“Customers want more choices. With Scout 3.0, they can choose the dispatching configuration that best suits their organization’s needs and budget, whether they need the reliability of a wired hardware-based solution; the flexibility of a software audio package that runs on a laptop; or the portability of a Windows-based device that operates on a secure local area network,” said Kevin Williams, Avtec’s vice president of product development.

Now available as part of Avtec’s comprehensive dispatching suite is the “Scout Console Media Workstation Plus” for mission-critical environments. It is equipped with a dedicated audio processor and dual network interfaces to offer 100 percent redundancy for the highest level of reliability. Professional-grade speakers and microphones offer durability and performance in a sleek new design.

For business-critical operations that need the flexibility of a pure software solution, Scout also is available with a software audio package that runs on a desktop or laptop PC. It uses commercially available USB peripherals or built-in speakers and microphones, which makes it ideal for disaster management situations and mobile command centers.

For senior staff, the all-new Scout with Ranger™ accessory provides the highest level of portability and runs on any Windows 7 device, including tablets, laptops, and PCs. It operates on a secure Local Area Network and includes a concentration of Scout’s dispatching features and access for up to four radio channels. “Avtec’s Ranger software accessory is incredibly powerful, yet remarkably portable, giving senior staff the ability to oversee any situation without the need for a full console position,” said Williams.

For a video preview of the Scout 3.0 dispatching suite, visit: www.avtecinc.com/products/scout/new-release-scout-3-0/.  A complete listing of features and benefits of the Scout 3.0 dispatching suite is available from: www.avtecinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Whats_New_3-0.pdf.

About Avtec Inc.
Avtec, Inc. provides pure Internet Protocol (IP) dispatch console solutions for the transportation, public safety, utility, business, and government markets. For more than 30 years, customers have chosen Avtec’s award-winning technology for their mission-critical dispatch centers. There are thousands of Scout Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) consoles installed worldwide. Visit www.avtecinc.com to learn more.

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About CSX

CSX, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation’s leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company’s transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSX’s network connects more than 240 short line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com.

About Avtec, Inc.
Headquartered in South Carolina, Avtec, Inc. provides Internet Protocol (IP) dispatch console solutions for the transportation, public safety, utility, business, and government markets. For more than 30 years, customers have chosen Avtec’s award-winning technology for their mission-critical dispatch centers. There are thousands of Scout Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) consoles installed worldwide. Visit www.avtecinc.com to learn more.

The Central SC Alliance announced it will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, October 22 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., in recognition of Avtec Inc.’s new corporate headquarters that is being built in the Town of Lexington, S.C. A photo opportunity for media is scheduled at 10 a.m. The event will be held at Avtec’s property near the intersection of Glassmaster Road and South Lake Drive in Lexington, S.C. Avtec plans to invest over $6 million in the new multi-purpose building, which is expected to be completed in May 2013.

Lexington Mayor Randy Halfacre will emcee the event. Remarks will be given by Mandy Brawley, project manager at the South Carolina Department of Commerce; William B. “Bill” Banning, Sr., chairman of Lexington County Council; Jim B. Apple, chairman of the Central SC Alliance; Stephen Koewler, president of Miller-Valentine; and Michael Branning, president of Avtec.

“What a great day for South Carolina, Lexington County, the Town of Lexington, and especially for Avtec’s employees. It’s very exciting when a local company that was founded here over 30 years ago continues to invest and reinvest time and time again. This multi-million dollar investment represents new jobs for our citizens and new dollars spent in the local community — all as a result of Avtec’s success,” said Central SC Alliance chairman Jim Apple.

“We are delighted to partner with local companies such as Miller-Valentine on this project,” said Avtec’s President Michael Branning.  “With our rapid growth over the past few years, we need more room to accommodate our expansion.  Avtec’s new building will allow us to better serve our customers, many of whom travel from out-of-state for training at our facility. We’re also providing an enhanced work environment with expanded facilities for our employees.

