Is there an offline version of the questionnaire designer?

No. The Questionnaire Designer can only be used online. Survey Solutions evolves very rapidly and we are introducing new features with each monthly release. An online designer allows us to maintain the version compatibility. Another argument in favor of online designer is that in order to use any CAPI software a tablet has to communicate to a server. So, the internet connection is necessary for data collection and thus should also be available for Questionnaire Designer.

What kind of support does the Survey Solutions team provide to the users.

• Basic remote support (FREE)
• Extended remote support (Skype, email)
• On site support (missions of Survey Solutions staff to the country)
• Training and capacity building.

Does obtaining a GPS signal require an internet connection?

No, GPS receiver in the tablets relies on satellites to obtain coordinates. So, no internet (3G or WiFi connection) is required. However, you can improve accuracy of GPS signal by pairing the satellite signals with the coordinates obtained from mobile networks.

Can data collected with Survey Solutions be saved/backed up on a USB stick or micro-SD card?

No, we do not support such functionality. This feature will unavoidably lead to data losses and increases in survey management costs. Saving data to UBS generates multiple versions of data that is very difficult to maintain without overriding the useful data. To avoid duplication, Survey Solutions imposes a rule where a particular questionnaire can be only with one agent in the system.

What kind of tablets should we purchase to use with Survey Solutions?

Survey Solutions is designed to work on Android tablets. The interface is optimized to work on tablets with a screen of 7-inch or larger. Survey Solutions will work on devices with smaller screens (5-inch) but some users might experience difficulties in reading small fonts.

Minimal requirements for tablets are described in the following article What tablets should I buy?.

What are the costs associated with using Survey Solutions?

Survey Solutions is free software distributed under a Global Public Goods licence. The licence agreement puts no restrictions on the use of Survey Solutions by either public or private companies. However, to use Survey Solutions you will need to purchase tablets and arrange space of a server to run the Survey Solutions HQ application.

Does Survey Solutions support data exchange from one tablet to another with Bluetooth, Point-to-Point or USB connection?

No, current version of Survey Solutions does not support such data exchange. We see no reliable way to maintain and manage multiple copies of the same questionnaire on several tablets. While we realize the benefits of such transfer protocols in certain situations, the risk of data losses is too high for us to implement this feature.

How can I try out Survey Solutions?

Step 1: Develop a test questionnaire by following the instructions in the Getting Started with Survey Solutionsvideo tutorial.

Step 2: Explore the survey management system by following the instructions in the Setting Up a Test Survey video tutorial.

Step 3: Should you have any further questions, please contact us.

How much does Survey Solutions cost?

The Survey Solutions software (both the server and the tablet components that are necessary to conduct a survey) are available as a download from our server for free.