Issue 59		SMARTS Broadcast Systems	       July 1999

Summer! Don't you just love it? Hopefully, you are getting a chance to enjoy some of it. The downside is that one-third of the summer is already shot. CONTACT There are three ways that you can contact us for Support. You can call the Support Line with your question, send it by fax, or e-mail it to us. Be aware that there are time restraints. It is our policy to return phone calls within one hour during the business day. Faxes and e-mails take a bit longer and will take 48 hours to a week to be returned. Obviously, an off-air emergency should be called in. We respond to off-air emergencies within five minutes during the business day, and within fifteen minutes after hours. Remember, you aid yourself by including the proper information. Your security code number, call letters, city of license, and a valid phone number on any communication will help us to get back to you in a timely manner. PATIENCE The system takes time to process a call when you phone the Support Line. Please realize that your call is recorded on the Support computer. On a recent weekend, I was delayed in calling a station back because the operator was impatient and called the system again. I couldn't clear that message until they were done. I then got to listen to two messages that were basically the same. We take your job very seriously and get back to you as quickly as we can. We would also appreciate it if you would tell the people who answer the phones that you are expecting a call. SMAPS There are some who are still using SMAPS music generation software. In a recent instance, the computer died and they moved the software to another computer. The software then asked for the password again. Since we are no longer associated with this company, we can no longer provide passwords or support for this product. We do still provide support for our Music Master and SMAPS II. For SMAPS users, we will replace it free of charge with our current product, Digital Program Director. Y2K We're at the half-way point in the year. In just six months, we will find out if all the Y2K hoopla was prophecy or smoke. We are finding that many stations are testing their various equipment for the ability to cross over the magic dateline. We have tested our equipment and software, and passed the testing procedure on to the stations. If your system passes our test, it will cross the millenium. We are finding, though, that there are unscrupulous local computer "experts" out there who are working very hard to make a buck at your expense. Several times we have heard of another test being run where the computer fails to make the grade. The "expert" insists that an expensive equipment upgrade is the only way to cross the millenium. They are wrong! Our test will verify whether or not your SMARTCASTER equipment and software will cross into the next century safely. If you have questions, call us! POWER OUTAGE Many stations have gone to Uninterruptible Power Supplies to keep their systems running when there is a power outage. This works very well for momentary drops in voltage. For sustained outages, it is recommended that the units be turned off until the power returns and is considered stable. An external power supply is good for about 20 minutes. During that time the units should be safely shut down. After a sustained power outage, often there are power bumps as the power comes on then goes off and back on. This is hard on the system. All parts of the system should be turned off until the power is back on. If your station uses a backup generator, make sure that it only powers the essentials. Things like the transmitter, control room, audio processing, satellite receiver, and SMARTCASTER equipment. Not the lights throughout the building, air conditioning, and copier, etc. Having lots of equipment run off the generator will drag it down. It needs to run at 120 volts and 60 cycles or it too, can burn out equipment. Only the very essential equipment should be on while the generator is running. Doug Burton

     OFFICE: 800-747-6278	     SUPPORT: 800-765-2930         
     SALES: 800-498-0487             E-MAIL: support@smartsbroadcast.com
				 WEBSITE: http://www.smartsbroadcast.com