GEnSAC3 FAQ

Will GenSAC3 do Call Alert with ACK?
Does GEnSAC3 come with a monitor?
Can GEnSAC3 do reporting?
Does GEnSAC3 work with P25 / SmartZone 6.x?
Will Talkgroup Patch operate with a Motorola Console and GEnSAC3?
Does GEnSAC3 Operate with the new MCC 5500?
Can I use an MCS2000 control station, or must I use the Spectra Consolette?
Does Genesis replace the CEB?
What are the specifications of the GEnSAC3 computer?
Is the PC a tower or a table top?
I have seen in one of your documents that the customer needs to provide a NIC card. Is a NIC card required?
We will be interested in 8 port and 4 port versions. Is there a need for a RocketPort interface?
Could you provide suggestions about installing the PC at a customer location?
Does expanding from 4 to 8 port requires swapping boards, or is it just adding another board?
What information is needed for programming the GEnSAC3 PC?
Can GEnSAC3 be setup at our location?
Can we use your order form to get a quotation?
What type of support is included with the purchase?
Everything is hooked up but I see no data. What's wrong?
You include one year warranty and support with a new GEnSAC3 sale. What happens after one year?
Can I use a single RF-modem and RIMII for driving both SystemWatch and GenWatch3?
Are there any caveats with using GEnSAC3 on an MCC5500 console?
Is it true that if GEnSAC3 stops working or if it must be turned off that the console will stop processing audio?

Will GEnSAC3 do Call Alert with ACK?

Not at this time. As of today we are investigating this, more from a practicality point of view for a wireless console rather than a "can we do it" point of view. There is no problem decoding Call Alert, like Emergency, but the trick is acknowledging from a wireless console.

Does GEnSAC3 come with a monitor?

While monitors are inexpensive these days, due to space saving concerns, the solution does not include a monitor. Once GEnSAC3 is setup, it will likely be tucked away in a place where a monitor would not be needed. In most scenarios, a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Monitor) switch offers a viable alternative.

Can GEnSAC3 do reporting?

Technically, yes. GEnSAC3 is based upon our industry accepted GenWatch3 software. However, at this time, the standard GEnSAC3 package does not come with reporting capability. The addition of GenWatch3 will provide reporting, without the need for another RF-modem and RIMII.

Does GEnSAC3 work with P25 / SmartZone 6.x?

Yes! Utilizing the Motorola XTL™ 2500 and 5000 series, or EF Johnson Technologies RS5300 radios, you now have an RF-modem RIMII solution for P25. Both radios listen to the CAI (Common Air Interface) and stream data to GEnSAC3. From there, everything remains the same!

Read more about both radios here.

Will Talkgroup Patch operate with a Motorola Console and GEnSAC3?

Yes. While there seems to be some delay in the call turnaround time, Patch does operate. We are working with Motorola in attempts to clean this operation so it operates more smoothly.

Does GEnSAC3 Operate with the new MCC 5500?

Yes. The GEnSAC3 manual details some of the settings that need to be made in the MCC 5500 CSDM (Console System Database Manager).

Please note caveat

Can I use an MCS2000 control station, or must I use the Spectra Consolette?

Either will work. When using the MCS2000, a tone remote adapter (TRA) will need to be included in order to get balanced audio. Relay keying is still used, but the audio is a problem without one. It is much easier on the install to just use the consolette. However, if budget is of concern or if MCS2000s are already in place, a TRA will work nicely.

Important news on the MCS2000

Does Genesis replace the CEB?

No. The entire console is still needed, including the CEB. GEnSAC3 replaces the tether of the T1 line from the CEB to the AEB.

What are the specifications of the GEnSAC3 computer?

The PC is a Dell Dimension 4600 PC. Inside is added a Comtrol Rocket Board. The PC mechanical specs are:

Dimensions (H x W x D): 14.5" x 7.25" x 16.75"
Input voltage: 100 to 120 V at 60Hz, 200 to 240V at 50Hz
Output wattage: 250W maximum continuous
Heat dissipation: 853 BTU/hour (fully loaded, w/o monitor)

Genesis reserves the right to change the supplied PC without notice as Dell updates their hardware.

Is the PC a tower or a table top?

It is a tower. However, a different configuration - such as rack mount - may be added at an additional charge. While the PC included in the package is more than ample to handle the GEnSAC3 application, a customized PC is possible, if the client is willing to cover the extra cost.

I have seen in one of your documents that the customer needs to provide a NIC card. Is a NIC card required?

At this time, there is no need for a NIC card. However, we are developing features in future generations of GEnSAC3 that will require it.

We will be interested in 8 port and 4 port versions. Is there a need for a RocketPort interface?

