Aiphone TALKMASTER IP-EWST Safety guide

TalkMaster™
IP intercom system
Software User Guide
For all IP-series 10/100
Ethernet Intercoms
Models IP-EWST IP EWST-POE

Table of Contents
ii
Table of Contents
Welcome To TalkMaster................................................................................................................................................... 1
Welcome ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Release Notes ............................................................................................................................................................... 1
System Requirements ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Using TalkMaster ............................................................................................................................................................. 5
TalkMaster Overview..................................................................................................................................................... 5
TalkMaster Main Screen ................................................................................................................................................ 6
Tool Bar.........................................................................................................................................................................
Intercom View / Custom View tab .................................................................................................................................. 8
Calls Waiting ............................................................................................................................................................... 10
Audio Player ................................................................................................................................................................ 10
Auto Response............................................................................................................................................................ 10
Listen Mode................................................................................................................................................................. 11
Listen button................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Talk Mode.................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Talk / Page button ....................................................................................................................................................... 14
Paging Messages ........................................................................................................................................................ 14
System Events............................................................................................................................................................. 15
Audio Archive .............................................................................................................................................................. 15
Using Call Announcement............................................................................................................................................. 17
Call Announcement ..................................................................................................................................................... 1
Incoming Call............................................................................................................................................................... 18
Preferences and Setup.................................................................................................................................................. 1
Preferences ................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Preferences - Options tab............................................................................................................................................ 19
Preferences - Multimedia tab ....................................................................................................................................... 20
Preferences - Volume tab ............................................................................................................................................ 21
Preferences - Legacy tab............................................................................................................................................ 22
Paging Groups............................................................................................................................................................. 22
Paging Setup............................................................................................................................................................... 23
Capture Audio Archive................................................................................................................................................. 24
Play Audio Archive ...................................................................................................................................................... 25
Managed Intercoms..................................................................................................................................................... 26
TalkMaster Console Forwarding ................................................................................................................................... 27
Forward Intercoms....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Retrieve Intercoms....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Unattended Console.................................................................................................................................................... 2
TalkMaster Menu Options.............................................................................................................................................. 2
File Menu..................................................................................................................................................................... 29
View Menu................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Tools Menu.................................................................................................................................................................. 29
Console Menu ............................................................................................................................................................. 30
Admin Menu ................................................................................................................................................................ 30
Help Menu ................................................................................................................................................................... 31

Table of Contents
iii
Configuring Intercoms .................................................................................................................................................. 33
Configure Intercoms .................................................................................................................................................... 33
Advanced Configuration .............................................................................................................................................. 33
Intercom Configuration - TalkMaster Clients ................................................................................................................ 34
Intercom Configuration - Direct Mode .......................................................................................................................... 3
Updating Firmware ...................................................................................................................................................... 39
NIC Firmware Updating ............................................................................................................................................... 40
ICOM Firmware Updating ............................................................................................................................................ 40
Intercom Configuration Tool Menu Options................................................................................................................. 43
Configuration File Menu............................................................................................................................................... 43
Configuration View Menu............................................................................................................................................. 43
Configuration Action Menu........................................................................................................................................... 43
Configuration Help Menu ............................................................................................................................................. 43
Troubleshooting............................................................................................................................................................. 45
Troubleshooting........................................................................................................................................................... 45
Changing Recordings .................................................................................................................................................. 45
Index............................................................................................................................................................................... 47

