Interactive Console

USER MANUAL
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Interactive Console User Manual
INTRODUCTION

Valcom’s Interactive Console is a programmable device that sends live and/or

pre-recorded announcements throughout your organization’s paging system
with the push of a button.

Got signs too? No problem. The Interactive Console is designed to push text
notifications to your LED signs as well.

Need to reach people both visually and auditorily? Again, no problem. The
Interactive Console can simultaneously broadcast audio and text messages to
selected page groups and LED signs within your organization so you can reach
people when it matters most.

The Interactive Console can also be used to make and receive phone calls
from Valcom and SIP endpoints from within your organization’s network.

For making live pages or announcements, the front microphone placement

creates a beamforming array that lets your listeners hear you and not the
background noise. No handset or external mic needed!

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Interactive Console User Manual
FEATURES AND ACCESS
High Level Features
• Desktop interactive IP device with 10.1” color touch screen display,
built in beam-forming microphone array, and loudspeaker
• Sends pre-recorded audio files at the push of a button
• Sends microphone pages, both “Live Mic” and Record & Send for
feedback elimination
• Sends text messages to LED signs
• Makes/receives bidirectional voice calls to Valcom and SIP endpoints
• Receives audio pages
• Simple configuration via web browser interface
• Adjustable display tilt for glare reduction

Access Methods
• Powered from POE+ connection or 24VDC power adapter
• RJ45 Network port (10/100)
• 24V power port
• Relay output port
• Internal loudspeaker
• 3.5mm audio line level output
• Two USB 2.0 ports (future use)
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IN THIS GUIDE

Hardware Setup

▪ Ports & connections

▪ Placement

Network Software Setup

▪ Adding the Interactive Console to your network using the

Valcom VIP-102B setup tool.

Application Software Setup

▪ Login
▪ Admin settings
▪ Setting up roles
▪ Setting up users
▪ Composing messages for digital signage
▪ Audio messages
▪ Layout
▪ Backup and Restore

Using the Interactive Console

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 HARDWARE SETUP
*for technicians and/or IT professionals

1. LCD screen

2. Tabs are individual pages that have groups of buttons on them.

3. Buttons perform pre-programmed functions when pressed, like

playing a pre-recorded message over loud speakers, making a
live page, or sending text to a sign.

4. Beamforming microphone array

5. LED status indicator light

6. LCD screen on/off button (rear of display screen)

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 HARDWARE SETUP
*for technicians and/or IT professionals

7. RJ45 network port

8. +24V power port

9. Relay port

10. 3.5mm audio output

11. USB ports (future use)

12. Speaker

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 HARDWARE SETUP
*for technicians and/or IT professionals

Side view

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13. Tilt adjustment for angle of touch screen (located on both sides).

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 HARDWARE SETUP
*for technicians and/or IT professionals

PLACEMENT

Place the Interactive Console within an arm’s reach on a flat surface such as a
table or desk. For added security against damage from a fall, use the included
adhesive Velcro to mount the console.
INTERACTIVE
FRONT
CONSOLE

KEEP THIS
AREA
CLEAR

Be sure to keep the area in front of the IP Interactive Console free from
anything that could block the microphone array.

CONNECTION

Connect the Interactive Console to any port on an 802.3at compliant POE+

switch within the network that you will be using it on. Use of an 802.3at
compliant power injector is suitable as well.

The Interactive Console requires a POE+ connection, or a 24VDC power

adaptor if not using 802.3at compliant POE+ source.

Once the unit is powered, the front LED status indicator light will proceed in
the following sequence:
1. Solid red to indicate booting up.
2. Solid yellow to indicate main application start.
3. Solid green to indicate the unit is fully operational.
4. Blinking green when a page or call is in progress.
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 HARDWARE SETUP
*for technicians and/or IT professionals

The following error conditions may occur, as indicated by the LED status
indicator light:
1. Blinking red indicates that the Interactive Console is not being powered
from an 802.3at compliant POE+ source or a +24V wall adaptor.

