Looping a Train, Tram or Carriage

The Equalities Act 2010 requires that an equal level of services is provided to the disabled where it is reasonable to do so. But, if you take a tick box approach to complying with legislation in this field, it is most likely that you will buy cheap and waste money on a system that helps no one.

'Installing standard compliant induction loop systems on trains and trams actually makes good business sense'

Transport operators have long realised that whether it is an anouncement of the next stop or the cause of a delay, passengers like to be kept informed on their journey. Hard of hearing people are no different and often, due to their disability, they are often more anxious when travelling. A good loop system connected to the Vehicle PA and automatic journey announcer system will put them at ease. Instead of delaying or avoiding the next journey, they will be more likely to travel. There are 10 Million hard of hearing people in the UK, 2 Million have T-coil enabled hearing aids, the remainder could also access a loop system by using a low cost loop receiver

The principal operation of an induction loop system in a vehicle is no different to a room loop. However in these applications there are different EMC requirements and operating conditions that must be considered, including much higher signal losses due to construction metal than in most applications.

The Univox TLS-2 has been designed specifically for these applications and is already in service on a variety of vehicles

The loop amplifier drives a perimeter loop installed around the carriage, this can be at floor or roof level. Typically, floor level loops will need much higher power than those at roof level because:

they are further from the listening plane and
there is more constructional metal absorbing the signal at this level.

It is possible that there are systems operating on the vehicle that generate interfering magneitic fields. These magnetic fields tend to be quite localised eg: directly adjacent to the vehicle air conditioning system etc. but they do mean that not every seat in the carriage will offer suitable signal to noise. In addition to the interference generated within the vehicle, there may be other external sources of interference like the electrification system used or track signalling. These need to be measured and accessed before installing a loop system.

To fully understand what the requirements for the system are and what if any issues with background mangentic noise there are, We recommend a site survey where a temporary loop is installed and measurements taken. We can advise on how to make a site survey or complete one for you. Where a system is installed, it is the duty of the operator to advertise the loop system to passengers, provide a coverage map where applicable and routinely check the operation of the system using a loop Listener

Looping a Bus or Coach

The Equalities Act 2010 requires that an equal level of services is provided to the disabled where it is reasonable to do so. But, if you take a tick box approach to complying with legislation in this field, it is most likely that you will buy cheap and waste money on a system that helps no one.

'Installing standard compliant induction loop systems on buses and coaches actually makes good business sense

Consider someone who is hard of hearing, trying to buy a ticket from the driver or ask a question about the service. With engine noise and background traffic noise compounding their difficulty to understand what is being said,the exchange will, inevitably, take much longer, frustrating the driver, upsetting the hard of hearing person and delaying everyone. With a standard compliant loop installed, this would be avoided and everyone benfits.

If the driver is expected to speak to the passengers when they board, perhaps to inspect or sell tickets, then a one to one type induction loop such as a counter loop should be installed to cover this position. Where the driver or tour guide uses a PA system to provide passenger information or an automatic voice announcer is used then a loop providing full area coverage of the cabin is required.

The principal operation of an induction loop system in a vehicle is no different to a room loop. However in these applications there are different EMC requirements and operating conditions that must be considered, including much higher signal losses due to metal than in most applications.

The drivers position can be covered using a simialr approach to that used for counters. The installation will be dependent on the vehicle,however, the basic system will be the same:

A loop amplifer recommended for use on vehicles operating on the same supply type as the vehicle, 12Vdc or 24Vdc, a microphone than can be fixed in a suitable and safe position, Near and facing the driver when he is speaking to an individual passenger, but not such that it could be a safety hazard for the driver or passenger. (A goose neck or surface mount microphone should be suitable) A loop to cover the local driver/passenger position,a preformed multiturn loop such as the Univox® Seat pad might be suitable although it may be necessary to custom design the loop to fit the installation constraints.

The amplifier should have sufficient output power to cope with the signal loss associated with the close proximity of metal.

Depending on the power requirements, the Univox CLS-1 or CLS-5 are suitable choices.

For full coverage of the vehicle, the CLS-5 may be suitable, but the more powerful TLS-2 may be required. In this case a perimeter loop must be installed around the cabin, this can be at floor or roof level. Typically, floor level loops will need much higher power than those at roof level because:

they are further from the listening plane and
there is more constructional metal absorbing the signal at this level.

It is possible that there are systems operating on the vehicle that generate interfering magnetic fields. These magnetic fields tend to be quite localised e.g. directly adjacent to the vehicle air conditioning system, but they do mean that not every seat on the vehicle will be suitable.

