POTS Controller

The POTS Controller component controls the features of the Q-SYS interface with a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS).

If you are connecting to an analog phone system, you can connect from the wall RJ-11 jack directly to Q-SYS hardware supporting a POTS connection:

The Core 110f and Core 110c provide a single RJ-11 telephone connection.
The CTEL4 – Analog Telephony Card provides four RJ-11 telephone connections.

If you are connecting to a digital system, you can use an FXO Gateway that has an analog POTS connection and a network connection.

Properties

Core Properties

Name

The Name may contain ASCII letters 'a' through 'z' (case-insensitive), the digits '0' through '9', and the hyphen. Names cannot begin or end with a hyphen. No other symbols, punctuation characters, or blank spaces are permitted.

Note: This name must match the Hostname for the Core as defined in Core Manager. If you use Telnet or third-party external control, you must enter the Name exactly as it is entered here.

Location

User-defined name that groups the component with other components in the same physical location – for example, "Rack 1" – or in the same organizational scheme.

Model

Select your Q-SYS Core processor model. See POTS Controller for a list of selectable Core models.

Is Redundant

If you have redundant Cores in the installation, select Yes, otherwise, leave it as No.

Note: The NV-32-H (Core Capable) does not support Core Redundancy.

GPIO

(Core 110 Series models only)

This property determines whether to expose GPIO In and GPIO Out components in the Inventory tree.

Disabled: GPIO components are not shown in the Inventory tree. Use this setting for Core 110v2, which does not include GPIO inputs and outputs.
Enabled: (default) GPIO components are shown in the Inventory tree. Use this setting for Core 110f v1 or Core 110c, as these models include GPIO inputs and outputs.

External USB Audio

When enabled, you can connect an external audio device to the USB input and route audio to and from that device. See External USB Audio Device In and External USB Audio Device Out.

Telephony

Telephone Country

Select the country in which the telephone service resides.

Telephone Tone Output

When 'Yes' is selected, the Ring, Entry, Exit, and DTMF tones are fed to a separate output channel (Tone Output) on the POTS In component. These tones can now be routed independent of the voice audio.

Call Sync

Use the Call Sync component to simplify the integration of Q-SYS collaboration devices and calling systems. It synchronizes mute state, call controls, and LED light behavior across multiple calling components, including USB HID Conferencing, Softphone, and POTS Controller. See the Call Sync topic.

Network Receive Buffer

Adds extra buffer time to the default maximum of 1 ms.

Additional Network Receive Buffer time is useful in (rare) cases where the network latency through the network exceeds the default maximum. Additional network latency my be introduced by sub-optimal QoS functionality, some layer-3 routing implementations, long distances or large networks.

Because the specified additional latency is added both to transfers from IO Frames to the Core and from the Core to IO Frames, the additional system latency is twice the amount of additional receive buffer selected. Total system latency based on this setting is calculated and displayed immediately below the Network Receive Buffer property.

Clocking

Sample Rate

Selects the sample rate. Typically, 48kHz is used as the Sample Rate. In scenarios where Q-SYS is externally synchronized to a (video) house sync signal you would use 48kHz Pull Down as the Sample Rate.

Clock Source

The GPIO selection requires an external TTL level word clock or a GPS connection: pin 1 is signal, ground in is indicated by the ground symbol on either end of the connector. When you select GPIO In Pin 1 as the clock source, GPIO Pin 1 is no longer displayed. The clock source should be connected to pin 1 of the GPIO connector.

Clock Type

When the Clock Source is set to a GPIO pin, the Clock Type field is available.

USB Bridging – Common Properties

These properties appear based on the USB bridging capabilities of the Q-SYS device. Refer to the USB Video Bridge and USB Audio Bridge topics to see what Q-SYS Core processors and peripherals support USB bridging.

USB Bridge Name

User-defined name given to the USB Bridge, from 1 to 24 characters. The Name may contain ASCII letters 'a' through 'z' (case-insensitive), the digits '0' through '9', and the hyphen. Names cannot begin or end with a hyphen. No other symbols, punctuation characters, or blank spaces are permitted.

Zoom Compatibility

If you are using the HID Conferencing component to control a remote computer running Zoom, set this property to 'Enabled.' Otherwise, when controlling another conferencing app such as Skype for Business, set to 'Disabled' (default). When this property is enabled, the USB Bridge Name property is disabled, and the USB Bridge automatically uses the name of the device for compatibility with Zoom's allowed device list – for example, "Q-SYS Core 110f" or "Q-SYS NV-32-H".

