Homeseer Voice Announcements

[jwaldo1301]

Hello all.

I have had Homeseer (1.7.44) for over one year managing x-10 lighting, HVAC and Security (HAI OmniproII). I desire to have the system make various annoucements and wanted some advice on how to distribute them throughout my home.

I currently have a panasonic pbx but no whole house audio.

1. Is there a possible way to have Homeseer use the PBX for annoucements?
2. If not, could an A-bus audio system or an intercom such as M&S Systems DMC1 be used without major modification?

Whatever I use, I would like it to be always available to Homeseer.

Currently, I have the homeseer computer modem attached as one of CO's to the PBX. I can simply pick up a phone, select CO2 and I hear "Can I help you?". Only problem is this seems to create a loop back path for ringing the phones. That is the phones continue to ring once or twice after picking up an extension. Any ideas on how to stop this??

Homeseer functions as my voicemessaging device for telephones.

Thank you in advance for your expert advice.

John

 

[hgupta1]

Sorry for the late reply, but maybe this will help:
On my Panasonic PBX system there was an audio input jack on the side of the pbx box that is for connecting a radio for on hold music. There is a setting on the phone system to make phones play this music that can be used for whole house audio! So you can connect your computer audio-out to this audio-input on the PBX system and the announcements will play through out the whole house or to just the phones that you want it to play through.

 

[upstatemike]

If you do this you will have to turn background music ON at each phone by pressing 1 while the phone is on hook. Callers on hold will also hear your announcements. The speakers will also be live (possible static) between announcements.

I think it would be better to hook a spare extension up to your HA system and use the paging feature on the Panasonic PBX. Have your HA system dial 33* to page all phones. Thers is a page out jack on the system where you can attach a small amp to feed paging speakers in areas with no phones.

 

[Squintz]

How much are you willing to spend. Perhaps a device similar to the one in the link below would help. Basically an multi zone pre-amp which can take a few sources in and put them out over whatever zone you tell it to using an rs232 connection. I know CQC supports this device already and you can find similar solutions on HS.

http://www.garrett-smarthome.com/proddetail.php?prod=ZPR6810