How do I use HAL as a Speakerphone?

Solution

Related Product(s): HALdeluxe, HAL2000

HALdeluxe and the more powerful HAL2000 include a voice-activated speakerphone feature. HAL's speakerphone allows you to talk to people using HAL and your computer's speakers and microphone. Additionally, HAL's voice features enable hands-free directory dialing by voice.

To take advantage of HAL's speakerphone features:

Verify that HALdeluxe or HAL2000 version 1.3.23 (or greater) is installed.

To verify the version installed on your computer, right-click on the HAL ear icon and select ABOUT HAL. If it is before version 1.3.23 (e.g. 1.2.19, 1.3.4, 1.3.11, etc.) then you will need to upgrade to the latest version. The upgrade can be downloaded from this website (go to Products then click on the software you own and click on the Upgrade link).

Verify that you have a HAL-compatible voice modem.

We recommend the HAL Internal PCI Voice Portal. If you do not have a HAL-compatible voice modem, you can obtain one from the HAL Online Store.

Connect a microphone and speaker(s) to the MIC and SPEAKER jacks on the HAL Compatible voice modem.

Typically, you will already have a microphone and speakers plugged into your computer's sound card for interacting with HAL. However, in order for the HAL speakerphone to function properly it is necessary to connect a separate microphone and speaker(s). Therefore, you will need a total of two sets of microphones and speakers in order to use HAL as a speakerphone while retaining the ability to interact with HAL via microphone. See the related FAQ for a diagram on this setup.

While the above is what we recommend if you would prefer to use the same microphone and speakers for both interacting with HAL and HAL's speakerphone, some customers have used a single microphone and speaker. This may be possible by connecting a microphone to a "Y" adapter then connecting the "Y" adapter to the MIC input on both the sound card and the voice modem. To use one set of speakers connect the speakers to a "Y" adapter and the "Y" adapter to both the sound card SPEAKER output and the voice modem SPEAKER output. This should allow one microphone and one set of speakers to both give HAL commands and use it as a speakerphone. Please note that in some cases volume levels coming out of the speakers are not equal when interacting directly with HAL and when using the speakerphone (volume may be too loud or too soft when using the speakerphone). This depends on the features of the speakers -- if the volume is not consistent then you will want to use the setup above.

There are several ways to activate HAL's speakerphone feature:

If the phone is ringing, you can right-click on the phone icon and select ANSWER/SPEAKERPHONE. This will answer the phone in speakerphone mode. (If you select this option when the phone isn't ringing, then HAL will open the phone line and you will need to place a call by using the buttons on the Phone Pad.)
Left-click on the phone icon or right-click on it and select OPEN PHONE PAD. To engage speakerphone mode, click the SPEAKERPHONE button or enter a phone number and click DIAL -- HAL will dial the number and will be in speakerphone mode.
Answer the phone as part of a Mode or Task. You can set up a Grouped Task (Macro) to answer the phone when you give a verbal command or have an If/Then Situation (Rule) automatically answer the phone when it rings. Go to the "Automating Your Home" section of the HAL's Online Help Guide or Operating Manual for more information on how to set up Modes and Tasks and the actions and conditions to use to answer and hang up a phone and for more information on using HAL's speakerphone feature.

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Article details

Article ID:	157
Category:	Telephone/Modem
Date added:	2012-12-05 20:48:36
Views:	1016
Rating (Votes):	(33)

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