2. Solid yellow for an extended period of time indicates that the

Interactive Console is configured for DHCP, but is not receiving an IP
address from the router.

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 NETWORK SOFTWARE SETUP
*for technicians and/or IT professionals

Use the Valcom VIP-102B software setup tool (version 7.5 or higher. Available
for free at Valcom.com) to “discover” and add the Interactive Console to your
network of Valcom IP devices.

NETWORK TAB:
Set unit name and desired IP address, or use DHCP.

CHANNELS TAB:
a. Set dial code, description (name), CID number, and CID name.
b. Set audio output volume.
c. Select whether or not the console should auto-answer any incoming calls.
If not, the console will display the incoming caller ID and present options
to accept or reject the call.
d. Click the box to disable the internal speaker if the line-level audio output
will be driving an amplifier/speaker covering the same area where the
console resides.

GROUP MEMBERSHIP TAB:

Select desired page groups to receive/play.

SIP TAB:
Set SIP information if unit will be used to make/receive SIP calls within your
system.

Update:
Update the unit’s settings via the VIP-102B button

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 APPLICATION SOFTWARE SETUP

3A - LOGIN
The Interactive Console contains built-in configuration software. To access this
software, type the unit’s IP address into a PC browser on the same network.

This screen will appear:

The default login is admin, password is 1234. This login information can (and
should be) changed to suit your organizations login and password standards.

See section 3D of this guide for instructions on changing your password.

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3B – ADMIN SETTINGS

1. After logging in, click on SETTINGS.

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3B – ADMIN SETTINGS continued

2
3

2. The console will auto-logout after the time set for Dashboard Timeout.
Set the desired dashboard timeout value, or 0 to disable auto-logout.

3. Enable the screen saver if desired, and set the timeout value for activation
and the text to display on the screen during saver mode.

4. Click to display a clock on the screen of the Interactive Console.*

* A timeserver must be configured in the VIP-102B tool for on-screen time to

be accurate.

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3B – ADMIN SETTINGS continued
Updating your software

2 1

1. Click on Settings.

2. Click Upgrade.

3. Select Browse to upload most current update file.

Visit Valcom.com – support – downloads for most current file.

4. Click Upgrade Firmware.

This window will appear and must be closed manually.

When the front status LED returns to green, re-open the browser and log
back into the configuration software.

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 3C – SETTING UP ROLES

1
2
3

Buttons displayed on the console can be restricted to users with designated roles.

Roles are not specific people, but rather different access levels.

The Interactive Console comes preloaded with Administrator and Remote roles.
Enter any desired roles beyond Administrator and Remote, for example: Security,
Supervisor, Operator, etc.

1. Click on USERS from main menu.

2. Click on ROLES

3. Click to add a new role.

4. Type the name that you want to give to the role.

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3D – SETTING UP USERS

1
2

Users are individuals that can be assigned one or more Roles in the system.

Users log into the unit with a configured PIN code.

Note: For remote access via a web browser, you must create a 'web password' for
the user. Also make sure they are assigned the 'Remote' role. To disallow remote
access, just remove the 'Remote' role.

The PIN code is just for the touch screen interface.

1. Click on “Users”.

2. Click to add new user.

3. Enter new user name, pin, web password (optional) and select new user’s
role(s). Be sure to make each user’s PIN and password unique for security.

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 3E – COMPOSING MESSAGES FOR DIGITAL SIGNAGE

The Interactive Console has the capability to send text messages Valcom LED signs.
These messages can be in unison with an audio announcement or separate.

To compose a text message for digital signs:

1. Click MESSAGES.

2. Click to add new message.

3. Click to edit message title and details.

- Continued on next page

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3E – COMPOSING MESSAGES FOR DIGITAL SIGNAGE continued

4 6

5 7

4. Enter message title (this can be different than the actual button that will
appear on the console).

5. Choose if one or two lines of text will be displayed.

6. Set the amount of time the message will be displayed.

7. If using only one row of text, choose font size from the drop-down menu. If
using two rows of text, font size is automatic.

