Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CX Manual

Getting Started with the TI-Nspire™
Docking Stations
This guidebook applies to TI-Nspire™ software version 4.2. To obtain the latest version
of the documentation, go to education.ti.com/guides.

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Contents
Important Information 2
TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations 5
Using TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations 5
Software and System Requirements 6
Preparing TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations for Use 8
Docking Station Features 8
Configuring the Docking Stations 10
Inserting Handhelds into Docking Stations 12
Charging TI-Nspire™ Rechargeable Batteries 13
Transferring Files and Folders 14
Locating Handhelds in the Docking Station 17
Storing Docking Stations 17
General Information 19
Texas Instruments Support and Service 19
Service and Warranty Information 19
Index 21
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TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations
The TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations provide solutions for recharging batteries and
transferring files to multiple handhelds at the same time.
TI-Nspire™ Docking Station TI-Nspire™ CX Docking Station
The TI-Nspire™ Docking Station was designed to accommodate ten TI-Nspire™ CAS
with Touchpad and TI-Nspire™ with Touchpad handhelds with or without slide cases.
The TI-Nspire™ Docking Station can also accommodate the TI-Nspire™ CX and
TI-Nspire™ CX CAS handhelds.
The TI-Nspire™ CX Docking Station was designed specifically for use with the
TI-Nspire™ CX CAS and TI-Nspire CX handhelds. Each CX docking station can hold up to
ten CX handhelds; however, you cannot seat TI-Nspire™ handhelds in a CX docking
station.
Using TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations
In the classroom, you can use docking stations to:
• Charge the lithium-ion TI-Nspire™ Rechargeable Batteries in rechargeable-ready
TI-Nspire™ and TI-Nspire™ CX handhelds.
• Transfer files to multiple handhelds at the same time using the Transfer Tool
option in TI-Nspire™ Teacher Software, TI-Nspire™ CAS Teacher Software or
TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software.
• Upgrade the operating system (OS) on multiple TI-Nspire™ or TI-Nspire™ CX
handhelds at the same time.
Note: You cannot use docking stations to charge batteries or transfer files to a
handheld without a current OS or to load an OS to handhelds that do not have an
operating system.
What You Need to Know about Using Docking Stations
When using TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations, keep the following points in mind:
TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations 5

6 TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations
• When transferring files, docking stations can be used individually or linked together
(daisy-chained).
- Linking TI-Nspire™ docking stations together with standard USB cables enables
you to transfer files to up to 40 handhelds at the same time.
- If configured using five CX docking stations, the CX docking stations can support
up to 50 handhelds when using two computer USB ports.
- At least one of the docking stations in the chain must be connected to the
teacher computer and all of the docking stations must be connected to a power
outlet or power strip.
• When using multiple docking stations to charge TI-Nspire™ Rechargeable Batteries
or transfer files, you must connect each docking station to a power outlet or to a
power strip with multiple outlets.
• It is not necessary to fill all the slots in the docking station to charge batteries or
transfer files to handhelds.
• You can charge batteries and transfer files at the same time.
• When the docking stations are connected to a teacher computer, TI-Nspire™
teacher software enables you to view:
- The status of the batteries in connected handhelds (both TI-Nspire™
Rechargeable Batteries and AAA batteries if applicable).
- The status of files and folders being transferred to connected handhelds.
• Teachers using TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software can disable Press-to-Test
from multiple handhelds using the TI-Nspire™ docking stations. For more
information, see the Press-to-Test Guidebook for more information.
What You Need to Know about CX Handhelds
When using a docking station to charge or transfer files to the TI-Nspire™ CX handheld,
keep the following points in mind:
• A full set of CX handhelds with lithium-ion batteries can be completely charged in
six hours or less from a power outlet.
• Communication with CX handhelds in a docking station is through USB cables if no
wireless adapter is attached or if a wireless adapter is attached but not associated
with an access point.
• If the CX handhelds have wireless adapters with an access point connection, the
battery will charge but communication will continue through the wireless adapter.
Software and System Requirements
To transfer files to handhelds in the TI-Nspire™ Docking Station and TI-Nspire™ CX
Docking Station, teachers must have one of the following:
• TI-Nspire™ Teacher Software (Version 2.1 or higher)
• TI-Nspire™ CAS Teacher Software (Version 2.1 or higher)
• TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software (Version 3.0 or higher)

