The purpose of study

The purpose of study.......

at least in our understanding, is to acquire knowledge, and the purpose of knowledge is to utilize acquired information to make intelligent decisions for the advancement of understanding and progress that benefits mankind (or something like that). Having said that, we thought you might be interested in our study of student transportation. As you may know, we have been involved in improving student safety while being transported between home and schools for the better part of fifty years.

We've learned, among other things, that the original purpose of providing wireless communications to school buses was to speed up response time in repairing disabled buses. Back in the early 60's when Hale and Tuscaloosa counties installed 2-way radios, it was primarily a maintenance issue. We know this because we were there and we were the ones who installed these early systems. These private 2-way radio systems worked fairly well for their intended purpose, but there were problems. For example, the systems were designed to provide coverage within the school district. If special events buses went outside the county, the systems could not be used.

In the 80's and early 90's the cellular service providers offered what appeared to be a better solution. By using a cell phone, the problem of communicating outside the home county was solved. Better yet, there was no major investment required for privately owned infrastructure. There was a little problem with coverage within the county since most cellular service providers design their systems to cover larger populated areas and main highways - not necessarily where school buses travel. In 2004, this became a major issue when a school bus in Cherokee County, Alabama could not call for help when fired upon by a sniper.

There is another shortcoming with utilization of cell phones for school bus communications and that is one of maintaining administrative control. Cell phones are designed to communicate with the public. They work as well for personal use as for administrative use. Various control procedures have been offered, but they have been largely ineffective since the systems are designed for public use. To complicate matters, the need to communicate with buses has changed from one of providing enhanced maintenance response to one of student safety, and a new term which we call litigation avoidance. If a bus is involved in an accident, somebody is going to court! If that happens, you need to KNOW that the driver was operating the vehicle within legal limits. If you can't make that point, you lose!

As if that wasn't enough, we have another concern - public relations! When is bus is late, parents want to know what, where and when. They want to know what happened, where the bus is, and when someone will be there to take care of the problem. Most schools don't have the phone facilities, personnel, or in many cases - knowledge of the situation to efficiently handle the public in a distress situation. That's the bad news. The good news is that funding is available through E-rate, state transportation or other programs for schools. So, the money is there. The question is What is the correct technology solution to address ALL requirements for school bus communications?

The answer is called Catch4 communications system with eLert emergency notification, and we've got it!

So, let's review!

A good bus communications system should.......

1) Be usable ANYWHERE, not only in the school district, but anywhere the bus might go

2) Have no infrastructure to purchase and maintain and minimal continuing monthly service fees

3) Restrict communications between drivers and/or personal use

4) Provide efficient communications between multiple offices within the school system and optionally 911 and/or law enforcement

5) Record speed, stops, and travel records for administration and litigation avoidance

6) Be available with flexible financing options to allow implementation without delay

7) Provide the ability for parents to directly monitor bus activity and to receive instant notification in the event of schedule changes

So, the question is - How do we do all this?

1) We use a system based on SATELLITE technology with GLOBAL coverage, even in rural areas

2) Set up the system on a simple lease purchase plan that amortizes equipment cost over a five year period

3) The Catch4 system is a data communications system that does not allow personal use

4) Bus status and location information can be coordinated from the bus shop, administrative offices or other locations
with an Internet connected Windows PC. Connection to 911 and/or local law enforcement agencies is easy!

5) Catch4 can monitor all stops as well as 60 minute automatic updates. Reports are available by bus, showing time, date, and speed

6) Falcon Direct offers a variety of plans to meet your specific requirements - some with annual payment deferred for one year!

7) Direct viewing over the Internet allows a family member to access the system for direct bus location viewing.
The exclusive Falcon Direct eLert program allows instant notification of nearly all parents with a single message
from your PC!

So, what does all this cost?

Just $2.36 per day per bus
or only $863 annually per bus!

Actually, the true cost is even less over the projected ten year minimal life of the system. The cost of $863 annually drops to only $359 annually in the sixth through the tenth years. Overall, your net amortized ten year cost is only $611 per year. That's less than the cost of a good 2-way mobile radio excluding tower rent, maintenance, tower and/or airtime rental, and other charges associated with private ownership of a two way radio system. Compared to a cell phone, Catch4 compares very favorably. Assuming an average cost of $40 per month for cell phone service, the annual cost for cellular airtime is $480 annually. You will average replacing a battery $40 every 18 months, and a replacement phone ($175) every three years. Your average net amortized cost for cell phone service will average about the same as Catch4 service since there are no batteries to replace with Catch4 and there is no need to replace lost or damaged handheld cellular handsets. With proper care, Catch4 could last well beyond the ten year primary life. In the years that follow, nothing else even comes close to the $.98 per day cost of Catch4!

