NJ Transit is in the process of 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 and send them to various digital processing systems and amplifiers 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. An Instreamer will be connected to every digital processor in the network, capturing live audio picked up by ambient noise sensing microphones on each rail and bus platform. The Instreamer encodes the audio and streams it to offices where personnel can confirm signal intelligibility, send test signals and adjust audio levels in response.
(Jim Evans)