- Continued on next page

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3E – COMPOSING MESSAGES FOR DIGITAL SIGNAGE continued

9 10

8
11

8. Type text of your message here.

9. Choose the color that you want your text to appear in.

10. Check this box if you want your text to scroll (be sure to do this if the text you
want to display is lengthy).

11. Save your changes!

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 3F – AUDIO MESSAGES

Pre-recorded audio files can be stored and played at the push of a button on the
Interactive Console.

There are two methods to bring recorded audio into the system:

A. Upload an existing .WAV audio file

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1 upload 3

1. Click AUDIO from top menu.

2. Select an existing .WAV file that you wish to upload from your computer.

3. Click UPLOAD.

4. File will appear as the last entry in the Current Files section.*

* Change file name to something meaningful, recognizable and easy to

understand like “fast siren” or “series of beeps”.

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3F – AUDIO MESSAGES continued
B. Record audio via the Interactive Console

1. Click on SETTINGS.

Record Audio
2

2. Click on RECORD AUDIO.

- Continued on next page

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3F – AUDIO MESSAGES continued
B. Record audio via the Interactive Console continued

Record Audio
+Record New Re-Record
Here you can record new audio to assign to buttons in the admin.

3 Name your recording

Start Recording
4

Return to Settings Return to Dashboard

3. Type a name for the audio file that you are about to record. Be sure
that the name is meaningful and descriptive.

4. Click on START RECORDING.

5. Speak your message towards the microphone array near the LED in
the front of the console’s base.

- Continued on next page 22

3F – AUDIO MESSAGES continued
B. Record audio via the Interactive Console continued

Record Audio
+Record New Re-Record
Here you can record new audio to assign to buttons in the admin.
Name your recording

Discard Recording Save Recording

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7

6. Press SAVE RECORDING to complete recording and save it, or

7. Press DISCARD RECORDING to abort.

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10

To review the audio that you just recorded, from the browser:

8. Click on AUDIO.

9. Find the name of your audio file.

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10. Click to review the audio file.
 3G – LAYOUT

Layout is where Tabs and Buttons that will be displayed on the screen of the
Interactive Console are configured.

TABS
BUTTONS

Tabs are individual pages that have groups of buttons on them.

Buttons perform pre-programmed functions when pressed, like playing a pre-

recorded message over loud speakers, making a live page, or sending text to a sign.

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 3G – LAYOUT continued
A. Tabs

1. Click LAYOUT from the top menu.

3 4

To add new tab:

2. Click to add a new tab.

3. Type a name for the new tab.

4. Choose tab color.

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3G – LAYOUT continued
B. Buttons

To add a new button:

1. Select the tab where you want the new button to be placed.

2. Click

A pop-up screen (see next page) will appear where you can configure the look
and function of each new button.

Each button type requires additional fields to be populated.

- Continued on next page 26

3G – LAYOUT continued
B. Buttons

3 4 5 6

3. Type a name for your new button. This will appear on the button’s face
on the console.

4. Choose what roles can use this button.

5. Choose a color for this button (blue is default if left unchanged).

6. Assign a priority level (default is 10, maximum is 99)

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- Continued on next page
3G – LAYOUT continued
B. Buttons

7. Select one of these options to choose how you would like the button to
function.

(see the following pages for details on each function)

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3G – LAYOUT continued
C. Button Functions– Live Page

Live Page acts like an open microphone. Audio captured by the console’s
microphones is broadcast immediately.

1. Select the Live Page option.

2. Select desired page group.

3. Save changes

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3G – LAYOUT continued
C. Button Functions – Recorded Audio

2,7

Pick…
Burst 5 4 6
Siren
Test 123
8
3

Recorded Audio will play pre-recorded audio file(s) to the selected groups

1. Select Recorded Audio option to play a pre-recorded audio file.

2. Click to add a pre-recorded audio file.

3. Choose the pre-recorded audio file you want to use.

4. Choose the number of times that you want the file repeated.

5. Choose the seconds to delay between successive repeats if repeat > 1.

6. Choose a page group

7. Click to add any additional file(s). Multiple files will play in sequence.
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8. Save changes.
3G – LAYOUT continued
C. Button Functions – Text File

1
2

3 4 5 6

Text will send a recorded text message to the designated page group

1. Select Text to send a stored text file to an LED sign page group.

2. Click to add message.

3. Select the message that you want to use from the drop down list. (These are
composed under the “Messages” tab. See section 3E of this guide).

