Any multi channel intercom systems that use 3 conductor wiring?

[Aman121]

The transformer for our single channel telex system has died again, due to somebody plugging a microphone into the intercom outlets. (no idea how, but idiots always find a way) As most of our belt packs have various issues as well, we are in the market for a complete new system, but we dont have the resources to redo all the wiring. Are there any multi channel intercom systems out there that will work on 3 conductor wiring or are we stuck with a single channel telex or clearcom system?

[MNicolai]

You sure about that failure? Telex systems have self-protect features that can look like a system failure but actually ensure the system doesn't get harmed. For example, try to use a mic cable with the wires crossed and the system will turn on, but only for about a minute before it turns off. Remove the bad cable and reboot the base station and it'll work fine.

That said, I could see someone hooking a +48v input of the mixer into the intercom. We have patch panels that make that possible -- don't think it'd he good for the console or for the com system.

Can't say with any certainty that your base station isn't actually dead, but if it is you could always send it in for repair or just directly replace it.

My experience with multi-channel intercom systems is that they're not all they're cracked up to be. Know a lot of theatres that have them and know exactly zero who actually use both channels. Lot of things I'd spend that money on first before I'd pay for an extra com channel.

[Aman121]

You sure about that failure? Telex systems have self-protect features that can look like a system failure but actually ensure the system doesn't get harmed. For example, try to use a mic cable with the wires crossed and the system will turn on, but only for about a minute before it turns off. Remove the bad cable and reboot the base station and it'll work fine.

That said, I could see someone hooking a +48v input of the mixer into the intercom. We have patch panels that make that possible -- don't think it'd he good for the console or for the com system.

Can't say with any certainty that your base station isn't actually dead, but if it is you could always send it in for repair or just directly replace it.

My experience with multi-channel intercom systems is that they're not all they're cracked up to be. Know a lot of theatres that have them and know exactly zero who actually use both channels. Lot of things I'd spend that money on first before I'd pay for an extra com channel.

Our system doesent have an actual base station, just a transformer, which is burnt out. My belief is that somebody thought that an intercom jack was a microphone jack, and used a bunch of adapters to make it so. Dead short=dead transformer I guess. The reason we were looking at a new system instead of just replacing the transformer was that we have only a few working packs anyway, so if a more modern system could be installed now would be the time.

[Edrick]

Our system doesent have an actual base station, just a transformer, which is burnt out. My belief is that somebody thought that an intercom jack was a microphone jack, and used a bunch of adapters to make it so. Dead short=dead transformer I guess. The reason we were looking at a new system instead of just replacing the transformer was that we have only a few working packs anyway, so if a more modern system could be installed now would be the time.

What budget do you have you're looking at probably 5k without knowing how many belt packs you want and any stations.

[derekleffew]

... Are there any multi channel intercom systems out there that will work on 3 conductor wiring ... ?

A standard in the TV industry, not known as much in theatre: RTS BP-325 Dual-Channel Binaural Programmable Beltpack . (RTS is now a division of Telex.)

Clear-Com's latest system: Encore RS-603 dual listen beltpack.

[Aman121]

What budget do you have you're looking at probably 5k without knowing how many belt packs you want and any stations.

Right now we have around 20 jacks in the theatre. The reason we are looking at a multi channel system is during musical and big concerts were sharing the same intercoms with the video guys. It gets preety chatty even when enforcing the strictly buisness rule. We dont have any base stations with the current system and there isint any place where we would need them. We are having a consultant in about a few sound issues already, and I was just looking for some names to have our av guy mention to him. Budget is very shallow however, so I suspect we will end up with a clearcom single channel or something similar.

[museav]

Right now we have around 20 jacks in the theatre. The reason we are looking at a multi channel system is during musical and big concerts were sharing the same intercoms with the video guys. It gets preety chatty even when enforcing the strictly buisness rule. We dont have any base stations with the current system and there isint any place where we would need them.

With what sounds like a pure party line use and people on either one channel or the other then it sounds like two independent single channel systems might work. Depending on how your existing system is wired it may be possible to wire some stations as a dedicated 'theatre' channel and other stations as a second 'video' channel. This is exactly the type of situation that leads me to homerun intercom wiring rather than daisy-chaining everything, it may cost more but it would make it fairly easy to spplit the system and wire any station to be on one channel or the other. If everything is dasy-chained then that may not be an option.

[SteveB]

We've used the RTS dual channel belt packs for a few decades, very reliable, just a pricy pack. It does require and works on standard 3 pin audio cabling and that was the big advantage during install.

They work with any headset, but the connector is reversed from standard Clear-Com (male XLR if memory serves) so you need a 4pin XLR turnaround to use rental headsets as example.

We also just purchased a RTS digital matrix, to gain better control over which lines interconnect. Also not cheap, but it does the job well.

[avare]

It is not what you are asking for, but why not replace the transformer and a fuse in its output circuit? Much cheaper than a new system. Then save money for a proper upgrade including wiring.

Andre