13  Installing the T.O.V.A. Hardware

The T.O.V.A. is software and hardware. The hardware includes:

T.O.V.A. USB device :

The main T.O.V.A. box includes jacks for your VGA monitor (necessary for External A/V testing), speakers, the T.O.V.A. microswitch, and, of course, your PC. For more information, see section 29.1.

T.O.V.A. microswitch:

The T.O.V.A. microswitch is the input device to the T.O.V.A. test. For more information about the T.O.V.A. microswitch, see section 29.2.

Cables:

These are USB, video, and audio cables for hooking the T.O.V.A. hardware up to your computer. (No AC adapter is included as no additional AC power should be necessary.)

The T.O.V.A. Hardware

13.1  Basic (PTE) hardware setup

No qualification is necessary to install the T.O.V.A. software and hardware. T.O.V.A. hardware components are not user-serviceable and instead should be returned to The TOVA Company for repair. Technical Support is available if you have questions (section 27).

1. Unpack all of the T.O.V.A. hardware from the T.O.V.A. kit.
2. Plug the T.O.V.A. microswitch into the T.O.V.A. USB device where it’s labeled ‘T.O.V.A. microswitch’. Line up the arrows on the top of the connector with the top of the T.O.V.A. device and push it gently into the port. You do not need to twist or turn or squeeze in any way.
3. Find a USB port on your computer. If your computer is less than ten years old, you should have many on the front, back, or even sides of your computer. They are labeled with this symbol:
   USB
4. Plug the flat end of the USB cable into the computer’s USB port.

   Note: Do not plug the USB cable into a USB hub. USB hubs will cause intermittent communication problems between the T.O.V.A. software and the T.O.V.A. USB device . USB hubs are not supported.

5. Plug the squarish end of the same USB cable into the T.O.V.A. USB device where it’s labeled ‘usb’.
6. See the section below for additional hardware setup.

13.2  External Audio/Video setup

After you’ve connected the T.O.V.A. USB device to the computer as suggested above, there are additional connections to make for External A/V (or EAV) testing (tests that don’t require rebooting your computer.)

Note: If you have a laptop and you want to run an EAV test, you must have an external monitor (and external speakers for the auditory test).

1. Unplug your monitor’s video cable from your computer’s VGA port and replace it with the included T.O.V.A. video cable.
2. Plug your monitor’s video cable into the T.O.V.A. USB device where it’s labeled ‘video out’.
3. Plug the included video cable into your T.O.V.A. USB device where it’s labeled ‘video in’.
4. Unplug your speakers’ audio cord from the audio jack on your PC and replace it with the included T.O.V.A. audio cord.
5. Plug your speakers’ audio cord into the T.O.V.A. USB device where it’s labeled ‘audio out’.
6. Plug the included audio cable into your T.O.V.A. USB device where it’s labeled ‘audio in’.

Note: If you have any problems, you can find instructional videos at http://videos.tovatest.com.

Now you should be set up to administer EAV sessions.

Note: If you are using two displays—either an external monitor plugged into a laptop or simply two different external displays—make sure that the subject cannot see the non-testing display during testing, as it could be distracting.

13.3  You’re done installing the T.O.V.A. hardware! Now what?

If you’re installing the T.O.V.A. for the first time, you should see the first page of the T.O.V.A. Hardware Setup wizard that immediately follows the Configuration wizard. We recommend that you complete the Hardware Setup wizard to confirm that you’ve attached your hardware correctly. Please continue on to the section 14.