Archive notice: This article was originally published on September 17, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Alongside first-class slopes and cross-country trails, winter-sports enthusiasts increasingly seek a welcoming atmosphere for skiing and snowboarding. Music is part of that experience. The Swiss Titlis ski resort has therefore professionalized and, at the same time, greatly simplified its music and announcement system: a centralized solution from Zurich communications specialist Barix AG provides reliable music and announcements to 35 cable-car stations and several ski huts. Barix devices are based on IP (Internet Protocol) technology, enabling simple, reliable, and cost-effective audio solutions.
The Titlis ski resort is a popular winter-sports destination. Every year, thousands of skiers and snowboarders, especially from northern Switzerland and southern Germany, visit the resort with its 82 kilometers of slopes, five cross-country ski trails, and a 3.5-kilometer sledding run. To entertain and inform its visitors, Engelberg Trübsee Titlis AG relies on a professional system from Barix. Music is transmitted from a central PC in the valley station to 35 cable-car stations and ski huts. At each location, a Barix device receives the audio data and outputs it through the connected loudspeakers. This means the same sound can be heard throughout the ski resort, while different musical styles can also be played in selected areas—for example, children’s songs at the ski kindergarten or hip-hop at the halfpipe. Announcements to all stations interrupt the music automatically. Targeted announcements, such as safety warnings or race commentary, can also be sent to individual locations.
The new solution replaces numerous different systems that had previously been used at the individual locations. The centralized system makes it possible to transmit announcements and music simultaneously, reliably, and in excellent quality. A backup solution ensures that announcements and music continue even if the central PC fails. The stations and ski huts can also communicate directly with one another. Procurement and maintenance costs are reduced considerably. “The Barix devices are very affordable,” says Philipp Ineichen of inroi AG, which implemented the system.
inroi preconfigured the devices and connected them to the existing network. At each station and ski hut, staff can control the volume independently. A graphical map on the central PC shows all connected locations, allowing individual devices to be selected and controlled with a mouse click.
The modular system can be expanded without limitation and can also support additional functions. “At a later stage, we can add functions such as operating barriers, opening doors, or an intercom system using the existing components,” explains project manager Ineichen.
All Barix solutions are based on IP technology, making them easy to integrate into existing networks; only an internet connection is required. “Communication and networking make installation, use, and operation much easier,” says Barix CEO Johannes Rietschel. Because the devices contain no moving parts, they are maintenance-free, reliable, long-lasting, and consume little power.
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