Green-GO is a cost-effective, multi-award winning, digital intercom over Ethernet, that uses a unique design concept to create complex communication systems suitable for major live events, multi-function performance venues, churches, high-end rental facilities and broadcasters. It is also suitable for building simple, expandable, systems for projects with less stringent technical requirements or tighter budgets. With this system, Green-Go have produced the first affordable way to enter the world of digital intercoms, with its many benefits.
The system is designed to operate on any 100Mbit Ethernet network without interfering with other data protocols co-existing on the system and will perform seamlessly, even when data traffic-levels are high. For network cabling, standard RJ45 connectors may be used, or for greater reliability, the more robust Neutrik etherCON connectors. System components that are not powered by their own external PSU, are driven by DC voltage derived from 'Power over Ethernet' (PoE). Audio quality is high, and, being digital, will not deteriorate over distance. Sampling rate is 16kHz with 16-bit dynamic range. System latency is low at only 12 milliseconds, so no lip-sync problems!
Green-GO differs fundamentally from other current intercom designs which use a central matrix or routing-engine at their core. Instead, each outstation holds all routing data, system set-up and user preferences. Operating without a central matrix eliminates the possibility of a catastrophic single component failure. In the event of a problem, a faulty device can be easily removed and its replacement can clone all system configurations from a neighbouring device on introduction to the network.
Terminology - Circuits, channels, groups and rings
Different terms are used, by the various manufacturers of intercom systems, to describe similar configurations. In this description, a 'channel' is used to describe a collection of user stations linked together by wire or wirelessly to allow users to communicate with each other. This is the same as a group, ring or circuit when used in the same sense.
A basic system can consist of just two beltpacks and, if Power over Ethernet(PoE) is not available locally, a PoE switch from almost any manufacturer. The intercom system can be expanded to provide up to 250 intercom channels and a total of 3000 individual users.
Each station, including beltpacks, has an identical software engine programmed with 32 intercom channels. These can be programmed as a group of users, or as a single user for private conversations. Selecting a user on any station will extract that person's individual set-up configuration from the configuration software that is common to all other devices on the system.
Basic system parameters, including user configuration, can be set for each outstation, using the device's multi-function rotary-encoder control. Overall system configuration should be set using a laptop running Windows or MAC software downloaded from the Green-GO website. The laptop will facilitate naming user groups and individual operators and sending text messages via a device's LCD display buttons, to selected users.
Programme audio such as show-relay from the stage, or a sound track from a video, can be injected into or extracted from the system using dedicated analogue line-in or line-out ports on multi-channel stations or dedicated interface units.
The 4-pin, male, XLR, headset connectors are compatible with headsets with an impedance greater than 32 ohms and fitted with mating connectors such as those from Tecpro, Beyer and many other brands. If the microphone type is an electret, a switchable bias voltage is available. The useful Cue Light feature makes use of the multi-coloured LCD displays on outstations. 'Attention', 'Acknowledge' and 'Go' signals are presented as different colours.
An interesting feature of the Green-GO system is the use of General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) connections. These are available via 9-pin D-sub connectors on multi-channel stations and analogue interface devices, providing opening and closing contacts for external control interfacing.
The Green-GO product range
Canford recommends the use of unshielded data cables with Green-GO intercom products. Occasionally when linking to external audio equipment using shielded cable, a ground loop may develop which manifests itself as hums and buzzes on the audio side, however this problem is resolved when unshielded cables are used.
Note: Green-GO products are only available for sale to customers in the UK and Ireland.