Telex 38109-977 manual Matrix Systems, Wireless Systems

Matrix Systems

Wired Matrix systems are systems in which a large number of individuals have the ability to establish private individual conversations from point A to point B. Again, going back to the telephone system in your neighborhood, you, your next door neighbor, the pizza joint down the street and the local gas station are all connected to the same central office by wires from each location back to the telephone company. At any time, you can be talking to the gas station, while your neighbor is ordering a pizza. The pizza guy does not hear you ask the mechanic about the repairs on your SUV.

Depending on where in the English speaking world you are, you may refer to these types of systems as Matrix systems, crosspoint intercoms, point-to-point systems, private lines (sometimes, confusingly referred to as “PL”), or by some of the brand names used:

McCurdy, ADAM™, Zeus™, and others.

Figure 1.2 Simple Matrix System

	MATRIX
You		X
Neighbor	X
Pizza Joint	X
Gas Station	X
	You
	Neighbor	Gas
	Pizza
	Joint	Station

Like the telephone system, matrix systems have other functions and capabilities. Conferences, call waiting, busy signals, and other features are common to many matrix intercoms. They are not limited to simple point-to-point communications. Some systems even allow inter-matrix routing of signals, similar to long distance telephones calls using trunks between central offices. Having a matrix system with a number of conferences configured within it (virtual PLs) is very common.

Wireless Systems

Wireless Intercoms encompass all sorts of systems from the most basic pair of “walkie talkies” to cell phones to dedicated professional full duplex intercom products. The most basic feature of wireless intercoms is that they are not tethered by wires. (Didn’t think this was going to be quite that basic, did you?) Seriously, wireless intercom systems are employed where the limitation of wireless systems which can include fidelity, interference, lack of range, lack of security (real or perceived), and battery life limitations are outweighed by the freedom of being cordless. This freedom can be essential in many applications—try dragging a wired intercom cable into the containment vessel of a nuclear reactor.

Wireless intercom systems can be designed, installed, configured and operated in PL or matrix configurations, and may very likely be connected to a hard-wired PL or matrix

2 H a n d b o o k o f I n t e r c o m S y s t e m s E n g i n e e r i n g