Genesis has been decoding the Motorola control channel since 1992. We like to say- we have used our decoding powers for good, not evil! We started with EzWatch (in DOS) then GenWatch, GenWatchXL, GenWatch3 and the GenWatch3 Commander Series. Over the years, Motorola has used our creative abilities to solve several unique 'one up' problems that have come up. One of the most recent ones involved Genesis becoming fully licensed to decode all of the OSW (outbound signal words) packets from the control channel, and also being licensed to create and send about 60% of the ISW (inbound signal words) packets. This solved several problems related to a high visibility customer for Motorola and it proved that Genesis had the ability to fully understand the Motorola 3600 control channel in minute detail. This led to Genesis now being fully licensed by Motorola to decode and encode all commands for their proprietary SmartNet 3600 control channel protocol.

A Bit of Motorola Network Management History
In the 90s, Motorola released network management software (NMS) tools to allow the owner of a Motorola SmartNet system to see what was happening on that system, and to actively control many of the radios on those systems. SIMSI (SmartNet Interface Management System one) came first. It was a UNIX based program based on a Motorola VME computer. That evolved into SIMSII (the next generation of SIMSI). After that came Turbo SIMSII that added more power. SIP (SmartNet Information Processor) was created as a DOS program to provide a low cost, limited feature alternative to the large and expensive SIMSII system. You could say that SIP is a 'sub-set' of SIMSII. SystemWatch was also created during this time and it grew to the highly acclaimed SystemWatchII. Its function was always looked on as a technical assistant and diagnostic tool rather than system management. As SIMSII began to age, Motorola created Site Lens as its replacement. read a side bar note from Phil Burks here.

As you may be aware, Motorola is not offering a replacement for the older network management tools. SIMSII and SIP terminals, in light of the 800MHz Rebanding initiative, would need to have significant code work done to them to make them operate correctly with the new Rebanding channels. It was not practical to spend the time, money and effort to make this happen to aging UNIX and DOS software. As of January 2008, Motorola cancelled SystemWatch and is offering GenWatch3 SW in its place.

GenWatch3® Commander Series GenWatch3 Commander Series is a bundled collection of selected GenWatch3 software modules designed to be a complete replacement for SIMSII and SIP. It handles all Motorola control channel OSW and ISW data packets as well as many external functions like CAD interfaces, external alarms and SMT communications. In English... GW3 Commander has all of the classic decode and data archiving and reports that our users have grown to love. In addition, we now have all of the Motorola RCM (Radio Command Manager) features like Selective Inhibit, Dynamic Regrouping, Call alert, etc. We can also drive external CAD systems you might have (see the CAD section for limitations) and close relays when certain events like Emergencies happen. We can also backup and restore the standard Motorola 6809 and MTC3600 central controllers. In the case of the Commander Series, all of this is bundled in packages, including all hardware. We have three versions of the Commander bundle that provide 'near equivalent facility replacement' for SIMSII and SIP. For the most current information about these bundles and their contents, please click here.

A Word About 'Near Equivalent Replacement' for Rebanding
In this process, there will not be a one-for-one replacement possibility. GW3 is Windows software running on standard PCs and servers while SIMSII, as an example, is Unix based software running on very expensive VME machines. The remote terminals on SIMSII were 'dumb' RS232 terminals and in the GenWatch3 Commander world, they are actual PCs operating as 'clients' that look back at a host. In the case of SIP, getting Windows to support DOS based software is rapidly getting harder and harder to do. We at Genesis have crafted modules and features that do a very good job of mirroring what you have in SIMS and SIP. We have been working with the Motorola marketing, engineering and the Rebanding team since 2005 to be sure that especially in the SIMSII & SIP case, we have equivalent features, functionality and work flow. We have also used modern technologies to deliver those features in Windows standard ways that you expect. Thus, it will not necessarily be a one-for-one replacement. Likely, by the nature of technology advancements, you will get more than you originally had. The GW3 'replacement' for SIMS, SIP and Site Lens users will be the nearest equivalent replacement that is commercially available on the market.

A Side Bar Note from Phil Burks, Genesis President
When we created our first EzWatch software in 1992, we had not been exposed to any of Motorola's network management tools. We operated from customer requests and even our own need. It wasn't until 2005 that we took a detailed look at Site Lens and that was at Motorola's request to prepare for this work. I'm saying this to help those that might be tempted to say that we copied Motorola's code, functionality, or stole Motorola's ideas. I want the reader to to understand that Genesis did not come close to entering in that arena. We pride ourselves on our creative nature, listening to customers, and leading the way in clever network management tools. Yes, GenWatch3® Commander Series does now have features that we 'copied' from Motorola. These were done at Motorola's request. It will be obvious to those that really take a hard look at GenWatch3® Commander as to which features we have created and those that Motorola has guided. For a little more on my philosophies and to further help answer the question, take a look at this 2003 paper I created called "Do We Compete?"