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| Question |
Answer |
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| "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. |
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| "Does GEnSAC3 come with a monitor?" |
No. We understand that monitors are inexpensive these days, but more than that they take up a lot of space. Our concept is that most likely you will have GEnSAC3 tucked away somewhere once it is set up where a monitor would not be needed. Also, many locations are using KVM (Keyboard, Video, Monitor) switches to save costs and space. |
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| "Can GEnSAC3 do any reporting?" |
Technically, yes. GEnSAC3 is based around our industry accepted GenWatch XL software, but at this time the standard GEnSAC3 package does not come with reporting capability. It is possible to add on our GenWatchXL software without needing another RF-modem and RIM-II to get reporting. |
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| "Does GEnSAC3 work with P25 / SmartZone 6.x?"
UPDATED AUGUST 20, 2006 |
YES! While Motorola
has not created an RF-modem RIMII
solution for the P25 control channel
(called the Common Air Interface, or CAI),
EF Johnson has done that. Their R S-5300
radio along with their Radio Programming
Interface (RPI) box and cable allow this
to happen. This listens to the CAI and
streams that CAI data to GEnSAC3. From
there, everything remains the same! |
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| "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. |
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| "Does GEnSAC3 Operate with the new MCC 5500?" |
Yes! Our GEnSAC3 manual details some of the settings that need to be made in the MCC 5500 CSDM (Console System Database Manager).
Please Note: There is one caveat. Please click here. |
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| "Can I use an MCS2000 control station or must I use the Spectra Consolette?" |
Either will work. When you use the MCS 2000*, you need to also include a Tone Remote Adapter 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 us the consolette, but if money is of concern or if MCS2000s are already in place, they will work.
Important news on the MCS2000. Please click here. |
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| "When I try to patch 2 Talk groups, I get a 'ping-pong' effect happening on the console." |
We have devised a fix for this (May 23, 2003). It does involve a GEnSAC3 upgrade. We have added the ability to filter out the consolette ID from going back to the console. Once you do this, the 'ping-pong' effect stops. |
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| "Does Genesis replace the CEB?" |
No. You still need your entire console including the CEB. We replace the 'teather' of the T1 line from the CEB to the AEB. |
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| "What are the dimensions of the GEnSAC3 computer?" |
The PC is a Dell Dimension 4600 PC. We add in (inside) 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).
Please note: Genesis reserves the right to change the supplied PC as Dell updates their hardware. |
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| "Is the PC a tower or a table top?" |
It is a tower. If you would like a different configuration, we can absolutely purchase a different configuration (rack mount as an example) for an additional charge. We really like to stick with Dell for many reasons, but the exact machine is something that we could vary if the client is willing to cover the extra cost that can run an additional $2-3k per machine. The PC we spec is more than enough power to handle the GEnSAC3 application. |
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| "I have seen in one of your documents that the customer needs to provide a NIC card. Is a NIC card required?" |
That is for future options that we will have. At this time, there is no need for it. |
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| "We will be interested in 8 port and 4 port versions. Is there a need for a Rocket port interface?" |
If so, please provide dimensions. Yes, we need the Rocket port in all configurations, even in the 4 port because we need to break out the data for each Talk Group to a discrete COM port that then feeds the ACIM cards (or CES in the case of an MCC 5500 console). There are 2 parts to the Rocket port. The card that goes inside the PC is not that important for size since it is inside the PC. The external part is the RS-232 interface. Here is a picture of the interface. As you can see, it is a 2x16 port, 32 port interface. In the 4 through 16 port GEnSAC3, you will see one of these interface units (we call it the 'brick'). Each unit is 5.8" by 8". |
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| "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/RIM-II was also on a shelf at the top of the rack. The Rocket port 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. |
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| "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 Rocket 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. |
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| "What information is needed for programming the GEnSAC3 PC?" |
The best way to answer you is to have you visit the GEnSAC3 Order Form Page. After the first 2 blocks (customer and ship to info) is the information that we use to pre-program each GEnSAC3. Certainly you can do the setup in the field, but we like to try to do it here for quality control purposes. I do understand that if there are any security issues, that it might need to be done in the field. |
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| "Can we use your order form to get a quotation?" |
At this time we are working on a proposal to the customer and will need pricing info. You can, but that will require too much information. I can have our team create a quotation specifically to meet your needs. The quotation will be good for a finite length of time for obvious reasons. |
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| "What type of support is included with the purchase?" |
The first year is included in the price of each GEnSAC3. We wanted to keep things simple. The type of support starts telephone based. We work usually with the shop that is installing the GEnSAC3 to help them understand the device and how it acts and reacts. We attempt to handle issues in the 8:00 am -5:00 pm Central time zone. We do have after hours and emergency contact instructions on our phone system. If that level is not sufficient to fix an issue, we do install pcAnywhere in each GEnSAC3 machine. The technician can then plug in a temporary telephone line and allow us to dial directly into the GEnSAC3 machine and fix any issues. |
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| "I have everything hooked up but I see no data. What's wrong?" |
Good troubleshooting should help to answer this, but here are a few tips:
- Are you using the Motorola supplied cable from the RF-modem to the RIM-II?
- Are you using the Motorola supplied cable from the RIM-II to the PC?
- Is the power on to the radio and RIM-II?
- Is your antenna hooked up and working? (this is many times the LAST thing technicians think of, but without 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 RIM-II is plugged in). Turn off the Radio and RIM-II 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 RIM-II. At this point, we highly suggest checking the antenna connected to the radio. |
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| "You include 1 year warranty and support with a new GEnSAC3 Sale. What happens after 1 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%. |
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| "Can I use a single RF-modem and RIM-II for driving both SystemWatch and GenWatch3?" |
Yes and No. Bottom line is we do not recommend it. Here's why...Both SystemWatch (SW) and GenWatch3 (GW3) do more than listen to the RIM-II. 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. If we remove the TX (transmit) line from say – GW3, then SW MUST be running (thus programming the RIM-II) for GW3 to operate. You can see that while it is possible, its not a great idea. |
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| "Are there any caveats with using GEnSAC3 on an MCC5500 console?" |
Yes.
(1) It so happens that if you set a channel to be an ASTRO® channel (which is the way you need to set the MCC5500 channel to be able to display IDs and Emergency that we send), you lose Tone Remote capability. You must have your control stations near the MCC5500 DAP so they are LOCAL control. This is a limitation in the MCC5500.
(2)
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. You can
find the MCC5500 software version from
the HELP, ABOUT selections. |
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| "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. What many installers do is to create a 'shorting plug' that can be quickly plugged into the ACIM or DAP port in case GEnSAC3 has to be turned off for any reason. For details on this plug, please contact us. |
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