Pagers: A Journey through Pager History
What is a Pager?
A pager is an essential radio device designed to continuously receive signals from a specific station. It operates by tuning its built-in receiver to the frequency transmitted by a radio transmitter. It allows all pagers within a particular network to listen to the signals broadcasted by the transmitter. As long as the pager remains powered on, it constantly monitors the transmitted signal.
- 1. What is a Pager?
- 2. How do pagers work?
- 3. What types of pagers are there?
- 3.1. Beeper:
- 3.2. Voice/Tone:
- 3.3. Numeric:
- 3.4. Alphanumeric:
- 3.5. Two-way:
- 4. Why pagers still matter
- 4.1. Reliability:
- 4.2. Privacy:
- 4.3. Security:
- 4.4. No GPS and No Bluetooth:
- 4.5. Urgency:
- 4.6. Escalation:
- 4.7. Cost-Effectiveness:
- 5. Price of pager
- 6. Bottom Line
How do pagers work?
Every pager is assigned a unique identification sequence called a Channel Access Protocol (CAP) code. The pager actively monitors for its individual CAP code. Upon receiving the code, it notifies the user and may offer supplementary information depending on the pager's capabilities. This additional information can vary based on the type of pager being used.
What types of pagers are there?
There are five primary types of pagers available:
Beeper:
The initial and simplest form of paging, beepers offer a primary alert to the user. They earned their name from the original version that emitted a beeping noise. However, modern beepers in this category vary in the type of alert they provide. Some use audio signals, while others utilize visual cues such as lighting up or vibrating. Many beepers offer a combination of different alert options. This category is commonly used for restaurant pagers.
Voice/Tone:
Pagers in this category allow users to listen to a pre-recorded voice message when they receive a page alert. This feature enhances communication efficiency, particularly when reading a text message is more practical.
Numeric:
Numeric pagers enable the transmission of numeric messages, such as phone numbers, along with the page alert. This functionality allows for the delivery of specific information in a concise format.
Alphanumeric:
Alphanumeric pagers can send text messages along with the page alert. This pager allows for more detailed and versatile communication, as users can receive and read text-based information.
Two-way:
Two-way pagers offer bidirectional communication, allowing users to send and receive messages. This advanced functionality facilitates interactive and real-time communication between pager users.
Each pager type serves specific purposes and caters to different communication needs, ensuring that users can choose the most suitable option based on their requirements.
Why pagers still matter?
Reliability:
Pagers offer reliability and affordability in wireless communication. While it is important to note that pagers are not intended to replace cellphones, just as motorcycles cannot substitute cars, they do serve as a dependable communication tool. Pagers provide a backup communication option alongside a cell phone, ensuring peace of mind in unforeseen circumstances.
Privacy:
Pagers provide a way of getting in touch without the intrusiveness of a cell phone. Many of our paging customers prefer to shut off their cell phones at night and leave their pager turned on just in case of an urgent matter. The same is true while executives are in essential meetings, professionals meet with clients, and doctors with patients. Their separate phone number gives pagers a "barrier" to strangers calling and having "too much" access.
Security:
Many secure facilities do not allow cell phones for various reasons. Government buildings, prisons, and other high-security buildings must protect their property and cell phones are prohibited. Today, many performers, such as Comedians and Live Bands, want to keep their current acts from being recorded and uploaded to sites like youtube. They will eject patrons that fail to adhere to their strict no-cell phone policies. Pagers fit the bill for these types of situations.
No GPS and No Bluetooth:
With tracking becoming a significant concern in 2020, some people want to be "off the grid" 1-way and traditional 2-way pagers do not have GPS or bluetooth capability. Since they do not depend on cellphone transmitters, there is no triangulation. 1-way pagers have no way of being tracked in this manner.
Urgency:
Pagers stand out above the crowd of ring tones, text message alerts and phone calls to alert of an urgent matter. A pager can become your priority alert that will get the attention required for priority messaging. Need to get in touch with a team of people all at once? A pager and pager app can be group paged if programmed to do so. It means you can send out one page; all pagers or pager apps can instantly be alerted simultaneously. It comes in handy during an emergency or urgent matter where time is of the essence, and it would take too long to text or email people individually.
Escalation:
I.T. teams have found that having one unified phone number and email address to contact multiple people is efficient and critical when there is an issue. Imagine calling one number or sending one email to alert the first person on the list. Suppose they don't respond within a preset period. In that case, the next person on the list can automatically be alerted, and so on, until the last person on the escalation list is alerted. The computer system goes down at 3 am. Escalation using the Zipit Confirm Smartphone app can be the answer you are looking for.
Cost-Effectiveness:
Pagers remain a cost-effective communication solution in an era of expensive smartphones and data plans. With lower upfront costs and minimal ongoing expenses, pagers offer a budget-friendly option for organizations that require reliable communication without extensive features.
Price of pager
The price of pagers can vary depending on several factors, including the type of pager, features, brand, and any additional services or subscriptions associated with it. Basic beepers or numeric pagers are more affordable than advanced alphanumeric or two-way pagers.
Basic beepers or numeric pagers can range from around $20 to $100, depending on the brand and features. Alphanumeric pagers, which offer text messaging capabilities, typically range from $50 to $200. Two-way pagers, providing bidirectional communication, are more expensive and can range from $100 to $300 or more.
It's important to note that these price ranges are approximate and can vary based on market conditions and specific product offerings. Depending on the pager provider, additional costs may be involved, such as activation fees or monthly service charges.
Bottom Line
I'm Emma Lee, and I'm here to help you choose the type of pager needed and best suited for you. Rest assured that the ten pagers above are the best models at Amazon, rated by users and experts alike.