Full redundancy, AoIP connectivity and mobility: the key features of the AEQ CONEXIA intercom system

Euskal Irrati Telebista (EITB), the Basque Country's public broadcasting organisation, has selected the AEQ CONEXIA intercom system for its headquarters in Bilbao, following a rigorous public tender process that included the required documentation and testing.

The project includes an AEQ XCORE matrix, 128 AEQ TP9116 user panels and AEQ XPLORER MAX wireless beltpacks, creating a high-capacity intercom infrastructure for a facility with demanding operational requirements.

Covering more than 3,000 m², the EITB Media newsroom is among the largest audiovisual newsrooms in Spain, designed to bring radio, television and digital content teams together in a single environment.

CONEXIA: a high-availability intercom platform

At the heart of the system is the AEQ XCORE intercom matrix, capable of interconnecting up to 1,000 different devices. At EITB, it has been deployed with full operational redundancy, including dual power supplies, a redundant DSP platform in an N+a configuration and multiple controllers.

The system operates natively over AoIP and features multiple levels of hardware, software and network redundancy, ensuring 24/7 operation with high availability and audio quality.

CONEXIA's broadcast architecture enables modular management of different audio formats and allows system resources to be adapted to the requirements of each installation. Its internal TDM bus enables the matrix to scale up to 1,024 x 1,024 ports, while the platform delivers broadcast-quality audio at 48 kHz and 24 bits.

XCORE integrates DSP cards for audio processing and crosspoint management, with support for backup cards and automatic switchover. The system also incorporates input and output cards for various formats, including SDI, fibre, AoIP, analogue and digital audio.

TP9116 panels and IP connectivity

The 128 AEQ TP9116 panels included in the project offer “Talk” and “Listen” functions, individual volume control and 16 crosspoint keys organised across four pages, with four RGB graphical displays.

The panels process audio at 24 bits and 48 kHz and feature IP connectivity for DANTE audio compatible with AES67. They also include analogue, digital KROMA and VoIP ports, as well as an internal DSP for acoustic echo cancellation and automatic voice adjustment.

The TP9000 family also includes the TP9416 desktop panel and the EP9116 expansion panel, enabling systems with up to 64 physical levers to be configured.

XPLORER MAX: wireless communication

The project is completed by the AEQ XPLORER MAX wireless beltpacks, which provide technical and production staff with freedom of movement, high-quality audio and extended coverage through IP connectivity.

XPLORER MAX can operate across coverage areas of up to 700 metres in a straight line, with up to 20 beltpacks operating on a single antenna. Coverage can be extended by interconnecting up to four antennas on the same network.

The deployed solution combines the capacity and redundancy of AEQ CONEXIA with the flexibility of the TP9116 panels and the mobility of XPLORER MAX, providing EITB with an intercom infrastructure designed to meet the requirements of a large audiovisual facility.

The entire project has been led by EITB's Engineering, Projects and Operations technical teams, together with AEQ Madrid's central services.