By Darin Hutson, Tech Electronics Solutions Designer
Tech Electronics partner manufacturer CareHawk recently debuted their new, life safety communications platform, the CH1000X. The new platform replaces the ageing CH1000 and brings faster speeds, increased functionality, and improved capability.
The new platform represents an opportunity for school districts to transition their intercom and mass notification systems from old analog system that is programed using Windows 3.1 or the administration phone to a modernize analog/IP hybrid system that is configured using a web browser for day-to-day operations and critical event responses.
While CareHawk is committed to honoring all existing warranties on any CH1000 platform still in use, they are sunsetting the platform and encouraging all users to upgrade their systems to either the CH2000IP or the CH1000X.
CH1000X
The CH1000X platform has been specially engineered for the K-12 environment, allowing for seamless audio and visual communication across the school from within classrooms and hallways.
Each individual CH1000X can support up to 256 speaker zones, with call button stations. These stations can be configured for regular or emergency communications. Up to eight separate CH1000X platforms can be interconnected for large schools or district-wide communication.
The CH1000X provides plenty of improvements, like native integration with telephony systems through SIP for telephone interface, allowing any phone to make pages. The system no longer needs a POTS (plain old telephone service) phone line and removes the need for a gateway.
Modern Communication
Through Spotlight communication, school staff can manage everyday operations with a browser-based interface monitoring everything from paging to emergency alerts.
Administrators and operators can view and manage communications and events while viewing an interactive floor plan, so they are always ready to respond.
In the event of an emergency, it can also be used to check classrooms in real-time during a lockdown and emergency page those who may be unaware of the danger.
Multisystem Connectivity
With connected systems, those communications capabilities can be carried across school districts between buildings, streamlining immediate emergency notification at scale.
This means if an elementary school goes into lockdown, administrators could monitor the situation from the central office and send the high school up the street into lockdown remotely.
They could also call admin phones in individual buildings and intercom into classrooms through connected remote systems.
Teachers can also use two-way intercoms from their classrooms to stay informed on the situation.
Cybersecurity
The CH1000X meets rigorous standards set by an independent cybersecurity auditor to ensure it is a strength for a school’s network and never a weakness.
CareHawk’s cybersecurity partner conducts comprehensive assessments preparing for a variety of potential attacks so district administrators know that when they need it, their equipment will perform.
The audit included penetration testing and vulnerability analysis to identify and address any potential risks to the network.
CareHawk, and school districts, can rest assured knowing their cybersecurity solution is not reactive, but proactive, and ready to face any threat the world brings.
For more information on the latest in school safety communications platforms and how they can help your organization, contact us.
