What can I expect a Finch (Microchip-based server) to cost?

There are three parts of the cost. Let's assume you are going to assemble the units yourself in quantities of 500.

Components: $15 USD

Assembly charge: $7 USD (typical)

Software license fee: $15 USD (typical amount per processor)

Total: $37

You will need some custom software to make the webpage match your data. Figure 5 hours at $100 an hour and your start up charge is $500.

What is Geist Tek's deliverable? An embedded web server or consulting services?

Both. We provide proven designs and the ability to custom modify them to suit specific applications.

The largest asset at Geist Tek is the code base for two types of microprocessors - we have extensive experience with this code and have all the source code. We don't make integrated circuits and prefer to use popular, commodity-type processors. We earn our keep from the license fees and the consulting work for the Code Base and the hardware designs.

What do you do when a single chip solution is available for a few dollars? Is that competition or an opportunity for you?

We're almost there. The Finch has two integrated circuits and we expect Microchip to merge the two circuits together soon which will save cost and circuit board space. The lower the component costs, the more opportunities appear we have found.

Our strength is we have all the source code and circuit information so enhancements or bug fixing are easy.

What's the standard method of feeding data into your web servers?

Both the Finch and the Owl contain serial, comma delimited data receivers. These receivers are already in our designs or we design-in our circuits into a customer's new product or existing product.

With the addition of other data type receivers or specific software, other data types can be added.

What do I get with the software license?
Four items:
  1. Use of the Code Base. This is the key aspect of the license. You are licensed to use our Code Base into a specified microprocessor. The license amount depends on yearly usage; the more usage, the less the license costs.
  2. Routine bug fixes. When bugs are encountered, we will fix them. We do not replace firmware that's already installed – that's up to you.
  3. Custom software changes. If you need changes or features added to our Code Base, you have to have a licensee agreement signed. We don't do general purpose software development. Our licensees are our customers.
  4. Hardware changes. We modify our template hardware designs for our Licensees. If you need something added or modified, we'll do it for you.
There are several manufactures of single-board web servers. Some even come encapsulated in a little sheet metal enclosures. Why should I use your product when they are available?
Six reasons:
  1. We have all the software source code. Ask the other guys if they have access to the source code.
  2. Commodity components. All our designs are based on readily-available integrated circuits.
  3. We should be about 30% cheaper.
  4. If you need specialized software, we will develop it at an hourly rate.
  5. We'll do custom hardware designs.
  6. Our code and designs are field proven.
How do I get a price quotation?
Call our Austin, Texas office at (512) 331-8676 and one of the sales guys will get a quote out to you.