More and more, public address (PA) and intercom systems have migrated to the IP network, which carries various benefits including easy integration, easy deployment, and self-diagnostic capabilities. Another important benefit, meanwhile, is it makes the broadcast clearer and more intelligible.
More and more, public address (PA) and intercom systems have migrated to the IP network, which carries various benefits including easy integration, easy deployment, and self-diagnostic capabilities. Another important benefit, meanwhile, is it makes the broadcast clearer and more intelligible.
In an IP PA system, the loudspeaker is the central component for output. “Our network horn speaker has a built-in amplifier and supports Power over Ethernet (PoE). It connects directly to an IP network with one network cable for communication and power,” said Håkan Hansson, Product Manager at Axis Communications. “The loudspeaker’s unique Auto Speaker Test functionality can check that the speaker is in working order by providing audio feedback to the system. The speaker comes with pre-recorded audio files and allows users to upload their own audio messages.”
PA and intercom systems are often deployed in environments – such as vehicles and outdoor space – where weather, vibration and vandalism can be real issues. As such, the devices must be industrial or hardened to withstand such conditions.
“Critical areas often require vandal resistant units or industrial grade products. In most cases it is an absolute must. That is why we focus very hard on making products that can be used virtually anywhere. No matter how cold, hot, loud, dusty, noisy, humid, vandal prone a place is, we make sure you can push a button and talk to someone if needed,” said Piet De Vriendt, Commercial Product Manager for Building Security and Public Safety at Zenitel.
But none of the above requirements compares with the need for clarity of sound. Meanwhile, the intelligibility of the broadcast also matters.
“The need is always the same, to be understood. You need to communicate with each other and there are many options: PA, intercom, telephony, radio, SMS, Skype, you name it. But none of this will help you much if you cannot understand each other because the audio quality is not up to scratch,” De Vriendt said. “It takes a tremendous amount of effort to provide intelligible audio. It is a combination of hardware components, mechanical design and software, for example active noise reduction, acoustic echo cancellation and automatic gain control that capture, process and broadcast intelligible audio.”
And it is the Internet that enables the hardware and software to work together in an IP-based system to boost the level of intelligibility.
“IP-based systems enable synchronization between all speakers. This is important since even a small delay will cause intelligibility to decrease dramatically,” said Tomas Vystavel, Head of Product Marketing at 2N. “There are several ways to provide real-time synchronization like the use of ultralow latency protocols, such as DANTE, or the use of network mechanisms usually based on NTP protocol.”