Aiphone IP-EWST User Manual

TalkMaster

™

IP intercom system

Software User Guide

For all IP-series 10/100

Ethernet Intercoms

Models IP-EWST, IP EWST-POE

Table of Contents

Welcome To TalkMaster................................................................................................................................................... 1

Welcome ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Release Notes............................................................................................................................................................... 1

System Requirements ................................................................................................................................................... 3

Using TalkMaster ............................................................................................................................................................. 5

TalkMaster Overview..................................................................................................................................................... 5

TalkMaster Main Screen................................................................................................................................................ 6

Tool Bar......................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Intercom View / Custom View tab .................................................................................................................................. 8

Calls Waiting ............................................................................................................................................................... 10

Audio Player ................................................................................................................................................................ 10

Auto Response............................................................................................................................................................ 10

Listen Mode................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Listen button................................................................................................................................................................ 12

Talk Mode.................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Talk / Page button ....................................................................................................................................................... 14

Paging Messages ........................................................................................................................................................ 14

System Events............................................................................................................................................................. 15

Audio Archive .............................................................................................................................................................. 15

Using Call Announcement............................................................................................................................................. 17

Call Announcement ..................................................................................................................................................... 17

Incoming Call............................................................................................................................................................... 18

Preferences and Setup.................................................................................................................................................. 19

Preferences ................................................................................................................................................................. 19

Preferences - Options tab............................................................................................................................................ 19

Preferences - Multimedia tab ....................................................................................................................................... 20

Preferences - Volume tab ............................................................................................................................................ 21

Preferences - Legacy tab............................................................................................................................................ 22

Paging Groups............................................................................................................................................................. 22

Paging Setup............................................................................................................................................................... 23

Capture Audio Archive................................................................................................................................................. 24

Play Audio Archive ...................................................................................................................................................... 25

Managed Intercoms..................................................................................................................................................... 26

TalkMaster Console Forwarding ................................................................................................................................... 27

Forward Intercoms....................................................................................................................................................... 27

Retrieve Intercoms....................................................................................................................................................... 27

Unattended Console.................................................................................................................................................... 27

TalkMaster Menu Options.............................................................................................................................................. 29

File Menu..................................................................................................................................................................... 29

View Menu................................................................................................................................................................... 29

Tools Menu.................................................................................................................................................................. 29

Console Menu ............................................................................................................................................................. 30

Admin Menu ................................................................................................................................................................ 30

Help Menu................................................................................................................................................................... 31

Table of Contents

Configuring Intercoms .................................................................................................................................................. 33

Configure Intercoms .................................................................................................................................................... 33

Advanced Configuration .............................................................................................................................................. 33

Intercom Configuration - TalkMaster Clients ................................................................................................................ 34

Intercom Configuration - Direct Mode .......................................................................................................................... 37

Updating Firmware ...................................................................................................................................................... 39

NIC Firmware Updating ............................................................................................................................................... 40

ICOM Firmware Updating ............................................................................................................................................ 40

Intercom Configuration Tool Menu Options................................................................................................................. 43

Configuration File Menu............................................................................................................................................... 43

Configuration View Menu............................................................................................................................................. 43

Configuration Action Menu........................................................................................................................................... 43

Configuration Help Menu ............................................................................................................................................. 43

Troubleshooting............................................................................................................................................................. 45

Troubleshooting........................................................................................................................................................... 45

Changing Recordings .................................................................................................................................................. 45

Index............................................................................................................................................................................... 47

iii

Welcome To TalkMaster

Welcome

Welcome To TalkMaster™ LE!

If you are upgrading from an earlier version of TalkMaster™, please review the Release Notes.

To setup and configure your IP-series intercoms, please review Configure Intercoms.

If you would like help on using TalkMaster, please review TalkMaster Overview.

Release Notes

TalkMaster™ Version 1.8 Released November, 2005

TalkMaster™ version 1.8 contains the following enhancements and corrections:

• All Setup functions have been moved to the password protected Admin menu

• New tabbed views on main screen allow display of all Intercoms or all Paging Groups and

selected Intercoms.

