# Voice and Text Messages

The RTU is capable of using both voice messages and text (data mode) messages:

Voice Messages:

- The RTU incorporates its own resident vocabulary of "canned" speech, and it also allows users to record their own voice messages for more meaningful and descriptive reports.
- The resident speech is used to support programming operations when programming at the Front Panel or over the phone.
- Resident speech is also used to create factory default voice messages for use in voice reports to personnel until the user replaces them with their own recorded voice messages.

Text Messages:

- In addition to voice messages for communicating directly with personnel, the RTU provides text messages that are included in reports to data devices such as a central station computer, printer, fax machine, etc.
- As with voice messages, the RTU has factory default "generic" messages, but allows users to configure their own text messages.
- Message organization (applies to both voice and text messages):
- The RTU provides for two voice messages and two corresponding text messages for use in communicating the status of each input channel. The specific way these two messages are used in reports depends upon whether the input channel is configured for analog (having a continuous range of possible values) or discrete (having just two possible values, 0 or 1) data type.

Tag Words:

- In addition to these user configurable messages, the RTU automatically appends Tag Words to the end of each channel's status message in reports. These Tag Words provide additional indication of the channel's state (Alarm, Normal, etc.) as distinct from its current status reading. Factory default Tag Words are provided, but as with messages, the user may customize them in the configuration process.

For additional overview information about Messages and Tag Words, see Message Settings