Category: Geeks r Us
Hi blindies,
I've got probably one of the most well built braille displays ever produced, an Alva Satellite 544 Traveller. I love this display for many reasons, but there is something I can't quite figure out. In the user guide it says the Alva can be powered by USB rather than from the power cord. However, this doesn't work, both in Windows, where it just flat out doesn't work period, and under Mac os, where unsurprisingly it does work. But under Mac os, the only way the alva works is by having direct AC power. I cannot seem to get this display to function solely from USB power and I can't figure out why. Now the display if turned off and then plugged into my mac and then powered on, place the single chime indicating that the power button was pressed, however no tri tone is played indicating connectivity as if there's power going to it. I asked the guy I bought it from and he couldn't seem to figure it out either and I'm wondering if anyone can help me out. I'm not hopeful as most blindies tend to use freedom science fiction and hims gear because its.....popular I guess who really knows. But if someone has experience with this and can help me, I'm sure there's something stupid I'm missing. When the single chime is played after pressing the power button on the alva, it doesn't connect, but what is weird is that I see the message faintly displayed on the display that the alva is ready. It is faint and it's like the unit wants to turn off but is getting just enough power to display the message but not so little that all cells are half way up.
If it works with one computer and not with the another I would think that the problem is in your PC's usb connection.
Maybe it's not sending enough energy to the braille display.
What about trying in a diffrent computer with the same software?
I have one of those and used it in a daily basis during 9 years only using the Usb connection to the computer.
In fact this braille display was and is really cool because of this feature.
I think in my Alva 544 I never used the battery and never connected it to the power chord. Only to the computer!
And it was always getting energy enough to work without problems with the energy was getting from the PC.
Either as Faial said, your USB ports are underpowered, in that case, try switching to a different USB port if your computer has one, or it's an issue with drivers. Look on the ALVA website, maybe there are drivers there for the 544 which need to be installed for it to work well with Windows.
Ok so let me clear up the issue. Many people say the 544 does not have batteries. Actually it does. After calling to vision Cue up in Portland, I can either service it myself or send it in. Apparently I got a steal on this display because the serial number indicates that it is the 82nd display manufactured, and was told the braille cells were especially beefy as apposed to the newer satellite travellers put out in later years.
Of course it has batteries!
What for me really lacks on that braille display is a braille keyboard which for me is pretty essential! But as I said, I own one and it's an amazing product specially if you think I bought it 9 years ago and it still works like new!
Cheers
Yes, and I received the unit back a few weeks ago. I am trying to sell it. Vision Cue appraised it at $1000, and it works like brand new. Will be hard to part with it if I get any less than that....I have seen people sell them for like $500 to me that's just a little low.
It's unfortunate, but you aren't going to get very much for this display, no matter what it's worth. I have one to sell, and can't find a buyer, no matter that mine's in newly serviced condition, and I kept dropping the price.
It doesn't have bluetooth capability, and doesn't work with Windows 7 and beyond.
In XP, I've had no trouble using it USB powered. It is a very good display, but i too would love to have one with braille input, perhaps the Alva bc640!
Just a quick correction.
It does work with Windows 7: I used it with BRLTTY and Nvda and it worked beautifully under Windows 7.
The problem with Windows 7 was from the Alva drivers but if you install BRLTTY, you wont need Alva original drivers.
So with BRLTTY and Nvda, this braille display will work in Windows 7 and I even suppose with Windows 8 and 8.1
Not mentionning that with Mac computers it works out of the box without any drivers.
About Braille Input I tried one Alva AB640 and I really hated it.
Since Optelec bought Alva they changed the quolity of the braille cells and it is now adays absolutely horrible in my opinion.
For the same price you can find much much better in other brends with much better braille sells and much better braille keyboard input.
heers,
Jorge
I totally agree with you. My model is older, so the 64 bit converter box unfortunately doesn't work with my display. Have you actually sold your display yet or are you still hanging on to it. I like this display because just what you mentioned, the construction quality is far superior to even like you said, the newer BC series. What would you reasonably let it go for? The display will work with windows 7, but I guess depending on how old the board is, it may only work with 32 bit, even with the brltty and NVDA setup which I have, I still couldn't get it to work...it depends on when it was manufactured as the newer Alva's do work with 64 bit, the satellites, I mean.
My Alva was bought in 2004. I used it during 3 years in Windows 7. I think this was a great product. Braille sells were great and the quolity of construction was great. Very solid, very long life etc.
But unfortunately I really hated the new AB 640. For example if you compare the design of the keyboard and confort of typing with for example the new Focus 40, the AB 640 is like a joke.
But the old Alvas were great and I am happy I had one.
I didn't sel mine. I gave it to my sisters husband who is also blind and he was really needing one so I gave it to him because I have newere displays.
Actually I heard it is possible to use this Alva 544 with Brltty and Jaws but never did it and have no idea how to do it.
Unfortunately in my opinion the majority of questions about computers regarding accessibility and compatibility with displays are answered with a word. Mac. Buy a Mac and it works all beautifully! Lol