• New function to setup software based Paging Groups for paging operations

• New option to create a Managed Intercom list to continuously detect and display

disconnected Intercoms.

• Multiple consoles can simultaneously forward their Intercoms to a single console

• New color coded buttons used when TalkMaster is paging multiple intercoms

• Clicking the Grp column header automatically clears checkmark from all rows

• The Settings and Advanced tabs of the Preferences dialog have been renamed to the

Volume and Legacy tabs respectively

• Preferences and settings are now stored at the PC level instead of the Windows User level

TalkMaster™ Version 1.7 Released June, 2005

TalkMaster™ version 1.7 contains the following enhancements and corrections:

• New Paging Messages dialog with up to eighteen predefined messages

• New Password protected Paging Setup dialog

• Intercom Configuration Tool now sorts by Location Name/ICOM ID for easier setup

• GPIO 4 Mode supports new options for Relay controls*

• Improved speed and reliability of Console Forward / Retrieve operations *

• When "Hide when minimized " preference is set, clicking the ‘X’ in the upper right hand

corner of the screen causes TalkMaster to minimize to the system tray instead of closing

• Intercom Configuration Tool prevents Intercom IP address from ending with 255 or 0

• Accessing the Play Audio Archive dialog requires the administrator password

Welcome To TalkMaster

• The Preference "Talk button enabled by mouse click and hold" has been renamed to "Hold down Talk button while speaking (PTT)"

• Corrected "Intercom configuration changes fail" when Windows Regional Options are not set to English

• Corrected "UDP Audio problems" when Windows Regional Options are set to Japanese

• Corrected "Multimedia Card Selection" when multiple cards are present in the PC

* Use of this feature requires current Intercom Firmware. Please refer to our website

(http://www.aiphone.com) for information on the current Firmware.

TalkMaster™ Version 1.6 Released January, 2005

TalkMaster™ version 1.6 contains the following enhancements:

• Call Announcement mode with audio and visual notification of incoming calls

• Automatic removal of entries from the Calls Waiting queue when a call is completed

• The Calls Waiting Audio Player is automatically closed at the end of a call

• Ability to select a multimedia card used for the Speaker and Microphone operation

TalkMaster version 1.6 contains the following bug fixes:

• Applying Intercom configuration changes fails in non-U.S. localizations

• Talk VU meter does not work

• Intercom Startup Audio is not always played

• Spurious error messages occur during TalkMaster Startup

• "Details" column size under Calls Waiting is too narrow

• In Automatic mode, TalkMaster’s Listen button can be turned off by pressing the Intercom’s

Call button

• Multiple Intercoms behind a NAT Firewall do not function properly in TalkMaster

TalkMaster™ Version 1.5.215 Released July, 2004

TalkMaster™ version 1.5.215 contains the following enhancements:

• Simplified screen

• Password protected Intercom search and configure

• Console forwarding and retrieval

• Enhanced Audio Archive functions

• The Door Open function appears on the main screen

• Keyboard control of the Talk and Listen buttons

New firmware is available for the IP Intercoms. Units must be flashed with new firmware to accommodate the following features. Please refer to Configure Intercoms for details:

• Location names flashed into the Intercom

Welcome To TalkMaster

• Audio sent to multiple intercoms is sent as a single a UDP broadcast

• Console forwarding and retrieval

• Specify alternative IP addresses for intercom forwarding in the event of TalkMaster console

failure

• Specify duration of time for activation of door/open relay within the IP Intercom

System Requirements

To utilize all of the features of TalkMaster™, you need the following:

• Windows 98SE, Windows 2000, or Windows XP

• Pentium III 750mHz or faster

• 128 MB RAM (256 MB suggested)

• 50 MB Available Disk Space

• Windows supported Sound Card with microphone and speakers

Using TalkMaster

TalkMaster Overview

TalkMaster™ is a software program designed to work with Aiphone’s IP-series Intercoms.

TalkMaster has two main functions. First, TalkMaster must be used to configure the IP address information and related features for your IP intercoms. TalkMaster searches for any Intercoms on your network and allows you to specify the IP address settings for each one.