Tip: Enabling Zoom Compatibility may improve the user experience with macOS conferencing solutions.

USB Video Bridge

Enable the USB Video Bridge to bridge Q-SYS Mediacast streams to USB, enabling you to view Mediacast video on a connected computer. This exposes the USB Video Bridge component in the I/O-USB Bridge Inventory tree. To see what Properties are available when the USB Video Bridge is enabled, see USB Video Bridge.

USB Audio Bridge

Provides the capability of passing audio via USB. When this is set to anything except 'Disabled', you can drag the Speakerphone and/or Sound Card components from the device's Inventory tree into your design. To see what Properties are available when the USB Audio Bridge is enabled, see USB Audio Bridge.

Disabled: (Default)
Speakerphone (1 x 1): Provides a speakerphone with an input and output component, each having 1 audio connection.
Sound Card (2 x 2): Provides a sound card with an input and output component, each having two (stereo) audio connections.
Speakerphone and Sound Card: Provides one speakerphone and one sound card with the same capabilities as described above.
Advanced – If supported, allows up to any combination of four speakerphone / sound cards.

Speakerphone Mode

This selection is available only when Speakerphone or Speakerphone and Sound Card is selected in the USB Audio Bridge property. Indicates if the Q-SYS design has Echo Canceling (EC) or Non-Echo Canceling (NEC). This information is provided to the PC or Mac operating system so it can determine whether or not to use its own echo canceling.

USB Bridging - Miscellaneous Properties

UVC Camera Control

When this is enabled (default), the camera can be controlled by far-end third party applications which support Relative Movement Commands. When disabled, the cameras cannot be controlled by the applications.

Video Formats

Select what video formats are allowed to pass from the Q-SYS device to the host application based on the capabilities of your USB infrastructure – USB 2.0 or USB 3.0. To see what video formats are available when the USB Video Bridge is enabled, see USB Video Bridge.

Tip: USB 3.0 allows for YUY2 formats, which use less compression and therefore have a higher quality image.

USB 2.0 Support

When set to Enabled, the USB Video Bridge allows video formats compatible with USB 2.0 and 3.0 connections. When set to Disabled, the USB Video Bridge only allows USB 3.0 connections. To force support for USB 3.0 and HD formats exclusively, set this property to Disabled and set the Video Formats property to HD YUY2 Formats. The default is Enabled.

Graphic Properties

Label

Use the Label property to change the name of the component in the schematic. The Label property defaults to the component name. To learn more about renaming schematic elements, see Organizing Your Design.

Position

The coordinates reference a specific place in the schematic - for example,"100,100" (horizontal, vertical). 0,0 is the upper left corner of the schematic.

Fill

Sets the fill color of the component in the schematic.

Script Access Properties

Code Name

Displays the currently assign name for control access. You can use the auto-assigned name or customize it. Q-SYS will automatically check all Code Names in the design to ensure name is unique.

Script Access

Defines whether the component will be accessible by script and/or externally, or not at all. Choices include All, External, None (default), and Script.

Tip: Use Script Programmer Mode to quickly view the Script Access setting directly on the component in the design schematic without the need to disconnect from the Q-SYS Core processor.

Controls

Dialer Tab

Dialing

Dial String

The number of the phone or device you are calling. This number is a numeric text string entered by either the Keypad, keyboard, or using the Dial String Control Pin.

Backspace Key

The Backspace key deletes the last character typed, and can continue deleting one character at a time.

X (Clear Key)

The clear key (X) clears the entire Outgoing dial digits field.

Progress

Displays the CID number, the CID name (if available), and the call status of the incoming call. (You can display these separately using the corresponding Control pins.)

For an outgoing call this field shows the current state of the call, for example, Dialing, Line Fault - Disconnected, waiting for dial tone, and so on.

DND (do not disturb)

Activating the DnD feature causes Q-SYS to ignore any incoming calls. If connected to an IP-PBX, that system handles the response given to the incoming caller. For example, busy signal, message, and so on.

Disconnect (hang up)

Press this button to disconnect the call.

Connect (Dial / Answer)

Enter the Outgoing dial string then press this button to initiate the call. If there is an incoming call, press this button to answer the call.

