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 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
Frequently Asked Questions is a technical section where you can get all your Omni-site technical support questions answered. We often receive calls for the same questions, so we compiled a database of the most FAQs and problems and then we let the Omni-site experts answer them. |
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| If you can not find an answer to your question feel free to ask the experts a question by emailing Omni-site at support@omni-site.net.
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Question: Can the XR-50 take 120VAC on the alarm inputs?
Answer: "Yes. The XR50+ MicroRTU now has (10) universal inputs that can take from +/- 12VDC or VAC to +/- 120VDC or VAC
. Omni-site also sells the Crystal Ball+ Complete MicroRTU System which has (14) universal inputs. More information can be found on the Crystal Ball+ and XR50+ on the products page of the website."
Question: My unit does not seem to be working? What do I need to do?
Answer: "If you perform these four steps, in this order, you can verify if the Omni-site equipment is working properly:
Step 1: Check to see if your unit has AC or DC power.
Step 2: Check your antenna cable for continuity.
Step 3: Check your signal strength.
Step 4: Check to see if the inputs open and close.
If after these four steps your unit still does not work, call Omni-site Support at 317-885-6330, so they can help troubleshoot your problem.
Question: Do I have to arrange for cellular service with a local provider?
Answer: "No. Omni-site.net is the digital wireless service provider. Our relationship with the major carriers allows us the ability to instantly activate your service, and we provide one consolidated low-price, fixed-fee monthly invoice. Our data service fees are typically 60% less than ordinary telephone lines. Your new Omni-site system arrives at your door pre-activated…ready to install anywhere in the US, Canada, Mexico, and some parts of South America. There is no service coordination required on your part regardless of where the device is installed."
Question: It seems that the Omni-Site solution is very fast and low cost. Why, then, do people continue to buy ordinary telephone dialers?
Answer: "The reason is because the Omni-Site technology is very new. This type of low-cost digital wireless data service became available in 2000, whereas telephone dialers have been in existence for years. It is likely that, over time, Omni-site technology will completely replace ordinary telephone dialers considering our initial equipment cost is lower, and our monthly data service fees are much less than ordinary telephone lines."
Question: Are the Omni-Site XR50+ and Crystal Ball+ cellular devices? If so, can our monthly data service fees fluctuate based upon the number of alarms generated during a particular month?
Answer: "Unlike traditional telephone service providers, our monthly fees are fixed.
The Omni-site units are not a cellular device as you are accustomed to seeing. The cellular telephones and devices on the market today utilize cellular voice channels. The Omni-site system utilizes WINGS™ cellular technology for data transmissions. This provides data transmissions where voice simply does not work, and also provides a much broader coverage area. Omni-site can provide seamless service in 98% of the US, 100% of Canada, and coverage in Mexico and South America are growing by the day. Also, cellular control channels never have a busy signal or "drop" calls like your cellular telephone.
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Question: Are there long distance telephone charges for monitoring equipment outside my "area code"?
Answer: "No. Regardless if your equipment is located down the street, or 3000 miles away the monthly service fee is the same low fixed fee. In fact, you can centrally monitor thousands of devices located across the US, Canada, Mexico, and South America…all for the same fixed monthly data service fees."
Question: Do I need special programming software or skills to program and utilize the system?
Answer: "No. The XR50+ and Crystal Ball+ are configured using an ordinary web browser. Even a person with no experience can successfully configure their device in 10-20 minutes without special software. Each client is assigned a secure password-protected web page on the www.omni-site.net website for equipment monitoring and configuration. The advantages to this method are immense. You can monitor and configure your equipment (in real time) from anywhere in the world…all without special software, a trip to the field, a special service call, or even long-distance telephone charges."
Question: If I install my Omni-site unit in one location, and decide I later want to move it to another location, or make it a portable device, can we do this?
Answer: "Yes. In fact, you could install it in Ohio today, and two years from now move it to Canada, and there is no coordination required on your behalf! The data service will be provided at the same low rate, and the XR50+ automatically registers its new location with our system."
Question: What type of message notifications are available with the Omni-Site system?
Answer: "Alarm conditions can be delivered in a natural voice to your business phone, home telephone, or portable cellular phone. Alternatively, e-mail messages can be sent to the destination(s) of your choice, as well as, pagers of any type can be alerted. You can also monitor real-time events happening on your secure webpage. Historical logs record all events that occur, and can be retrieved for download from your web page and imported into a spread sheet, etc."
Question: What type of support services can Omni-site offer?
Answer: "Since the XR50+ and Crystal Ball+ are web-based products, we can completely configure, re-configure, or diagnose any remote device from our facilities. Each time a remotely located XR50+ or Crystal Ball+ reports an alarm condition, our database collects the received signal strength of the transmission, the number of attempts that it took to make the transmission, and if the unit registered with the local cell tower properly. We use this data to determine if a unit is deteriorating over time, and notify you before a problem occurs. Additionally, we can completely program your alarm delivery messages and other device data from our facilities. Best of all technical support over the phone is always free!"
Question: Do I need special tools or test equipment to install an Omni-site unit at my facility?
Answer: "No. The XR50+ and Crystal Ball+ are small and can easily be installed inside existing equipment panels, or can be mounted directly outdoors. Each unit has universal inputs, and has an on-board LED indication system that can be used to verify that cellular service is available before the unit is actually installed. To test the unit signal strength merely read the value off of the local display or read the signal strength using our LED system. Our small Phantom antenna is usually sufficient for most monitoring applications, although, we do offer higher gain antennas to provide service in the most difficult applications."
Question: Can the Omni-site units work on solar power?
Answer: "Yes. In fact, we offer a complete solar panel package that includes the solar panel (sized for your location), battery-charging power supply, MicroRTU, and field terminal strip all pre-packaged in an aluminum enclosure for the ultimate solar-powered RTU. This entire package typically costs less than what some people pay for an ordinary telephone dialer!"
Question: My cell phone is frequently "fuzzy" or cuts me off in bad reception areas. Will Omni-site do the same thing?
Answer: "No. The XR50+ and Crystal Ball+ are a full 3-watt cellular transceiver that operates on cellular control channels, and not ordinary voice channels. WINGS™ cellular technology has always been designed to handle data exchanges where voice would simply not work. Additionally, local cell towers transmit control channel data at the maximum FCC allowable power level providing a wider coverage area. Please visit our website at www.omni-site.net at view our current coverage map which shows guaranteed coverage in the shaded areas. We can also likely provide coverage in the non-shaded areas as our service area expands weekly."
Question: One of the main reasons I visit my lift stations each day is to read pump runtime, and make sure my floats are working properly. Can the XR50+ or Crystal Ball+ automatically read pump runtime so I do not have to manually check it?
Answer: "Absolutely ! The XR50+ and Crystal Ball+ will automatically report pump run hours to the Omni-site website once/day for up to three pumps. The number of times that each pump starts/day in also included in this report so you can easily determine if your floats are set properly, and your pump alternator is functioning"
Question: Because of the terrorist activity in New York, we are considering adding security monitoring systems to all of our water tower, pump station, meter vaults, etc. to protect against water supply contamination. Can the Omni-site system also act as a security monitor?
Answer: "The Omni-site units are excellent security monitors for the following reasons:
1. The intruder can not cut a phone line because there is no physical connection
2. The intruder can not turn off the power because it is battery powered
3. The XR50+ and Crystal Ball+ can work in areas without power using our solar panel kit.
4. The XR50+ and Crystal Ball+ is low-cost and installs FAST
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