Telephone paging systems have come a long way both in terms of sound quality and the variety of ancillary equipment that expand and enhance their use. You don’t have to settle for blast, blare and static or sounding like you’re 20,000 leagues under the sea when using a paging system. Step into the realm of internet protocol (IP) paging, with its broad menu of advanced features and functions.

IP paging is suitable for a wide range of businesses, from office buildings and medical suites to manufacturing plants, and from hospitals and schools to automobile dealerships.  No matter the venue, the results are always the same:  improved productivity and better customer service, which translate to increased profits.

NEC UT880 IP Phone with Touchscreen & Speaker

Network-based IP paging is more easily installed than legacy wired analog systems and it eliminates the need for and the cost of having separate voice and data networks, since IP paging is deployed by using a company’s existing data and telephony infrastructure.  Unlike traditional 70 volt systems that require the use of special shielded wiring to prevent interference and noise from being picked up by a paging system, IP amplified speakers are connected using standard low-voltage telephone and data cabling.

There are several ways to connect a paging system to a telephone system. Most telephone systems have external built-in paging ports, while others require a converter for an analog trunk, an analog station or a digital station interface.

Paging system amplifiers are used to connect a telephone system to overhead paging speakers and horns.  Many paging systems can also support talkback features and ambient background music to mask sound and enhance the work environment.

A marked advantage of an IP paging system is that devices can be located wherever a network access point is available.  To make changes to the paging system one simply has to unplug the IP units and move them to their new locations on the network.  To further simplify matters, the paging system can be managed via PC, and remote programming allows a user to do such things as adjust speaker volume and change system page groups.

Valcom VIP-422 Ceiling Speaker For IP Paging

You will find that the need for power adapters is removed with Power over Ethernet (PoE) enabled IP paging devices, which provides further flexibility in locating equipment, and saves on the expense of installing power in remote areas of a facility.  In addition, IP paging systems reduce the reliance on backup batteries that are used to operate essential equipment when power failures occur.  Instead, as few as a single UPS (uninterruptible power supply) battery can power an entire network during an outage.

IP paging operates as a central system for company-wide announcements and mass notification of emergency alerts.  In addition, staff members can target messages to particular telephones, speakers, or sections of a workplace.

With an IP paging system, your business can enjoy the benefits of the following compatible accessories: (1) Power over Ethernet IP digital clocks that plug into an Ethernet jack and allow for the simple synchronization of all clocks in a facility through a PC (think about those mornings when we change to daylight savings time); (2) digital signage boards; and (3) IP speakers.

Typical features of an IP paging system include these:

  • Zone paging
  • Clock and bell schedule management
  • Two-way communication
  • Paging from any telephone
  • Integration with emergency notification systems
  • Text and audio announcements to PCs or IP speakers
  • IP Door Phone/Intercom for calling a security phone with two-way communication

Paging systems, once intrusive and objectionable, have become a productive staple of modern telecommunications and the state-of-the-art workplace.

At TSM South, Inc., our choice for IP paging equipment is Valcom. If you would like additional information about an IP paging system, please go to our web site at tsmsouth.com