How do radio frequency (RF) systems compare to competitive infrared (IR) systems?

It is an engineering fact that as a wireless data transmission medium, radio is far superior to infrared. CP Wireless systems are two-way RF products that offer greater performance, simplicity, reliability, and range than any IR product.

Performance

Infrared keypads do not have an indicator to reflect that their response was processed by the receiving unit.

Each CP Wireless keypad has a unique identity (i.e., address). CP Wireless uses two-way RF to send responses to the base station and receive positive acknowledgement from the base station to each individual keypad that its response was accepted. CP Wireless keypads have an indicator to confirm both the user’s response and the base station’s acknowledgment.

Simplicity

IR is sometimes an acceptable alternative for very small, fixed groups...but IR immediately becomes cumbersome when audience size increases and/or audience seating must be flexible. For example, to set up a moderate-sized meeting room of 400 people, an IR system requires several collectors/repeaters. Additionally, IR keypads must be placed in proximity to the collectors/repeaters with care since (1) any barrier can disrupt IR transmission and (2) IR transmits data at an effective range of generally no more than 30 feet.

CP Wireless simply uses a single base station that can process responses of up to 250 radio keypads located 150-500 feet distant (see Range comparison below). Up to 8 base stations can be combined to increase maximum audience size per room to 2,000. But what’s remarkable is that all you need to do is place the base station in the room, connect it to your laptop, pass out CP Wireless keypads, and you’re ready to poll.

Reliability

Infrared is a line-of-sight device, and responses can be “lost” when barriers to transmission exist or when the keypad is too far from the receiver (think of your TV controller and how well it operates). One IR manufacturer claims that its keypad can overcome line-of-sight limitations by using “repeaters” scattered throughout the room or embedded in neighboring keypads. Most meeting services professionals don’t think that”s a realistic solution...because they know they can’t keep everyone absolutely still (to prevent common barriers to IR transmission like arms, clothing, chairs) and/or can’t tolerate multiple “Christmas Trees” of infrared processors placed in the audience’s view.

CP Wireless radio keypads are free to move around large and/or populated meeting rooms without fear of encountering range or barrier limitations. The patented RF design ensures votes are not “lost” as in cases common to IR. Additionally, all base stations and antennas may be hidden from the audience’s view.

Range

Infrared is extremely limited in range. Light diffuses over distance, and the coded information may be abruptly lost if the signal is weak...even when the IR system “retries” its transmission (again, remember your TV controller). IR transmits data at an effective “first try” range of generally no more than 30 feet.

CP Wireless keypads can transmit and receive data on the “first try” when located 150 feet or more from the base station. This range doubles when the base station is elevated and centered on the audience, and the range triples when optional antennas are used. That generates a coverage zone of up to 90,000 to over 200,000 square feet depending on base station location and/or use of optional antenna configurations.

Value

Infrared keypads cost little to manufacture since IR technology is much cheaper than radio technology. As a result, they could be an attractive solution...if they were being rented at a price commensurate with their value.

If reliable and accurate data gathering is important to you, RF technology is really the only choice!

CP Wireless is attractive because it offers superior meeting performance at an affordable price. Moreover, our price is fair and equal worldwide. Considering all of the product’s advantages noted above, CP Wireless is the best wireless response system value in the market today.

The Truth About Wired Audience Response Systems

The origins of audience response systems began with each keypad connected to a master control by wires. Sometimes groups of keypads would be connected to a module, which in turn, would be connected to the master control. This technology deserves some mention as it still exists and is promoted as being the most cost effective and reliable way to conduct an audience response meeting. Nothing could be further from the truth! At first glance the basic cost of the hardware may be less than a wireless RF system. But, that’s where any advantage stops. A wired system requires 3 to 6 people to setup a typical 250 unit system. A wireless system requires only 1 person. A wired system is only as reliable as its weakest link. If one keypad fails, it may affect all keypads in a module and may affect the entire system. So, when you add up the additional technicians, the added setup time and the lack of reliability, Wireless RF is the only real choice for audience response.

Market Leadership

Over 500 client companies have used more than 100,000 CP Wireless keypads in the past 5 years.