15+ Year Old TELEX IC-4M Just Died... Any Good Replacement Recommendations?

[VCCLockport]

Yesterday, we had a very successful Tech Ministry work day! We were able to get one of our Cameras converted from S-Video runs in the 150 foot to 200 foot ranges to S-Video over Cat 5! Wow what an improvement! We also created a couple audio cables running over Cat 5.

As part of the work day, we were also attempting to expand our intercom system. We are currently using a TELEX IC-4M as our base, and a few TELEX IC-1F (I think) as our belt pack units. Everything worked fine and we added a few extra stations without issue.

Then when we got in for Sunday service this morning, the TELEX IC-4M had all the call lights flickering randomly, nothing but static coming through the unit, and it was extremely warm. Oh and the power light was fading in and out.

So... does it make more sense to purchase a new intercom system? Or to try to replace this one? I'd like to keep one that is compatible with the Telex belt packs. It is a wired system, interconnected via XLR.

[waynehoskins]

That sounds like a symptom of a wiring problem. I'm more intimately familiar with the Clear-Com bus than the Telex bus, which is different, but on a CC system that would mean a bad cable. CC uses one pin for power and one for audio, and the Call button puts power on the audio line for signaling, which has side effects on the audio while it's pressed. I'm not sure what technique Telex use for Call signaling on their balanced bus, but I could see a bad cable causing problems.

Having said that and reading the IC-4M manual, let me revise that diagnosis. It's a 4-channel master station for the legacy balanced Telex bus, which presumably uses phantom power techniques to power the remote stations. A short, or excessively low-resistance connection, between any of the bus lines and ground -- such as from using an unbalanced cable somewhere in the chain -- could overload the 2A power supply, causing the rail voltage to fall below regulation, resulting in audio problems and false Call light activity. Or the wiring could be fine and the power supply just decided to fail on its own.

You could try unplugging all the bus cabling from the master station when it's malfunctioning; if the behavior stops, it's probably related to wiring; if it continues, it's definitely internal to the master station.

If the master station is bad, there are two basic ways to go for replacement: Clear-Com and RTS. RTS is the standard in broadcast; Clear-Com in theatre. RTS and Telex are now related, but I don't believe they still make anything for the legacy Telex bus; all the new Telex gear I know of uses the RTS bus. If it were me, I'd go with an RTS Two-Wire (TW) party-line system for camera intercom, the main reason being that since it's standard in broadcast, virtually all broadcast camera systems have RTS intercom circuits built into the camera base stations, so it's very future-compatible.

[VCCLockport]

I unplugged all cables, and powered it up - call lights still flickering and noise in the intercom. Opened up the case today, and found that the internal power supply climbed to well over 120 degrees in a matter of 5 minutes - I'm guessing the internal power supply is toast. It has an option for an external 25v 2A power supply - Will try that next. I'm going to look into the RTS - Saw that it brought up a Telex website. It's going to take a bit of time to get this in the budget - any ideas on a quick and dirty set up? Is it possible to run a 'virtual intercom' using a computer connected to the internet?

[VCCLockport]

So here is the Deal... Our church is hosting Carman in the very near future! I have less than 2 weeks to get things in order - the Comm system being one main area of concern right now - anyone close to WNY have a comm system, wired or wireless that I could borrow? Or buy for cheap?

[Les]

Sorry, don't know anyone in that immediate area where you could borrow one from.

You might call VER (Video Equipment Rentals) and see about renting a system from them, they will ship it to you once you have an account setup. However, I don't think it will be "cheap". Certainly cheaper than buying a whole new system but still several hundred with shipping and all.

What about repairing your power supply? Is there a local repair shop that could turn it around in a week? That would probably be the cheapest.

I found an Ok deal on eBay for a Production Intercom Econocom system. It's a less expensive Clear Com equivalent. A 4ch setup is $1050. I haven't priced it all lately, but that seems reasonable for new equipment.

[cmchamp]

MS2002 - 1120 - 2 channel
MS4004 - 1530 - 4 channel
BP1002 - 275 - 1 channel belt pack
PB2002 - 379 - 2 channel belt pack
IFB1000 - 205 - 1 channel listen only belt back

Current Telex wired com base stations and belt packs.