Secondly, TalkMaster allows multiple intercoms to connect to the software via TCP/IP so they can be monitored by the TalkMaster console operator. The audio from an intercom can be heard on the PC’s speakers and the PC’s microphone is used to send audio to an intercom. Calls can be initiated from any intercom to TalkMaster or from TalkMaster to any intercom.

The TalkMaster feature set includes the ability to:

• Queue and answer Incoming Calls

• Make Outgoing Calls

• Listen in

• Page Groups of Intercoms via microphone or pre-recorded wav files

• Activate an Intercom’s on board relay to interface with door / gate controls

• Record incoming and outgoing audio

• Playback recorded audio

• Temporarily forward Intercoms to another TalkMaster console

• Send automatic pre-recorded wav files to Intercoms when the operator is busy or away

• Remotely control Intercom volume settings

• Report Online and Offline Intercom status

Using TalkMaster

TalkMaster can listen for incoming calls in one of three "modes":

Call Announcement with audible and visual alerts

In this mode, pressing the Intercom button notifies the TalkMaster operator by an audible and/or visual alert. The TalkMaster operator responds and controls the microphone at that intercom to enable user hands-free operation. To set up Call Announcement mode, check the box next to Activate Call Announcement in the menu Admin - Preferences - Options tab

Automatic mode

In this mode, when an intercom user presses the button, their voice is used to notify the TalkMaster operator of the incoming call. The TalkMaster operator can respond and control the microphone to enable hands-free operation. To set up Automatic mode, select the Automatic option under Listen Mode on the main screen.

Manual mode

In Manual mode, when an intercom user presses the button, their voice is used to notify the TalkMaster operator of the incoming call. The TalkMaster operator can respond and optionally allow the user to control the PTT button them selves. To set up Manual mode, select the Manual option under Listen Mode on the main screen.

TalkMaster Main Screen

Before you can use your Aiphone IP Intercoms, they must be configured with IP address information. Please see Configure Intercoms.

The following sections describe the areas of the TalkMaster™ main screen.

Using TalkMaster

Tool Bar

Intercom View / Custom View tabs

Calls Waiting Queue

Auto Response setting

Talk Mode setting

Audio Archive setting

Listen Mode setting

System Events window

Tool Bar

Forward Intercoms to an alternate TalkMaster Console. Please see Forward Intercoms

for details.

Retrieve Intercoms from an alternate TalkMaster Console. Please see Retrieve

Intercoms for details.

Using TalkMaster

The Answer Later button is displayed when the Activate Call

Announcement option in menu Admin - Preferences - Options has been checked and a call

is incoming.

• Activating the Talk or Listen buttons answers the call and removes the Answer Later button from the screen

• Pressing this button sends a message (i.e. "please hold") to the intercom and disables the Audible and Visual alerts, allowing the TalkMaster operator time to complete another task before answering the incoming call

Intercom View / Custom View tab

The Intercom View tab shows you all Intercoms that have connected to TalkMaster™. The Custom View shows all Paging Groups that have been defined as well as any Intercoms that

are not defined in a Paging Group. Both views have the same columns and TalkMaster operates the same way on either view. You will normally work out of one or the other view depending on your environment.

TalkMaster can be configured to hide the Intercom View or the Custom View. This option is available through menu Admin  Preferences.

Intercom View - is used when you require 2-way communication with your Intercoms and have limited or non-static paging group requirements.

• The first column indicates Intercom’s connection status. A Green ICON means Online, a Red ICON means Offline, an Orange ICON means at least one Intercom in a paging group is offline.

• Grp - Click the box to tag Intercoms with an "X" to create an ad hoc paging group. Intercoms in an ad hoc paging group are simultaneously sent audio when Talk Mode is set to Group or All Active. To clear all Grp checkmarks, click the Grp column heading

• Location - Identifies the Intercom by Name

• Status - Displays the Intercoms connection status

• Address - Displays the Intercoms IP address

• Door/Gate - Displays the button if the Intercom has a Door Relay option

configured. Clicking the button will turn on the Door Relay for the amount of time that has been configured in the Intercom.