Off Hook LED

This LED indicates that your call is active. It lights when the call is connected, and goes off when you press the Hang Up key or the line is disconnected.

Ringing LED

LED indicates that there is an incoming call.

Call Control Call Connect Time

Digital readout of the time the call has been connected.

Hook Flash

Click the button for a quick off-hook/on-hook/off-hook cycle. The result of the hook flash is determined by the phone company.

If your phone company office is configured for 3-way calling, push this button to initiate a 3-way call.

Auto Answer

Enables and disables the Auto Answer feature. The button illuminates when the feature is active.

After # Rings

This parameter sets the number of rings before the Auto Answer feature answers the call.

Note: This control acts like a knob - click and drag to change, or key in the number of rings.

Keypad

This is a standard 12-key numeric keypad used to key in the Outgoing dial digits, or send DTMF while off hook. For example, you can enter additional numbers to navigate an answering system.

Recent Calls

List of recent calls, up to 100 maximum. The list includes the dialed digits, incoming / outgoing icon, caller ID if available, and number of calls to / from the same number.

Blue = Outgoing
Green = Incoming
Red = Call failed

Clear

Clears the list of Recent Calls

Status

Status LED

Multi-color LED giving the status of the Softphone.

Status

Component status is conveyed with the Status LED and Status box, which uses both color and text to indicate the current condition:

OK: The device is functioning normally.
Initializing: The device is in the process of a firmware or configuration update, or the design is starting.
Compromised: The device is functioning, but a non-fatal problem exists. Refer to the Status box for details.
Missing: The device cannot be discovered.
Fault: The device is malfunctioning or is not properly configured. Refer to the Status box for details.
Unknown: This status appears during a Core reboot (for example, during a firmware update), or when a design is being uploaded to the Core and before it has started running.
Not Present: If applicable to the device, this status appears when the device is not connected to the network and its Is Required component property is set to 'No'. This status also appears if the device component's Dynamically Paired property is set to 'Yes', pairing has not been assigned in Core Manager, and the device component's Is Required property is set to 'Yes'. See Dynamic Pairing.

Control Tab

Control

Loop Drop Auto Hangup

If the call is disconnected for reasons outside of Q-SYS, then the call is automatically disconnected. If Auto Hangup is not enabled, the line stays open.

Call Progress Auto Hangup

If an outgoing call is not answered, for example a busy signal, the call is automatically disconnected. If Auto Hangup is not enabled, the line stays open.

Hook Flash Time (ms)

Determines the length of time the system is off hook when the hook flash is initiated.

Dial Tone Gain (dB)

Controls the audio level of the dial tone when the phone is off hook.

DTMF Transmit Level (dBm)

The level of the DTMF high frequencies.

Read only.
This level is -8 dB to +4 dB relative to the level of the low-group frequency.
This value changes depending on the Telephone Country selected.

DTMF Transmit Level Twist

The level of the DTMF low frequencies.

Read only.
This value changes depending on the Telephone Country selected.

DTMF Tone Duration

The duration of the DTMF tone being sent.

Read only.

DTMF Pause Duration

The pause duration between transmissions of DTMF tones.

Read only.

Ring Tone

Enable

Enables the ring tone for incoming calls.

This also configures the ring-back tone on outgoing calls. If the far end of the outgoing call provides a ring tone, that tone overrides this configuration.

Gain (dB)

Sets the level of the incoming call ring tone and, for outgoing calls, this sets the level of the ring-back tone.

Filename

Specifies the file to play for the incoming call's ring tone, and outgoing call's ring-back tone.

Entry Tone

Enable

Enables the entry tone for incoming calls.

The entry tone indicates that the incoming call has been Auto-answered.

Gain (dB)

Sets the level of the incoming call entry tone.

Filename

Specifies the file to play for the incoming call's entry tone.

Exit Tone

Enable

Enables the exit tone for incoming calls.

The exit tone indicates that the incoming call has been disconnected (hung up).

Gain (dB)

Sets the level of the incoming call exit tone.

Filename

Specifies the file to play for the incoming call's exit tone.

Keypad Tone

Enable

Enables the playback of the DTMF digits sent from your Core as keypad tones.

Tone Gain

Sets the level of the keypad tones.

Filename

Specifies the file to play keypad tones.

