Technical information

Where shall the plugs be connected?

The following figure shows the front view of the control unit. Depending on the required configuration your device may contain more or less plug-in modules.

If your ACAM System is equipped with a table cover, the connections of the audiometer are found on this module:

The TCP-IP Network Connection:

Connect the ACAM System to the computer through an Ethernet cable and Twisted Pair; a cable according to the standard Kat.4, but the newer cable Kat.5 is recommended.
The network adapter selected has to support a 100 MB standard (for older ACAM System versions the 100 MB and 10MB standards) and the internet protocol TCP-IPv4. The data transport is performed through Windows Winsock (winsock.dll), which should be available in version 2 of the software. These specifications correspond to the common standards under Windows XP Service Pack 2. Almost any network adapter would be suitable.
Connect the ACAM System with its own network adapter, not with a HUB or switch. To ensure a 100% secure and trouble-free connection, the ACAM System has to be addressed using a fixed IP address. The network card that is attached to the ACAM System also needs a fixed IP address. ACAM is delivered with the IP 192.168.0.XXX. The last three figures of the ACAM System IP address, represented in the example as XXX are printed on the grip of each ACAM System. The subnet mask of the ACAM is set to 255.255.255.0.
On the network card of the computer, select an IP address that is different from the IP address of the ACAM System. The selected IP address should still pass in the subnet mask. For example, if the IP address of the ACAM System is 192.168.0.100, then select 192.168.0.150, for your network card. In Windows it is also possible to assign several IP addresses to the same network adapter. This allows you to enter other IP addresses as needed for your own network.
Check if the proposed connection is feasible: on the lowest level you can send a ping to the ACAM System.

	Alternatively, start the program ACAM5_Kal.exe, which can also be selected from the installation CD. A Warning window will appear. Select <Info>.
	Open the ACAM System diagnostics tool. Select <Ping to address>.
	Send any number of pings to the ACAM System. Select <Start ping>.

Additional Items to Consider:

Routers and firewalls in combination with slow computers are very difficult for the ACAM System to work with. The ACAM System partly shifts large amounts of data to and from the computer. Therefore, it is of great importance that the interface works fast and is trouble free. If the query to the control unit is first routed through the internal or external net (internet) then the working speed slows down considerably until errors and failures occur during the work.

If the ACAM System is connected to its own network adapter then all protocols of this adapter should be disabled (except for the TCP-IP). Problems with the ACAM System, most frequently occur during the transport of data (network adapter, cable connection, working with old computers, or computationally intensive background tasks stealing the computers resources).

Configuration on the software level:

At the start-up of the ACAM System a comparison of the ACAM System operation software with the ACAM System control unit is performed. The system serial numbers and host name are compared, so that any computer may not start any ACAM System. When the serial numbers and host information do not match, an error message will appear and the start-up of the software will be canceled.

To restart the synchronization (e.g. after changing the computer) the following steps should be completed:

Start the ACAM5_kal.exe
Select <License authorizations/reset authorizations>.

Install the ACAM System on a new/different Computer:

To install the ACAM System on a new computer one file is of special importance. It is found in the ACAM System folder, is named by a series of figures, and ends with ".reg" (registry file). When your ACAM System has, for example the serial number 123, the file has the name 123.reg. The serial number of your ACAM System is found on the rear side of the housing. It is an engraved multi-digit figure.
This file is important because it contains all system calibrations. Before installation to the target system, check to make sure that the ACAM System is connected and that the TCP-IP connection to the ACAM System is established (see above).
Now you may install the ACAM System program into the target system. When the installation program asks you to indicate the license file, select the above mentioned .reg file. The installation should run trouble free.
Additional files for speech audiometry measures may need to be installed. This installation will need to be performed separately. After completing the installation, calibration differences may occur if the soundcard of the target system is different. If this occurs a new calibration will be necessary.

ACAM Uninstallation:

	Start the <Control Panel> within the System Settings of the computer.
	Select the item <Software> or <Programs and features>.
	Find the program labeled <ACAM5> and click on <Change/Remove>.
	This selection will begin the uninstallation program. Select <Uninstall ACAM5> and all registry entries will be deleted.

ACAM in the Administrator Mode or the Limited Mode:

The ACAM System also runs in a limited user mode; but, administrator rights are required for installing (or updating) the software. For calibration and other system settings within the ACAM5-kal.exe program, writing rights for the registry are needed. The ACAM System program checks at the start-up if writing in the registry is possible. If writing in the registry is not possible the program is canceled and displays a warning message appears on the screen. The ACAM System only requires reading rights and unlimited rights in the directory: Programs\ACAM, as well as in all subdirectories.

ACAM Data Export in the ASCII Format:

In the test box and real ear ,measurement modes of the ACAM System an export of all data (frequency curves and i/o diagrams) can be performed. All visible data are always exported. The data are written into the file "ASCII_Out.txt" in the ACAM System main directory C:\Programs\ACAM. Data is overwritten there. Technical information about the configuration of the file can be obtained from ACOUSTICON.

ACAM Data Export at Closing NOAH:

As described in the "Administration: System" you can select an automatic data export in the ACAM System. This exports tone and speech audiograms in two different formats: .dat as a data format and .emf as a graphics format (vector format of Windows). The files are copied into any directory you choose within the ACAM System software.

A more detailed description of the file format will be provided by ACOUSTICON.