Gamewell-FCI Advances Outdoor Wireless Emergency Communications

  • Jun 21, 2012

Gamewell-FCI by Honewell is broadening their wide area communications capabilities and integrating it with its E3 SEries fire alarm and emergency communications systems. New networking and communications technologies from ATI (Acoustic Technology, Inc.) Systems provide Gamewell-FCI systems the unique option to transmit messages through Wide Area outdoor systems via five different pathways, solving difficult applications where the common use of radio frequencies is not allowed.

Access to multiple paths enables the set-up of an optional backup path for more redundant, reliable systems. Gamewell-FCI systems also gain greater control over a wider breadth of sub-systems such as traffic lights, LED signage, remote access gates and more. Advances in ATI's digital messaging has also expanded its message storage to one of the industry's largest capacities.

While providing fire protection, combined with the capability to send emergency communications via signage, voice, emails and more, Gamewell-FCI's E3 Series systems offer a single, simple solution for protecting people in and around buildings. Technological advancements in the connection of various systems now enables the E3 Series to more easily integrate with ATI's Wide Area speaker arrays to transmit messages over IP (Internet Protocol), a single twisted-pair of copper wire or fiber optic cable, satellite, or the more commonly used, RF (Radio Frequency). More than one communication option allows for the set-up of a secondary, backup path for added redundancy during any emergency situation.

Facilities and campuses in and around cities, mountain ranges and in remote areas where RF is not a readily available or reliable option now have a choice of how messages are transmitted to people outside of a facility. The option of five different communications pathways works particularly well for Wide Area systems on military bases, corporate and school campuses, as well as those used as a public warning system throughout a town or county.

While seamlessly integrating control of outdoor emergency communications systems with in-building E3 Series fire alarm and emergency communications systems, Gamewell-FCI's new networking capabilities provides an easy interface and control over a number of external systems, including LED signage, access gates, traffic lights, weather stations and PA (public address) systems.

In addition to live voice paging, the E3 Series can store and distribute through an AIT Wide Area system as many as 255 pre-recorded messages containing more than 100 hours of recording time. Warnings for fire, weather hazards, intruders, hazardous materials, general evacuation, and even non-emergency announcements, such as facility closing times, can be recorded and easily disseminated outdoors across a campus or even a whole county.

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