Control Pins

The available Control Pins depend on settings in Properties.

Pin Name	Value	String	Position	Pins Available
Call Control
Auto Answer	0 1	off on	0 1	Input / Output
Auto Answer Rings	0 to 99	0 to 99	0.00 to .99	Input / Output
Connect	Trigger			Input / Output
Dial String	Text			Input / Output
Disconnect	Trigger			Input / Output
Do Not Disturb	0 1	off on	0 1	Input / Output
Hook Flash	Trigger			Input / Output
Call History
Clear Call History	Trigger			Input / Output
Recent Calls	Text List			Input / Output
Call Status
Caller ID Date/Time Incoming only. Date (01/01) and Time (24 hr)	Text			Output
Caller ID Name Incoming only.	Text			Output
Caller ID Number Incoming only.	numeric value of the calling number	Text	N / A	Output
Connect Time	Text			Output
Details	Text			Output
Off Hook	0 1	false true	0 1	Output
Progress	Text			Output
Ring (trigger}	Trigger			Output
Ringing (state} Incoming calls only. Cycles between true / false.	0 1	false true	0 1	Output
State Used to determine the current state of a call.	inactive incoming outgoing active			Output
Configuration
Call Progress Auto Hangup	1 0	enabled disabled	1 0	Input / Output
Dial Tone Gain (dB)	-100 to 0	-100dB to 0dB	0.00 to 1.00	Input / Output
Entry Tone Enable	1 0	enabled disabled	1 0	Input / Output
Entry Tone Filename	Text			Input / Output
Entry Tone Gain	-100 to 0	-100dB to 0dB	0.00 to 1.00	Input / Output
Exit Tone Enable	1 0	enabled disabled	1 0	Input / Output
Exit Tone Filename	Text			Input / Output
Exit Tone Gain	-100 to 0	-100dB to 0dB	0.00 to 1.00	Input / Output
Hook Flash Time	0.050 to 0.500	50.0ms to 500ms	0.00 to 1.00	Input / Output
Keypad Tone Enable	1 0	enabled disabled	1 0	Input / Output
Keypad Tone Filename	Text			Input / Output
Keypad Tone Gain	-100 to 0	-100dB to 0dB	0.00 to 1.00	Input / Output
Loop Drop Auto Hangup	1 0	enabled disabled	1 0	Input / Output
Ringing Tone Enable	1 0	enabled disabled	1 0	Input / Output
Ringing Tone Filename	Text			Input / Output
Ringing Tone Gain	-100 to 0	-100dB to 0dB	0.00 to 1.00	Input / Output
DTMF
Rx	Text			Output
Rx #	When a DTMF character is received, the output of the control pin is a text display of "yes" for the DTMF character received. Otherwise the output is "no".			Output
Rx *				Output
Rx 0				Output
Rx 1				Output
Rx 2				Output
Rx 3				Output
Rx 4				Output
Rx 5				Output
Rx 6				Output
Rx 7				Output
Rx 8				Output
Rx 9				Output
Rx A				Output
Rx B				Output
Rx C				Output
Rx D				Output
Rx Any	Displays "yes" when any DTMF character is received.			Output
Tx	Text			Input / Output
Line Status
Busy Tone	0 1	no yes	0 1	Output
Call Waiting	0 1	no yes	0 1	Output
Current	n	nA	0.00 to 1.00	Output
Dial In Progress	0 1	no yes	0 1	Output
Dial Tone	0 1	no yes	0 1	Output
Disconnect Tone	0 1	no yes	0 1	Output
Fault	0 1	no yes	0 1	Output
Fault Message	Text			Output
In Use	0 1	no yes	0 1	Output
Intrusion	0 1	no yes	0 1	Output
Ready	0 1	no yes	0 1	Output
Ring(back) Tone	0 1	no yes	0 1	Output
Voltage	n	nV	0.00 to 1.00	Output
PinPad
#	Trigger-input to Dial String			Input / Output
*				Input / Output
0				Input / Output
1				Input / Output
2				Input / Output
3				Input / Output
4				Input / Output
5				Input / Output
6				Input / Output
7				Input / Output
8				Input / Output
9				Input / Output
Backspace				Input / Output
Clear				Input / Output
Status	Text describing the current status of the Q-SYS POTS system.			Output
Event Logging	1 0	enabled disabled	1 0	Input / Output