FST to T-Max

[JJH]

I am considering changing my control system over from FST to T-Max. I believe T-Max works on a daisy chain wiring system unlike FST which has a separate set of wires running to each room. Can this be done without rewiring my whole salon?

[tanfixr]

The short answer is, NO.

But, how many rooms do you have, you may be able to cheat?

Or, I used to make a "converter" box (I think). I dont' know if they still sell that though.

[2tan]

sounds like a lot of work for no big gain? They both do basically the same thing only the one displays the remaining time in the room the other displays the remaining time to you at the front counter. Is someone trying to sell you a tmax or are you just curious?

[susanlatte]

Well which is better?? I have a FST right now..any thoughts??

anyone here convert from FST to Tmax?

[West Side Tanner]

Yep, re-wire.

[bbicknell]

Both do pretty much the same thing. I have noticed that T-max has faster response times from the software that we use. The other thing is...a bunch of tanning bed makers are now incorporating T-max into thier beds. Tan America, Heartland, Mystic Tan, etc. So it is becoming the industry standard. You will have to re-wire the store, but the daisy chain is easy compared to running home runs to each room. It is all low voltage phone cord that is supplied with each T-max unit.

[sun2go]

some software programs actually read the time off of t-max timer, and add security into the system, not allowing a cancel time to be sent, thus giving free tans if you don't catch it in some obscure report.

best reliability in the industry, as noted, becoming the industry standard in built in equipment also.

[tanfixr]

"Basically the same thing"? If that's supposed to mean they both turn the beds on, that's true. Otherwise, there isn't much similarity. FST and Sunstar (Westar, Questar, Database 10,000) both have 100% of the control in the front desk unit. Many salons shut down for hours or days when the timer goes bad.

Tmax doesn't have this problem. I have converted many stores to Tmax for this reason. Response time from software is a function of the delay setting that can be accessed from the Windows registry and isn't really a valid reason to switch to Tmax. The extra features typically included in software are. In addition, service and support is about a million times better from ADI, the manufacturer of TMax.

Any salon that has lost $1000+ because their timer was down and had to turn tanners away for a day will tell you what the "gain" is by having a Tmax.

[insiderundercover]

T-Max is definately the better way to go of the two. One of the biggest upsides has been mentioned, that being; many industry leaders are incorperating them into their beds. This also translates into those same companies being able to provide technical support and ready access to parts for T-Max systems. Anyone who's waited for a manufacturer to return a phonecall while customers are waiting at the counter knows the value of having tech support options.
Short Story----go for the rewire during the off season. This gives you less down time and a few months to learn the set up before you're in a pinch.
Good luck & God bless.

[SwedaGuy]

We're working on this change soon...going to t-max for a database system. We like the db unit, but I want something that's going to be easier to computer interface. I actually like the home-run wiring style, and consider the daisy chain the only "down side" to the t-max that I've seen so far...