Hello ronel -
I did some more research today and am posting the following as an
answer. If you have any questions or need any clarification, please
don't hesitate to ask. Thank you.
o When should we use FLEX protocol and when should we use POCSAG
protocol.
FLEX is the new standard. Most of the large carriers have moved or
are moving to FLEX. POCSAG is still in use by some, however. What
you should use is dependent upon what your carrier of choice supports.
FLEX is a significantly faster protocol. However, I'm told by more
than one person that it's not quite as efficient as POCSAG, but this
might not even be noticeable. POCSAG may be cheaper to implement.
The people at ATI Wireless (the company I mentioned in my
clarification request earlier) will be able to help you decide which
carrier and technology to go with (see below).
o What are the base components of a pager that allows a signal to be received?
In most pagers, there are three principal component "sections": the
receiver and two additional processors. The receiver electronics
actually receive the signal. The signal is then passed to a processor
that decodes the signal's format and does some error correction,
amongst other things. Another processor interfaces this information
to the unit.
Here's a page with pictures that describes some of the internal
components of a typical restaurant pager, which is just like a
wide-area-network pager. ATI tells me that most restaurant pagers are
POCSAG format:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/restaurant-pager3.htm
o Please provide a list of pager manufacturers. What is the approximate
cost per unit for these volumes?
ATI Wireless, a point of contact for dozens of Asian manufacturers (in
addition to their own manufacturing), quoted me around $17-$20 for
FLEX/POCSAG units; this price reflects their own Asian-based
manufacturing:
ATI Wireless
7106 Crossroads Blvd., Suite 215
Brentwood, TN. 37027
Office (615) 846-2370
Fax (615) 846-2374
John McGrath x205
--
Here are additional Asian-based companies that can supply and
manufacture pagers to custom specifications:
Prod-Art
http://www.prodart.com.hk/flashindex.html?pagerlist.html
Unit 04-05, 12/F, Eastern Centre
No. 1065 King's Road,
Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
Hong Kong SAR
Tel: (852 ) 23343311 / (852 ) 27662011
Fax: (852 ) 23301540 / (852 ) 23634050
prodart@prodart.com.hk
Key Mark Technology Co Ltd
http://www.keymark.com.tw/
10F, No. 123-1
Shing De Road
San Chung City
Taipei
Taiwan 241
Tel: (886 2) 85110580 Ext : 21
Fax: (886 2) 85110551
inquiry@keymark.com.tw
Mars Technology Development Ltd
http://www.marstkt.com/english/gsjj.htm
Rm.1401, Cambridge House
26-28 Cameron Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Hong Kong SAR
Tel: (852 755) 83975812 / (852 ) 30593018
Fax: (852 755) 83975813 / (852 ) 23167418
mars@marstkt.com
Abell
Bldg.14, 2nd Floor
Zhongxing Industrial City
Nanyou, Nanshan Dist.
Shenzhen
Guangdong
China
Tel: (86 755) 26074311 / (86 755) 26521000 Ext : 16
Fax: (86 755) 26404666
abell@globalsources.com
For primarily America-based companies, try Radio Design Group or
Commtech Wireless, but be prepared to spend 3-4x the price. Most
pagers are made in Asia today.
Radio Design Group
(800) 343-9600, or (541) 471-1100, or FAX: (541) 471-3489, or e-mail
designinfo@radiodesign.com.
http://www.radiodesign.com/legacy/pager.htm
xJim - 541-226-6101
Commtech Wireless
5900 Phillips Highway, Suite #26 and 27
Jacksonville, FL 32216
904-281-0073
Select search strategy:
pager manufacturers
made phone calls
Global Sources (to find additional Asian suppliers)
http://www.globalsources.com/GeneralManager?pointview=on&suplrview=off&prodview=on&artview=off©from=&point_search=on&search_what=1&product_search=on&supplier_search=&article_search=&query=pager©to=&type=new&action=GetPoint&action=DoFreeTextSearch&page=search%2FProductSearchResults&point_id=3000000149681&catalog_id=2000000003844&design=clean&language=en&country_filt=&state_filt= |