US Department of Agriculture, USDA Forest Service, Technology and Development Program Banner with Logos.
Images from various aspects of the T&D Program.
HomeAbout T&DT&D PubsT&D NewsProgram AreasHelpContact Us
  T&D > T&D Pubs > Field Evaluation of Electronic Fee-Collection Machines for Forest Service Recreation Sites T&D Publications Header

Field Evaluation of Electronic Fee-Collection Machines for Forest Service Recreation Sites

Appendix B—Pay Station Specifications

Lexis Systems, Inc.
901 Model

General Specifications: Height: 37 inches; width: 25 inches; depth: 15 inches; and weight: 220 pounds.

Warranty: One year parts and labor.

Rates: Progressive, regressive, holiday, special, flat, and early bird. Rates are variable according to the time of the day, and day of the week. There is no charge on special days. There are minimum and maximum time periods.

Operating Environment: Temperature range: 32° F to 140° F (0° C to 60° C). Temperature range with a heater: -40° F to 140° F (-40° C to 60° C).

Time Clock: The clock is accurate to within a few seconds per week. Adjusting time is a simple procedure using a portable computer. The clock operates continuously and tracks: year/month/day and day of the week. The meter automatically adjusts for daylight saving time.

Paint: Powder-coated for strong protection and quality appearance. Standard colors are dark blue, forest green, powder white. Other colors are available on request.

Service Door: Reinforced 12-gauge stainless steel, anti-crowbar door protection, vandal-resistant piano hinge, Swiss-engineered three-point locking mechanism, and protective stainless-steel cross bar.

Locks: Door—drill- and pick-resistant Medico plug lock. Cross bar—high-security stainless-steel disc lock. Cash vault—stainless-steel pin lock.

Display: Dimensions are 5 inches wide by 3 inches high. There are four lines of text, each line having a capacity of 20 characters. The display is protected by a Lexan cover and has backlighting for easy reading at all times of the day.

Coin Acceptor: Self-calibrating, self-cleaning, high coin discrepancy (optoelectronic and magnetic measurements), four coin tubes for change, and modular design for easy maintenance.

Printer: Thermal printer (1,500 tickets per roll), programmable messages, receipt portion, and self-cleaning (low maintenance).

Electrical and Electronic Components: All components are modular and replaceable onsite and are upgradable.

Power Supply:

  • Rechargeable battery, standard (battery life 4 weeks).
  • AC power, 110 volts (optional).
  • Solar power recharge of battery (optional).
  • Trickle battery charge (optional).

Future Options: Wireless communications, Fall 1999.

The Lexis 901 is currently being upgraded to allow wireless communication with an off site computer. The computer will be able to provide the following information upon request.

  • Meters out of service
  • Meters to cash collect (dollar value in coin box).
  • Meters that need new batteries.
  • Meters that are being vandalized (police contact).
  • Report retrieval.
  • Credit card authorization.
VenTek International, Inc.
Model 400

General Specifications: The unit is about 16 inches wide by 22 inches high by 18 inches deep. Shipping weight is about 175 pounds. It is made with an 8-inch-square pedestal for mounting in the ground or on the surface (optional). Choice of Pay-by-Space or Pay-and-Display units.

Rates: Hourly, daily, and long-term rates as well as rates that vary by time of day. It is field programmable with multirate tables (“Quick Pick” rate structure). Special event tables may be programmed up to 1 year in advance (optional).

Operating Environment: Fully insulated case. A thermostatically controlled heating system is optional.

Time Clock: Microprocessor-controlled date and time.

Paint: High-visibility yellow is used with black-and-white graphics. A customized case color and graphics are options.

Case Construction: Ten-gauge steel with 1¦4-inch-thick steel reinforcements.

Locks: There is one locking cash bag with a capacity of 600 bills. A master series lock program is optional.

Display: Large backlit four-line by 40-character LCD display.

Coin Acceptor: Accepts nickels, dimes, quarters, and $1 coins. A multi denomination bill acceptor is available. Credit card acceptance is optional.

Printer: Low-maintenance, high-speed thermal printer with more than 5,000 tickets per roll. It prints the location name, transaction number, machine number and code, date and time of purchase, date and time of expiration in large bold print, with additional space for special instructions or messages.

Electrical and Electronic Components: PC programmable with software included.

Power Supply: 120-volt power or battery operated, with battery backup included. Solar power is optional.

Security: Generates audit and revenue reports automatically when cash is removed from the system or when credit card data are collected. Collection reports detail denominations and totals of all coins, all bills, and credit card purchases.

