FAQ's

Q. How do I report a problem with a Caption Display?

A. Please use our Caption Display Support Form or call Compusult, toll-free, at 1.888.388.8180 (USA and Canada only) and ask for a Caption Display support person.

Q. What sizes of Caption Display units are available?

A. Our standard Caption Display products all have four lines of 32 characters. The available character sizes range from 0.7" (17.8 mm) to 4.0" (101.6 mm) high. The actual 5x8 module is 4.8" high. The size of a Caption Display unit therefore depends on the character size you need, which is typically related to the maximum viewing distance required. For more information, please refer to the Caption Display features or take a look at our Caption Display product brochure .

We also build custom Caption Display systems. You can specify the number of lines, characters per line, and LED color that you require. For more information on a custom system, please call Compusult toll-free at 1.888.388.8180 or e-mail us at info@captiondisplay.com.

Q. Can the Caption Display products be used for live meetings with a group of people? My company wants to know if there is a better way to communicate in a meeting to deaf and hard of hearing employees.

A. Yes, our Caption Display systems, when combined with the optional Caption Display software and other related options, can be used for group meetings, presentations, church services, and even live theatre. The Caption Display software allows you to generate captions by keyboard entry, through speech recognition (when used with a speech recognition software package), and/or from prepared files. We can provide turnkey systems that include the displays and all required accessory items you'd need to support captioning at live events. At your option, Compusult will also provide on-site installation and training services. In fact, Compusult can provide a complete suite of ADA-compliant products for meeting rooms and other public venues. For more information on these options, please call Compusult toll-free at 1.888.388.8180 or e-mail us at info@captiondisplay.com.

Please note that this type of system is intended for basic transcription of spoken and other audible information. It is not an exact replacement for a professional captioner who has formal training and experience in live captioning services and who is aided by a specialized keypad and transcription software. As an added note, our Caption Display systems will work with any captioning software, encoder or other product that provides EIA-608B compatible output. Therefore, the Caption Displays can also be used by professional captioners.

Q. Do the Caption Display products support languages besides English?

A. Yes, all our Caption Display products support and will allow you to correctly display characters in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, and many other languages. On request, we can also provide systems for languages involving characters that have more complex display requirements, such as Chinese.

Q. Do the Caption Display products support C1, C2, C3, and C4?

A. Yes, all our Caption Display products support and will allow you to switch between C1, C2, C3, and C4.

Q. Can I use a Caption Display with my television at home?

A. Our Caption Display systems are typically used in theatres, national parks, educational institutions, churches, museums, etc. to provide full access for deaf and hearing impaired persons. While they can be used with your television (or DVD player or VCR) at home, they may not be the most cost-effective option for personal use.

To use a Caption Display with your home equipment, you simply connect the display to a television, DVD player, VCR, or other compatible device via an RCA-style connector. The Caption Display will then capture the NTSC video signal containing the captioning (Line 21) data. It then decodes and displays the captions. It will work with your equipment if you can provide that type of connection to our product.

Q. I only have one video output and it is currently in use. How can I get a video signal to both devices?

A. Our Caption Display systems all have a built in powered video loop through. You can connect your video signal from your source to our Caption Display and then connect the video output from the Caption Display to your other device.

Q. How can you turn a Caption Display on or off if it is mounted on a wall?

A. All of our Caption Displays have a built in remote on/off capability. Simply connect any type of on-off switch to the low voltage remote on/off connector and you can have a remote power switch anywhere you wish. When you power the unit off with the remote on/off switch the video loop through remains powered to allow the video output to be used for other purposes.

Q. If I use your Caption Display software how do I connect to your Caption Display system?

A. There are three ways to get data from the computer running the Caption Display software to the Caption Display system, a standard RS232 serial cable which is good for distances up to 25', a RS422 interface which is good for distances of several hundred feet or a wireless interface which is good for up to 1000 feet under ideal circumstances. For more information on these options, please call Compusult toll-free at 1.888.388.8180 or e-mail us at info@captiondisplay.com.

Q. Can I use the Caption Display software to send data to multiple Caption Display systems?

A. Yes, you can send data to multiple Caption Display systems at the same time. However, depending on the type of interface you choose you may require some optional equipment. For instance, if you are using a standard RS232 serial cable you will need a serial splitter. If you are using a wireless interface you will simply need to set the appropriate dip switches on the Caption Display systems. For more information on these options, please call Compusult toll-free at 1.888.388.8180 or e-mail us at info@captiondisplay.com.

For information on Compusult Limited products and services,
please send e-mail to info@compusult.net,
phone us at +1 (888) 388-8180 , +1 (709) 745-7914 or FAX your request to +1 (709)745-7927.