4. Choose the number of times that you want your message to repeat when the
button is pressed.

- Continued on next page… 31

3G – LAYOUT continued
C. Button Functions – Text File

5. Choose the seconds to delay between successive repeats if repeat > 1

6. Choose a page group.

7. Save changes.

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3G – LAYOUT continued
C. Button Functions – Text & Audio

2
1

Text & Audio simultaneously sends audio files and a text file to designated groups.

1. Select Text & Audio to send audio and text at the same time.

2. Click and enter the details as described in the earlier Text File section.

3. Click and enter the details as described in the earlier Recorded Audio
section.

4. Save changes.
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3G – LAYOUT continued
C. Button Functions – Record and Send

2
1

Record and Send will record audio from the microphones and then send the
completed recording to the designated page group. This eliminates feedback
from the paging speaker into the microphone array. *

1. Select the Record and Send function

2. Select page group.

3. Save changes.

* Record and Send audio recordings are automatically removed after they
sent out.

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3G – LAYOUT continued
C. Button Functions - Call

1 3

4
5

Call initiates a call to a Valcom or SIP endpoint

1. Select the Call function.

2. Select whether dialing a Valcom device or a SIP device.

3. Check this box if you would like to enter the desired extension when the
button is pressed. Unchecking will require a specific endpoint to be entered
in box below (4). This means that when pressed the button, the Interactive
Console will dial a single, pre-determined number.

5. Save changes
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 3H – DASHBOARD

1. Click Dashboard to bring up a new browser window that contains an active

virtual representation of the actual Interactive Console’s display.

TEST

2
3

2. Buttons will be shown in their programmed color and can be executed from
the Dashboard window in the browser.

3. Buttons that are grayed out cannot be executed from the dashboard window in
the browser because they capture audio from the Interactive Console’s
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microphone array.
3I – Backing up Application Configuration Data

Generating a backup from the Interactive Console is an easy method to copy the
unit’s settings to another unit. With this method, you can optimize the
configuration of one unit, and then clone it to other unit(s).

1
2
3

1. Click on Settings.

2. Click Backup/Restore.

3. Click on Download Backup. A zip file containing the backup will be

generated.

The backup file contains the following application information:

• All Users and Roles settings
• All Screen Tabs and Buttons
• All Prerecorded/uploaded Audio files
• All Stored Text files
• All values in the Settings tab

The backup file DOES NOT contain parameters configured via the VIP-102B tool,
including settings for network, time, channels, relays, groups, and SIP.

The VIP-102B parameters must be configured for each and every Interactive
Console added to the system, regardless of whether the application
configuration is entered manually or cloned from another unit’s backup.

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3J – Restoring Application Configuration Data

Restoring a backup is an easy way to clone a new unit from the backup of
another unit.

Important!!! The unit being restored must have the same software version as
the unit that generated the backup.

1
2

3
4

1. Click on Settings.

2. Click Backup/Restore.

3. Locate and select the backup zip file.

4. Click on Restore Backup. The backup data set will be applied to the unit, and
a confirmation message will appear once the restore is complete.

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 USING THE INTERACTIVE CONSOLE

2 3

1. LOG IN: Press the Log in button on the lower left corner. When the
keypad appears onscreen, enter your pin code.

2. Once you are logged in, the Interactive Console will show all buttons
that have been programmed, but only those accessible to the entered
pin code will be highlighted and enabled. If you press an enabled
button, it will execute immediately.

