Bosch released new software for its Praesensa, the IP-based public address and voice alarm system. The version 1.50 features an improved user experience and enhanced connectivity, especially for large installations requiring multiple controllers and subsystems, along with more options for system redundancy.
System designers will receive more flexibility designing large system networks with this release. It is now possible to better use and directly assign multiple controllers in large networks with subnets, which is very often indispensable in typical projects like airports or oil/gas industrial applications. Up to 3,000 networked devices and 10,000 audio zones can be managed by a total of up to 20 system controllers, while both master controllers and subsystem controllers can be optionally used for controller redundancy.
The seamless EN 54 certified networked solution allows high-level priority calls from fireman microphones to any zone or group throughout the entire Praesensa system, optimising security and fallback options. In case of a connection failure of a subsystem controller to the master controller, the subsystem controllers will continue to operate as an independent, self-sufficient system.
Due to extended options to work with multi-controller systems, Bosch has established a new, future-proof and easy-to-manage licensing system; the user now only needs to acquire one license per subsystem, with no additional hardware purchases required.
The latest software allows the user to activate push-to-talk (PTT) messages more quickly when the call station is in idle mode, with a single push of a button. This is especially convenient when no extension keypad is connected and a handheld microphone is being used.
In tandem with software improvements come several hardware enhancements. All Praesensa network components have EN 54-16 certification, including the Cisco IE 5000 industrial Ethernet switch, which can be used as a backbone switch in larger Praesensa installations. Both switches, Praesensa PRA-ES8P2S and Cisco IE 5000, can be easily supervised via SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) for direct fault reporting, and daisy-chained for greater flexibility in network designs. In addition, overall network performance has been improved by the OMN-ARNIE and OMN-ARNIS audio routing interfaces from Bosch, contributing to a fully EN 54-16 certified Dante audio routing solution for multiple subnets.