[Date Prev][Date Next] [Chronological] [Thread] [Top]

Re: Network Hub for Downloading from GEMS to AVTS units



Understood.  But in fact, (Jump in Jeff) Jeff Dean repeatedly stated that we don't want to be in the business of developing our own products for these functions - we want to use off the shelf items.  Our response (Frank and myself) has been "There are no off the shelf products to fill this need".  But the need is still there.  As you know we've discussed this time and again, and I accept that internally we will have to make the AccuVote-TS fulfill this function, which is why I'm telling Jeff how I approached it.  The issue is that if someone doesn't say something management will continue to think we have a solution when we don't.  I believe we'll eventually develop an acceptable alternative, but only because people speak up and say what's really happening here.
 
As a philosophy, the "off the shelf" approach sounds good right up until the customer asks about maintenance costs, at which point we are dependent on 3rd party manufacturers (Journada, etc) who will only guarentee maintenance for 3 years, while our customers are requiring support contractually for 15 years.  This means we can't guarantee suppport of our products which is a problem.  I see both sides, but our "inaction" over the past year is what is killing us, not one solution or the other.  And so we are in the situation of having what we have today, where project managers and sales folks are trying to figure out solutions in the field in real time.  This issue is not yours or Jeff Hintz' or mine, but does reflect the past year rather handily.  Jeff needs some help, and our existing management now in charge needs to know that we don't have a complete product solution.
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: Network Hub for Downloading from GEMS to AVTS units

Steve,
 
    I do not think any of us in development have said "we don't want to develop one".  What we have said is "we do not currently have the resources to develop one".  There are many technical and procedural issues that need to be addressed when developing a better download solution for the AccuVote-TS.  I totally agree that the current solution of using many AccuVote-TS units for downloading a large number of memory cards is not a good one but is does work (knuckle crushers and all).  Further more we need to improve the access to the PCMCIA card and other hardware issues but these enhancements also take resources.
 
Tab
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 7:31 AM
Subject: Re: Network Hub for Downloading from GEMS to AVTS units

This is a long standing discussion. That is why we came to the conclusion that EITHER we need to use the AccuVote with self sticking labels (ala AccuVote with same card/printer) or we need to develop a device for same.  We have been asking for a "card burner" with printer capability for mass burning, but have always been told that "we don't want to develop one".  Now the reality of the situation is upon us and in say Alameda's case, our solution is to use $30,000 of AccuVotes, with an ethernet connection that is almost impossible to access easily with the dual eject button and two slots right next to each other.  It is a knuckle cruncher as is, much less doing hundreds in a row on it that way.  Again, we don't have a solution for some of the basic functions that we need. 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 6:25 AM
Subject: RE: Network Hub for Downloading from GEMS to AVTS units

Could GEMS support printing labels on a small label printer, say an Eltron 600?  These units would be similar to the ones we tried to used as report printers on the earlier pollbooks.  But if you envision this function, there's a potential problem. When printing multiple labels, how do you figure out which label goes onto which card?
 
Ian
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-support@gesn.com [mailto:owner-support@gesn.com]On Behalf Of Steve Knecht
Sent: February 08, 2002 12:38 AM
To: support@gesn.com
Subject: Re: Network Hub for Downloading from GEMS to AVTS units

Without trying to be facetious, I don't think there is anyone in the company who is "configuring" based on the parameters you described.  We certainly need someone.  In the interim, I can only guess that the real issue here is getting a few pieces of info such as:
1. Length of time of upload
2. Length of time to label card via printer (are you using a self sticking label or old AV method)
3. Number of cards to do
4. Double the time you think it will take.
5. Decide how much time you actually have
6. Divide 5 into 4 and that will indicate number of units required for time you have.
 
That's how I configured Alameda, but its all still just theory.  The idea of self sticking labels in the printer
is appealing, but do we have such a thing?
 
Let me know where you go with this.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Hintz
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 8:47 PM
Subject: Network Hub for Downloading from GEMS to AVTS units

With our current software GEMS 1.17.17, AVTS 4.1.6, and our TSText files with audio; the only fast way of doing a download is via network.  What would be the recommendation for the size of Network Hub, (number of ports), to use.  For instance, Johnson County Kansas will have to download almost 900 AVTS units.  In the state of Maryland, there are two accounts that are just under 2000 AVTS units and the other over 2000 units.  We need to order the Network Hubs and cabling and get this installed and tested to meet the RFP requirements.

 

Thanks,

Jeff