Note: When using the docking stations to transfer files to or charge batteries in the
TI-Nspire™ CX handhelds, all software must be Version 3.0 or higher.
Requirements
To use the transfer function or view status of the handhelds, the teacher computer
must meet the minimum requirements for installing and running the software. For
more information about system requirements, go to education.ti.com/guides, where
you can download the relevant guidebook.
Supported Handhelds
TI-Nspire™ handhelds that can be used with the docking stations are listed in the
following table. The check mark indicates whether the handheld is rechargeable-ready,
can accept transferred files, or both.
To use a docking station to charge batteries in a handheld or transfer files to a
TI-Nspire™ handheld, the operating system must be Handheld Operating System 2.1 or
higher. For TI-Nspire™ CX handhelds, the Handheld Operating System must be 3.0 or
higher.
Supported Handheld Charge Transfer
TI-Nspire™ CX Docking Station
TI-Nspire™ CX Handheld Ÿ Ÿ
TI-Nspire™ CX CAS Handheld Ÿ Ÿ
TI-Nspire™ Docking Station
TI-Nspire™ CX Handheld Ÿ Ÿ
TI-Nspire™ CX CAS Handheld Ÿ Ÿ
TI-Nspire™ CAS handheld with Touchpad
(rechargeable-ready) Ÿ Ÿ
TI-Nspire™ handheld with Touchpad
(rechargeable-ready) Ÿ Ÿ
TI-Nspire™ handheld with TI-84 Plus keypad
(rechargeable-ready) Ÿ
TI-Nspire™ handheld with Clickpad Ÿ
TI-Nspire™ CAS handheld with Clickpad Ÿ
Batteries
• TI-Nspire™ Rechargeable Battery
• Four alkaline AAA batteries (TI-Nspire™ handhelds only)
- Alkaline batteries cannot be recharged.
- Do not under any circumstances use rechargeable AAA batteries in your
handheld.
Note: Although AAA batteries cannot be recharged, it is not necessary to remove them
from the handheld when using the TI-Nspire™ Docking Station to transfer files or
charge the TI-Nspire™ Rechargeable Battery.
TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations 7

8 TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations
Preparing TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations for Use
The TI-Nspire™ Docking Station and the TI-Nspire™ CX Docking Station are shipped with
the following components in each package:
• A TI-Nspire™ Docking Station or TI-Nspire™ CX Docking Station
• An AC adapter
• A regional power cord adapter
Note: USB cables are provided with the TI-Nspire™ handhelds.
AC adapter
If you plan to link multiple docking stations together to transfer files, you will also need
USB cables (standard A to mini-B USB cables). For example, if you need to transfer
data to handhelds in four docking stations linked to the teacher computer, you will
need four USB cables.
standard A to mini-B USB cable
Docking Station Features
Both the TI-Nspire™ Docking Station and the TI-Nspire™ CX Docking Station are
designed to be easy to use and easy to move when needed in a different classroom.
Once all components are unpacked, the docking station can be set up for use in
minutes.

The TI-Nspire™ Docking Station has 10 slots and each slot can accommodate either a
TI-Nspire™ CX Handheld or a TI-Nspire™ handheld. You can also seat a TI-Nspire™
handheld with a slide case on the front of the handheld in the TI-Nspire™ Docking
Station.
The TI-Nspire™ CX Docking Station also has 10 slots; however, this docking station was
designed specifically for the TI-Nspire™ CX Handheld. You cannot seat TI-Nspire™
handhelds in the CX docking station.
The LED indicators on the front of the docking stations provide information about the
battery status, transfer status and indicate whether the handheld is properly seated.
(Ÿ) Transfer Status LED Indicator
Battery Status LED Indicator
Indentations on each side of the docking stations enable you to lift a docking station
using both hands.
Turn the docking stations over and you will notice an indentation or “channel” across
the bottom. To ensure the docking stations sit flat on a surface, thread the cable
through this space when you are configuring multiple docking stations end-to-end. You
TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations 9

10 TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations
manage excess USB cable when you don’t need to use the entire length.
Use channel to thread cable
Use cable wrapper to manage excess cable
Configuring the Docking Stations
When setting up multiple TI-Nspire™ Docking Stations, you must use a flat, stable
surface such as a table. You can also use a standard school cart if you need to move
the docking stations from classroom to classroom. When deciding on a location, it is
important to consider proximity to both the teacher computer and access to a power
source such as a power strip or wall outlet.
You can choose how you want to configure multiple docking stations depending on how
much space you have on the table or cart. If your surface is long and narrow, you can
configure docking stations end-to-end. If using a surface that is square or smaller in
area, you can configure docking stations side-by-side.