HME pagers have been an industry staple for years, but the hardware model is showing its age. Upfront costs, nightly charging, and limited range are problems BuzzMyTable simply doesn't have.
HME systems require a transmitter base station and a fleet of coaster pagers. Starter kits run into the thousands before you serve a single guest.
Every pager must be collected, racked, and charged overnight. A dead battery at peak service means one fewer guest you can page.
HME pagers only work within a few hundred metres of the transmitter. Guests in the car park or next door are out of reach.
A plastic coaster can't display your logo, track wait times, or feed customer engagement analytics back to your business.
| Feature | HME Pagers | BuzzMyTable |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware required | Transmitter + coasters | None |
| Upfront cost | $1,500–$4,000+ | $0 |
| Replacement cost | $40–$70 per coaster | N/A |
| Range | ~300 m (RF) | Unlimited (internet) |
| Notification types | Vibrate + LED flash | Push, sound, vibration, screen flash, live status |
| Charging | Nightly | Not needed |
| Guest handoff | Hand out & collect | Scan QR on receipt |
| Hygiene | Shared device | Contactless — guest's own phone |
| POS integration | Limited | Simple REST API |
| Branding & analytics | None | Full branding + Google Analytics |
QR code prints on the receipt
Live status page — no app needed
One tap in the dashboard or via API
Push notification with sound & vibration
Join venues that have switched from HME hardware to BuzzMyTable's zero-hardware solution.