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JTECH Pager Alternatives
The main alternatives to JTECH GuestCall pagers are another coaster brand (LRS, or budget Retekess), an SMS waitlist app, or a phone-based buzzer like Bzz, which uses the guest's own phone and needs no hardware.
The options
LRS
Coaster pagers + transmitter
Best for: Venues set on hardware that want published dealer pricing
Watch out: Kits listed from $1,129 for 15 pagers at WebstaurantStore (November 2026)
Retekess
Budget coaster pagers
Best for: Small venues that want cheaper physical pagers
Watch out: Still pagers to charge, pair and replace
SMS waitlist apps (TablesReady, NextMe, Waitlist Me)
Text-message waitlist
Best for: Venues happy to collect a phone number from every guest
Watch out: They text guests, so every check-in needs a number, and texts can carry per-message costs or plan limits
Bzz
Buzzer on the guest's own phone
Best for: Restaurants, cafés and takeaways that want no hardware and no phone numbers
Watch out: Guests need a phone with data or Wi-Fi. Keep a fallback (call the name) for the odd guest without one
Try it free
What JTECH is, and what it costs
JTECH, an HME company, makes the GuestCall range of guest pagers (Coaster, IQ, CommPass and Extreme) and ServerCall staff pagers. Systems are radio-based, with a transmitter and charging bases, and are sold through dealers.
- JTECH's GuestCall IQ manual says US systems need an FCC licence, and that customers may operate under HME's nationwide licence (call sign WQKJ800) or obtain their own, staying responsible for Part 90 compliance.
- IQ pagers use rechargeable NiMH packs that JTECH rates for 3 to 5 years; a pager that shows "LO" after a 2-hour charge needs a new pack.
- JTECH says to use only the supplied AC adapter (others void the warranty) and that power surges aren't covered.
- We found no published JTECH price list; pricing comes from dealers.
Bzz has a free plan to start, and paid plans from $11.99 a month. There is no hardware to buy. See pricing for what each plan includes.
What is your JTECH fleet costing you each year?
The numbers below are rough estimates. Change them to what you actually pay.
Estimated yearly cost
$610
$220 hardware + $390 staff time
With Bzz, guests scan a QR code and their own phone becomes the pager: a live place-in-line page in the browser that alerts them when it is their turn. There are no pagers to charge, pair or replace.
Free plan to start. Busier venues move to a paid plan, see pricing.
When to stay with JTECH
- Your JTECH fleet works and you rarely replace pagers or battery packs.
- You rely on ServerCall staff paging as part of the same system.
- A good share of your guests won't have a phone with them.
Keeping your JTECH system? Fix it first:
Switching from JTECH without a big-bang change
1.Make a free Bzz account
Add your venue name. No hardware ships, so there is nothing to wait for.
2.Print the QR code for the counter or host stand
Put it where you hand out JTECH pagers today.
3.Run both for a shift
Offer the QR code first and keep the JTECH pagers for guests who prefer them. You'll see quickly how many guests are happy on their own phone.
4.Retire the pagers you stop using
Keep a few charged as a backup if you like. Every one you stop buying, charging or replacing is a saving.
Sources
Prices and specs as published by each source when checked. Bzz is not affiliated with JTECH.