When Disaster Strikes: What We Learned from a Lightning Strike (APCO 2012)

1. Buncombe County Emergency Services consolidated their dispatch center just a few years ago. The center dispatches for the Sheriff’s Office, Fire, EMS as well as at least a dozen other agencies. During the consolidation, Buncombe County upgraded their consoles to Avtec. The county chose Avtec because of its customization and because it has a P25 CSSI interface already built into its solution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOE2UF_hNe4&feature=plc.

2. The Anderson County Unified 911 Dispatch Center uses the best technology available based on an IP Architecture and open standards, to provide among the best emergency services in the nation. The center was able to customize Avtec consoles to their needs and the 911 Director says Avtec is the ‘heartbeat’ of the center: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeIJuMHY-I8&feature=plcp.

As part of Avtec’s assessment program, call recording vendors, such as Verint, are evaluated on a set of rigorous criteria. Applicants can earn one of three designations — bronze, silver, or gold — which reflect corresponding levels of investment and capability.

• Bronze: To earn bronze level certification, the recorder must seamlessly capture, retrieve, and play audio and data from Internet Protocol (IP) streams via the Scout console. It also must pass Avtec packet capture testing.
• Silver: For silver level designation, vendors must create documentation including configuration application notes.
• Gold: To earn gold level certification, vendors must meet the requirements for silver certification plus create a product compatibility document, maintain a current model recording system at the Avtec test facility, and successfully complete onsite certification testing.

Call recording technology is essential in dispatch environments, particularly for its ability to support incident reconstruction and investigation analysis. Integrating call recording technology with the Avtec Scout 2.4 VoIP console provides public safety answering points (PSAPs) with the foundation to meet the latest APCO call center guidelines.

Verint’s Audiolog for Public Safety is an advanced, digital multimedia recording, retrieval and quality assurance solution designed to enhance the performance of emergency response, public safety and control room operations; minimize liability; and meet new challenges arising from Next-Generation 9-1-1. The software enables organizations to capture and use intelligence to drive informed decisions on emergency response, investigations and more.

“Gold-level certification with Avtec’s VoIP radio dispatching console will provide joint Avtec-Verint customers with access to a fully integrated solution for a variety of environments,” says Gary Trudo, vice president, channels and alliances, Verint. “It not only demonstrates Verint’s ongoing commitment to the public safety market, but also reinforces the breadth and depth of expertise that we offer customers through strategic industry partnerships.”

About Avtec Inc.
Avtec, Inc. provides Internet Protocol (IP) dispatch console solutions for the public safety, transportation, utility, business and government markets. For more than 30 years, customers have chosen Avtec’s award-winning technology for their mission-critical dispatch centers. There are nearly 2,000 Scout voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) consoles installed worldwide. Visit www.avtecinc.com  to learn more.
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In addition to expanded service hours, Avtec reminds all customers about the benefits of our Software Support Program (SSP), the foundation of the customer support experience.  As part of this service, SSP customers receive free software updates, patches, and firmware upgrades.  SSP is the ideal maintenance program for customers who wish to consolidate their software maintenance and technical training service contracts. To learn more:

• Visit www.avtecinc.com/support
• Call 800.545.3034 or 1.803.892.2181 x201
• Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Sincerely,
Dawn Fisher
Customer Support Manager
4335 Augusta Highway
Gilbert, SC 29054
Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Case Study: Buncombe County, N.C., had a 6-site VHF/UHF conventional simulcast analog radio system and a legacy dispatch console system that was well beyond end of life. With an eye toward the future, Buncombe County needed to make an investment in a technology that would support the existing analog simulcast system but could also support the P25 standard when funds became available to upgrade the radio system.

Challenge: Finding an IP based dispatch console system that can support a traditional analog system but can easily add P25 features without replacing the console system.

Solution: When Buncombe County entered into a technology partnership with Cassidian Communications to install a new 12-site 700 MHz P25 radio system, the Avtec Scout system was already in place and ready to support the Cassidian P25 700 MHz digital system. The Avtec VPGate software allows a variety of technologies to integrate seamlessly, so through VPGate they were able to connect the existing analog and new P25 systems. The Avtec Scout system increases interoperability by linking the system together and gives agencies time to upgrade individual radio terminals.