1
Welcome To TalkMaster
Welcome
Welcome To TalkMaster™ LE!
If you are upgrading from an earlier version of TalkMaster™, please review the Release Notes.
To setup and configure your IP-series intercoms, please review Configure Intercoms.
If you would like help on using TalkMaster, please review TalkMaster Overview.
Release Notes
TalkMaster™ Version 1.8 Released November, 2005
TalkMaster™ version 1.8 contains the following enhancements and corrections:
• All Setup functions have been moved to the password protected Admin menu
• New tabbed views on main screen allow display of all Intercoms or all Paging Groups and
selected Intercoms.
• New function to setup software based Paging Groups for paging operations
• New option to create a Managed Intercom list to continuously detect and display
disconnected Intercoms.
• Multiple consoles can simultaneously forward their Intercoms to a single console
• New color coded buttons used when TalkMaster is paging multiple intercoms
• Clicking the Grp column header automatically clears checkmark from all rows
• The Settings and Advanced tabs of the Preferences dialog have been renamed to the
Volume and Legacy tabs respectively
• Preferences and settings are now stored at the PC level instead of the Windows User level
TalkMaster™ Version 1.7 Released June, 2005
TalkMaster™ version 1. contains the following enhancements and corrections:
• New Paging Messages dialog with up to eighteen predefined messages
• New Password protected Paging Setup dialog
• Intercom Configuration Tool now sorts by Location Name/ICOM ID for easier setup
• GPIO 4 Mode supports new options for Relay controls*
• Improved speed and reliability of Console Forward / Retrieve operations *
• When "Hide when minimized " preference is set, clicking the ‘X’ in the upper right hand
corner of the screen causes TalkMaster to minimize to the system tray instead of closing
• Intercom Configuration Tool prevents Intercom IP address from ending with 255 or 0
• Accessing the Play Audio Archive dialog requires the administrator password

Welcome To TalkMaster
2
• The Preference "Talk button enabled by mouse click and hold" has been renamed to "Hold
down Talk button while speaking (PTT)"
• Corrected "Intercom configuration changes fail" when Windows Regional Options are not set
to English
• Corrected "UDP Audio problems" when Windows Regional Options are set to Japanese
• Corrected "Multimedia Card Selection" when multiple cards are present in the PC
* Use of this feature requires current Intercom Firmware. Please refer to our website
(http://www.aiphone.com) for information on the current Firmware.
TalkMaster™ Version 1.6 Released January, 2005
TalkMaster™ version 1.6 contains the following enhancements:
• Call Announcement mode with audio and visual notification of incoming calls
• Automatic removal of entries from the Calls Waiting queue when a call is completed
• The Calls Waiting Audio Player is automatically closed at the end of a call
• Ability to select a multimedia card used for the Speaker and Microphone operation
TalkMaster version 1.6 contains the following bug fixes:
• Applying Intercom configuration changes fails in non-U.S. localizations
• Talk VU meter does not work
• Intercom Startup Audio is not always played
• Spurious error messages occur during TalkMaster Startup
• "Details" column size under Calls Waiting is too narrow
• In Automatic mode, TalkMaster’s Listen button can be turned off by pressing the Intercom’s
Call button
• Multiple Intercoms behind a NAT Firewall do not function properly in TalkMaster
TalkMaster™ Version 1.5.215 Released July, 2004
TalkMaster™ version 1.5.215 contains the following enhancements:
• Simplified screen
• Password protected Intercom search and configure
• Console forwarding and retrieval
• Enhanced Audio Archive functions
• The Door Open function appears on the main screen
• Keyboard control of the Talk and Listen buttons
New firmware is available for the IP Intercoms. Units must be flashed with new firmware to
accommodate the following features. Please refer to Configure Intercoms for details:
• Location names flashed into the Intercom

Welcome To TalkMaster
3
• Audio sent to multiple intercoms is sent as a single a UDP broadcast
• Console forwarding and retrieval
• Specify alternative IP addresses for intercom forwarding in the event of TalkMaster console
failure
• Specify duration of time for activation of door/open relay within the IP Intercom
System Requirements
To utilize all of the features of TalkMaster™, you need the following:
• Windows 98SE, Windows 2000, or Windows XP
• Pentium III 50mHz or faster
• 128 MB RAM (256 MB suggested)
• 50 MB Available Disk Space
• Windows supported Sound Card with microphone and speakers

