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Using Multiple Intercom Groups

A Behnke IP intercom system can be divided into up to 9 intercom groups.

With multiple groups, different areas of a system can be logically separated from each other. For example, a main entrance can be assigned to a different intercom group than a delivery area or a parking lot.

1. Example with Two Intercom Groups

A system consists of:

Sprechanlagengruppe 1
├── Außenstation Eingang
└── Innenstation Empfang

Sprechanlagengruppe 2
├── Außenstation Parkplatz
└── Innenstation Anlieferung

The door station Eingang and the indoor station Empfang belong to group 1.

The door station Parkplatz and the indoor station Anlieferung belong to group 2.

Within each group, the normal intercom logic can be used.

2. Assigning Devices to Groups

Each Behnke Station belongs to exactly one intercom group.

The values 1 to 9 are available for the intercom group.

The following assignment is used for the example:

Außenstation Eingang     → Gruppe 1
Innenstation Empfang     → Gruppe 1

Außenstation Parkplatz   → Gruppe 2
Innenstation Anlieferung → Gruppe 2

For more information on this setting, see the setup guide Configuring the Intercom Group of a Behnke StationThis page was last checked against version 6.56; the current version is 6.33. This notice is generated automatically and was not written by an editor..

3. Intercom ID Within a Group

Indoor stations also have an intercom ID between 1 and 99.

Within the same intercom group, the ID is sufficient as the call number.

Example:

Gruppe: 1
ID:     1

Rufnummer innerhalb der Gruppe: 1

This allows the door station Eingang to reach the indoor station Empfang using the call number 1.

The same ID can also be used in another intercom group.

Example:

Gruppe 1 → Innenstation Empfang     → ID 1
Gruppe 2 → Innenstation Anlieferung → ID 1

The group membership determines which indoor station is reached when the call number 1 is simply dialed.

4. Calling an Indoor Station in Another Group

To call an indoor station in another intercom group, the target group must be specified in addition to the ID.

A three-digit call number is used for this:

[Gruppe][zweistellige ID]

Example:

Zielgruppe: 2
Ziel-ID:    1

Rufnummer: 201

The call number 201 thus addresses the indoor station or stations with ID 1 in intercom group 2.

5. Assigning a Call Button to an Indoor Station in Another Group

A call button can be specifically assigned to an indoor station in another intercom group.

• To do so, open the configuration of the desired door station

• Open your browser

• Go to the web interface of the Behnke Station

• Log in

• In the sidebar on the left, click the menu item Buttons
• Navigate to the section of the corresponding button (e.g. Button 1)
• Set the value of the Call number option to the three-digit target call number

Example:

Taste:     1
Rufnummer: 201

The call button then calls the indoor station with ID 1 in group 2.

For more information on button configuration, see the setup guide Assigning the Call Buttons of a Door Station to Indoor StationsThis page was last checked against version 6.56; the current version is 6.33. This notice is generated automatically and was not written by an editor..

6. Call Chain Across Multiple Groups

It is also possible to use targets from different intercom groups in a call chain.

A typical use case:

1. First, the indoor station Empfang in the same group should be called.
2. If the call is not answered there, the indoor station Anlieferung in group 2 should be called next.

The following applies to the example:

Empfang:
Gruppe 1
ID 1
Rufnummer innerhalb der eigenen Gruppe: 1

Anlieferung:
Gruppe 2
ID 1
gruppenübergreifende Rufnummer: 201

The call chain is therefore:

1;201

or

The door station first tries the call number 1 and then the call number 201.

7. Effects on the Phone Book

Through an individual assignment, a door station can also become relevant for an indoor station in another intercom group.

In the example from the manual, the door station Eingang is additionally assigned to the indoor station Anlieferung via the call chain 1;201.

As a result, the door station is also displayed in the phone book of this indoor station and can be used there for functions such as preview, call, and door opening.

8. Global Settings

9. Checking the Division in the Topology

The web interface shows the topology of the entire intercom system in the IP intercom system area.

There you can check which intercom group the detected Behnke Stations are assigned to.

With multiple groups, this overview is particularly helpful for quickly spotting accidental group assignments.

For more information, see the setup guide Checking the Topology of an IP Intercom SystemThis page was last checked against version 6.56; the current version is 6.33. This notice is generated automatically and was not written by an editor..

10. Summary

When using multiple intercom groups, the following rules apply in particular:

• a Behnke IP intercom system can contain up to 9 intercom groups
• each Behnke Station belongs to one group
• indoor stations also have an ID between 1 and 99
• within the same group, the ID is sufficient as the call number
• for an indoor station in another group, a three-digit call number made up of the group and the two-digit ID is used
• for example, group 2 and ID 1 result in the call number 201
• cross-group call numbers can also be used for call buttons and call chains
• a call chain via group 1/ID 1 and group 2/ID 1 can be configured as 1;201, for example
• the topology shows the distribution of devices across the intercom groups

11. FAQ