One Reason Why Our Software Will Make Your Job Easier

We have focused on one simple goal: making easy-to-use software so you can create, manage, and change your tours without any help. This means even novice computer users can use Route Builder without having to call for technical support. 

Create Your Entire Tour With Ease Using Route Builder

To begin creating your tour with our software; load the program onto a laptop running Windows XP, Vista or 7. When you open the program, you’ll be guided through the process of creating a new tour route using our "Route Builder Wizard".

Route Builder is very thorough and intuitive. The following is a partial list of features and options the Route Builder Wizard will guide you through:

Database Location

You choose a folder location on your computer where your tour(s) database will be stored. You can name the folder anything you like. Don’t worry. Our software automatically creates a database for you based on the tour you create (or change). You don’t need to know anything about databases. Once your tour route is created, all details from your route will be stored as a database file which resides in your tour folder.

Choosing the Name of Your Route

This feature simply helps you differentiate one tour route from the next. The names of your routes (if you have more than one) and the names you give your Points of Interest are also displayed on a Driver’s Control Panel.  

Selecting Audio File Type

Selecting Mono will allow you to install a maximum of 22 different languages for your tour.

Both these options provide your passengers with CD quality sound.  

Adding Languages

Add as many languages as you require up to a maximum of 22. All languages are played simultaneously  at each GPS waypoint, one language or topic per channel.

Managing Points of Interest and POI Names

This feature allows you to add, manage and delete Points of Interest on your tour route. Adding POIs is easy – you can use your mouse with Google maps, or simply add a POI using the tools within the software. When you add a new POI, you then create a name for it so you can quickly identify it on the map. You can also edit the details of a Point of Interest at any time. The POI name will also be on display on a Driver’s Control Panel after you’ve loaded your changes to the commentary system. This is done using a USB A/B cable (the same as a printer cable).

When you add a new POI to your route map, you’ll have a variety of features you can set, such as a directional waypoints (triggers commentary based on the direction a bus or boat is moving), size of GPS waypoint zone (used to trigger commentary as it enters a geographic area), type of GPS trigger (we offer several ways to trigger commentary), and GPS lag (delaying the playback of audio commentary). One example of why this feature is used: to GPS trigger commentary before entering a tunnel. You can set a timed delay on a POI so the commentary plays inside a tunnel. 

The software enables you to create your entire tour and all of your Points of Interest (with GPS coordinates) so that your staff can create, manage and modify your entire tour route, or even multiple tour routes without even leaving your office!

A convenient itemized list of POI details is maintained at all times to the left of the Google map display. In the illustration above, we're setting GPS coordinates for a Point of Interest using Google Maps. 

In most cases, we do this work for you (refer to our Commentary Integration Methodology). And then we hand over your new tour during the installation of your commentary systems. During our time on-site, we train your staff so they are fully equipped to make any modifications to your tours after we’ve left. 

But we also have customers who manage the installation themselves. In these cases, our support time is minimal due to the ease of use of our software and its features. 

We offer several advanced features in Route Builder, and we’ll cover a few of them here:

Chime:

You can disable or enable an audible chime that notifies passengers an audio commentary is about to begin.

Playback Delay:

A playback delay option is available which allows you to set a delay between the chime and the start of the audio commentary so passengers have time to put their headsets on (or earbuds).

Relay Timer:

A relay timer option which allows you to install an external light fixture that flashes to alert passengers audio commentary is about to play.

Seat Flash Timer:

You can set a seat flash timer whereby passenger audio controllers flash on and off to indicate commentary is about to begin (available for hardwired systems).

These are just a few of the features available in the software.

You are always welcome, and encouraged to contact us directly with any questions you may have with any of our products or our Route Builder software.