5
Using TalkMaster
TalkMaster Overview
TalkMaster™ is a software program designed to work with Aiphone’s IP-series Intercoms.
TalkMaster has two main functions. First, TalkMaster must be used to configure the IP
address information and related features for your IP intercoms. TalkMaster searches for any
Intercoms on your network and allows you to specify the IP address settings for each one.
Secondly, TalkMaster allows multiple intercoms to connect to the software via TCP/IP so they
can be monitored by the TalkMaster console operator. The audio from an intercom can be
heard on the PC’s speakers and the PC’s microphone is used to send audio to an intercom.
Calls can be initiated from any intercom to TalkMaster or from TalkMaster to any intercom.
The TalkMaster feature set includes the ability to:
• Queue and answer Incoming Calls
• Make Outgoing Calls
• Listen in
• Page Groups of Intercoms via microphone or pre-recorded wav files
• Activate an Intercom’s on board relay to interface with door / gate controls
• Record incoming and outgoing audio
• Playback recorded audio
• Temporarily forward Intercoms to another TalkMaster console
• Send automatic pre-recorded wav files to Intercoms when the operator is busy or away
• Remotely control Intercom volume settings
• Report Online and Offline Intercom status

Using TalkMaster
6
TalkMaster can listen for incoming calls in one of three "modes":
Call Announcement with audible and visual alerts
In this mode, pressing the Intercom button notifies the TalkMaster operator by an audible
and/or visual alert. The TalkMaster operator responds and controls the microphone at that
intercom to enable user hands-free operation. To set up Call Announcement mode, check the
box next to Activate Call Announcement in the menu Admin - Preferences - Options tab
Automatic mode
In this mode, when an intercom user presses the button, their voice is used to notify the
TalkMaster operator of the incoming call. The TalkMaster operator can respond and control the
microphone to enable hands-free operation. To set up Automatic mode, select the Automatic
option under Listen Mode on the main screen.
Manual mode
In Manual mode, when an intercom user presses the button, their voice is used to notify the
TalkMaster operator of the incoming call. The TalkMaster operator can respond and optionally
allow the user to control the PTT button them selves. To set up Manual mode, select the
Manual option under Listen Mode on the main screen.
TalkMaster Main Screen
Before you can use your Aiphone IP Intercoms, they must be configured with IP address
information. Please see Configure Intercoms.

Using TalkMaster
7
The following sections describe the areas of the TalkMaster™ main screen.
1 Tool Bar
2 Intercom View / Custom View tabs
3 Calls Waiting Queue
4 Auto Response setting
5 Talk Mode setting
6 Audio Archive setting
Listen Mode setting
8 System Events window
Tool Bar
Forward Intercoms to an alternate TalkMaster Console. Please see Forward Intercoms
for details.
Retrieve Intercoms from an alternate TalkMaster Console. Please see Retrieve
Intercoms for details.

Using TalkMaster
8
The Answer Later button is displayed when the Activate Call
Announcement option in menu Admin - Preferences - Options has been checked and a call
is incoming.
• Activating the Talk or Listen buttons answers the call and removes the Answer Later button
from the screen
• Pressing this button sends a message (i.e. "please hold") to the intercom and disables the
Audible and Visual alerts, allowing the TalkMaster operator time to complete another task
before answering the incoming call
Intercom View / Custom View tab
The Intercom View tab shows you all Intercoms that have connected to TalkMaster™. The
Custom View shows all Paging Groups that have been defined as well as any Intercoms that
are not defined in a Paging Group. Both views have the same columns and TalkMaster
operates the same way on either view. You will normally work out of one or the other view
depending on your environment.
TalkMaster can be configured to hide the Intercom View or the Custom View. This option is
available through menu Admin 

 Preferences.
Intercom View - is used when you require 2-way communication with your Intercoms and
have limited or non-static paging group requirements.
• The first column indicates Intercom’s connection status. A Green ICON means Online, a
Red ICON means Offline, an Orange ICON means at least one Intercom in a paging group is
offline.
• Grp - Click the box to tag Intercoms with an "X" to create an ad hoc paging group.
Intercoms in an ad hoc paging group are simultaneously sent audio when Talk Mode is set
to Group or All Active. To clear all Grp checkmarks, click the Grp column heading
• Location - Identifies the Intercom by Name
• Status - Displays the Intercoms connection status
• Address - Displays the Intercoms IP address
• Door/Gate - Displays the button if the Intercom has a Door Relay option
configured. Clicking the button will turn on the Door Relay for the amount of time that has
been configured in the Intercom.
• Notes - Displays information about intercom communications
Single click anywhere on a row except the Grp column to select (highlight with a blue
background) an Intercom for Talk / Listen operations. Only one Intercom can be selected at a
time. Clicking the selected Intercom will de-select it.

