How many Annuncicom should you use for the SIP Intercom?

Concept

Barix devices, in this case, specifically, the Annuncicom 100 and Annuncicom 200 devices (but also the most other Barix audio products), can be operated with a specific firmware which implements the SIP protocol. This firmware is available free of charge and free to download from the Barix website. The full SIP stack and application source code is included in the download, so the application can be easily changed or adapted to specific needs, where required.

To set up a basic SIP based Intercom, no PBX is required !

In the most simple case, you can just use one, some or many Annuncicoms and in the central location, you can use the free ICGraph software package from Barix - or - if no PC should be used, a standard IP Phone !

Strictly spoken, a solution using the ICGraph software would not even use SIP, but the standard Barix communication methods. However, the functionality is similar or identical to the SIP based solution using a standard IP phone in the central location, so i describe both here.

Hardware

At the "remote" side, you have the choice to use either the Annnuncicom 100 or the Annuncicom 200. The -100 model comes with a power supply and provides 2W of output power into an 8 Ohm speaker, while the -200 model provides 8W power to the speaker, has an additional Aiphone wall station interface and built-in PoE support (and no power suppply is included).

One or two pushbuttons (for two targets) can be directly connected to the Annuncicoms, and a relay output is available and can be used to activate a door strike or control a light or similar.

Central location

PS16

If you want a ruggedized, proven central hardware solution, the PS16 (optionally with extension boxes for more destination keys) is a good choice. It operates standalone, so no PC is required in the whole system other than for setup. Incoming calls are indicated on the LCD display and also can "ring", and the operator can control the whole function with a few keystrokes. Calling the remote stations is a one-button operation, and groups can be configured, an "absent" message recorded (which is played in case no-one answers a call) all directly at the station. The current implementation does not use SIP but a specific paging/intercom protocol defined by Barix (BARP) with significant advantages.

PC with ICGraph

The cheapest of course is "free" - that is our ICGraph software. It is java based, so it runs well on windows, linux and other platforms, very flexible in terms of configuration, provides a nice UI, and works well with the Annuncicoms. You can select stations to talk to on the graphical UI combine them to groups etc - and the station can place a call by just pressing one button. Various "comfort" features are implemented in the software, such as logging, optional recording, group/all station calling, status monitoring etc.

SIP Phone

If you want to set up a "PC free" solution, you can also use a standard IP Phone (Grandstream, Siemens etc) as the "central". We provide a "SIP" Firmware for the Annuncicoms (again, free of charge), which can place a call to a predefined (setup) IP address without a PBX in case someone presses the button (contact closure input). This is then a standard SIP call, so the standard, central SIP phone will ring and can answer the call. On most phones you can directly "dial" an IP Address (not using a PBX/server), and if your phone has quick dial keys that can be configured to do so, this can be a very nice, low cost, reliable, PC free solution.

SIP PBX

The SIP firmware for the Annuncicom devices also can register with a standard SIP based PBX (such as Asterisk, Cisco call manager etc), in which case most functionality is defined by the PBX. The Annuncicom, in that case, only places a call with the PBX as any phone would if a button is pressed, and it can also be "called" from the phone system. Activation of the relay/door strike is done via a code typically punched in on the connected phone through proper sonfiguration on the server. Asterix Server configuration for Relay control