VRI VRI400 User manual

VRI400
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS
GUIDE
MODEL: VRI400
January 2000
[phone]
Power Light
Phone Light
Test Light
Home Light
Away Light
Help Button
Help Light
Personal Help
Button (PHB)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Welcome to VRI400.....................................................................................................1
2.0 Installation...................................................................................................................1
2.1 Typical Installation..................................................................................................... 2
2.2 Installation with Multiple Telephone Devices.............................................................. 3
2.3 Installation with DSL Service...................................................................................... 4
2.4 Service Options ........................................................................................................... 5
3.0 Quick Start....................................................................................................................5
3.1 Calling for Help.......................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Monthly Testing.......................................................................................................... 6
3.3 Information Updates................................................................................................... 6
4.0 Using Your Personal Help Button...............................................................................6
4.1 Additional Personal Help Buttons ............................................................................... 6
5.0 Using the Console Help Button...................................................................................7
6.0 Using the VRI400 Check-In Feature (Optional)........................................................7
7.0 Using the Inactivity Timer Feature (Optional)...........................................................7
8.0 Automatic Test Features..............................................................................................7
8.1 Using the Automatic Voice Test Feature (Recommended Option)............................... 8
8.2 Using the Automatic Dial Test Feature (Option)......................................................... 8
9.0 Controls........................................................................................................................8
9.1 Power Switch.............................................................................................................. 8
9.2 Home/Away Slide Switch............................................................................................ 8
9.3 Cancel Button............................................................................................................. 8
9.4 Test/Learn Button....................................................................................................... 9
9.4.1 Learning Personal Help Buttons................................................................................................................9
9.4.2 Range Test Mode..........................................................................................................................................9

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9.4.3 Monitoring a Test Call...............................................................................................................................10
10.0 Internal Backup Battery..........................................................................................10
11.0 AC Power Monitoring (Optional)............................................................................10
12.0 Status Lights.............................................................................................................10
12.1 POWER.................................................................................................................. 11
12.2 PHONE................................................................................................................... 11
12.3 TEST....................................................................................................................... 11
12.4 HOME.................................................................................................................... 11
12.5 AWAY.................................................................................................................... 11
12.6 HELP...................................................................................................................... 11
13.0 Troubleshooting.......................................................................................................12
14.0 User Responsibilities................................................................................................12
15.0 Message Summary ...................................................................................................13
16.0 Accessories................................................................................................................13
17.0 Service.......................................................................................................................13
18.0 Warranty...................................................................................................................14
19.0 NOTES......................................................................................................................15
20.0 NOTIFICATIONS...................................................................................................15

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1.0 Welcome to VRI400
Congratulations! You have chosen the most advanced and reliable Personal Emergency Response
System available to provide you comfort and peace of mind. Help is just one touch away!
Pressing your waterproof Personal Help Button will immediately activate the VRI400. Within seconds, the
Response Center will be notified that you need assistance. A caring and professionally trained Care
Assistant will talk to you through the VRI400 speakerphone. The friendly Care Assistant will telephone
your friends, neighbors, family or authorities based on the type of assistance you need. If you cannot hear
the Care Assistant, do not worry, help will automatically be summoned.
VRI400is fast and simple to connect to your telephone. A Service Provider usually connects the
VRI400; however, you may elect to do it yourself. In either case, the Subscriber Information Form must be
completed with your name, address, responder names and any important medical information that would be
helpful to the Care Assistant.
2.0 Installation
Your VRI400should be installed in an area that is free from sources of loud noise. The location
should be in a central part of the home that is used frequently and near a telephone jack and AC electrical
outlet.
When your VRI400calls the Response Center, the telephone and any other device connected to
the PHONE jack on the rear of your VRI400will be disconnected during the call. This means that if this
telephone is off-hook, your VRI400can still contact the Response Center. If there are other extensions of
the same telephone number in your home that are off-hook when your VRI400needs to place a call, it will
not be able to unless the local telephone company has installed an RJ31X jack. This allows the VRI400 to
disconnect any telephone in the house that may be off-hook. If you elect to have an RJ31X jack installed,
contact your Service Provider and ask for an RJ31X telephone cord, part number RA400-RJ31X.
When connecting multiple devices such as a telephone, answering machine, Caller-ID, etc. along
with your VRI400to the same telephone wall jack (see Figure 2), it is important that your VRI400 be the
only device connected directly to the telephone wall jack.

