Several weeks ago I attended a half-day seminar by Valcom to discuss the IP-paging options and configurations. Recently, a reader responded about a post I wrote about Campus Communications and wanted to know what if anything new is on the horizon for paging systems and what we are doing with our schools.
After reviewing my notes--I thought that sharing my reply along with a few answered questions from Valcom would benefit folks. If it comes across that I sound like a salesman then you must know that any customer that is a school is akin to having an anchor store in the local shopping center.
VALCOM Questions:
Question: Currently Valcom supports only G.711?
Answer: For voice paging applications G.711 is the minimum usable while still enabling a good articulation index. We've never had a customer have a problem with G.711 bandwidth. Wider frequency response, but not larger bandwidth, codecs will be released soon.
Question: For enterprise solutions how do network managers assure that Valcom (paging) packets get "prioritization?"
Answer: There is a programming option that allows the end user to specify a TOS or DSCP value.
Question: Is PoE 802.3at support planned?
Answer: Present Valcom devices all operate within the limits of PoE 802.3af, and do not require the higher power provided by 802.3at. Higher power units will be announced which do support 802.3at.
Question: When does your IP gear using Multicast and when is it using Unicast?
Answer: Without getting too technical, our products are designed to operate as efficiently as possible. The choice of Multicast or Unicast is made based on which technique will provide the best use of the network resources, while still providing the end user with the sound quality and functionality that is needed.
WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH OUR SCHOOLS?
These schools are 40-70 year-old buildings/infrastructures and some are newer, so phasing out ALL the embedded wiring from the old days is a key objective. Most of it is so botched up, patched, scotch locked or beanied that no customer wants to afford the expense of re-certifying the plant and while it can be done, it's a matter of costs and choices if they really want to maintain these separate infrastructures.
We are methodically replacing a school's wiring and we design in short length drops vs. maximum length drops. We usually end up with a few more "switch" (LAN) locations or IDFs if you want to call it that--but the performance is better, faster. We can't completely design out latency but there's a good deal of latency on the typical physical infrastructure, collectively speaking, if that makes sense. The other thing we do is design in futures--we add a drop in the ceiling for a LCD projector, we add two drops at the front and back of each classroom and if the customer allows, we also add one drop in ceiling--one for IP Speaker/Clock combo. Most of our schools want clocks and these are far cheaper than competing clock systems.
Our schools also want to play announcements, ring bells or tones and at different times/places during the day. Then they want automation in emergency notification to send parents an email or SMS that school is closing early. Valcom has a solid-state server that runs this show.
Now, our approach is probably a bit off because we are not grandfathering in the old gear residing on the separate infrastructure such as talk back speakers in classrooms, old wiring and amplifiers. VALCOM can provide middleware to all of it but we've already pre-wired everything. The schools want fewer contractors to call and they want systems and solutions that work right each and every time.
Schools (public and private) also want emergency notification, automation and solid solutions. I don't think talk back speakers are the best answer--our schools want phones for the classrooms and this means a tradeoff from using the paging system for voice. The benefit is the desk phone has message waiting lamps and offers privacy and the lack of privacy is what teachers complain about the most when using talkback speakers. We add one or two speakers in the classroom ceiling for paging (Announcements & Bells [tones]).
Valcom states their IP paging solution is 2nd generation and I admit some of what I saw is pretty slick. I believe they are pricey but the schools didn't bat an eye at the cost. LOCK the schools to the phone box--because with paging they are customers for life. Normally whoever sells the firewall controls the site--so sneak in the back and sell the paging to schools connected to the phone system. For an added bonus, sell access and control (door call boxes and door openers) with network cameras again, connecting them to the phone system (Communications Server) and then use UC for screen popping to secretaries’ desktop computers. We have found that some like the DSS/BLF console (physical) but most like having the UC client with the console displayed on their desktops.
The other "HOOK" is ENERGY. Valcom also makes a relay (N/O ~ N/C) used for turning off "things" such as standalone HVAC units and forgotten lights in the classrooms. Their solid-state server can run this show too. Our schools average $150,000 per year on energy, so if they can get just a 10% efficiency savings, then that’s 10% every year that quickly materializes into a return.
WHAT ABOUT THE OLD 70Volt or 24Volt GEAR?
What happens is your "sale" grows and you must have managed PoE switches. All-IP is easier to maintain in infrastructure but it can be more complicated in servicing. Having good tools in place is important and challenging to the budgets. Getting off the old infrastructure does cost money initially, but in the long term it pays off because the converged solution is simpler and easier to maintain. Now, look back and review all that you do--phones, paging, clocks, announcements, energy controller (relays) and you come to realize that you've built a value add model and you are just one vendor.
The breaking point will be when schools realize the costs and time to service, restore and manage aged and disparate infrastructures for paging, telephone and a data while their lights and HVAC units are left on running up their utility bills. It is a migration effort that requires a lot of work and once you get a buy off in one school the others follow. The process can takes years with gradual improvements being made. Success is getting called back and making the next improvement.
The other thing we do is run a 3 or 4 pair fiber backbone. What we are seriously contemplating now is using a spare pair across the backbone just for paging. In one school example, we have 4 existing switch locations and two additional buildings are being added for a total of 6 switch (LAN) locations. From switch to switch we run fiber (LC-LC multimode). Now our backbone is 1 Gbps and later (any time) we can upgrade our ADTRAN gear and provide 2.5 Gbps. Still, we are likely to use 1 spare fiber pair and add media converters at all locations to keep the paging separate. Because of the number of IP devices in paging we are using a separate subnet and assigning static IPs to all the paging gear.
The Valcom IP Solutions Setup Tool is a really slick discovery tool that maps the paging hardware, eases programming and allows management including backing up the configurations of the paging system. Their IP speakers optioned with wire line supervision use syslog to report on failed speakers. For campus and larger enterprise environments this saves significant amount of time and effort and turns the solution into a proactive one, meaning you don’t wait to hear about a problem, you call the school and tell them you are dispatching on a specific problem. Now what happens to the old 70Volt or 24Volt gear? Whatever you want--Valcom can easily integrate most of it into a blended solution but that is not the course we are taking with our schools. It's a great option but you really must assess the existing gear, supportability/serviceability and costs.
For a larger version, click here
One of the key considerations in planning a successful paging system implementation is to get the dial plan right. Valcom supports dial access codes with 1-11 digits in length. Spend enough time and plan the right dial plan scheme, otherwise you may end up scratching your efforts later.
Some Key Valcom IP-Paging Highlights
* Solid-state Server has 7 hours of voice storage
* Ability to import wav files
* Five (5) levels of paging priority
* Valcom offers engineered solutions for Avaya, Cisco and VCX