• Notes - Displays information about intercom communications

Single click anywhere on a row except the Grp column to select (highlight with a blue background) an Intercom for Talk / Listen operations. Only one Intercom can be selected at a time. Clicking the selected Intercom will de-select it.

Using TalkMaster

Right clicking on an Intercom displays the following Intercom Options context menu

• Send announcement to selected unit - Click to send the wave file defined in menu Admin  Preferences - Startup Audio to the Intercom

• Activity and Connection Details - Click to display the duration of the Intercoms connection, the time it connected, the last time it received audio, the last time audio was sent to it, and the IP address and Port it used to connect to TalkMaster

• Reset Connection - Click to close the socket the Intercom is connected to and force it to reconnect to TalkMaster

• Intercom ID# - Shows the ICOM ID (last 6 digits of the MAC address)

• OS Version: - Shows the ICOM version, the Intercom option bits, the Intercom model, and

the NIC Version

• List when Offline/Do NOT list when Offline - Click to toggle this feature. The List when Offline feature forces TalkMaster to remember this intercom and to report on it whether it is

connected or not. The List when Offline/Do NOT list when Offline option only appears when TalkMaster’s Admin menu has been enabled. Refer to Managed Intercoms for more information

Custom View - is used when you require static paging groups as well as 2-way Intercom communication. The Paging Groups are listed first and do not list any information in the Status, Address, or Door/Gate columns. Any Intercoms that have connected to TalkMaster and have not been defined in a Paging group will be listed next. You can also configure an Intercom to appear in the list even if it is defined in a paging group by checking Display in Custom View Tab of the Advanced Configuration Settings of the Intercom Configuration Tool.

Column definitions are the same as previously listed in this topic.

Single click on a Paging Group row to check the Grp column. Rows marked with an X in the

Grp column are available for Page, Chime or Play File operations when Talk Mode is set to Group. Paging Groups cannot be selected (highlighted with a blue background) for Talk / Listen operations.

Using TalkMaster

Right clicking on a Paging Group displays the following Paging Group context menu:

The connection status of each Intercom in the group is listed.

Calls Waiting

This list shows calls that are waiting to be answered.

• If you single click on the entry, that intercom is selected in the Intercom View / Custom View allowing you to communicate with it

• If you double-click on it, the Audio Player pops up so you can play back the original call

Audio Player

The Audio Message Player is automatically started by double-clicking on messages in the Calls Waiting list. It allows messages that have arrived while communicating with another intercom to be played back.

• Once you play the audio clip, the "Delete played files on exit is automatically checked and clicking the X in the right hand corner closes the Audio Player and deletes the clip

• If you choose to leave the Audio Player open, you can delete a call by right clicking on it and selecting the Delete option

• If Call Announcement is activated, the audio clip is automatically deleted and the Audio Player closed when the call is completed

Auto Response

The Auto Response function allows you to temporarily suspend the console’s operation. This function can also be activated by using the menu Console  Unattended Console.

Once you check the Unattended box, a dialog pops up reminding you that this mode has been set.

Using TalkMaster

Any intercom that tries to contact the console is sent a message indicating that no one is available to take their call. Please see Unattended Console for more information.

Clicking the Cancel button returns the console to normal operation.

Listen Mode

The Listen Mode determines if the Listen button is automatically turned on when the Talk button is turned off.

If Call Announcement is enabled in menu Admin  Preferences - Options, this option is set to Automatic and cannot be changed.

When set to Automatic, the Listen button is automatically turned on when the Talk button is turned off. This allows the intercom user to operate in a "hands free" mode.

When set to Manual, the Listen button must be activated by the TalkMaster™ operator or by pressing the PTT button on the intercom.

This setting is saved between TalkMaster sessions.

Example of using Listen mode Automatic

Please note that the following example uses the option of holding the Space Bar to activate the Talk button. Please see menu Admin-Preferences-options tab for an alternate method of controlling the Talk button

• Intercom user presses and holds the PTT button on one of the Intercoms and begins speaking.

