Smartcaster News

Season's Greetings! There are mixed feelings this year. We're getting into the spirit of Christmas, yet the specter of Y2K looms over us even in the holiday season. We hope you have a good Christmas and a great New Year!

LOOSE ENDS

We'll use this last newsletter of the century to wrap up some loose ends. Let's start with the fact that we at SMARTS have been doing digital audio and support of the same for over ten years now. That makes us the undisputed experts in this area. That means that you need to follow our instructions to the letter when we are working together. It is downright dangerous to skip even one step because someone might think that they know about computers. And…if in following the instructions, one finds something out of place, that is the time to stop and contact SMARTS for further details. We have had several instances where an operator has skipped over a step in some instruction and learned to regret it. Please learn from their mistake.

PHONE HOME

Speaking of following the steps. When calling for help, the system allows you to leave a message. Use that time to leave your name and phone number, plus city of license and call letters. You'll still have time to briefly tell us about the problem. Remember, we're in Iowa. You'll need to leave a phone number that includes your area code. The last seven digits just won't cut it. And please make sure that it is a phone that will ring through. We can't help you if we can't get through to a phone near the SMARTCASTER.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Have you turned in your Christmas list to the boss yet? Tell the boss you would like a new Operator's manual. The new manual is actually a handbook that can be used to walk through each step of the process. The new manual is now available. And we went out of our way to make it as informative as possible. Ask your boss to get you one for Christmas.

PASSWORDS

Recent software has initiated password protection of the setup screens. In order to better serve our clientele and to reduce the number of calls due to errant changes made to the setup screens, they have been made off limits to casual access. Temporary access is readily available by calling the Support Line and requesting the password. This works even if your station is not on a Support Contract. This way we can also keep track of changes made to your system.

WESTAR USERS

There is a date conversion utility available for WESTAR users. This allows the Start Date of audio cuts to be changed to 1//1/00 and the Stop Date to be changed to a date of your choice. Stations using WESTAR should see the disks arrive in the mail during the last two weeks of December. This is different from other SMARTCASTERS in that the utility should not be used until AFTER January 1st. To prepare before January 1st, WESTAR users merely set "Substitute Outdated?" to ignore. Then, on January 1st, users may follow the instructions that come with the disks.

TRAINING

We have scheduled an engineering training class for the week of January 17, 2000. It will last for 5 days. The cost per trainee is $150.00 and they are responsible for their own expenses. The registration fee is $50. Look for the registration form with this newsletter. The registration deadline is January 3. We will need a minimum of 4 to hold the class.

FINAL REMINDER

Due to the holidays, Christmas Eve day and New Years' Eve day will be Emergency Support only. We will respond to emergencies; all other calls will be returned on the first business day after the holiday.