Using TalkMaster
Right clicking on an Intercom displays the following Intercom Options context menu
• Send announcement to selected unit - Click to send the wave file defined in menu Admin


 Preferences - Startup Audio to the Intercom
• Activity and Connection Details - Click to display the duration of the Intercoms
connection, the time it connected, the last time it received audio, the last time audio was sent
to it, and the IP address and Port it used to connect to TalkMaster
• Reset Connection - Click to close the socket the Intercom is connected to and force it to
reconnect to TalkMaster
• Intercom ID# - Shows the ICOM ID (last 6 digits of the MAC address)
• OS Version: - Shows the ICOM version, the Intercom option bits, the Intercom model, and
the NIC Version
• List when Offline/Do NOT list when Offline - Click to toggle this feature. The List when
Offline feature forces TalkMaster to remember this intercom and to report on it whether it is
connected or not. The List when Offline/Do NOT list when Offline option only appears
when TalkMaster’s Admin menu has been enabled. Refer to Managed Intercoms for more
information
Custom View - is used when you require static paging groups as well as 2-way Intercom
communication. The Paging Groups are listed first and do not list any information in the
Status, Address, or Door/Gate columns. Any Intercoms that have connected to TalkMaster
and have not been defined in a Paging group will be listed next. You can also configure an
Intercom to appear in the list even if it is defined in a paging group by checking Display in
Custom View Tab of the Advanced Configuration Settings of the Intercom Configuration Tool.
Column definitions are the same as previously listed in this topic.
Single click on a Paging Group row to check the Grp column. Rows marked with an X in the
Grp column are available for Page, Chime or Play File operations when Talk Mode is set to
Group. Paging Groups cannot be selected (highlighted with a blue background) for Talk /
Listen operations.

Using TalkMaster
10
Right clicking on a Paging Group displays the following Paging Group context menu:
The connection status of each Intercom in the group is listed.
Calls Waiting
This list shows calls that are waiting to be answered.
• If you single click on the entry, that intercom is selected in the Intercom View / Custom
View allowing you to communicate with it
• If you double-click on it, the Audio Player pops up so you can play back the original call
Audio Player
The Audio Message Player is automatically started by double-clicking on messages in the
Calls Waiting list. It allows messages that have arrived while communicating with another
intercom to be played back.
• Once you play the audio clip, the "Delete played files on exit is automatically checked and
clicking the X in the right hand corner closes the Audio Player and deletes the clip
• If you choose to leave the Audio Player open, you can delete a call by right clicking on it and
selecting the Delete option
• If Call Announcement is activated, the audio clip is automatically deleted and the Audio
Player closed when the call is completed
Auto Response
The Auto Response function allows you to temporarily suspend the console’s operation. This
function can also be activated by using the menu Console 

 Unattended Console.
Once you check the Unattended box, a dialog pops up reminding you that this mode has been
set.

Using TalkMaster
11
Any intercom that tries to contact the console is sent a message indicating that no one is
available to take their call. Please see Unattended Console for more information.
Clicking the Cancel button returns the console to normal operation.
Listen Mode
The Listen Mode determines if the Listen button is automatically turned on when the Talk
button is turned off.
If Call Announcement is enabled in menu Admin 

 Preferences - Options, this option is set
to Automatic and cannot be changed.
When set to Automatic, the Listen button is automatically turned on when the Talk button is
turned off. This allows the intercom user to operate in a "hands free" mode.
When set to Manual, the Listen button must be activated by the TalkMaster™ operator or by
pressing the PTT button on the intercom.
This setting is saved between TalkMaster sessions.
Example of using Listen mode Automatic
Please note that the following example uses the option of holding the Space Bar to activate
the Talk button. Please see menu Admin-Preferences-options tab for an alternate method of
controlling the Talk button
• Intercom user presses and holds the PTT button on one of the Intercoms and begins
speaking.
• The Intercom is automatically selected in TalkMaster and the audio is played through the PC
speakers.
• The Intercom user releases the PTT button when done speaking
• The TalkMaster operator responds by holding down the Space Bar on the keyboard and
speaking into the microphone.
• When the TalkMaster operator releases the Space Bar, the Talk button is turned off and the
Listen button is turned on. This action allows the Intercom user to operate "Hands Free"
• Each time the TalkMaster operator holds down the Space Bar, the Talk button is activated.
When the Space Bar is released, the Talk button is turned off and the Listen button is
engaged.
• To end the conversation with an Intercom, the TalkMaster operator presses the Escape key
on the keyboard while the Listen button is active.

