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Reserve Your Seat TodayBuilding and launching a fiber network is a high-stakes process.
When you've got fiber huts popping up across your service territory, you're racing against timelines, contractors, internal deadlines, and real-world operational pressures. You're installing hardware, running cable, and finalizing buildouts. All too often, monitoring becomes an afterthought as you push to get your core ISP offering online.
In fact, that's what happened for one DPS client who was rolling out 10 new remote sites.
They were moving fast, with fiber already lit and sites online. But they almost missed a key detail - something that could've cost them both in terms of visibility and compliance.
Now, we'll examine their process to extract the learning, highlighting how to prevent making expensive mistakes when getting fiber sites online.
This client had been working overtime getting his fiber huts online. As the client said on our call:
"We've just been so busy getting the fiber up and running."
At that point, 10 sites were already online, running live fiber traffic. The monitoring gear, though, was still waiting to be fully configured.
They needed to monitor power, environmentals, and alarms - but hadn't yet completed the setup of their NetGuardian RTUs. Specifically, they were about to wire up 4-20mA current loop sensors. This was (a little bit) risky as this client could've fried the internal resistor and created a field replacement headache if they applied voltage to an analog channel configured for 4-20mA.
They also needed a quote fast, routed per-site so their accounting team could tag each order to a different job code. There was no room for delay or error to get this project done on schedule.
If you've ever deployed a remote monitoring system, you probably know how this goes with typical vendors:
This makes it hard to do your job.
What this client really needed was:
That's the dream setup. And luckily, it's exactly what DPS delivers.
We helped this client avoid a potential equipment failure using a few different methods.
The client had sensors outputting 4-20mA current loops, but the default NetGuardian inputs are 0-5V.
Instead of needing new gear or an external converter, we showed them how to flip an internal dip switch - hidden under a small top-panel hatch on the RTU.
"Just pop it open, flip the switch, and you're good. Don't send voltage after flipping it, or you'll smoke the resistor."
That sentence saved them hundreds of dollars in potential field damage, and (more importantly) days of delay.
DPS RTUs are configurable for both analog input types with a simple switch. There's no need to change part numbers, swap gear, or involve your engineering team in a little "science project".
The client needed to issue POs per site due to internal accounting policy. But they also didn't want to process 10 separate quotes.
With us, that wasn't a problem.
We issued one master quote, then broke it down per-site for PO entry. On our end, we handled the tracking, build, and logistics across all 10 sites as one order.
They got what they needed for finance - all without a lot of needless work.
On the same call, we learned the client was entering budget season. They needed a support renewal quote for the coming year.
We gave them 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year options.
Here's how that pricing works at DPS:
This allowed them to choose between simplicity (1 year), savings (multi-year), or whatever best fit their internal process.
They appreciated the flexibility, and the transparency.
Even though the call happened late in the day, our team rushed the quote same-day.
"This quote might take about 2 hours, but we'll race to get it done before the day ends."
That kind of responsiveness is rare in B2B telecom. But at DPS, we know what it's like to be "under the gun" with a deadline looming. That's why we try to help you get what you need - even when time is short.
We don't just make RTUs. We build tools that help engineers succeed and project managers hit deadlines.
Our gear works better when you're scaling up fast for a few reasons.
With NetGuardian RTUs, you can switch between 0-5V and 4-20mA inputs with a simple dip switch. That means there's no need to purchase new models or worry about compatibility.
If you're quoting for 10, 50, or even 100 sites - and need per-site pricing for your finance department - we can help. We'll structure quotes the way you need them, not the way we find most convenient.
Every DPS team member you talk to is trained on our products. You're not routed to a clueless sales gatekeeper. You get fast, clear answers, directly from the source.
NetGuardian RTUs and T/Mon master stations are deployed in telecom networks, power utilities, public safety agencies, and railroads across North America. These aren't off-the-shelf boxes with questionable firmware. They're battle-tested products, refined during the course of over 25 years in the field.
If you're working on a similar rollout, you already know what the stakes are:
DPS helps you check all those boxes.
And even if you're starting late in the day or behind schedule, our team works hard to get you what you need - fast.
We understand you're not just ordering boxes. You're building something that people are going to depend on. And you've got a hundred other things to think about, including contractors, compliance, fiber splicing, power distribution, and security.
Remote monitoring shouldn't be what slows you down. It should give you confidence that your sites will stay online - without babysitting them 24/7.
That's why we do what we do at DPS.
Whether you're already mid-deployment, or just starting to spec your first hut, DPS can help you move forward with confidence.
Let's talk.
Call us today: 559-454-1600
Email: sales@dpstele.com
Ask for a quote, get a fast answer to a question, or just tell us what kind of monitoring you're planning to roll out.
We're here to help you make it happen.
Andrew Erickson
Andrew Erickson is an Application Engineer at DPS Telecom, a manufacturer of semi-custom remote alarm monitoring systems based in Fresno, California. Andrew brings more than 18 years of experience building site monitoring solutions, developing intuitive user interfaces and documentation, and opt...