• The Intercom is automatically selected in TalkMaster and the audio is played through the PC speakers.

• The Intercom user releases the PTT button when done speaking

• The TalkMaster operator responds by holding down the Space Bar on the keyboard and

speaking into the microphone.

• When the TalkMaster operator releases the Space Bar, the Talk button is turned off and the Listen button is turned on. This action allows the Intercom user to operate "Hands Free"

• Each time the TalkMaster operator holds down the Space Bar, the Talk button is activated. When the Space Bar is released, the Talk button is turned off and the Listen button is engaged.

• To end the conversation with an Intercom, the TalkMaster operator presses the Escape key on the keyboard while the Listen button is active.

Using TalkMaster

An important benefit of using Automatic mode is that other intercoms are precluded from interrupting your "conversation" because the Talk or Listen button is always active. TalkMaster will not interrupt a call if there is already one in progress. Any other intercom that tries to contact TalkMaster will be placed in the Calls Waiting list.

Example of using Listen mode Manual:

Please note that the following example uses the option of clicking and holding the Space Bar to activate the Talk button. Please see menu Admin - Preferences - Options for an alternate method of controlling the Talk button

• Intercom user presses and holds the PTT button on one of the Intercoms and begins speaking.

• The Intercom is selected in TalkMaster™ and the audio is through the PC speakers.

• The Intercom user releases the PTT button when done speaking

• The TalkMaster operator responds by holding down the Space Bar on the keyboard and

speaking into the microphone..

• When the TalkMaster operator releases the Space Bar, the Talk button turns off. The TalkMaster operator can then click the Listen button or allow the Intercom user to respond by using the PTT button.

• To end the conversation with an Intercom, the TalkMaster operator presses the Escape key on the keyboard while the Listen button is active.

In Manual mode, it is possible for another intercom to interrupt your conversation by pressing the PTT button when neither the Talk nor Listen button is active.

Listen button

The Listen button can be activated by the TalkMaster operator or by the PTT button on an Intercom. You may only listen to a single intercom at one time.

In TalkMaster, with Listen Mode set to Automatic, the Listen button can be toggled by:

• Deactivating the Talk button with the mouse or

• Pressing the Escape key on your keyboard

• Clicking the Listen button with the mouse

If Talk Mode has been set to Group or All Active, the Listen button is disabled and turns blue

Talk Mode

The Talk Mode setting determines which intercom(s) will hear audio sent from TalkMaster™.

Using TalkMaster

Selected - refers to the intercom currently highlighted in blue in the Intercom View / Custom View list. This option allows 2-way communication with a single Intercom.

Group - refers to any Intercom or Paging Group that has an X in the Grp column of the Intercom View / Custom View list. This option allows 1-way communication with any number

of Intercoms.

All Active - refers to all currently connected Intercoms in the Intercom View / Custom View list. This option allows 1-way communication with all Intercoms.

Switching from Selected to either Group or All Active will automatically disables the Listen function and changes the Talk button to a blue Page button.

When using Selected mode, audio is sent to the Intercom using a single TCP/IP stream. This allows you to communicate with an Intercom located anywhere that you can connect to through TCP/IP.

When using Group or All Active modes, audio is sent to the Intercoms using a single UDP Broadcast stream. Since UDP Broadcasts are filtered by many routers, the Group and All Active options may only work on the current segment of a Local Area Network. Please refer to the TalkMaster installation CD for instructions on installing the UBAM™ software if you need to broadcast on multiple network segments.

Pressing the Talk/Page, Chime, or Play File button will send audio to the intercom(s) you have indicated.

Play File - Brings up the Paging Messages dialog. Play File changes to Stop File while a file is being set one or more intercoms. You can terminate the active file by clicking Stop File

To play a .wav file on the Intercom(s), audio files must be encoded in either 8khz 8-bit PCM or 16-bit uLaw format. Commercial or free software is available to create these formats.

Chime - plays the page.wav file from the iSupport subdirectory located under the TalkMaster™-ii3 program directory. Page.wav is a recording of four successive beeps that you can play to get someone’s attention at an intercom(s).

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