So what do I need in the bus?

You will have three components - an antenna to transmit and receive signals from the Orbcom global satellite network (Not shown), a Q-1400 16 channel GPS transceiver (shown at the left) and a mobile data terminal (shown below at left).

The Q-1400 incorporates 16-channel GPS as well as a high performance RF transceiver. It can interface with things such as a temperature sensor or electric switch to relay your crucial data back to you in minutes. The Q-1400 is capable of exchanging 2-way email messages. Installation of all equipment is included.

The MDT-500 messaging terminal is used in conjunction with the aforementioned Q-1400 transceiver. Up to 40 preprogrammed messages (user definable) can be sent to dispatch at the push of a button. Full text messages can be received from dispatch on the large LCD display. The user definable messages can instantly transmit virtually any status condition. Sample messages might include the following samples - Fight, Flat Tire, Out of Gas, Transmission trouble, Engine failure, Assault, Radiator, Involved in accident - No injuries, Accident with injuries, Delayed by traffic, etc. System package includes up to two hundred eighty five 80 character messages per month.

So what do I need in the office?

Most likely, you've already got it! All you (or anyone else with a login and password) needs is an Internet connection and a Windows based PC. A dial up connection will work, but we would recommend a high speed Cable or DSL connection if available in your area. The beauty of this system is that it can be monitored at your bus shop, administrative offices, 911 or local law enforcement agencies AS WELL AS BY CONCERNED PARENTS directly from their home! They don't have to call you to check status on a late bus. They can do it themselves! And, speaking of communicating with concerned parents, let us take this opportunity to introduce you to eLert!

So what is this eLert thing?

What would you say if we told you that you could reach virtually every parent of every child in your school INSTANTLY, regardless of whether they were at home, at work, shopping, in their vehicle, or at the park by sending a single email? That's what eLert does, and it does if for incredibly low cost. When we say low cost, we MEAN low cost. For example, you can alert up to 2500 parents for $25 per month, 5000 parents for $50 per month, and up to 10,000 parents for only $75 per month. Nothing works better, faster, or less expensively than eLert! There are no long term contracts, You can even turn it off during summer months if you wish. This is a simple program to set up and it is a natural companion to the Catch4 system. For additional information, please visit http://www.falcondirect.com/eLert.

Thanks for allowing us to share this information on Catch4 and eLert. For additional information on Catch4, please visit our web page at www.findthemnow.com/catch4faqs or contact Burch Falkner at 1-800-489-2611. You'll be glad you did!

Let's recap!

We now know that.......

1) Catch4 has better coverage than either private 2-way radio systems or cell phones. Catch4 has TOTAL coverage!

2) Catch4 is cost comparable, even less expensive over the useful life of the system and qualifies for both E-rate and State
Transportation Department funding. Chances are good for conversion on existing E-Rate funding programs!

3) Catch4 provides complete administrative control by inhibiting personal use by drivers and it's not dependant upon an
available clear channel, interference from other users, or overload of a cellular tower during peak activity periods!

4) Interoperable connection to 911, law enforcement, other city/county departments, administrative offices, and the school bus
shop is available to anyone with an Internet connected PC!

5) Catch4 is the perfect litigation avoidance tool. Complete reports tell you all you need to know about each and every bus,
both during working hours and after hours!

6) With payment plans tailored to your needs, money doesn't have to be a problem. For less than the cost of a lunch per day
you can have the benefits of the most complete communications system available on planet Earth!

7) Keep parents informed, improve public relations, and make your community a better and safer place for everyone with
the combined benefits of Catch4 and eLert.

We think we've learned our lesson! How about you?

36 – 20^th Avenue NW – Birmingham, AL 35215 - Phone 800-489-2611
Email sales@falcondirect.com
On the web at www.falcon4u.com/schoolspecials

User information. Products sold by Falcon Direct are warranted to be technically compliant with the manufacturers specifications. No other warranty relative to use of the equipment or related service, when applicable, is expressed or implied. Falcon Direct makes no claim for suitability or fitness of users purpose or application. Falcon Direct is not responsible for claims arising from the use of equipment or services provided by or through Falcon Direct in which there are losses attributed to the use or application of equipment and/or related services. User agrees to these terms as a condition of purchase.