APPENDIX L

VSI-Pro Max NETWORKING

The VSI-Pro Max is an evolution in the philosophy of AVE to be fully backward compatible with older products along with advancing the features and performance of our new products. Not only can the VSI-Pro Max be fully compatible with all AVE Networking devices like the original Hydra / Regcom, the lower cost Networker and Vnetworker but it can translate between these protocols to integrate older installations and configurations seemlessly with the latest prod- ucts. Both communication ports of the VSI-Pro Max are either RS-232 or RS-485 so the need of external converters is now eliminated.

Network Types

Traditionally the Hydra / Regcom system connected to VSIs, ECR Cards or adapter directly with a buffered product and allows the register data to be collected on one RS-485 network and delivered to a DVR or PC offering a moder- ately priced solution

The Hydra / Networker system connected only to VSIs using the VSI internal buffer and allows the register data to be collected on one RS-485 network and delivered to a DVR or PC offering a low cost solution.

The Hydra / Vnetworker system connected only to VSI-Pro using the VSI-Pro internal buffer and remote program- ming ability to program and control the VSI-Pro remotely by the DVR or PC along with register data collection and delivery via the RS-485 network.

VSI-Pro Max Network Capability

The VSI-Pro Max can interface to all of the above network types and then output this network data in the Master or Hydra mode in any format selectable by the user. Therefore existing systems can simply add a VSI-Pro Max to them and configure for whatever they choose. The following is some examples;

1)Systems using VSIs with Regcoms and a Hydra Master can simply add the VSI-Pro Max as a slave register interface expanding the existing system.

2)Systems using the VSIs with Regcoms can replace the Hydra Master with a VSI-Pro Max which will do the Hydra function and add another register to the system. Then with the VSI-Pro Max as the Master the protocol can be translated from Regcom to Vnet allowing connection to the AVE MVDR5000 and have remote programming capabil- ity from the DVR front panel for the VSI-Pro Max. The older VSIs and Regcoms on the network will remain to collect data but will not be able to be remotely programmed by the DVR.

3)If a user is using an older version of PC software for data collection for Regcoms or Vnetworkers, the same software can be used to collect data from another network type by the translation capability of the VSI-Pro Max. However the latest release of PC Programming software for the VSI-Pro Max includes all versions in one and superseds all previous multiple versions.

4)Systems using Networkers can add Vnetworkers seemlessly to these networks or VSI-Pro Max. The program- ming capability of Vnetworkers and VSI-Pro Max are macro sets of the Networker so would seemlessly together. However you could use a VSI-Pro Max as the Hydra Master and translate the Vnetworker protocol to the Regcom protocol and deliver the data to a DVR that only supports the VSI-ADD protocol. Then if the DVR software is updated to support the Vnetworker protocol, simply select the output protocol of the VSI-Pro Max accordingly and take advan- tage of remote programming capability of the DVR.

Summary

The VSI-Pro Max is now the solution to almost every new application or configuration of any AVE POS/Cash Register Interface solution. Compatibility with existing cables for both the register and the network make the VSI-Pro Max Plug and Play as a standalone or an addition to any existing AVE interface installation.

VSI-Pro Max POS / Cash Register Interface

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AVE operation manual Appendix L, VSI-Pro Max Networking, Network Types, VSI-Pro Max Network Capability, Summary