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Plankton · 04-10-2014, 08:49 AM

Software/Hardware companies that don't keep their compatibility, or even set their product up properly. Yesterday, I had an Asst. Fire Chief in here looking to get his wireless RTD system fixed. I do all the set-ups for each individual unit (since no one else here has the cognitive skills to grasp some of the concepts), and when I went to swap his unit out (Data Logger which is just a NetBook, Transmitters, and a Receiver), I went through 3 NetBooks before I got one that wasn't messed up in some way. Then I go to install the software, which I've done hundreds of times without incident, and all of a sudden it seems the software is incompatible with the updated version of the OS. Meanwhile the Asst Chief is waiting. He traveled a couple hours to get this done, and even cancelled some training exercises for the week because of the faulty unit(s). I had to let him know that I would need to find a work around, and that if he wanted to wait, it might be a while. After calling the Fire Chief, we all decided it would be best if the Asst came back on Friday. I felt bad for the guy. 4 hours of driving for nothing.

I did find a work-around this morning, which involved a search for a newer version of the software (which wasn't publicized anywhere), and then installing it over the older version, which only updated 'some' of the drivers and left some of the original configuration utilities in-tact. All undocumented.

We rely on other companies products to do their job (this is the only company that makes the kind of units we need), and if they don't keep up with the necessary changes to evolving technology, then our company looks bad. Then the **** rolls down hill to me.

Needed to vent.

04-10-2014, 08:49 AM	#559 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	Software/Hardware companies that don't keep their compatibility, or even set their product up properly. Yesterday, I had an Asst. Fire Chief in here looking to get his wireless RTD system fixed. I do all the set-ups for each individual unit (since no one else here has the cognitive skills to grasp some of the concepts), and when I went to swap his unit out (Data Logger which is just a NetBook, Transmitters, and a Receiver), I went through 3 NetBooks before I got one that wasn't messed up in some way. Then I go to install the software, which I've done hundreds of times without incident, and all of a sudden it seems the software is incompatible with the updated version of the OS. Meanwhile the Asst Chief is waiting. He traveled a couple hours to get this done, and even cancelled some training exercises for the week because of the faulty unit(s). I had to let him know that I would need to find a work around, and that if he wanted to wait, it might be a while. After calling the Fire Chief, we all decided it would be best if the Asst came back on Friday. I felt bad for the guy. 4 hours of driving for nothing. I did find a work-around this morning, which involved a search for a newer version of the software (which wasn't publicized anywhere), and then installing it over the older version, which only updated 'some' of the drivers and left some of the original configuration utilities in-tact. All undocumented. We rely on other companies products to do their job (this is the only company that makes the kind of units we need), and if they don't keep up with the necessary changes to evolving technology, then our company looks bad. Then the **** rolls down hill to me. Needed to vent. __________________ See location...