TESTING REPORT: Polycom® SoundStation2W™
The Converged Communication In-
dustry’s Premier Testing Service
Date of Tests:
October, 2004
Vendor:
Polycom Inc.
Pleasanton, CA
(925) 924-6000
www.polycom.com
Product Tested:
SoundStation2W
Part #: 2201-07880-001 X2 CF
Version: 1668-07881-001 Rev A
Serial number: G204250011817
CVM: 1.58
DSP: S2W.CON.01.015
CPLD: 1.00
Additional Equipment Tested:
SoundStation2W-EX
Part #: 2200-07800-001 C
Version: 1668-07802-001 Rev A
Serial Number: G204350030713
CVM: 1.58
DSP: S2W.CON.01.015
CPLD: 1.00
ClearOne Max
Model: 910-158-030
Version: Rev 1.2
Serial number: 09670346
Executive Summary:
Polycom® commissioned CT Labs to compare their SoundStation2W™ wireless conference phone unit against the ClearOne
Max product. Both units were subjectively tested under a variety
of real-world conference room conditions. Overall, CT Labs found
the SoundStation2W to be an excellent wireless conference phone
product. The SoundStation2W was easier to install and configure,
primarily due to the menu buttons and on-screen text. These,
along with the button design and layout, made the SoundStation2W easier to use than the Max, and it provided more advanced
features, including a display of phone book entries, and the ability
to place conference calls using a cellular phone in addition to the
usual land line connections.
In the small conference room tests, the SoundStation2W performed better than the Max in transmitting very quiet talking in
the presence of background noise. In the wireless tests comparing
subjective audio quality, the SoundStation2W performed better
than the Max, even with no added RF interference. When 802.11b
RF interference was added near the conference unit, the SoundStation2W was found to be substantially better than the ClearOne
Max.
During our cellular test, we found that the SoundStation2W could
easily attach to a cell phone to create a mobile conferencing unit
with call quality equal to that of an ordinary cell phone call – very
nice! The SoundStation2W EX unit—designed for larger conference rooms—was found to work very well and provided plenty of
high-quality audio to fill the room.
Product Description:
The Polycom SoundStation2W is a high-quality wireless conference
phone with 2.4 GHz wireless technology, added security of voice
encryption, up to 24 hours of talk time, and the ability to place conference calls using a cell phone.
SoundStation2W is twice as loud and provides twice the microphone
sensitivity as the original SoundStation®. The 2.4 GHz platform provides simple and robust wireless capability with any analog phone
line. SoundStation2W supports a 150 foot wireless roaming range
from the base station, wireless frequency hopping to avoid interference, and a long-lasting Lithium-ion battery.
SoundStation2W also combines cell phone convenience and Polycom
voice quality. This mode gives users the option to dial directly
through a cell phone or transfer between handset and conference
phone mode during a conversation. Because the call is dialed
through the cellular network, there is no need for an analog phone
line – providing true portability and wireless freedom!
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CT Labs Testing Report: Polycom SoundStation2W
Testing Setup:
18'-6 5/8"
Small Conference Room
Ceiling Height = 9'
Test Setup
A
50"
H
7'-8 5/8"
76"
50"
G
Base
Unit
B C
31"
CU
24"
12"
Laptop
F
21'-5 3/8"
51"
51"
Laptop
E
D
11'-0"
Figure 1: Small Conference Room Test Setup
For the Small Conference Room Test Setup (shown in Figure 1), one male tester was located in a separate
office using a desktop phone with a handset to communicate with four testers (2 male and 2 female) located in
the conference room diagrammed above.
Wireless Test Setup
Office #1
Desktop
Telephone
35 feet
Office #2
Base Unit
50 feet
Conference Room
CU
2.5
feet
Laptop computer
2.5
feet
2.4 GHz
Wireless
Router
Figure 2: Wireless Test Setup
For the Wireless Test Setup (shown in Figure 2), the base unit and the wireless phone unit were placed in the
interior of the CT Labs test facilities building, where a total of five walls separated the base unit from the wireless phone unit. Two testers (1 male, 1 female) performed the manual speech quality assessment. Tests included two scenarios (1) a wireless router and a laptop placed several feet apart from each other with the conference unit in between while the laptop was performing file transfers, and (2) the same setup but with the
wireless router and laptop wireless disabled. Both the router and the laptop were set to use first 802.11b, then
802.11g during the tests.
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