Installation guide

Synapse Installation Guide Back to Contents
Installation 22
Overhead Paging Overview
You can set up either single or multi-zone external overhead paging (OHP), as shown in
Table 2, but only one OHP system can be connected to each ATA. You can also use a
loud ringer device, either on its own or with your existing OHP paging system, if
supported. For more information, see “Loud Ringers” on page 21.
Synapse supports most OHP systems that can connect to PBX Analog Station (FXS) ports
as well as those that support direct Audio Input detection, also known as VOX Detect.
This overview describes the differences between OHP systems and is intended to help
you determine how your system connects to the ATA. You should also refer to your OHP
system's product documentation for installation and configuration instructions or contact
your OHP equipment provider.
If your OHP is single-zone, you will have to decide whether it requires an FXS connection
or an AUX OUT connection. You can only connect a multi-zone OHP to an ATA FXS port,
i.e. a multi-zone OHP system cannot be connected to the AUX OUT port.
Equipment that can interface with the AUX OUT port can have no “intelligence” in its
audio output. It doesn't require any exchange of signals to be ready to broadcast.
Equipment that uses an FXS port must be able to go on and off hook, because the FXS
ports use telephone signals to exchange information. The OHP generally includes some
sort of controller or telephone interface, which often requires setting up, for example,
“PABX loop start trunk port access”, or “RJ-11 for Tip and Ring connections”.
Table 2. Single- vs. Multi-Zone Overhead Paging Systems
Single-Zone Paging Multi-Zone Paging
Broadcasts to all overhead speakers at once. Broadcasts to speakers grouped into separate
zones.
Can be included in a Synapse Paging Zone. Cannot be included in a Synapse Paging Zone
because the multi-zone OHP cannot be paged
together with Desksets.
Does not appear in the Deskset Paging Zones
menu unless you add Overhead Page to a
paging zone you create.
Automatically appears in the Deskset Paging
Zones menu as Overhead Paging.
Requires no additional user input to initiate a
page.
Requires using the Deskset dial pad to enter
digits to address the OHP paging zone.
For a connection through a FXS port, requires you
to set a delay determined by trial and error. This
delay, which starts after the user presses
, gives the paging equipment time to
prepare to broadcast the message. It is required
for every page, even if the OHP is not the chosen
paging zone.
There is no programmed delay as the paging
equipment provides feedback to the user when
to start speaking.
Can be connected to an FXS port or the AUX Out
jack.
Must be connected to the FXS port.
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