Things to consider when choosing intercom systems
Not all intercom systems are the same. If you’re shopping for one presently you’ll find there are a plethora of choices. So where do you start? Just as there are many hats for many different purposes from baseball cap to fireman’s helmet, there are many different specific use case ICS systems. Some are for buildings, some portable, some for vehicles, some for marine vessels. Usually the manufacturer will tell you what the system is designed and marketed for but sometimes a marine system might work well on a fire truck. It’s up to the buyer to research their needs and what’s out there so they get the best tool for their specific job. Here are some points that will help you with that process.
What are the specifics needed?
The first thing to do is nail down exact details of what you need your system to do for you. Ask questions like: Does it need to have any parts of it outside, exposed to the elements? Does it need to be waterproof? Does it need to have any specific ratings for safety? How long does it take to set up? Some systems require complex on/off/pairing/system setting/purging situations and your situation may need immediate use without fussing with all that. Ask for a demo to see for yourself and try it yourself. Don’t let the sales guy just quickly zip through the steps of using it and make it look easy when in reality you’ll have to train people how to use it.
How many users?
You might have 5 people on your firetruck and the system you need starts as a four man system and adding a 5th man costs an extra $1200 and adds two modules to the system. Make sure you ask all the questions and get layout plans from your sales rep so you know the costs. Don’t forget that the more modules in a system the more work you have to pay an installation tech to do and the more stuff there is that can break.
What is the support like?
Does it require a technical doctorate with a laptop to work on it? Is it field repairable or are you going to be down for weeks? Do all the parts of the system carry a warranty? Can you get a hold of the company via email or phone? If you have trouble getting a response from the company even regarding a quote you can bet you won’t have an easy time claiming a warranty repair.
How many features do I really need?
Will my crew actually use all the features of the system or can you hammer out a more basic version of what you need? Nowadays with so much technology available some brands are basically providing a TV studio worth of features when all you might really need is for your guys to all talk to each other. Often times too many bells and whistles can be a distraction and an irritation for workers. Often times it’s better to just have one big push to talk button and that’s it. Too many buttons and too much set up work not only distracts from the work but means there are more things that can go wrong with a system. Simple is better especially in demanding environments.