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2.1 Typical Installation
(Refer to Figure 1 belowfor the following instructions.)
1. Locate a telephone jack with an electrical outlet nearby. The VRI400should be placed on a
flat horizontal surface. The VRI400should be located away from the immediate vicinity of
mechanical noises, i.e. oxygen generators, electrical equipment such as televisions and radios.
2. Unplug the phone cord from the wall jack and plug it into the jack on the rear of the VRI400
marked “PHONE.”
3. Find the phone cord supplied with the VRI400. The connector on one end of the cord is
larger than the connector on the other end. Plug the larger connector into the jack on the rear
of the VRI400marked “WALL.” Plug the smaller end into the telephone wall jack.
4. Plug the power cube into the electrical outlet. Verify that the outlet isNOTcontrolled by a
light switch.
5. Turn the Power Switch on that is located on the rear of the VRI400.
6. Perform the Range Test as described in Section 9.4.2.
7. Call the Response Center and provide the Care Assistant with your Responder Information
and to perform an initial Customer Test.
Electrical
Outlet
Power
Cube
Telephone
PHONE
WALL
Rescue Alert
Wall
Jack
Figure 1: Typical Installation
VRI400

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2.2 Installation with Multiple Telephone Devices
(Refer to Figure 2 below for the following instructions.)
1. Locate a telephone jack with an electrical outlet nearby. The VRI400should be placed on a
flat horizontal surface. The VRI400should be located away from the immediate vicinity of
mechanical noises, i.e. oxygen generators, electrical equipment such as televisions and radios.
2. Unplug the cord from the wall jack and plug it into the jack on the rear of the VRI400 marked
“PHONE.”
3. Find the phone cord supplied with the VRI400. The connector on one end of the cord is
larger than the connector on the other end. Plug the larger connector into the jack on the rear
of the VRI400marked “WALL.” Plug the smaller end into the telephone wall jack.
4. Plug the power cube into the electrical outlet. Verify that the outlet isNOTcontrolled by a
light switch.
5. Turn the Power Switch on that is located on the rear of the VRI400.
6. Perform the Range Test as described in Section 9.4.2.
8. Call the Response Center and provide the Care Assistant with your Responder Information
and to perform an initial Customer Test.
Caller ID or
Answering Machine
Electrical
Outlet
Telephone
Wall
Jack
PHONE
Rescue Alert
Power
Cube WALL
Figure 2: Installation with Caller-ID or Telephone Answering Machine
VRI400

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2.3 Installation with DSL Service
In order to have functional service, homes with DSL telephone/computer service require
additional installation steps. Below we have listed the three configurations for a successful VRI400/DSL
installation in order of commonality. Even with these configurations, it is possible that you will need to
call Customer Service for a more extensive troubleshoot.
2.3.1. A self-installed DSL filter, supplied by the DSL provider, is installed on the
telephone cord, between the VRI400 and the wall jack. Illustrated below.
2.3.2. The DSL filter is hard wired by the DSL provider. In this instance the home does
not have self-installed filters on the telephone jacks, and the VRI400 will be a standard hook-up. Illustrated
below.
2.3.3. If neither of the above configurations works, you may be able to connect the
VRI400 into the DSL modem, by the computer. Illustrated below.

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2.4Service Options
Your VRI400operation can be customized to fit your needs. For example, you may need
to dial “9” to make a telephone call from your home. The VRI400 must do the same. Once your
VRI400is set to dial “9”, you may write the special dialing information on the bottom of your
VRI400 in pencil. Your Check-In times are another example of service options that you may want
to keep track of on the bottom of your VRI400. Additional service options that are programmed
into your VRI400can be written on the bottom for future reference. Contact your Service
Provider for additional information.
3.0 Quick Start
Once your VRI400 is connected to the telephone line and your subscriber information is given to
the Response Center, help is just one touch away!
3.1 Calling for Help
To summon help, simply press your Personal Help Button. Your VRI400 will start
beeping. Within seconds, you will hear a friendly Care Assistant through your VRI400. If you
are able to reply, tell the Care Assistant what you need and your will be taken care of.
Help can also be summoned by pressing the blue Help Button on the front of your
VRI400.
If you cannot reply, do not worry, help will automatically be summoned.
If you have two or more telephone extensions on the premises using the same telephone number,
and if one of these telephones is off hook or otherwise in use, the VRI400 will not operate without
installation of an RJ31X connection by the telephone company. It is your responsibility to have
this device installed if so desired. Signals are transmitted using electrical power and over
telephone company lines which are wholly beyond the control and jurisdiction of Response
Center or Service Provider and in the event the telephone service is out of service or
disconnected, the VRI400 will not operate. Furthermore, the Response Center or the Service
Provider are not responsible for any monitoring during periods when Response Center’s
telephone lines are not working, or under any condition which would make it impossible to send
a normal telephone call from the Response Center’s place of business.

