The backbone of the system is the DialDictate Software, which sells at a fixed price for $1240.00.  This price includes NCH’s Gold Priority email support for 12 months from the date of purchase.

The Dictation Server is a Windows NT or XP based PC.  This Server runs the software, records the sound files, and answers the telephone (with a TAPI Telephone Interface). We highly recommend that you allow us to purchase the PC you will utilizes as a server for this system.  We have found that certain manufactures PC’s have issues with TAPI telephony cards (ie. Dell) and can’t guaranty you an easy install. if we use a box that you provide.  We will not give you a fix estimate if the work involves setting up a PC provided by you.

The TAPI telephone card or cards answers the phone and is the interface between the Phone system and the dictation Server.  DialDictate can handle up to 32 lines of incoming traffic.  Telephony cards are selected to fit your need.   You choose can from a  2, 4, or 8-port card (a port is a phone line). 

The three components listed above are what is needed to allow an author to dial into the system, control there dictation and capture the dictation files in a file folder (subdirectory) on your server or network.  Once the file is captured the DialDictate system can email the file or move the file to an FTP Site, or to another file folder.  This movement can be set-up by author.  When the file is sent it will be captured either in .wav file format or .dct file format. (.wav is a standard windows file format, .dct is a NCH compressed file format). 

Now you have a sound file how do you listen to it?  NCH with this system provides you with Express Scribe software.  This software is provided at no additional cost.  However, if you want a footswitch to go with the software they cost $99.00 per foot pedal.  Olympus offers a footswitch with work flow management software that also works with this software, it’s called the AS-4000 and sells for $329.00  however, with this system there maybe discounts available on this software with the NCH system.

 The only other cost to the system is the setup time.  We Budget 6 hours of set up time for each system.  That time includes the design and purchasing of a computer to fit you dictation systems needs, loading of software and hardware.  It also includes 2 hours of On-Line help to teach you about your system and help you overcome any bugs that may occur.  Additional, time can be purchased for $100.00 per hour and is do at the time of service.  Office Direct, Inc.’s service techs can solve 98% of most issues on line utilizing a remote access program, which will be loaded on your system prior to shipping. 

As the purchaser of this call in dictation system you need to understand that you need to have some infrastructure in place. 

Phone Lines

First of all this system requires phone lines. If you want a 4 line system you need 4 four lines to plug into it. It will work with less than 4 but you need dedicated lines to plug into the system.   We recommend that you tell you have one main phone line and have the remaining lines roll into each other. If you don’t understand this don’t worry your phone company will or we can explain it to you.

Network

This PC should be placed on a network. It is strongly recommended that you have some type of high-speed Internet connection. These files can be quite large and to move these files to a outside transcriptionist with out high speed access would not be advantageous. You also need to be capable or have someone who is capable of hooking this PC up to the network and Internet. Thus you need to hook this pc up to a switch or router with a network cable that is not provided. Our support system can help you with some of these issues but it is not included in our pricing. It is the responsibility of the customer to install this PC to there network and secure an internet connection for the server. It is also important that the customer secures access to the Dictation Servers access from other PC’s on the LAN.

Power

This PC requires power to operate it. This power should come from a very good UPS (uninterrupted power supply) with surge protection. To have your business not protected by this tools is not a good idea and a PC damaged by a power surge is not covered by any warranty. Please purchase one from us, or your local computer store.

Disclosure

This software once it is purchased and licensed is not returnable. Payment for this product is due upon registration of the DialDictate software. We do stand behind this product with support; we will help you overcome any issues with this product. If the hardware malfunctions that is also covered. But the software is a non-returnable item. Prior to registering the product, we fully test the software to make sure there are no conflicts, however from time to time conflicts do arise, if such conflicts arise on equipment we purchased for a project we will resolve such conflicts.

This software is not a workflow tool for transcriptionist. It’s job is to record telephone dictation calls and move those files to a folder for retrieval by a system administrator or transcriptionist. It also is not a transcription program, however a player is provided to allow you to listen to the files. If you have any questions pertaining to NCH please feel free to call and we will be glad to help you.