VenTek International, Inc.
System V

General Specifications: About 241¦2 inches wide by 35 inches high by 17 inches deep, shipping weight is about 300 pounds, 12-inch-square pedestal for mounting in the ground or on the surface (optional). Pay-by-Space version optional.

Rates: Hourly, daily, and long-term rates as well as rates that vary by time of day. Rate changes of up to 1 year can be programmed onsite or from a remote location. Quick-Pick rate structure. Special-event tables may be programmed up to 1 year in advance.

Operating Environment: Fully insulated case, thermostatically controlled heater and cooling fan.

Time Clock: Microprocessor-controlled date and time.

Paint: High-visibility yellow or blue with black-and-white graphics. Customized case color and graphics are optional.

Case Construction: Ten-gauge steel with 1¦2-inch steel reinforcements.

Locks: The bill acceptor can hold 1,000 bills and can be locked for a sealed cash system. There is one locking cash bag with a capacity of approximately 600 bills. A second locking cash bag and bill acceptor is optional. It has a high-security Medico lock and locking bar. A master series lock program is optional.

Display: Large backlit four-line by 40-character LCD display.

Coin and Bill Acceptor: Accepts nickels, dimes, quarters and $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills. The acceptor can give full change, partial change, no change, any combination, or refund tickets, and has a $30 self replenishing change supply. The high-capacity, 500-quarter change feature, high-capacity (600) Susan B. Anthony $1 coin change feature, and credit, debit, and smart-card acceptance are all options.

Printer: Low-maintenance, high-speed thermal printer with more than 5,000 tickets per roll that prints location name, transaction number, machine number and code, date and time of purchase, date and time of expiration in large bold print, with additional space for special instructions or messages.

Electrical and Electronic Components: PC programming software included, but remote support software is optional.

Power Supply: 120-volt power or battery operated; battery backup is standard. Battery backup that will function for 48 hours or 1,000 transactions is optional, as well as solar power.

Security: Detailed audit and revenue reports are generated for total coins, bills, and tickets sold, and for each transaction. Detailed service procedures are included. It also has an audible alarm system.

Dominion Self-Park Systems, Ltd.
QBS Pay Stations

United States price list of QBS Products, June 2000

Component Prices (U.S. dollars)
Dispenser Simplex coin Phoenix coin/card Accord/Apex coin/card/bills
Base unit $4,865 $9,705 $12,000
Pedestal 210 225 300
External locking bar 170 170 170
Cash vault 330
After-hours security cover 500 500 500
Additional coin hopper 300
Heater 170 170 170
Solar panel, each (number required depends on location) 350 350 350
Networking software 6,700 6,700
Network server 7,000 7,000
Handheld unit for Simplex Included
Software requirements Windows 95/98, NT 4.0 Windows 95/98, NT 4.0
Banking software 600 600
Point of sale authorization (credit/debit card) 2,500 2,500
Install and train, 2 days* (travel expenses extra) 2,000 2,000 2,000
Install and train, 3 days* (travel expenses extra) 3,000 3,000 3,000

Notes: Prices are for single dispensers. Price may vary due to current exchange rate. Discount will vary depending on number of the first machines ordered. Banking software is required to send credit card transactions electronically to bank, but only needs to be purchased for the first machine. If Point-of-Sale Authorization is used, banking software is not required. One-year warranty on all components. Loaner components are provided free of charge if repairs are necessary.

* Installation and Training: Will vary depending on number of dispensers to be installed and number of staff to be trained. We will supply specifications and diagrams for installing the pedestal, electrical and telephone hookups. It is the purchaser's responsibility to ensure that these items are in place and connected, prior to final assembly and installation. On orders of six or more dispensers, installation and training are included in the purchase price.

Dominion Self-Park Systems, Ltd.
QBS Pay Stations

United States price list of QBS Products, June 2000

Replacement Component Prices(U.S. dollars)
Dispenser Simplex Phoenix Accord Apex
Printer $1,600 $1,600 $1,600 $1,600
LCD 200 400 400 400
Coin acceptor/selector (one piece) 330 330
Coin changer/selector (two pieces) 700 700
Bill acceptor with stacker 3,000 3,000
Card reader 310 310 310
Coin box 150 150 150
Cash vault 330
Controller 700 3,500 3,500 3,500
Battery 125 150 150 150
Handheld unit for Simplex 500
AC power 150 150 150 150
Cables, per set 300 400 500 500
Button 86 86 86 86
Decal package 75 150 200 200
PIN pad 100 100
Roll of tickets 60 60 60 60

Notes: Any items on this list, excluding custom tickets, can be shipped overnight or 2-day delivery. If repairs to dispenser components are required, loaner components can be shipped overnight or 2-day delivery to keep the permit dispenser operational.