Fill in Existing Gaps
Singlewire developed one of the first IP speaker protocols over a decade ago. Since then, IP speakers have become a valuable addition to any emergency notification system. While we strongly encourage customers to use their existing overhead paging systems with InformaCast, IP speakers offer several advantages over traditional analog ones. They are particularly useful in greenfield deployments and filling existing overhead paging system gaps.
Many IP speakers have LED displays, making them a great way to add visual alerting that can be seen at a distance. This visual alerting can include scrolling the text of an InformaCast broadcast and integrated LED strobes/flashers that can be used to draw attention to the alert. Both the scroll speed and the number of repetitions can be controlled from InformaCast and can be configured on an individual message basis.
IP speakers are self-amplified, typically using Power over Ethernet (PoE). This means that no separate amplifier is needed, and a separate cable plant is unnecessary, as IP speakers run over existing Ethernet data cabling.
Scalability and Compatibility
The granularity of paging/alerting is another benefit, broadcasting to one speaker or groups of thousands of speakers, regardless of location. The number of zones is limitless, and because the groups are configured in software, it costs no more to configure 100 zones than two zones. Similarly, the software can individually control each InformaCast-compatible speaker’s volume. If a particular office area complains that they can’t hear broadcasts, adjusting the volume to a more audible level is easy. While most speakers go to 10 and Spinal Tap’s amplifier to 11, InformaCast-compatible speakers go to 12. In decibels, Singlewire’s speaker manufacturer partners make speakers that top out between 96 dB and 120 dB and beyond.
IP Speakers generally come in two types: SIP and InformaCast-compatible. InformaCast-compatible speakers automatically register with the InformaCast software, making setup a breeze. SIP speakers can negatively impact Cisco Unified Communications Manager architecture and licensing. SIP speakers aren’t controlled in the InformaCast software, so they can’t be individually volume-controlled, they don’t accept text scrolling, and they don’t prioritize emergency alerts. Perhaps most importantly, InformaCast-compatible speakers are more secure than SIP speakers because InformaCast speakers must register with InformaCast. In contrast, SIP speakers play a multicast audio stream on a particular IP address and port. For the complete InformaCast feature set and security, InformaCast-compatible IP speakers are recommended.
What to Look For
We are often asked which InformaCast-compatible IP speakers we recommend. We don’t play favorites among the various IP speaker manufacturers. When looking for IP speakers, it’s helpful to look at the functionality needed, as this varies within a speaker manufacturer’s lineup as much as it does between speaker manufacturers. The best place to start is with the use case. If the speakers are for classroom use, you’ll typically want them to have displays to function as clocks and be used as part of your InformaCast automated school bell system. Similarly, manufacturing and distribution environments like the visual alerting capabilities of display speakers because the audio may not always be heard in areas with high levels of ambient noise and where workers are wearing hearing protection. Other factors for consideration may be outdoor use (weatherproof), talkback (intercom) functionality, ability to play background music and/or white noise, color LED displays, and placement (ceiling mount, wall mount, etc).
Singlewire territory managers will assist you with the selection and work with our reseller partners to provide you with a solution that works for your needs.