Barix Audio over IP Products in Goldenpass Rail Carriage at Innotrans
icon4 09 27th, 2010| icon3Comments Off on Barix Audio over IP Products in Goldenpass Rail Carriage at Innotrans

Innotrans 2010 Outside Exhibits

A Barix OEM Product could be spotted at Innotrans in the Goldenpass panoramic carriage in the outside exhibition area.

Goldenpass Carriage at Innotrans

Goldenpass Carriage, Innotrans

The product, called “Annuncicom VME”, is effectively an Annuncicom in a VME card form factor, which fits in a common 19” VME rack and draws the power from the backplane. It features a ruggedized design, able to be compliant with EN50155, -40..+70’C temp range etc, with balanced audio, 2 RS-485 interfaces and digital I/O.

Goldenpass Carriage, Inside view

The Annuncicom VME is used by Railtec Systems GmbH in various projects as part of their Passenger Information Systems (IP based PIS). It is already the seccond product from Barix which is compliant with EN50155.

Hmm, in here:

Barix Annuncicom VME in here

In here .. which one is it ??

Being an OEM product, the Annuncicom VME is not available to the general market, if you have projects where you think this product can be of use, please contact me.

Johannes

the Annuncicom VME card

Barix at Innotrans 2010 in Berlin
icon4 09 23rd, 2010| icon3Comments Off on Barix at Innotrans 2010 in Berlin

Hi,

we are currently exhibiting at Innotrans in Berlin, Hall 4.1 – swing by to check out our offering, and the first one referring to this blog entry, approaching us at the booth, will be treated with a coffee 🙂

The favorite for our visitors is the brand-new Annuncicom 155, the first Barix Audio over IP product which is EN50155 compliant and thus fulfills the stringent requirements for on-board equipment in trains, busses, vessels. With IP65 rating and -40… +70’C operating range, it is also suitable for outdoor installations, bus stations etc. A great product for IP Audio call boxes too, especially when used with the SIP firmware …
Here’s a pic of our booth.

Greetings

Johannes

Innotrans Booth of Barix

Barix Booth at Innotrans

Barix and Railtec Systems Partner for Audio Over IP Railway Installation in Switzerland
icon4 09 9th, 2010| icon3Comments Off on Barix and Railtec Systems Partner for Audio Over IP Railway Installation in Switzerland

Montreux-Oberland-Bernois (MOB) Railways (MOB Railways) invests in a modern passenger information system based on the new Barix Annuncicom 155 device

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, September 8, 2010 — Barix AG, a pioneer in IP-based audio transmission, intercom, control and monitoring, announces that Montreux-Oberland-Bernois Railways in Switzerland will become the first customer of the new Barix Annuncicom 155, a networked Audio over IP device specially designed for harsh everyday operation on railways, buses and ships.  Barix partner Railtec Systems GmbH will exhibit a new panorama carriage with the device on the open-air grounds at the Innotrans show in Berlin, Germany (Stand FGSUED/FC/10), taking place September 21-24 at the Messe Berlin Exhibition Centre.

Railtec Systems, based in Switzerland, is currently outfitting 14 locomotives and railcars and about 60 passenger carriages operated by MOB Railways with networked Annuncicom 155 devices.  The devices are integral to the configuration of MOB Railways’ pioneering passenger information and announcement system.  The Annuncicom 155 is responsible for the bidirectional exchange of live announcements as well as priority, monitoring and control information over a TCP/IP network.

“The Annuncicom 155 is a very robust, flexible Audio over IP device and fits perfectly into our information systems,” said Lorenz Trachsel, Managing Director of Railtec Systems.

In Railtec’s system concept, the Annuncicom 155 components will typically be used for informational and emergency two-way communication between a passenger and a train conductor or guard.  In the case of an emergency call, the Annuncicom 155 can open a two-way channel with an external destination only accessible via radio transmission.

The system can also assume the functions of a public address system in addition to the intercom function.  It enables live and pre-recorded announcements, in manual or automatic mode.  Possibilities include selective announcements in individual zones or to groups of devices; or all-call announcements broadcast to all connected systems.