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3.2 Monthly Testing
At least once every month you should perform a test call to the Response Center to assure
that your VRI400is functioning properly.
Simply press your Personal Help Button. Within seconds, a friendly Care Assistant will
ask if you need help. Tell the Care Assistant that you are performing a test and do not require any
assistance.
3.3 Information Updates
Please inform the Response Center of any changes that are pertinent to your receiving
help. Changes may include responder names or phone number changes, area code changes,
additional responders, a change in your medical or household status, etc.
4.0 Using Your Personal Help Button
Your VRI400is supplied with one waterproof Personal Help Button on a neckcord. If desired,
your Service Provider can replace the neckcord with a wristband.
Your Personal Help Button uses an indicator lightto show the status of its internal battery. While
your Personal Help Button is being pushed, the light on the Personal Help Button is green to indicate the
internal batteries are good. A red light indicates the internal batteries are becoming weak. In between use,
the internal batteries can rejuvenate. As a result the light may not be red the next time your Personal Help
Button is activated. When the light is red most of the time, your Personal Help Button should be replaced
within six months.
When any learned Personal Help Button is activated within the effective operating range, the
VRI400will automatically dial the Response Center. Within seconds, a professionally trained and friendly
Care Assistant will speak to you through your VRI400. If help is needed, the Care Assistant will call
responders from the Responder List that you provide.
4.1 Additional Personal Help Buttons
Your VRI400is supplied with one waterproof Personal Help Button. In homes where more than
one person wishes to wear a Personal Help Button, or you wish to have additional buttons, you may ask
your Service Provider to supply you with up to eight buttons.
If you are using more than one Personal Help Button, you have the choice of using the same
Responder List for all buttons or having a separate Responder List for each button. The Response Center
will know which Personal Help Button was pressed and will call responders from the Responder List that
you provided which is associated with that Personal Help Button.
Your VRI400 is designed to provide for your peace of mind and comfort within the privacy of
your home and yard. The signal from the Personal Help Button is limited by various factors and
may vary from home to home. It is your responsibility to know the effective operating limits of
your Personal Help Button and to use it within these limits. Please contact your Service Provider
for additional information.

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5.0 Using the Console Help Button
When the blue Help Button on the front of your VRI400is pressed, a “Help Needed” message is
sent to the Response Center. Within seconds, a professionally trained and friendly Care Assistant will speak
to you through your VRI400. If help is needed, the Care Assistant will call responders from the same
Responder List as the main Personal Help Button unless instructed otherwise.
6.0 Using theVRI400 Check-In Feature (Optional)
Your VRI400can be set to provide for your assistance even when you are unable to get to a
telephone or push your Personal Help Button. Using the Check-In feature allows the Response Center to
automatically check on you if you fail to respond to your VRI400 Check-In request.
Your VRI400can be set to Check-In with you up to five specific times each day. At each
specified time, your VRI400will sound a series of long and short beeps. You will have a few minutes to
tell your VRI400that everything is okay by pressing your Personal Help Button, Console Help Button,
Cancel Button or the Test/Learn Button. If you do not respond, your VRI400will send a “Check-In”
message to the Response Center.
If the Check-In feature is enabled, be sure to leave the Home/Away Switch in the Away position
when you are not at home to prevent your VRI400 from sending false “Check-In” messages to the
Response Center.
The Check-In and Inactivity Timer features cannot be enabled at the same time. For more
information or help in setting the VRI400 Check-In feature, please contact your Service Provider.
7.0 Using the Inactivity Timer Feature (Optional)
Your VRI400can be set to provide for your assistance even when you are unable to get to a
telephone or push your Personal Help Button. Using the Inactivity Timer feature allows the Response
Center to automatically check on you if you fail to reset your VRI400 Inactivity Timer.
Your VRI400Inactivity Timer can be set in increments of 30 minutes. Most users prefer to use
either a 12-hour or 24-hour timer. Pressing your Personal Help Button, the red Cancel Button, using your
telephone, sliding the Home/Away Switch or pressing the Test/Learn Button resets the Inactivity Timer. If
the Inactivity Timer is not reset before the time-out period, your VRI400 will sound a series of long and
short beeps. You will have a few minutes to tell your VRI400 that everything is okay by pressing your
Personal Help Button, Console Help Button, Cancel Button or the Test/Learn Button. If you do not
respond, your VRI400will send an “Inactivity” message to the Response Center.
If the Inactivity Timer feature is enabled, be sure to leave the Home/Away Switch in the Away
position when you are not at home to prevent your VRI400from sending false “Inactivity” messages to the
Response Center.
The Inactivity Timer and Check-In features cannot be enabled at the same time. For more
information or help in setting the VRI400 Inactivity Timer feature, please contact your Service Provider.
8.0 Automatic Test Features
Your VRI400is designed to perform two automatic tests, described below, that result in messages
being sent to the Response Center. Both tests are optional and either one or both may be utilized. The
Automatic Voice Test provides the most complete test and is typically enabled by the manufacturer. The
Automatic Dial Test is less intrusive but does not test your Personal Help Button, or the speaker and
microphone circuits in your VRI400. The manufacturer typically disables the Automatic Dial Test.
It is strongly recommended that you use the Automatic Voice Test feature described below. If you
do wish not to use this feature, it is highly recommended that you at least use the Automatic Dial Test.