PATypes

1.) "Outdoor Only" systems.

"Outdoor Only" systems consist of a number of strategically placed external horn speakers around the school,
with little or no internal speakers. The system must be loud enough to penetrate closed windows and doors
to be heard indoors. Whilst slightly cheaper to install these systems are usually a "false economy" because they
do not serve the school properly and the cost of the higher power speakers and amplifiers required is usually better
spent on alternative options. In particular the disadvantages are;

Paging announcements cannot be understood indoors especially with moderate class noise levels present.
Outdoor noise levels need to be very high, often causing noise complaint problems from neighbours.

"Outdoor Only" systems can still be a practical option for very small schools where buildings are clustered together,
and where the buildings are not sound treated in any way. The presence of permanently "open" louvred windows
in corridors can also mean an "outdoor only" system will work. If noise levels in rooms and outside are low, rooms
are not air conditioned and there are no residential areas nearby, an "outdoor only" system will usually suffice.

A variation on an "outdoor only" system is the "clustered" system. Some (particularly early '80s) schools were built
with rooms in clusters of four or five huddled around indoor common areas. In these cases it can be practical to
install a single speaker in each cluster to serve all rooms. High Schools can also be served using this system.

2.) "Outdoor + Indoor" systems.

The "Outdoor + Indoor" system places an indoor speaker in every teaching room plus areas such as staff rooms,
assembly hall, library and main office. Outdoor speakers are installed only to serve immediate play areas. The instant
advantages are;

Messages and tones can be heard and clearly understood in each room regardless of noise levels

The outdoor speakers can be quieter thus keeping neighbouring properties happy.

An "Outdoor + Indoor" system really is the minimum recommendation for most metropolitan Primary schools.
This is the type of system normally installed by PA Matthess Audio. In many cases school buildings (particularly those built before 1976) already have PA cabling and conduits installed but not in use. These systems are normally sectored in to blocks of rooms or buildings.

3.) "Fully Sectored" systems.

The "Fully Sectored" PA system is identical to the "Indoor + Outdoor" system above except for the inclusion of a
special "sector switch" that allows staff to easily select individual speakers and rooms so that they can be paged
or isolated without affecting other parts of the school. Immensely popular in the '60s and '70s most schools today
choose instead to install a separate intercom system instead for the extra functionality.

4.) "Intercom + PA" systems.

The cabling needed for a "fully sectored" and "intercom" system is very similar - meaning that for those schools looking
to get the functionality of a fully sectored PA system - it really doesn't cost much more to go the extra step and get an
intercom system aswell. These systems are our most popular school wide PA solutions for schools.

In fact you end up with two, totally separate systems using the same common cabling - an "Indoor + Outdoor" block
sectored PA system as in (2) above (which handles thebells, tones and "all call" paging announcements), plus a
completely independent handset based intercom system that allows easy and instant communication between the
office and any room in the school. This has the added advantage that messages are private, two way conversations
are possible and any room can instantly contact the office in case of emergency without the teacher having to leave the room.

Read more about the AIPHONE intercom system from the separate link on our main page.

"Line Up Music" systems.

A "Line Up Music" system is an automatic option available with any of our PA based bell systems that also feature an
automatic bell timer.

A separate channel on the timer controls an auto start CD player. When programmed, the timer starts the CD player and
begins to play Track "1" of whatever disk is inside the unit. This normally runs for 2 ~ 3 minutes at the end of Recess and
Lunch as a "round up" call to staff and students so that by the time the nmusic ends and the bell rings classes are lined
up and ready to enter rooms and staff are ready also.

It is very important to ensure that the same timer runs both bells and music - as otherwise separate timers will amost always
lose or gain time in respect of each other to the extent that either the bell rings too early or the music ends too late.

Alterations to Existing systems

Where a school already has an existing PA system and wishes to "upgrade" to one of our PA and / or Intercom systems
a number of special conditions apply.

In the case where the existing PA system is only a few years old and serving the needs of the school well then we
recommend it remain and an intercom system be installed alongside it. In some cases the existing system can be expanded
at the same time if necessary.

If the existing system does not meet the needs of the school but is still quite recent then usually we recommend it be
replaced with one of our new systems. Wherever possible existing cabling is reused and if appropriate, speakers and
amplifiers (etc) may also be reused if compatible with the new system. Where it isn't we usually offer a "discount" option
for recovery of any "new" (under 5 years old) equipment that no longer suits the school's needs. In this case an added
advantage is that the new system (even the existing parts reused) gain a "new" system warranty from us.

If the system is 10 years old or over we recommend that a completely new system be installed. In some cases speakers
and wiring may be suitable for reuse but amplifiers, timers, microphones (etc) should be replaced as having old equipment
as part of a new system limits the warranty of the new system to 30 days only and means that the existing equipment is
not covered by the warranty at all.