If so, please provide dimensions. For technical reasons, we need all versions of the RocketPort. The hardware contains two parts:

The internal card, which is mounted inside the PC
The external part, which is the RS-232 interface

Could you provide suggestions about installing the PC at a customer location?

Some of our customers have installed a cantilever shelf in the same rack as the CEB equipment. On that shelf, they sat the GEnSAC3 PC (in such cases there were others supporting the console as well). The RF-modem/RIMII was also on a shelf at the top of the rack. The RocketPort interface brick was mounted to a 5" blank rack panel (blank side forward). All cables then were run in cable race ways on the rack. It made a very nice installation in amongst the CEB equipment.

Does expanding from 4 to 8 port requires swapping boards, or is it just adding another board?

Neither. In the GEnSAC3 4,8,16 we start with a RocketPort that is capable of going up to 16 ports. We control the number of active ports with a license file that is placed in the PC directory where GEnSAC3 resides.

What information is needed for programming the GEnSAC3 PC?

On the GEnSAC3 Order Form is information that we use to pre-program each GEnSAC3.

Can GEnSAC3 be setup at our location?

Setup is possible in the field, but to ensure the best quality, we highly recommend pre-shipping setup at Genesis. That being said, we are sympathetic to possible security issues which would require a field programming and setup.

Can we use your order form to get a quotation?

Contact Genesis for a quotation specifically to meet your needs. The quotation will be good for a limited time.

What type of support is included with the purchase?

The first year is included in the price of each GEnSAC3. Tier 1 support is telephone based 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Central time. In teh event of an emergency after hours, we provide contact instructions on our phone system. If further support is required, we resolve issues using pcAnywhere, which is installed in each GEnSAC3 machine.

Everything is hooked up but I see no data. What's wrong?

Here are a few troublshooting tips:

Are you using the Motorola supplied cable from the RF-modem to the RIMII?
Are you using the Motorola supplied cable from the RIMII to the PC?
Is the power on to the radio and RIMII?
Is the antenna hooked up and working? Many times, this is the last thing technicians think of. But without a signal, it will look like nothing is operating.

One tip for testing all of the links in the chain is to open HyperTerminal on the GEnSAC3 PC and have it listening to COM1 (where the RIMII is plugged in). Turn off the Radio and RIMII and then turn them back on. If you see no garbage, likely it is a cable issue. If you see something like- "~~(garbage)~~", that means that the GEnSAC3 is correctly hearing the RF-modem and the RIMII. At this point, we highly suggest checking the antenna connected to the radio.

You include one year warranty and support with a new GEnSAC3 Sale. What happens after one year?

There are several options. In most cases, GEnSAC3 is sold through Motorola or through authorized re-sellers. Remember also there are two basic hardware pieces that come with the GEnSAC3 package. We can either contact the end customer directly and pass the hardware warranties on to them and ask them to keep the support and maintenance agreement current, or we can do that through the re-seller or Motorola. We really don't care. We want what is best for the customer. The Dell PCs come with a 3 year on site warranty and we want to get that into the hands of the end customer for the best level of service, if that makes sense in the situation. The MTS (Maintenance & Total Support) cost is 9.5%.

Can I use a single RF-modem and RIMII for driving both SystemWatch and GenWatch3?

Yes and No. Bottom line is we do not recommend it. Both SystemWatch and GenWatch3 do more than listen to the RIMII. There is start up data that is sent to the RIMII when each program starts. If we do the classic RS-232 "Y" cable, we run the risk of data collision. For example: If we remove the TX (transmit) line GenWatch3, then SW must be running (thus programming the RIMII) for GW3 to operate. So, while it is possible, its not a great idea.

Are there any caveats with using GEnSAC3 on an MCC5500 console?

Yes.

It so happens that if a channel is set to be an ASTRO® channel (which is the way the MCC5500 channel needs to be set in order to display IDs and Emergency), Tone Remote capability is lost. Control stations must be near the MCC5500 DAP so they are controlled locally. This is a limitation in the MCC5500.
The MCC5500 must have a software release newer than 4211059-44SR1. Versions older than that will not support ASTRO Conventional mode, which is the way the MCC5500 operates for trunking. Learn more about the MCC5500 software version from the "Help" >> "About" selections.

Is it true that if GEnSAC3 stops working or if it must be turned off that the console will stop processing audio?

Yes. However, GEnSAC3 looks like a DIU to the MCC5500 DAP and to the Gold Elite ACIM. When a DIU stops functioning, that channel on the console stops functioning. The same happens with GEnSAC3. Many installers create a "shorting plug" that can be quickly plugged into the ACIM or DAP port in the event GEnSAC3 has to be turned off for any reason. For details on this plug, please contact us.

GEnSAC3 Specifications

GEnSAC3 FAQ