Using TalkMaster
12
An important benefit of using Automatic mode is that other intercoms are precluded from
interrupting your "conversation" because the Talk or Listen button is always active.
TalkMaster will not interrupt a call if there is already one in progress. Any other intercom that
tries to contact TalkMaster will be placed in the Calls Waiting list.
Example of using Listen mode Manual:
Please note that the following example uses the option of clicking and holding the pace Bar
to activate the Talk button. Please see menu Admin - Preferences - Options for an alternate
method of controlling the Talk button
• Intercom user presses and holds the PTT button on one of the Intercoms and begins
speaking.
• The Intercom is selected in TalkMaster™ and the audio is through the PC speakers.
• The Intercom user releases the PTT button when done speaking
• The TalkMaster operator responds by holding down the Space Bar on the keyboard and
speaking into the microphone..
• When the TalkMaster operator releases the Space Bar, the Talk button turns off. The
TalkMaster operator can then click the Listen button or allow the Intercom user to respond
by using the PTT button.
• To end the conversation with an Intercom, the TalkMaster operator presses the Escape key
on the keyboard while the Listen button is active.
In Manual mode, it is possible for another intercom to interrupt your conversation by pressing
the PTT button when neither the Talk nor Listen button is active.
Listen button
The Listen button can be activated by the TalkMaster operator or by the PTT button on an
Intercom. You may only listen to a single intercom at one time.
In TalkMaster, with Listen Mode set to Automatic, the Listen button can be toggled by:
• Deactivating the Talk button with the mouse or
• Pressing the Escape key on your keyboard
• Clicking the Listen button with the mouse
If Talk Mode has been set to Group or All Active, the Listen button is disabled and turns blue
Talk Mode
The Talk Mode setting determines which intercom(s) will hear audio sent from TalkMaster™.

Using TalkMaster
13
Selected - refers to the intercom currently highlighted in blue in the Intercom View / Custom
View list. This option allows 2-way communication with a single Intercom.
Group - refers to any Intercom or Paging Group that has an X in the Grp column of the
Intercom View / Custom View list. This option allows 1-way communication with any number
of Intercoms.
All Active - refers to all currently connected Intercoms in the Intercom View / Custom View
list. This option allows 1-way communication with all Intercoms.
Switching from Selected to either Group or All Active will automatically disables the Listen
function and changes the Talk button to a blue Page button.
When using Selected mode, audio is sent to the Intercom using a single TCP/IP stream. This
allows you to communicate with an Intercom located anywhere that you can connect to
through TCP/IP.
When using Group or All Active modes, audio is sent to the Intercoms using a single UDP
Broadcast stream. Since UDP Broadcasts are filtered by many routers, the Group and All
Active options may only work on the current segment of a Local Area Network. Please refer
to the TalkMaster installation CD for instructions on installing the UBAM™ software if you need
to broadcast on multiple network segments.
Pressing the Talk/Page, Chime, or Play File button will send audio to the intercom(s) you
have indicated.
Play File - Brings up the Paging Messages dialog. Play File changes to Stop File while a file
is being set one or more intercoms. You can terminate the active file by clicking Stop File
To play a .wav file on the Intercom(s), audio files must be encoded in either 8khz 8-bit PCM or
16-bit uLaw format. Commercial or free software is available to create these formats.
Chime - plays the page.wav file from the iSupport subdirectory located under the
TalkMaster™-ii3 program directory. Page.wav is a recording of four successive beeps that you
can play to get someone’s attention at an intercom(s).

