ASTi now offers a more upscale alternative to their venerable workhorse, the Hand-Held Terminal (HHT), as the generic solution for a radio control panel. Although the HHT is flexible and affordable, it is open to the criticism that cramming all this functionality into a very small display screen and keypad comes at the cost of ease of use. Unless used regularly, the HHT displays can be confusing, and some simple changes that require multiple key presses can be inconvenient.

With the ASTi touchscreen panel, you now have the ability to monitor radios and intercoms connected to the network via a 320 x 240 color display. Its color coding and easy-to-read text allow for quick, intuitive navigation through multiple levels of display and near-instant information updating. The increased level of functionality also gives the added advantage of being able to remotely configure individual radio and intercom parameters.

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The touchscreen displays are now connected over the Ethernet host interface to either the ASTi DACS or Telestra units, eliminating the need for serial connections. Operators and Administrators alike can now function within the simulated radio environment without the physical location restrictions of the serial-based HHT.

The tool chain for the product is readily available at no cost from the QSI website (visit them at www.qsicorp.com and look for model QTerm G70). To further facilitate customization of the display pages to new user requirements, ASTi will make the source code available under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), providing that the end-use application interfaces to an ASTi platform.

The touchscreen control panel hardware and enabling software is available from ASTi for about $1,500. The customer is also free to purchase the unit direct from QSI if that is a desirable alternative; if so, additional software must be purchased from ASTi.

See the links in the right-hand sidebar for additional operator interface options.