According to Trachsel, the zone-splitting function is of particular significance to MOB Railways.   “The ‘Golden Pass Services’ route is very scenic and attractive, and MOB Railways offers a very diverse range of services for tourists,” he said.  “With selective announcements, systems configured by Railtec enable the relay of commentary to travel groups as they pass by the mountain panorama.  This is an ideal feature as the 4,000-meter peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains are on this route.”  Pre-stored texts can also be retrieved using GPS, enabling specific and automatic commentary to be provided on particularly scenic places of interest.

The Annuncicom 155 also demonstrates flexibility in preserving the corporate identity of customers, as the operator buttons and intercom panels can be designed in accordance with customer requirements.  In terms of control, the system offers a broad level of adaptability to the tasks at hand.

“We can program Barix devices ourselves, enabling perfect tailoring to customer requirements,” said Carmelo Dimotta, Project Leader at Railtec Systems. “Crucial in our decision in choosing Barix was the fact that we can monitor all inputs and outputs in the system.  Every Annuncicom 155 also checks continually for short circuits and line breaks.  These readings are displayed in the locomotive or control car, providing the train conductor with a continuous overview of system status.  In addition, prioritizing of announcements is programmable, giving automatic priority to safety announcements.  The systems are certified for emergency calls through this level of safety.”

The first installations were delivered to MOB Railways in August 2010.  Most of the carriages have been in service for years and have been or will be upgraded to support Audio over IP.  Some new carriages are being ordered and outfitted as comfortable panorama carriages.

Please also visit Barix at Stand 216 in Hall 4.1 and Railtec Systems at Stand 210, Hall 2.2.

Barix Introduces IP Intercom and Announcement Device for Public Transportation Industry
icon4 08 24th, 2010| icon3Comments Off on Barix Introduces IP Intercom and Announcement Device for Public Transportation Industry

New Annuncicom 155 solution allows for on-vehicle configuration of reliable communication systems based on existing LAN/WAN infrastructures

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, August 24, 2010 — Barix AG, a pioneer in IP-based audio transmission, intercom, control and monitoring systems, introduces the Annuncicom 155 IP intercom and announcement device developed foremost for use on trains and in rail stations and tunnels.

The device, to be introduced at the Innotrans rail transportation show in Germany (Messe Berlin Exhibition Centre, September 21–24, Hall 4.1, Stand 216), enables systems integrators to set up tailored communication systems ranging from simple door intercom, PA and background music systems to complex monitoring functions and emergency announcement systems.  It is also the first Barix device to meet EN50155 standard requirements for rail vehicle installations.  (“Railways Applications Electronic Equipment Used on Rolling Stock.”)

The basic principle of an Annuncicom 155 communication system is both elaborate and simple.  At least two devices are connected to a standard TCP/IP LAN network to exchange live announcements as well as priority, monitoring and control information for a standalone system.  Barix SIP firmware can enable integration into conventional SIP-based telephone systems.  Control signals and a serial port allow the connection of a selector switch, buttons or display.  This allows for destination selection and the control and display of connection status.

The Annuncicom 155 system can operate as a standalone system or in conjunction with PCs and central IT management in a standard network, enabling low-cost and quick configuration of the communication system while guaranteeing future expansion.

“As with all Barix products, the Annuncicom 155 is based on standard TCP/IP and works with Audio-over-IP.  This means it can be integrated very easily and conveniently into existing networks, and allows for wide-range networking and deployment – even in Multicast mode to simultaneously address any number of subscribers,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and Founder of Barix AG.  “Its stable design is perfectly suitable for harsh everyday operation in trains, buses and ships, as well as for deployment in general applications under harsh environments, including transport and industrial.”

The Annuncicom 155 conforms to the usual transportation standards including EN50121 and EN50155.  Devices without EN50155 conformity are typically not used in trains, carriages and other rolling stock for railways.

“The requirements for such devices are quite demanding, and we are happy to offer the first Barix product to the rail transportation industry that meets requirements for on-board use,” said Rietschel.