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About SmarTrunk

What do you get when you cross SmarTrunk with an ingenious dealer? You get San Diego-based Richard Communications, a partnership consisting of engineers Richard Bautista and Don Gabriel. Gabriel and Bautista have taken the initiative to build a mobile demo to showcase SmarTrunk Systems' products when visiting prospects and customers in the hospitality industry.

SmarTalk is published quarterly
by SmarTrunk Systems, Inc.
for its customers, prospects and
industry associates. Your
feedback is important so please
direct all comments or
suggestions to: Diane
Weidenbenner,
diane@mktgconnection.com,

SmarTrunk Systems, Inc.,
401 W. 35th Street, Bldg. B,
National City, CA 91950.
Toll-free: 866-870-9052,
Local: 619-426-3781, Fax:
619-426-3768.
www.smartrunk.com,
Copyright 2003
SmarTrunk Systems, Inc.
All rights reserved

"We let them try the demo system so they can experience what they don't have right now, what they are missing. It's become a great marketing tool," said Gabriel. The demo includes two ST-853 controllers and eight SmarTrunk logic boards installed into ICOM radios (the IC-F40GS and IC-F4GS radios with no keypad and the IC-F40GT and F4GT radios, with keypad). The demo also includes ICOM FR4000 repeaters and 50 watts of power with two fans, one for the RF transmitter, and the other for the power supply.

"Since we sell to hotels, I program the controllers for different profiles to simulate an entire hotel operation. I program in the general manager, the security director, the chief engineer and security guards into the template. We also program some of the push buttons so the client doesn't have to type in the person's ID when we demonstrate it, like turbo speed dial. The system allows private one-to-one calls (if the security director wants to talk with the general manager for an issue) and a hotel may also join a group together which is a powerful tool. SmarTrunk allows the two-way radio person more control parameters," said Gabriel.

Along with the demo unit, Richard Communications has created an online slide presentation on their site at www.radiosrc.com, to further demonstrate the system capabilities, the benefits and cost-savings of how to operate and how to use the system. "We like to problem-solve for our customers. You can always buy a $100,000 system but certain hotels don't have that kind of budget so it's an added value to provide them with a system like SmarTrunk. We're showing how flexible and well-architectured SmarTrunk is," said Gabriel.

2004 IWCE
Booth #6039
March 24-26, 2004
LV Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV

As follow-up from the
last SmarTalk issue,
the St. Kitts system
installation is going
smoothly but is not
finished at presstime.
However, we have
good news to report!
SmarTrunk has
successfully been
awarded a 2nd bid
for the island of
St. Vincent, based
on the dealer's positive
first experience with
SmarTrunk Systems.

"We expected it to take 3-4 weeks to create the unit," said Gabriel. "But, we were able to create the mobile demo in about a week's time, thanks to the extraordinary assistance and support of Tony Huber at SmarTrunk. They were really responsive to our needs and worked closely with us to get it up and running," said Gabriel.

Click over the image for a larger view ->

Richard Communications ingenuity spreads even further. They are working on various interfaces to interconnect SmarTrunk Systems with other communications systems.

"Nextel or PTT Verizon will not penetrate buildings, especially in downtown areas like San Diego where the RF spectrum is so saturated," said Gabriel. We have an interconnect prototype system that should be ready by mid-January that will give mobile radio users Push-To-Talk (PTT) connection ability with Nextel/cellular PTT users, using SmarTrunk Systems.

"You will be able to travel all over the US, connecting cellular PTT users to radio system users," said Gabriel. "This will be a great management tool to reduce costs as fewer staff have mobile phones (due to airtime costs) and more staff have radios which do not accrue airtime."

Contact Don Gabriel or Richard Bautista at Tel. 619-741-7945 or don@radiosrc.com, www.radiosrc.com.

He is SmarTrunk's resident sales engineer and manages the customer repair department. Since joining Ranger in 1987, and since Ranger's acquisition of SmarTrunk in August 1, 2001, J.R. has been responsible for expertly preparing quotes for Multi-site Network Systems involving the ST-510 Network Switch.

He carefully reviews customer requirements and recommends system configurations that will provide optimum performance, based on the customer's specific needs. Many of you may have spoken personally with J.R., as he also oversees repair, ensuring that the incoming repair gets back out to the customer in a timely manner. And, J.R. is SmarTrunk's production liaison, responsible for providing our manufacturing people with current documents and firmware for their production build. J.R. has an A.S. degree in Electronics Technology, he's an FCC licensed Amateur Radio Operator (KF6FJW) and has 16-years' experience in RF applications. If he can assist you, please contact J.R. Estanol at 619-426-6440, x326 or j_estanol@smartrunk.com

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Q. Why should I use the CTCSS output from the ST-853 controller, when there is CTCSS encode available in the repeater?

A. There are two reasons for this. First, the controller turns off the CTCSS encode output while sending out the digital SmarTrunk connect packet. This will prevent the CTCSS tones from mixing with the digital packet, which could possibly cause a false decode in the receiving radio. Second, the Kenwood and Motorola model radios have the capability of using CTCSS receive mute while in SmarTrunk mode. The ST-853 controller can be programmed to mute the CTCSS encode output 150 mSec before sending the SmarTrunk digital disconnect packet. This delay allows the radio's decoder enough time to mute the audio before receiving the disconnect packet. This will result in the disconnect packet being muted in the Kenwood and Motorola model radios. This is a feature that many users find invaluable, as the disconnect packet can be an annoyance to some.

Q: What about the new VT 60 boards and software availability?

A. In the last issue of SmarTalk, we announced the availability of the ST-865VT60F/S for the Vertex line of radios. The VT60F is caller ID capable and VT60FS is caller ID plus voice inversion scrambling capable. The scrambler also functions in conventional mode as well.To make the whole system work with caller ID, you will need our new ST-853CI controller. The ST-853CI, caller ID capable controller, will be replacing the ST-853 controller. Beginning Jan, 2004, all controllers shipped from SmarTrunk will be the new ST-853CI. It is completely backwards compatible with all previous SmarTrunk products.
If you have an ST-853 and would like to make it caller ID capable, we will be selling upgrade kits for $20/each.The programming software for the VT60 is available on our web site www.smartrunk.com. A manual is coming soon. The new software also works with the VTP 50A. Programming software for the new ST-853CI will be available soon. Till then, programming software version 1.31 can still be used. New version software 1.36 simply allows the ability to turn the caller ID function off.

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401 W 35th Street, Bldg. B, - National City, CA 91950
Telephone: Toll Free: (866) 870-9052 - Local: (619) 426-3781 - Fax: (619) 426-3768
Sales Information: salesinfo@smartrunk.com
Technical Support: techsupport@smartrunk.com
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