Tari Runyan wrote:
are the X
roms available for testing yet?please put me on the list to ship beta roms
to please..
On May 18, 2000 Guy Lancaster wrote:
I'm issuing a beta release of the 1.94y firmware
and I encourage all interested parties to give it a try before we make
a general release. You can order your copies from the order desk
in McKinney (or Vancouver for Canadian shipments). The release notes
are attached.
Probably the most important thing is that this fixes the modem
detection bug in 1.94x so that the features in that release will be available.
There is currently no date set for a general release so we have some time
to try it before we buy it. When testing, we need to check:
-
Upload and download both direct and by modem (internal and external) with
GEMS and VTS.
-
The use of the count header cards and the counter override cards (less
important) with GEMS Auto Absentee both enabled and disabled.
-
Handling of 128K memory cards (from 1.94x).
-
Reduction of NOT READ ballot errors using a change in timing mark filtering.
-
Anything else that you care to throw at it especially from the 1.94x and
1.94y release notes.
If you feel that you need something in this release let me know
and we'll work out a release date. And, as always, keep us informed
using the support and bugtrack lists of tests that you've run so that we
can get a feel for how stable this is. Beta releases are tracked
by date and checksum so please refer to those in your reports.
Thanks.
Guy
RELEASE
NOTES
Accu-Vote Optical Scanner - Beta Release
1.94y
Revised May 18, 2000
Purpose
To fix some bugs and support counting absentee
ballots at the polls while the polls are open.
Compatibility
The 1.94y release of the Accu-Vote firmware is
based on the 1.94x release. The precinct count upload protocol remains
compatible with all 1.9 VTS versions. The precinct count download protocol
and the memory cards are compatible with previous 1.94 releases.
All Releases
-
Allow setting February 29th on leap years.
-
Fix modem detection bug introduced in 1.94x that
prevented communications when using a common Accu-Vote internal modem.
-
External USR modems tested at 9600 bps for communications
with GEMS.
Precinct Counter (PC) Release
Also in the 1.95e release:
-
Support the new GEMS-1.16->Setup->AccuVote Options->Tally
Settings->Auto Absentee checkbox which allows the Accu-Vote to determine
whether a ballot should be counted as polling or absentee based on its
ballot identification marks. This requires either that polling and
absentee ballots have unique card numbers in which case the absentee ballots
can be counted at any time without the use of header cards, or that the
new Counter Group Header cards be used to resolve conflicts.
-
Support new Counter Group Header cards. With
the GEMS Auto Absentee option selected, these can be used to override the
count group normally associated with a particular card ID or to resolve
conflicts when a particular card ID is used in multiple count groups (i.e.
polling and absentee). With the Auto Absentee option selected, the
old Absentee Count Card operates as a Counter Group Header, Absentee card.
-
Support using either the "Counter Group Header,
Polling" card or the "Counter Group Header, No Override" card to return
to polling count mode after counting absentee ballots using an Absentee
Count Card. This applies only when the new GEMS Auto Absentee option
is not enabled.
-
No longer require the Absentee Count Card before
the Ender Card when counting absentee ballots at the polls.
-
When using a ballot box (i.e. when not using a feeder),
no longer require that an override be cleared before setting a new override.
Previously when a Precinct Header Card was used, you would need to use
a Precinct Separator Card before using a new Precinct Header Card.
In non-feeder modes the YES and NO buttons must be held while feeding any
control card which is considered a sufficient check against accidental
use.
-
When using an Accu-Feed, an override using either
a Precinct Header Card or a Counter Group Header Card must be cleared before
a new override can be set or before the Ender Card will be accepted.
In feeder mode, the Accu-Vote will quietly process all control cards as
long as all header cards are matched by appropriate ender cards.
-
The pre-election unmarked and fully marked ballot
tests now identify all control card types and can be used to verify that
control cards are readable. At this time the tests do not identify
the override ID on the override cards.
New for 1.94f:
-
When using counter group overrides, check that the
card is valid for the current counter group. Prior to the Auto Absentee
option there were absentee counters for all cards when using absentee cards.
Now cards can be absentee only or polling only. The override cards
are only needed when Auto Absentee is enabled and there are ballot cards
that are not unique to a count group (i.e. they are used for both polling
site and absentee voting).
-
Fix bug that caused reports to loop endlessly when
trying to determine the party code for partisan closed primary ballots.
Versions
(AV-OS-PC-AE Beta Rel 1.94y) Precinct Counter American
English Beta Release 1.94y with checksums A:DC4C and B:B4DD dated 00-05-18.
(AV-OS-PC-AE Beta Rel 1.94y) Precinct Counter American
English Beta Release 1.94y on a 128K ROM with checksum 9564 dated 00-05-18.
· · · · ·
Greg says that he used Beta 1.94y in a demo and they worked
great but I have heard nothing else. They probably won't be released
for general use until someone decides that they need them.
Guy
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