Author: Justin Emge
Ready to upgrade your intercom system with the new Clear-Com® FreeSpeak Icon™? This rugged, multi-channel wireless beltpack operates in the 1.9 GHz band and brings some seriously cool features, like a speaker mode for hands-free use and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless headsets. It's an excellent addition to any setup, but you'll need to make sure your system is ready for it. Here, we'll walk you through what's needed to upgrade a Clear-Com Arcadia® Central Station to support this new hardware.
Check Your Arcadia's Firmware
First things first, you need to ensure your Arcadia Central Station is running a compatible firmware version. The FreeSpeak Icon is a new device, so it requires a recent software release to function properly. You can check the current firmware on your Arcadia unit by navigating through the front panel menu or by logging into the Core Configuration Manager (CCM) web interface. You’ll need to make sure it is on Rev 4.0. Visit the Download Center on our website to access and download the latest version.
If your firmware is outdated, you'll need to upgrade it. There are two ways to do this:
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Via the CCM web interface: This is the easiest method as it allows you to upgrade the Arcadia station and all connected resources, like transceivers and beltpacks, at the same time. Simply go to Hardware > Host > Upgrade, select the new firmware file, and click 'Upgrade'. Because the unit will reboot and upgrade the various endpoints, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to let it go through the process.
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Via a USB stick: If you don't have access to the web interface, you can use a USB stick. Just copy the firmware file to the top level of the drive (not in a folder), insert it into the USB-A port on the front of the Arcadia, and use the front panel menu to navigate to Administration > Software > Update. Select the file, and the unit will begin the upgrade process.
Ensure You Have Enough Ports
The Arcadia Central Station has a default port capacity, and each FreeSpeak Icon beltpack you add to the system will use a port. If you're expanding a large system or adding a significant number of new beltpacks, you may need to purchase an additional port license.
Arcadia port licenses are available in 8-port or 16-port increments. They are permanent, field-upgradable licenses that don't require any hardware changes, so you can easily expand your system as your needs grow. Check your current port count and the number of new beltpacks you plan to add to determine if a license upgrade is necessary by simply going to the Hardware page in the CCM.
Update Your Wireless Infrastructure
The FreeSpeak Icon operates on the 1.9 GHz band, which means it is compatible with existing E1 FreeSpeak II® 1.9 GHz transceivers, as well as the newer IP-Transceivers. However, if you are new to the FreeSpeak family or are using transceivers from a different frequency band (like 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz), you'll need to install new 1.9 GHz transceivers.
In addition to worrying about port counts, you also need to consider capacity on the 1.9 GHz transceivers. The IP-Transceiver for example can support up to 10 beltpacks while the existing E1 Transceiver supports 5. As an example, if you currently have 10 beltpacks and only 2 E1 Transceivers (unless you plan to stop using some of the legacy FreeSpeak II® beltpacks) you will not be able to connect 11 or more beltpacks to the system at one time.
We Are Here To Help!
Upgrading your system to accommodate the new FreeSpeak Icon beltpacks is a straightforward process. By checking and updating your firmware, ensuring you have the necessary port licenses, and confirming your transceiver compatibility and capacity, you'll be ready to get your new hardware up and running in no time. If you have ANY questions or concerns about this process, don’t hesitate to reach out to a Clear-Com representative! Visit www.clearcom.com for contact information, both for our Regional Sales Managers and our Technical Support team.
Look out for our next post, where we'll cover how to upgrade your Eclipse frame!