To fully understand what the requirements for the system are and what if any issues with background magnetic noise there are, We recommend a site survey where a temporary loop is installed and measurements are taken.

We can advise on how to make a site survey or complete one for you. Request a Survey

Where a system is installed, it is the duty of the operator to advertise the loop system to passengers, provide a coverage map where applicable and routinely check the operation of the system using a loop Listener .

Looping a Taxi or mini bus

The Professional Loop Series is capable of driving perimeter, figure 8 and multi loop systems for area coverage up to 1800m².
These products are used in a wide range of applications such as small, medium and large meeting rooms, conference suites and places of worship, theatres, etc. But only where spill control is not an issue and signal absorption from constructional metal is not a big concern.

Features & Benefits

5 Year Warranty for peace of mind and low cost of ownership
Proprietary Dual action AGC 'Always on' technology so you never miss a word
3 inputs with at least 2 being programmable for installation ease and flexibility
Engineered for simplicity making standard compliant design and installation easy
Rugged mechanical housing and short circuit proof electronics to extend reliability
Very high output current compared to competitor products in the same class for superior performance.

Product Name	Square Area Coverage	Super 8 LoopTM Area Coverage	Estimated Spill	Inputs
PLS100	300m²	450m²	Up to 3 room width	2 XLR programmable 1x phono (RCA) line
PLS300	420m²	900m²	Up to 3 room width	2 XLR programmable 1x phono (RCA) line
PLS700	700m²	1800m²	Up to 3 room width	3 XLR programmable
PLS900	*700m²	1800m²	Up to 3 room width	3 XLR programmable

*Superior power output to overcome high losses associated with some construction metal

Looping a bus or Coach2

Looping a bus or Coach

The Professional Loop Series is capable of driving perimeter, figure 8 and multi loop systems for area coverage up to 1800m².
These products are used in a wide range of applications such as small, medium and large meeting rooms, conference suites and places of worship, theatres, etc. But only where spill control is not an issue and signal absorption from constructional metal is not a big concern.

Features & Benefits

5 Year Warranty for peace of mind and low cost of ownership
Proprietary Dual action AGC 'Always on' technology so you never miss a word
3 inputs with at least 2 being programmable for installation ease and flexibility
Engineered for simplicity making standard compliant design and installation easy
Rugged mechanical housing and short circuit proof electronics to extend reliability
Very high output current compared to competitor products in the same class for superior performance.

Product Name	Square Area Coverage	Super 8 LoopTM Area Coverage	Estimated Spill	Inputs
PLS100	300m²	450m²	Up to 3 room width	2 XLR programmable 1x phono (RCA) line
PLS300	420m²	900m²	Up to 3 room width	2 XLR programmable 1x phono (RCA) line
PLS700	700m²	1800m²	Up to 3 room width	3 XLR programmable
PLS900	*700m²	1800m²	Up to 3 room width	3 XLR programmable

*Superior power output to overcome high losses associated with some construction metal

Looping a Lift

The Equalities Act 2010 requires that an equal level of services is provided to the disabled where it is reasonable to do so, the Lift Accessibility standard EN81-70 requires the use of induction loop systems on PA and lift intercom. But, if you take a tick box approach to complying with legislation in this field, it is most likely that you will buy cheap and waste money on a system that helps no one.

'Installing standard compliant induction loop systems in a lift actually makes good sense'

Before deciding on which loop system to use in your lift, take time to understand the real reasons as to why they are necessary. Avoiding an expensive legal case that you will loose if you do not have one is not one of them.

The hard of hearing need a good quality intelligible audio signal with a high signal to noise ratio and no reverberation in order to understand what is being said. Intercom systems often struggle to deliver on the first of these points, but in a reverberant metal enclosure with no control over background noise, this is impossible to achieve accoustically.

'For the hard of hearing, it is like trying to have a conversation in a crowded noisy nightclub'

The only way to hear in these situations is to talk directly into the person's ear. This is exactly how a good induction loop system works.

The induction loop amplifier takes a direct audio feed from the intercom and PA systems in the lift free from background noise and without any reverberation. The loop amplifier sets up a magnetic field in the lift as it drives a speech modulated current around the loop. This magnetic field inturn induces a secondary current into the pickup coil of the hearing aid. Here it is processed and tuned for the person's individual hearing loss, amplified and fed directly into the ear through the hearing aid speaker.

'It's just like someone talking into your ear'

The construction of the lift , the materials used and the position of the loop in the lift will determine how much output from the loop amplifier is required.

