Barix Audio over IP Devices to Support Public Address at NJ TRANSIT Stations Statewide

ZURICH, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Barix AG, a pioneer in IP-based audio, intercom, control, and monitoring, announces that NJ TRANSIT, the public transportation corporation for the state of New Jersey, has standardized on Barix Audio over IP equipment for IP-based distribution of public address (PA) announcements at rail and bus stations across the state.

NJ TRANSIT is building out an IP-based PA and digital display network that will disseminate audio and visual passenger information from one to many points.  NJ TRANSIT and consultant Baran Design Associates specified Barix Exstreamers to receive and decode PA messages at every NJ TRANSIT location.  The devices are currently operational across the River Line light rail system and Northeast Corridor rail lines, as well as a number of bus stations.

Audio messages with relevant passenger information are continuously updated and streamed to pre-assigned, IP-addressable Exstreamers to ensure that stations are receiving the right message.  The messages originate as WAV files out of a centralized text-to-speech engine before being encoded to mp3 for distribution to rail and bus stations.  The Exstreamers convert the streams back to audio at the stations for immediate playout over the speaker systems.

"We are improving the quality of our PA systems as part of our efforts to improve customer communications," said David Rountree, Manager of Public Address Communications for NJ TRANSIT.  "It is important that our customers hear announcements in the rail station environment, and this new system is very clear and concise.  Barix plays a key role in both maintaining the audio quality and giving our customers up-to-the-minute, accurate information."

NJ TRANSIT is also using Barix Instreamer audio encoders to monitor audio quality and levels at every station.  The company is also testing Barix Exstreamer 200 IP decoders with integrated amplifiers at remote bus stations that cannot connect to the network infrastructure.  

Rountree added that IP distribution was the only efficient way to improve the way NJ TRANSIT disseminates passenger information across the network, in terms of both cost and quality.

"There is virtually no loss in audio quality thanks to Barix and other IP-based technology," said Rountree.  "We simply fire a packet down the line and the quality and intelligibility of the announcement is maintained throughout the system."

Please visit www.barix.com or www.ip-audio.com for more information.

SOURCE Barix AG