JCC1996 Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Hi, This is a theoretical idea, but I'm wondering if it is possible and how it would be done? The idea is a Public Address system (paging as opposed to FoH sound obviously) that would have a phone number you could call from which you could make announcements? The advantage I'm thinking is that the announcer could be anywhere, not have to find a paging mic, but I just wondered if it would be possible (ignoring the downfall of it being dialled as a wrong number!!) Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callumb Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 I have been in a few places that have something like that. Namely swimming pools for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 You'll find one in most supermarkets, it's very common. You can pick up any phone, dial a number, and off go the chimes. There are more sophisticated versions whereby tHe message is stored while you are speaking, and then when you hang up the message is played. This solves two problems, feedback, and the fact that people don't like hearing themselves amplified. If you are looking for kit to do this from any random phone to a real number, try looking a Viking or possibly RDL. If its an internal problem, have a look at the PABX, many have phone to page facilities. The panasonic hybrids are a very popular example, and they have pagin support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.elsbury Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 You can use a telephone hybrid to get audio from a phone line to a PA (and back again) but this requires the call to be answered by a device first Some PABX/PBX systems allow you to dial an extension, and it pages out a paging output. I'm sure you could do this with Asterix (a free Linux based PBX system) if you tried hard enough, set an extension that auto-answers and routes via an audio out. The question, of course, is what are you trying to achieve that you can't do with more traditional forms of paging? David Argh! 3 posts in 3 minutes, must type faster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 It'd be pretty easy to do using a telephone balun, as used for radio phone ins and large teleconferencing setups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMitchell Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 if it is possible and how it would be done? using a telephone hybrid (aka telephone balancing unit) connected to the PA mixer, with ringing detector set to automatically answer after x rings. this will explain better... http://www.sonifex.co.uk/company/logos-images/catalogues/hybrids.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henny Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Most PBX systems have some sort of paging function and there are various units you can just hang off a line/extension you call them they auto answer play some chimes then connect you to the pa, some better ones record what you say then play it back once you have hung up to avoid feedback, some have access codes you have to enter to login, some can have up to 99 zones that you can pick from using your keypad. a quick google comes up with things like http://www.baldwinboxall.co.uk/bt-interfaces you could just use a mobile set to auto answer then feed out of the headphone out, some phones could possibly only auto answer for a predefined list of incoming numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Just to mention products: the Viking CPA-7b and the RDL ST-TC1. I believe I actually have tyhe Viking box from a uncompleted project, must have been on the shelf over a decade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritch Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 I'm sure you could do this with Asterix (a free Linux based PBX system) if you tried hard enough, set an extension that auto-answers and routes via an audio out. Asterisk will go one step further, and allow you to route calls straight to the sound card on the machine that's running the PBX. Looks hairy, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danburns Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Do you already have a PBX in the venue, and want to page from inside the venue, or do you need to be able to dial-in remotely? Also, is there a budget for this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 An "internal" call to the PA is easy it's likely that your internal switchboard already supports this, just be sure that the system is secure against misuse. An External system from an incoming land line will need the call to be answered first, will then need a PSTN balun to get the sound out. Risks include the wrong number issue -the wrong person ringing in, getting no voice and shouting "are you there" loudly over your PA. There could be a possible issue with secrecy -you are not supposed to broadcast a phone call without the express consent of all parties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owain Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 The Viking units mentioned are American. Baldwin Boxall make a unit which is BT approved in the UK. The BT5 can be connected to an exchange line if needed. The BT8 must go through a PBX, but supports record-and-announce and zone switching using DTMF. http://www.baldwinbo...k/bt-interfaces The Dean Forest Railway built their own which interfaces with their Strowger exchange. http://www.dfrtelecoms.org.uk/pa001.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritch Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 The Dean Forest Railway built their own which interfaces with their Strowger exchange. http://www.dfrtelecoms.org.uk/pa001.htm Well, there goes my chance of doing anything useful for the rest of the day out of the window! Impressive site, I must say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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