SOFTWARE SHORTENS MUNICIPAL UTILITY RESPONSE TIME

May 22, 1996 -- CLEVELAND, OH -- The City of Dothan, Alabama municipal
utilities are more responsive to water main breaks and power outages
because of an innovative software package. 

The paging software, AlphaPage SIM (Serial InterfaceMonitor) from InfoRad,
works with a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) computer
from Advanced Control Systems, Inc. that alerts users of current or
potential problems. 

Before the City of Dothan installed the AlphaPage SIM software, the
municipal utility's response time was much slower. Like most city-owned
utilities, Dothan does not staff the office after normal business hours or
on weekends, leaving its SCADA computer unattended. Previously, if a
problem with the electric or water system occurred, customers would notify
the police department who in turn would contact whomever was on call at
the utility. 

Then, the city of Dothan began to use AlphaPage SIM software. "Within a
matter of days after loading the software, we were able to send pages out.
It was very easy to use," said Steve Gobble, transmission and distribution
planner for the city. "InfoRad was willing to work with us to show us how
to use the product for our special needs." 

Dothan needed to enhance the system to work with other software and
hardware products it already had in place. With the help of InfoRad's
technical support group, Dothan configured the SIM software. InfoRad's
user interface allows for various combinations of inbound and outbound
communication settings giving Dothan full flexibility to interface the
SCADA computer with the PC. Also, InfoRad tailored the software to allow
flexibility to form "key words" (the first 16 character keys) to send
messages to a digital sign as well as to alphanumeric pagers. Now Dothan's
SCADA system tells the paging PC what to do, such as who to page and what
message to send. 

Interfacing to a SCADA system is easy to do via the SCADA's RS-232 serial
printer port and a PC serial port. The PC running the AlphaPage SIM
software must be equipped with 2400 baud modem that is engaged by the SIM
software each time the SCADA computer sends certain defined messages.
Using creative and descriptive "keys," Dothan is able to send detailed
alphanumeric messages to its various supervisory and maintenance
personnel. 

"It is a very handy system." said Don [ones, a consultant with Clarion
Services, a consulting firm for small to medium-sized utilities. "In
today's world with downsizing and cut backs, everyone is short of people.
The SIM product helps maintain customer satisfaction." 

InfoRad is an industry leader of wireless messaging software and wireless
systems integration. Established in 1985, InfoRad employs more than 20 and
maintains corporate headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. InfoRad software for
the consumer market is available through most paging companies, many
software houses and directly from InfoRad. For direct orders and custom
applications, call InfoRad at 1-800-228-8998 or 216-531-1313. 

INFORMATION RADIO TECHNOLOGY, INC. 
635 East 185th Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44119
800-228-8998,  216-531-1313,  Fax 216-531-8383
 
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