Comments for Telemetry Talk http://www.telemetrytalk.com/blog Welcome to MEI's telemetry talk blog – the first site 100% dedicated to vending telemetry technology. On this blog you can post questions to MEI experts and read the latest information on telemetry hardware and software. Browse through the posted content, or click on the links on the right side of the screen to get started. Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:58:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on What happens if I move a vending machine that is equipped with a telemeter? by Chuck Reed http://www.telemetrytalk.com/blog/2008/06/what-happens-if-i-move-a-vending-machine-that-is-equipped-with-a-telemeter/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Chuck Reed Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:58:13 +0000 http://www.telemetrytalk.com/blog/?p=4#comment-82 Mark, thank you for your good questions. Let us know if the following answers require further clarifications: How often do the devices poll the account?- The MEI Telemeter is highly configurable and provides the ability to poll the account (machine) as often as required by the operator or business conditions. Typically, the telemeter is configured to DEX the machine every 4 hours and report daily product sales once per day. Alarms may be configured as high priority. In this situation, if a high priority alarm is detected after DEXing a machine, the telemeter initiates a call immediately. Are they slave or master?- The telemeter can be configured as both slave (child) or master (parent). These units combined in a single customer location will create a local network. The parent units will be responsible for collecting data from the child units and contacting the MEI communications server with the required data. Can they pro-actively call for a predescribed problem?- Yes, predescribed problems can be configured into the telemeter as high priority. Once a high priority alarm is detected, the telemeter will immediately initiate a call and report the problem. Do you have a template I can look at for the information fields that are polled?- There are standard telemeter configurations that we believe contain the vast majority of what any customer requires. We would want to meet with you to understand your unique needs and customize the configuration. How often/when is the account/credit card reconciled?- Reconciliation is controlled by the gateway/credit card processor. MEI is not a gateway/card processor. How long is the contract for on the cell phone link price of $9.95/month?- This is controlled by the gateway/credit card processor. How long is the contract for ont he credit card transaction fees of 5%?- Backend fees and transaction costs are set by the gateway and credit card processor. How long after the user uses the CCR does it reconcile on his account and is it for the actual amount of the purchase or is it for a larger amount with a later reconciling of credit to his account?- The MEI telemeter settles at least once a day with the gateway/credit card processor. Reconciliation to the account is controlled by the gateway. What are the amounts and times of these reconcilements?- Determined by the gateway/credit card processor. Please provide any other esoteric issues/problems of your Easitrax system so that I can be prepared for entry- Nothing Mark that we know of here to tell you. We've been doing this for quite a while so we are confident your movement into cashless will be successful. Mark, thank you for your good questions. Let us know if the following answers require further clarifications:

How often do the devices poll the account?- The MEI Telemeter is highly configurable and provides the ability to poll the account (machine) as often as required by the operator or business conditions. Typically, the telemeter is configured to DEX the machine every 4 hours and report daily product sales once per day. Alarms may be configured as high priority. In this situation, if a high priority alarm is detected after DEXing a machine, the telemeter initiates a call immediately.

Are they slave or master?- The telemeter can be configured as both slave (child) or master (parent). These units combined in a single customer location will create a local network. The parent units will be responsible for collecting data from the child units and contacting the MEI communications server with the required data.

Can they pro-actively call for a predescribed problem?- Yes, predescribed problems can be configured into the telemeter as high priority. Once a high priority alarm is detected, the telemeter will immediately initiate a call and report the problem.

Do you have a template I can look at for the information fields that are polled?- There are standard telemeter configurations that we believe contain the vast majority of what any customer requires. We would want to meet with you to understand your unique needs and customize the configuration.

How often/when is the account/credit card reconciled?- Reconciliation is controlled by the gateway/credit card processor. MEI is not a gateway/card processor.

How long is the contract for on the cell phone link price of $9.95/month?- This is controlled by the gateway/credit card processor.

How long is the contract for ont he credit card transaction fees of 5%?- Backend fees and transaction costs are set by the gateway and credit card processor.

How long after the user uses the CCR does it reconcile on his account and is it for the actual amount of the purchase or is it for a larger amount with a later reconciling of credit to his account?- The MEI telemeter settles at least once a day with the gateway/credit card processor. Reconciliation to the account is controlled by the gateway.

What are the amounts and times of these reconcilements?- Determined by the gateway/credit card processor.

Please provide any other esoteric issues/problems of your Easitrax system so that I can be prepared for entry- Nothing Mark that we know of here to tell you. We’ve been doing this for quite a while so we are confident your movement into cashless will be successful.

]]> Comment on What happens if I move a vending machine that is equipped with a telemeter? by mark http://www.telemetrytalk.com/blog/2008/06/what-happens-if-i-move-a-vending-machine-that-is-equipped-with-a-telemeter/comment-page-1/#comment-79 mark Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:33:38 +0000 http://www.telemetrytalk.com/blog/?p=4#comment-79 1)How often do the devices poll the account? 2) Are they slave or master? 3)Can they proactivly call for a prediscribed problem? 4)Do you have a template I can look at for the information fields that are polled? 5)If so may I have the instructions on structuring the template? 6)How often/when is the account/credit card reconcilled? 7)How long is the contract for on the cell phone link price of $9.95 per month? 7)How long is the contract for on credit card transaction fees of 5%? 8)How long after the user uses the CCR does it reconcile on his account and is it for the actual amount of the purchase or is it for a larger amount with a later reconciling of credit to his account? 9)what are the amounts and times of these reconcilments? 10) please provide any other esoteric issues/problems of your Easytrac system so that I am prepared for entry. 1)How often do the devices poll the account?
2) Are they slave or master?
3)Can they proactivly call for a prediscribed problem?
4)Do you have a template I can look at for the information fields that are polled?
5)If so may I have the instructions on structuring the template?
6)How often/when is the account/credit card reconcilled? 7)How long is the contract for on the cell phone link price of $9.95 per month?
7)How long is the contract for on credit card transaction fees of 5%?
8)How long after the user uses the CCR does it reconcile on his account and is it for the actual amount of the purchase or is it for a larger amount with a later reconciling of credit to his account?
9)what are the amounts and times of these reconcilments?
10) please provide any other esoteric issues/problems of your Easytrac system so that I am prepared for entry.

]]> Comment on What happens if I move a vending machine that is equipped with a telemeter? by mark http://www.telemetrytalk.com/blog/2008/06/what-happens-if-i-move-a-vending-machine-that-is-equipped-with-a-telemeter/comment-page-1/#comment-78 mark Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:12:09 +0000 http://www.telemetrytalk.com/blog/?p=4#comment-78 I was told the telemetry technology uses the cell phone infrastructure. If so then a machine move should not require re-configuring the telemetry device. Is this correct? I was told the telemetry technology uses the cell phone infrastructure. If so then a machine move should not require re-configuring the telemetry device. Is this correct?

]]> Comment on Telemetry and “Green” by Chuck Reed http://www.telemetrytalk.com/blog/2008/07/telemetry-and-green/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Chuck Reed Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:31:10 +0000 http://www.telemetrytalk.com/blog/?p=7#comment-7 Phil, thank you for your question and interest. Operators using telemetry are reporting about a 25% improvement in their route efficiencies. So 1 in 4 trucks are generally taken off the road. One can assume with those route efficiency improvements, you could expect about a 25% reduction in site visits. Phil, thank you for your question and interest. Operators using telemetry are reporting about a 25% improvement in their route efficiencies. So 1 in 4 trucks are generally taken off the road. One can assume with those route efficiency improvements, you could expect about a 25% reduction in site visits.

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