Using the RB-x20 Response Pads with SuperLab for Mac 1.75
Last Revision: May 30, 2002

The information in this document applies to:

• Owners of an RB-420 or RB-620 response pad who want to use it with SuperLab for Macintosh 1.75

Summary

SuperLab 1.75 does not yet support the higher speed that the RB-420 and RB-620 offer. To use these two models with SuperLab 1.75, you need to:

• Reduce the speed on the response pad to 9600 baud from 19200. At the reduced speed, the RB-420 and RB-620 act identically like their predecessors, the RB-410 and RB-610.

• Tell SuperLab that you are using an RB-410 or RB-610.

Enabling RB-610 Emulation

Placing your RB-420 or RB-620 response pad in an RB-410 or RB-610 mode is a simple matter of flipping a switch.

Take a look at the back of your response pad, illustrated below. You will find three things (from left to right): the Accessory Connector for plugging external peripherals; a set of four switches; and the serial port for connecting your response pad to the computer.

When shipped, all four switches are in the down position. This is the "RB Series" mode running at 19200 baud. To make SuperLab think that you have an earlier model, you need to flip switch 3 UP, as illustrated below:

Setting Your Experiment in SuperLab

This part is also easy. in SuperLab:

• Click on the Experiment menu and chose "Input From...". A dialog (screen) appears showing you the list of available input devices.

• If you are using an RB-420, select the "RB-400/RB-410 Response Box" option. If you are using an RB-620, select the "RB-600/RB-610 Response Box" option.

• Click on the Options button. Another smaller dialog appears. Set the model to RB-410 or RB-610. Set the port to the one that your response pad is connected to, e.g. "Modem" or "Printer".

• Click on OK button twice.

Troubleshooting

If SuperLab cannot detect a response from your response pad, here is a checklist of things to look for:

• The most common reason is usually an incorrect serial port setting. Double-check which port your response pad is connected to. If you are not sure, try different port settings in SuperLab.

• If you are using a USB-to-serial port adapter, make sure that the USB driver is installed correctly. In particular, many users of Keyspan adapters have had to download the most recent version of the USB driver from Keyspan's web site because the one included with the adapter had some problems.

• If you are sure that the port settings are correct, a common problem on PowerBook laptops is when an internal modem is installed. Use the Apple control panel to disable the modem.

• Another possible source of trouble is the cable. Make sure to use the cable that was shipped with the response pad. If it has been misplaced and you need another cable, you need a modem cable (as opposed to a printer cable). The difference between the two is that a modem cable has all the wires running straight through, whereas a printer cable does not.

If all else fails, please contact Cedrus for technical support.