Recommended Volume Settings for APS and AID Push Buttons

Consider the Polara APS and AID push button volume settings

It is important that they ARE:

• Adequately loud for the users to hear

It is important that they are NOT:

• Too loud that they unreasonably disturb people living near the push buttons
• To loud that they do no mask the traffic noise for the visually impaired pedestrian

Because ambient noise and traffic levels at intersections can vary significantly, we have provided recommended settings for "typical" intersections. Shown is our current default settings, along with three typical intersection/crossing types with our recommendations for each settings. The description for each type is detailed below.

A key factor that helps make volumes loud enough for users but not disturbing to the surrounding public is to use the Extended Push Feature (pushing the button for 1 second or longer) to boost the volumes for a single walk cycle (APS only). The volumes can be set to play louder during the Walk and Clearance interval following an extended push. The APS volume settings (Ext Walk Volume) below assume utilization of this feature.

Please note that the above settings are recommended starting points and should be changed to what is appropriate for the site. If any of the above settings are almost but not quite loud enough, an option is to adjust the Volume Over Ambient setting. This setting will boost all volumes by the set dB amount. Even in quiet conditions the volumes will stay the set amount higher. Higher than +5 dB setting should only be used on “C” type intersections where the played sound volumes are desired to be very loud and there is not a concern about disturbing the surrounding public.

DESCRIPTION OF INTERSECTION TYPES

TYPE “A” This would be a typical neighborhood intersection/crossing where ambient volumes are typically low and get very quiet at night. The traffic volume is usually fairly light and homes may be closely located to one or more corners. These settings will give the lowest possible settings in low ambient conditions.

TYPE “B” This would be a typical city intersection/crossing where there are fairly high traffic volumes and moderate to occasionally high ambient conditions. Ideally, with these settings there would be no bedrooms windows within 15 to 20 feet of the push button station. If this is the case, the volume levels may need to be lower than those recommended here.

TYPE “C” This would be a typical large intersection/crossing or high ambient noise intersection with no one living within 50-100 feet of the corner. For this type of intersection the volumes are necessarily loud to cut through the expected level of noise.

Descriptions of Volume Settings

Locate Volume Minimum

This function adjusts the minimum level at which the Locate and the periodic Wait message sounds will be played.

Locate Volume Maximum

This function adjusts the maximum level at which the Locate and the periodic Wait message sounds will be played.

Push Confirm Volume Minimum

This function adjusts the minimum level at which the Push Confirmation Message sound will be played.

Push Confirm Volume Maximum

This function adjusts the maximum level at which the Push Confirmation Message sound will be played.

Info Message Volume Minimum

This function adjusts the minimum level at which the Information Message sound will be played.

Info Message Volume Maximum

This function adjusts the maximum level at which the Information Message sound will be played.

Std Walk Volume Minimum

This function adjusts the minimum level for the walk and clearance sounds when activated using a standard-length button push.

Std Walk Volume Maximum

This function adjusts the maximum level for the Walk and Clearance sounds when activated using a standard-length button push.

Ext Walk Volume Minimum

This function adjusts the minimum level for the Walk and Clearance sounds when activated using an Extended Button Push.

Ext Walk Volume Maximum

This function adjusts the maximum level for the Walk and Clearance sounds when activated using an Extended Button Push.

Volume Over Ambient

This function can increase or decrease the playback volume of all sounds except the Locate and periodic Wait sounds relative to the measured ambient sound pressure, but still be constrained within the set minimum and maximum settings. This compensation function is adjustable from -30dB to +20dB over ambient in 5dB increments.

Locate Volume Over Ambient

This function can increase or decrease the playback volume of the Locate and periodic Wait sounds relative to the measured ambient sound pressure, but still be constrained within the set minimum and maximum settings. This compensation function is adjustable from -30dB to +20dB over ambient in 2.5dB increments.