3. All others will be grayed-out and have a lock symbol. If you press a
locked button, it will prompt you for a pin code. If you enter a PIN code
that has the required Role privilege, the button will execute
immediately. After the button executes, the Role privilege will revert
back to the previously logged in user.

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 USING THE INTERACTIVE CONSOLE

2. SETTINGS: Displays network information associated with the unit and

allows changing the IP address. Note: SETTINGS is only available if
the user logged in has the ADMIN role assigned.

- Continued on next page 40

 USING THE INTERACTIVE CONSOLE

3. Volume adjustment: Changes the level of the built-in speaker and

simultaneously the level of the line-level output from the 3.5mm
audio output on the back of the unit.

4. Switches between tabs. The active tab will be blue. Non-active tabs
are black.

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- Continued on next page
 USING THE INTERACTIVE CONSOLE

5. Buttons: Press desired button to execute it.

• If the button is programmed to make a live page to a specific page group, simply
press it and begin speaking your message toward the mic array located on the
front of the Interactive Console. Press the red X to terminate the live page.

• If the button plays recorded audio, the button’s icon will change from a Play
arrow to a Stop square. The file will play to completion, but pressing the button
again will stop the audio page immediately.

• If the button sends a text file, the text is sent to the sign immediately. Pressing
the Stop button will not stop the text output.

• If the button sends both text and pre-recorded audio, both will be sent
immediately. The button’s icon will change from a Play arrow to a Stop square.
Pressing the button again will stop the audio page immediately, but the text
message will play on the sign until completed.

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- Continued on next page
 USING THE INTERACTIVE CONSOLE
Buttons continued
• If the button makes a call, a 12-button keypad will appear on the screen:
• If the endpoint number was programmed into the button, the call
will dial automatically.

• If the endpoint number was not programmed into the button, the
number must be entered on the keypad and the green Call button
pressed to activate the call

• Calls will be bidirectional if the dialed endpoint supports a talkback

function. If so, audio received from dialed endpoint will play from
the internal speaker and to the line level output as well.

• The on-screen keypad is active during the call in case any secondary
digits are required.

• Press the red X to terminate the call

- Continued on next page 43

 USING THE INTERACTIVE CONSOLE
Buttons continued
• If the button makes a Record and Send page:
a. Press the button and recording starts immediately

b. Press the SEND RECORDING button to send the recorded audio to

the endpoint, or press DISCARD AUDIO to cancel the recording.

6. Stop All: The red Stop All button in the lower right corner will
immediately terminate any active button events. Note, however,
that the sending of text to signs cannot be terminated and the
message will be displayed until completed.
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 USING THE INTERACTIVE CONSOLE
Multi-Zone Audio Paging
Two additional buttons at the bottom of the screen allow you to make Live
Page and Record and Send audio pages to multiple zones simultaneously. The
steps to perform a multi-zone page are as follows:

1. Press Live Page or Record and Send to enter multi-select mode.

2. Press any unlocked buttons to choose the desired zones.

3. Press the green Start button.

4. For Live Page, the microphone audio will be sent immediately to the chosen
zones. Press the red X to terminate transmission

5. For Record and Send, the recorded audio will be sent once the Send
Recording button is pressed, or will be aborted if the Discard Recording is
pressed.
2

5
4
Multiple Selection Mode
Press one or more buttons to select the groups to page. Press “Start” when done to begin paging. Cancel via “Stop All”.

Start

1 1 3 45
 USING THE INTERACTIVE CONSOLE

Non-button functions

• The Interactive Console’s internal speaker can receive and play any
audio pages addressed to groups it subscribes to, just like a normal IP
paging speaker within a paging system.

• The Interactive Console can receive any incoming calls addressed to

its Valcom or SIP dial code.

a. If the auto-answer option was selected during programming in

the 102B tool, the console will automatically answer the call.

b. If the auto-answer option was not selected during

programming in the 102B tool, the incoming caller ID will be
displayed, along with options to accept or reject the call.

c. If the call is auto-answered or accepted, a 12-digit keypad will

appear, along with a hang up button.

d. Press the Red X to terminate the call.

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