The AC/DC100 has sufficient output, that in many cases, it can drive a multi-turn loop mounted on top of the lift, making installation very simple.

Lift sizes, construction and materials are quite varied. To fully understand what the power requirements are, we recommend a site survey is completed where a temporary loop is installed and measurements are taken. We can advise on how to make a site survey or complete one for you. Request a Survey

BAD IDEA

Whilst it may be cheaper, quicker and more convenient to feed an induction loop amplifier for a microphone inside the lift, it makes no sense. The resulting system will be no better than using the hearing aid on the microphone setting.
A hearing aid is fitted with an expensive, often directional microphone with post digital processing and is likely to perform better than the cheap microphone installed by a speaker in the lift.

BEST PRACTICE

According to London Underground, it is not uncommon for an individual trapped in a lift o sound the alarm and then retreat to one corner of the lift. In this situation, the loop system needs to provide full area cobverage of the lift to be useful.

Train/Metro/Bus Stations

Good audio communication is important throughout any station. For the hard of hearing, induction loop systems are currently the only practical assistive listening solution for this environment and should be fitted:

At ticket counters
In waiting rooms (wide area coverage systems)
By information points (Large area coverage systems)
On platforms or where passengers will naturally group to wait for their train
To intercom systems - help points, ticket machines
In lifts.

Features & Benefits

5 year warranty for reliability and peace of mind
Dual Action AGC ‘Always on’ technology so you never miss a word
Supplied in kit form for easy installation (counter Loop systems)
High output current for superior metal loss compensation

Our products have been used in these applications for many years and where installed correctly, they will deliver standard compliant performance and benefit all of your passengers and staff.

To understand why induction loop systems are required in Train/Metro/Bus stations and how they benefit all of us, visit our Knowledge Centre.

Product Name	Application	Output Current	Microphone	Loop	Shop
CTC-120	counter	9A pp	13 V glass/wall	Pad	Buy it
CTC-121	counter	9A pp	M-1 goose neck	Pad	Buy it
CTC-122	counter	7A rms	13 V glass/wall	Pad
CTC-123	counter	7A rms	M-1 goose neck	Pad
CLS-1	Help Point, Intercom or 50m²	9A pp	N/A	N/A
DLS-70 Discontinued	Help Point, Intercom or 70m²	7A rms	N/A	N/A
AC/DC100 Discontinued	Lift or 170m²	16A rms	N/A	N/A

Airports

Good audio communication is fundamental to the smooth running of an airport. Our induction loops have been designed to integrate into all of the applications where speech is the main means of communication with the travelling public. These include:

Check-in desks
Passport control desks
Security points
Concessions
Currency exchange counters
Intercom systems - help points, ticket machines, lifts
Waiting areas airside (wide area coverage - Connected to PA/VA)
Waiting areas by each gate (wide area coverage systems - connected to PA/VA)
Gate desks

Features & Benefits

Dual Action AGC ‘Always on’ technology so you never miss a word
Supplied in kit form for easy installation (counter Loop systems)
High output current for superior metal loss compensation

Our induction loops have been used in these applications for many years and where installed correctly, they will deliver standard compliant performance and benefit all of your passengers and staff.

To understand why induction loop systems are required in Airports and how they benefit all of us, visit our Knowledge Centre.

Product Name	Application	Output Current	Microphone	Loop
CTC-120	counter	9A pp	13 V glass/wall	Pad
CTC-121	counter	9A pp	M-1 goose neck	Pad
Smart Loop ( Portable 1 to 1 loop system)	counter (Portable)	7A rms	13 V glass/wall	Built In

For large area coverage systems consider using our Professional loop series (PLS) or where floors and ceilings are heavily reinforced with metal, use our Super loop series of induction loop amplifiers (SLS)

Induction Loops for Vehicles

This range of products has been designed specifically for installation on board vehicles and includes induction loop amplifiers for lifts, trains, trams, metro, boats, coaches, taxis, minibuses and private cars.


CLS-1	Cars, Taxis	12V-18V d.c.	*9A pp	1 mic 1 line 1 mic/line
Autoloop	Cars, Taxis	12V-24V d.c.	*9A pp	mic mic/line
CLS-5	Buses, Coaches, Lifts	110 - 20V ac/ 12 - 24V d.c.	*16PP	7 inputs
TLS-2	Trams, Trains	12V-50V d.c.	*30A rms	2 mic/line

To understand why induction loop systems are required onboard vehicles and how they benefit all of us, visit our Knowledge Centre.

Looping a Train, Tram or Carriage