Xantech Comes To The Rescue Of Plainfield, Indiana's Largest Fire Station

Residents of Plainfield, Indiana can rest easier now, knowing that the firefighters at the Plainfield Fire Territory #123 station and training facility now have access to a state-of-the-art AV system that provides them with a number of connectivity solutions that enhance training, fitness and recreation. AV systems integrator Circle City Audio installed and integrated the Xantech®-controlled system, which is managed by a combination of the Xantech CSPLCD64G touchpanel and WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller.

The network-based Xantech components provide full control over the station’s new AV systems, which include 8 LG® plasma monitors and seven zones of audio including a Biamp Nexia managing four 70v zones (Training Room, Engine Bay, Kitchen and Patio), a Sony consumer AV receiver in the fitness room and two Onkyo consumer surround sound systems for the living areas. The Xantech system functions throughout the facility, including in the recreation area and the training room, which now includes a Sony EVI-D70 camera, a BenQ MX764 projector and a Samsung SDP-860 document camera with content recording and streaming via an NCast PR720R. Circle City Audio also added an LV control to an existing Draper motorized projection screen and wired it to the WIC1200, allowing the firefighters to get the most out of their training sessions.

“These guys put their lives on the line everyday, so they don’t have time to learn how to use a complicated system,” said Andrew Van Veld of Circle City Audio. “We knew they needed a control solution that would give them everything they need, while being cost-effective, reliable, and easy to use. With the WIC1200 controller, which connects to the touchpanel via the Xantech RS422232, they can control everything from the TVs in the training room to speakers on the outside patio with little effort.”

Van Veld installed 10 Xantech IPRS232 XtraLink IP™ units that enable network control of the RS232-based displays, and a SMAUD01 and CBCSM1 combo, which works as a ducking sensor to the building alarm, so when a call comes in, any sound emitting from the television or speakers is automatically muted. The site-wide DVD player even pauses then restarts when the announcement is finished. Ducking was one of the key requirements of the system as the firefighters normally bring boom boxes to listen to their favorite radio stations in the Engine Bay or when working out, and had to be able to clearly hear the critical alarm codes. The system even supports radio station changes via a Biamp RED-1 wall control by the Engine Bay so the firefighters don’t have to take an axe to the equipment room door to change the radio station.

“With their reliable product selection and easy-to-use interface, we knew Xantech was the right choice for this project,” Van Veld continued. “And it turns out we were right. Everyone at the station is loving it.”

Xantech's WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller is a stand-alone room controller for Networked/Web-based control featuring 2 IR Ports, 2 Serial Ports, 2 Contact Closure ports, and 2 Digital i/o ports as well as 2 Ethernet ports (one with Power over Ethernet [POE]) for TCP/IP telnet control with less intrusion into facility IP networks. On its own, the Web Intelligent Controller is an event-driven component with two RS232 ports (configurable for RS422 and RS232) and a single IP port. The Event Manager is capable of Timed Events, Calendar Events, Telnet and Serial Events as well a full FTP site, Web Server and Email Server.

The CSPLCD64G touchpanel is part of Xantech’s Commercial LCD Touchscreen Controller series that consists of two interactive touchpanels — a 3.9" and 6.4" diagonal color graphic touchpanel. All functionality and screen graphics are fully programmable using Xantech's intuitive and easy to use Dragon Drop-IR^TM programming software using either the RS232 or USB ports located behind the detachable faceplate. Each touchpanel comes with an extensive library of built-in IR codes and the ability to learn IR codes via the Learning Eye or from Dragon Drop-IR^TM software. As with the other SmartPads, these new touch panels are designed to be stand-alone controllers with the ability to output IR commands onto the standard Xantech four-wire IR bus. These new touchpanels also have the ability to transmit and receive RS232 commands utilizing the optional RS422 to RS232 Module (model RS422232).

Visit www.xantech.com for more information.

About Circle City Audio:

Circle City Audio is a full service design-build A/V integrator based in Indianapolis/IN with staff in Fort Wayne as well. Founded in 1995, CCA serves many house-of-worship customers as well as educational, courtroom and retail facilities in the Midwest. They provide sound, lighting, projection, camera, acoustic treatment and other industry related products and services. They also operate as a regional event production house. Contact: 877.706.7383 or www.ccaudio.com.

About Xantech:

Xantech designs and manufactures an extensive range of audio, video and control products and systems, many of which have become de facto industry standards. Xantech IR products are specified into more audio/video installations than any other brand. Xantech also supplies hi-definition HDMI video solutions, touch-panels and IP control systems for residential and commercial applications, multi-room audio/video systems, audio source components and processors, and software programming tools.

Products are sold to professional installers and distributors directly from Xantech. Xantech’s products are marketed in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. Xantech is a part of The AVC Group in Carlsbad, California. For additional information about Xantech and its innovative products, please visit www.xantech.com.

About The AVC Group, LLC:

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group, LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers of state-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control system solutions.  The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leading brands: Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON® and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s Home Technology Group.