Using TalkMaster
14
Talk/Page will turn on the PC’s microphone to send the audio to the Intercom(s). Please refer
to Talk button for details.
Talk / Page button
The Talk/Page button turns on the PC’s microphone and allows you to speak to the intercom
highlighted in blue in the Intercom View / Custom View list.
By default, the state of the Talk button is toggled by:
• Single clicking the Talk button with the mouse or
• Tapping the Space Bar
By checking the Hold down Talk button while speaking (PTT) box in menu Admin -
Preferences - Options tab , the Talk button can be activated by:
• Clicking and holding the mouse on the Talk button or
• Pressing and holding the Space Bar
If Talk Mode is set to Group or All Active, the Talk button turns blue and changes to a Page
button. Intercoms or Paging Groups must have an X in the Grp column to be sent a Page.
Paging Messages
Clicking the Play File button brings up the Paging Messages dialog. The buttons on this
screen are defined via the Paging Setup dialog.

Using TalkMaster
15
When a button is pressed, the associated file is played to the Intercom(s) specified by the Talk
Mode.
When a Paging button is pressed, the Stop Message button becomes active till the file has
completed. Pressing the Stop Message button terminates file being played.
If the OK button is pressed you are returned to the main TalkMaster screen. If a file is still
being played, the Play File button changes to Play Stop allowing you to terminate the
recording.
Please note that you cannot respond to any calls until the paging message has completed.
If the Find File button is available, you can select a file of your choosing to play.
System Events
The System Events window tracks activities from TalkMaster™. Information in this window
can be used by Aiphone Technical Support for diagnosing support issues.
Audio Archive
A checkmark in the Audio Archive Capture box indicates that TalkMaster is archiving
speaker and microphone audio for playback at a later time. This function is controlled through
the menu Admin 

 Capture Audio Archive. If TalkMaster’s Admin menu has been enabled,
you can also check/uncheck this box. Please refer to Capture Audio Archive for more
information.
To play back archived audio, use the menu Admin  Play Archive Audio.

17
Using Call Announcement
Call Announcement
Call Announcement causes an audible and/or visual alert to be issued to the TalkMaster™
operator when the Call or PTT button on an intercom is pressed.
Selecting menu Admin 

 Preferences and checking Activate Call Announcement in the
Options tab turns this option on. If this option is selected, Listen Mode is set to Automatic
and is grayed out.
If the TalkMaster screen is minimized and the button on the Intercom is pressed, the Incoming
Call dialog will be displayed.
If multiple Intercoms call in, they will be queued in a "first in - first out" basis.
If an Intercom user calls in when no calls are active, the Answer Later button appears on the
tool bar. To answer the call immediately, the operator can activate either the Talk or Listen
buttons. Answering the call removes the Answer Later button. Pressing the Answer Later
button will acknowledge the Audible and Visual notifications and send a message (i.e. "one
moment please") to the Intercom. This allows the TalkMaster operator to complete another
task before answering the incoming call.
Example of using Call Announcement:
Please note that the following example uses the option of holding down the Space Bar to
activate the Talk button and releasing the Space Bar to activate the Listen button as well as
pressing the Escape key to end the call. Please see menu Admin - Preferences - Options tab
for alternate methods of controlling the Talk and Listen buttons.
• A user presses and releases the "Call" or PTT button on the Intercom
• A short message (i.e. "your call is being connected") is returned to the Intercom.
• The Title Bar and the Icon in the Task Bar begin to flash and/or the audible notification is
played at the TalkMaster console up to 4 times or until the operator engages the Talk,
Listen or Answer Later button.
• An entry for the intercom is added to the Call Queue
• The Intercom is selected (highlighted with a blue background) in the Intercom View / Custom
View
• The TalkMaster operator responds by holding down the Space Bar on the keyboard and
speaking into the microphone.
• When the TalkMaster operator releases the Space Bar, the Talk button is turned off and the
Listen button is turned on. This allows the Intercom user to operate "Hands Free"
• Each time the TalkMaster operator holds down the Space Bar, the Talk button is activated.
When the Space Bar is released, the Talk button is turned off and the Listen button is
engaged.
• To end the conversation with an Intercom, the TalkMaster operator presses the Escape key
on the keyboard while the Listen button is active.
• The Intercom is de-selected in the Intercom View / Custom View
• The entry is deleted from the Calls Waiting list
• If another entry is in the Calls Waiting list, it is automatically selected so the TalkMaster
operator can start the next call by pressing the Space Bar