaded to an access
point.
** Whilst the machine is near an access point and downloading,
please DO NOT switch off the machine!! **
Where applicable, drivers should be aware of where the access points are
located at each of their depots.
Drivers can check that they have got the correct updates by checking the
version and tariff numbers. To ensure that updates are able to be checked,
these numbers will change as applicable and usually staff notices to tell the
drivers what version the machines should be running are issued by the
company.
After checking that the machine has been downloaded and is running the
correct versions of software you are now ready to logon.
To activate the machine press ‘Issue’.

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Almex Optima Driver Manual
Logon Screen
The user logon screen will ask for
the user to enter a Driver number
and PIN number. Enter your
number via the keypad and press
ISSUE. Then enter your PIN
number and press ISSUE again.
BCR Page
If you are the first user of the
day, after entering your user
details as a driver, you will be
presented with a BCR screen
with menus for you to input any
defects. This allows you to
record defects with the vehicle
to be reported upon then
machine being downloaded and
for other drivers to read when
logging onto the machine. The
BCR menus are used by
selecting the appropriate section
using the selection keys on either left or right sides. If at any point you select
the wrong option you can press ESC to go back one step, except if you are
selecting the last option for that defect.
If you are not the first user of the day, the machine will display any defects and
give you the option to print the list. You then press ISSUE to agree these faults
or ESC to exit back to the logged out screen. If you need to add defects to the
BCR you can do so by accessing the BCR function in the drivers menu.

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Almex Optima Driver Manual
Service and Journey
After the BCR page you need to
enter your duty details.
Firstly enter your duty number
then press ISSUE. When
entering a route number you
can either select the route
number from the right hand list
using the right selection keys
and scroll keys or you can type
in the service number and press
ISSUE. Should you need to use
letters as part of a route number
keep pressing the number with
the letter you require on it until
displayed. If a mistake is made during this entry, press the ‘C’ key to erase one
character at a time.
You can then enter the journey number in the same way as the service number.
After entering these details the machine will proceed to the ‘main screen’.
If at any point you want to go back to a particular line, use the left selection
keys and not the ESC key as this will take you back to the ‘start screen’.

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Almex Optima Driver Manual
The Main Screen
Note: The buttons demonstrated in this example will be different to your own
If the ‘F’ keys and/or selection
keys are used to bring up a
menu of tickets available. The
driver will get a screen like
this one. The driver can use
any of the five selection keys
on either side depending on
what ticket you require. After
making a selection the menu
will close and queue the
ticket. If you have entered the
wrong menu, just press ESC
to come out. BUT be careful,
by pressing ESC too many
times to come out of a menu will also clear the ticket queue.
The menu guide for the bottom ‘F’ keys are not shown until the left up scroll key
is pressed. Although this blocks the information of the lower selection keys, this
does not disable their use and visa versa. You can close the menu guide by
pressing the down left scroll key.
The left
selection
keys are
dictated as
per the
buttons on
screen
The right
selection
keys are
dictated as
per the
buttons on
screen

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Almex Optima Driver Manual
Multiple and adding tickets –The machine will add and multiply the ticket
queue automatically. All the driver has to do is keep pressing the buttons
relating to the tickets they want. Should the driver want multiples without
pressing the buttons for each one, so long as the ticket they want to have a
multiple of is at the end of the queue, then they can press the ‘+’ key and enter
the additional quantity required. There is a maximum of 9, however, you can
then put another 9 on top again and again but the ticket queue will increase to
show the multiples of 9.
Stage advanced/retard –This is done using the left and right arrow keys
above the issue key. If the driver should stage on to or past the destination
stage, the destination stage will automatically move on one stage further than
the boarding stage so that the driver always issues a valid ticket. Should the
driver try to select a destination that he has passed the machine will come up
with invalid destination.
Selecting Destination Stages –There are three different methods that can be used:
1) You can enter the destination number followed by the ISSUE key.
2) Use the destination list caller. (‘?’ Key) This will bring a menu up
listing all of the stages available. Use the scrolling arrows to find the
correct stage and then use the selection keys to depict the correct
stage.
3) Use the right hand set of scroll keys to scroll through the destinations
in route order. (If there are tickets in the queue this feature will not
work)
Hole Punching Tickets –The driver places the ticket into the hole punch and
presses. The machine should then come up with ‘Registration OK’ and beep
twice. This will show that the hole punch has been registered.
Changing the ticket roll –To change the ticket roll lift the flap that guards the
roll, take out any roll that maybe left. Place the new roll into the machine so that
the paper feeds towards the printer from underneath the roll. Feed the ticket roll
in between the two metal plates of the printer. The machine will then auto feed
the paper through ready to issue tickets. Should the machine not auto feed
check that the roll has as straight edge as possible before feeding through.

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Almex Optima Driver Manual
Manual Concessions –Must only be used when Authorisation has been
given by the office. Call: 01389 722 989, if no-one answers, leave a
message on the answer machine.
We will not receive payments from Transport Scotland unless
reported by the driver to the office. If you are un-sure, check with
your Depot Manager.
Customer SmartCards –When the Passenger boards the bus with a card,
they present the card to the reader. The machine will act in one of three states:-
RED –This usually mean a card has been mis-read or it is an invalid
card. The red ‘SmartCard traffic light’ stays illuminated and an error
message will be presented on screen with what is wrong. Should the
card be invalid please follow company procedures to resolve the issue.
AMBER –This usually means concessionary travel. The amber
‘SmartCard traffic light’ will stay illuminated and a destination list will be
displayed on screen. After selecting a destination stage in the normal
way, the machine will then automatically queue then issue the ticket
whilst displaying a green ‘SmartCard Traffic Light’.
In some cases, the machine may ask certain questions depending on
the class of concessionary. If the answer is yes press ISSUE if not then
press ESC. After this, the machine will continue to the destination list.
NOTHING –should the card reader not appear to do anything when
presented with a card, this usually means that the card is not valid for
the area it is in, for example; a concessionary from Cornwall trying to
read a card for travel. However, it could also be that the card is damaged
and/or unreadable. In this instance please follow your company
procedure for unreadable cards.
Please note: It is best that the passenger leaves the card at the reader
until the green smartcard traffic light and ‘Pass accepted’ on the
passenger information screen is displayed. Failure to do this will result in
the machine asking for the re-presentation of the card during the
transaction.

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Almex Optima Driver Manual
Drivers Menu –Accessed by pressing the ‘F’ Key
The Drivers menu consists of:
End Session –This will log the machine out to the ‘Start Screen’
ready for the next user. Should the machine be near a valid
access point the machine will automatically download.
Annul Ticket –Brings up the annul menu. If you are working a
vaulted system this will only allow the annulment of the last
concessionary card transaction. Should you need to annul this
transaction, press the left selection key next to the ticket listed
and follow on screen prompts. On annulling this type of ticket, the
machine will ask for the re-presentation of the smartcard.
You must keep the original ticket with the annulment hand them in
according to your company policy.
BCR Menu –This brings up the BCR defect recording menu. This
will allow the driver to add to the existing faults as required. From
this page you can also print the existing faults. Press ESC at the
main BCR menu to exit and return to the ‘main screen’.
Service/Journey –Will take you back to the service/journey
detail page as per the logon sequence to change your route
details. You cannot change your duty number from this screen.
Brightness –This screen allows you to change the brightness of
the backlight using the selection keys next to Darker, Brighter or
Max.
Inspectors –If an Inspector boards the bus they can get an
Inspector’s waybill from this function by entering an inspector
number and PIN.
BCR Print –This will give a print out of any defects as recorded
in the BCR menu. This button just skips the process of entering
the BCR menu.