E-IPA-HX Card Connectivity Overview
The E-IPA-HX is a networked IP interface card capable of up to 64 ports, configurable per port for their function. It supports AoIP connectivity on local high-performance networks or processed audio for high resilience and low bandwidth for transport over the public internet. The E-IPA is equally capable of providing system interconnectivity to Clear-Com’s FreeSpeak IP or E1 Transceivers for Wireless Beltpacks, V-Series IrisX, 2x10, Agent-IC and Station-IC user stations, and LQ Interfaces, as it is to third-party systems using standard protocols such as AES67, SMPTE 2110, SAP, NMOS, or SIP telephony, adapting to any infrastructure.
FreeSpeak Wireless Systems
The card serves as the central engine for FreeSpeak wireless deployments, supporting up to 64 networked high-capacity IP transceivers and beltpacks, including FreeSpeak II, FreeSpeak Edge, and FreeSpeak Icon. This allows the IP antenna network to be distributed across a facility using standard AES67 capable networks without direct home-run cabling. Alternatively, the card can optionally be used in a card-exclusive mode connecting via two E1 fiber connections to FreeSpeak II splitters and E1 plug-and-play transceivers.
V-Series IrisX and 2X10 High-Capacity User Stations
High-density user stations, including the V-Series IrisX Keypanels and the 2x10 Touch Panels, connect to the card over IP networks. V-Series IrisX panels can connect via uncompressed, low-latency AES67 capable audio networks for high-quality studio connections or Clear-Com's proprietary Instant Voice Connectivity (I.V. Port) for simple to use LAN, WAN, and Internet connections. The 2x10 Touch Panels utilize Instant Voice Connectivity for robust and flexible deployment. V-Series keypanels additionally allow additional auxiliary audio channels to and from the panel for the ability to connect system program audio or IFB feeds locally at the panel.
Virtual Desktop and Mobile Clients
The card acts as the host server for software-based intercom user station clients, extending the reach of the system beyond physical hardware. It supports connections for both the Agent-IC mobile app and the Station-IC desktop application. These clients utilize the card’s encryption capabilities to ensure secure communication over Wi-Fi, wired Ethernet, and cellular data networks, enabling remote producers and field contributors to stay connected to the core intercom system from virtually anywhere.
LQ Series Interfaces
Connectivity to LQ Series devices allows the matrix to integrate with audio interfaces wherever a network connection can be established over LAN, WAN or the Internet. This includes interfacing with analog 2-wire partyline systems, 4-wire line-level audio feeds, GPIO and two-way radios with transmit control.
Third-Party Standard AoIP Interfacing
To ensure interoperability within modern broadcast facilities, the card supports open standards for Audio-over-IP. It can be configured to transmit and receive SMPTE ST2110 and AES67 streams, allowing the matrix to interface directly with external audio consoles and routers without physical I/O. Optional card-exclusive NMOS IS-04 and IS-05 control is available, enabling the intercom ports to be discovered, registered, and routed by third-party broadcast controllers and orchestration systems. For simpler AES67 setups, SAP announcements or manual SDP entries are also supported.
SIP Telephony Clients
The E-IPA card provides an optional SIP Client connectivity. It registers directly with third-party IP PBXs or SIP servers, bridging the intercom system with the public telephone network. This allows external callers to be routed directly into intercom conferences or IFBs or dynamically using access codes. Conversely, intercom users can place outbound calls to external phone numbers.
Licensed Ports and Scalability
The E-IPA-HX operates on a flexible licensing model, allowing the card to be expanded over time with additional capacity and features as requirements evolve. This scalable approach allows for a "mix and match" configuration of ports, where FreeSpeak beltpacks, V-Series IrisX panels, virtual clients, LQ interfaces, SIP clients, and third-party AES67 or SMPTE ST2110 streams can all coexist simultaneously on a single card.
High Availability and Redundancy
The system offers comprehensive redundancy deployment options to ensure maximum uptime. The E-IPA-HX supports N+1 or N+N card redundancy, providing unattended and automatic failover to a backup card in the event of a failure. For network reliability, the card features SMPTE 2022-7 redundancy, which utilizes dual physical network connections to protect audio streams against packet loss or cable failure. Furthermore, the system architecture allows FreeSpeak beltpacks to connect to any card with a transceiver in the system and automatically pick up their role configuration, ensuring wireless users remain operational regardless of specific hardware pathing.