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2 Handbook of Intercom Systems Engineering
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
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
MATRIX
You
Neighbor
Pizza Joint
Gas Station
You
Neighbor
Pizza
Joint
Gas
Station
X
X
X
X