Speaker: Bryan Dillingham is the network and communications manager for Buncombe County Government. He has been with Buncombe County for 16 years and has been directly involved with public safety communications for the past five years. The IT department’s goal has been and continues to be converged networking, and IP is the only standard that it allows for any networked systems — from telephony, access and environmental controls, to camera systems, public safety radio and most recently its adoption of NG9-1-1.

Sponsored by

Avtec Inc. provides Internet Protocol (IP)-based dispatch console solutions for public safety, transportation, utility, business, and government markets. For more than 30 years, customers have chosen Avtec’s award-winning technology for their mission-critical dispatch centers. There are nearly 2,000 Scout™ voice over internet protocol (VoIP) consoles installed worldwide.

“We are excited to grow our business in South Carolina. Avtec was founded here in Lexington County over 30 years ago, and the community has been a great fit for our company. There is an excellent business environment, a skilled and dedicated workforce, and it’s just a great place to live and work,” said Michael Branning, president of Avtec. “We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state, county, and local officials as well as the help we’ve received from Miller Valentine, Pennington Law Firm, and Parker Poe,” he said.

Avtec will construct a 46,000-square-foot Class A office building in Lexington County, located near South Lake Drive and Glassmaster Blvd. The new facility, with an expected completion date in 2013, will anchor a new business park at the edge of the Town of Lexington.

“It’s exciting to see another one of our state’s existing businesses choose to grow here. We celebrate Avtec’s decision to make a multi-million dollar investment in Lexington and contribute to the area’s growth. Making sure South Carolina’s business climate remains strong is a top priority for this administration,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.

Moving into the new Lexington facility will allow Avtec to expand its business operations, which includes hardware and software development and manufacturing. The company exports its systems worldwide, and provides product training to more than 20 customers each month from its existing facility in Gilbert, S.C. The new building will feature expanded state-of-the-art training facilities, a world-class technology infrastructure, and enhanced employee amenities including a fitness center. Its proximity to Interstate 20 (I-20) will provide visitors with convenient access to hotels, restaurants and the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

“Our plan is to continue hiring talented professionals who can help us meet our customers’ demand for Avtec’s dispatching consoles. Our new location will allow us to attract more professionals from the greater Columbia area. Through steady growth, we expect to employ over 100 people within the next few years,” said Branning.

“Avtec has been a part of the Midlands’ business community for three decades and it is great to see the company’s footprint grow. Every one of these jobs will have impact in Lexington County,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.

“We are very excited that Avtec Inc. has chosen to expand its operations here in Lexington County. Their decision, being a technology leader in the dispatch communications arena, shows a continued confidence in our community and its workforce. I am especially proud that this is a very successful home-grown industry and that we are able to help them expand and create new jobs for the citizens of this region,” said Lexington County Council Chairman William B. Banning Sr.

“The Town of Lexington is honored to be the new home for Avtec. They hold an esteemed presence in our community and provide quality products to industry services such as airlines, railway, utilities and government. We look forward to Avtec expanding their customer base as a result of their new state-of-the-art location,” said Lexington Mayor Randy Halfacre.

“Having home-grown companies that continue to expand time and time again is testament to the business climate that exists here in Central South Carolina. Avtec Inc. produces a complex and innovative product that requires a specialized skill set and they have found Lexington County as a location that meets their needs. We congratulate Avtec Inc. on this expansion and important milestone for the founders and employees,” said Mike Briggs, president and CEO Central SC Alliance.

The company is in the process of recruiting for new positions. Qualified applicants should consult Avtec’s website at www.avtecinc.com/careers for more details.

About Avtec Inc.
Avtec Inc. provides Internet Protocol (IP)-based dispatch console solutions for public safety, transportation, utility, business, and government markets. For more than 30 years, customers have chosen Avtec’s award-winning technology for their mission-critical dispatch centers. There are nearly 2,000 Scout™ voice over internet protocol (VoIP) consoles installed worldwide.