A recent lightning strike at UQ rendered our 'point to point' communications system unserviceable. We were using a TOA interchange unit that operated our emergency call points, duress and hold-up buttons and lift intercoms throughout campus. The university in-ground service infrastructure operates on a two pair wire structure and almost all new direct line intercom systems use a four pair wire structure. Installing a generic brand PABX interchange unit and adapting the WayPhone intercom unit from Clearsonics solved the problem. Clearsonics are a major electronics firm in South Australian and specialise in communications equipment (website address: www.clearsonics.com). We worked with the team from Clearsonics to develop some changes in the WayPhone unit to operate successfully on a two pair wire system. All testing of the new product has proved positive. For interest, the total cost for the exercise will be around $250,000 to $300,000 and this only serves to highlight the risk factor of extensive use of electronics systems. Fortunately, our insurance company came to the party and is funding the bulk of the cost of the new system.

Warren Collyer
Security Manager
The University of Queensland

Tertiary Education Cardax User Group

The Tertiary Education Cardax User Group was formed some six years ago to represent the interests of 29 Australasian tertiary institutions that have a Cardax security and access control system installed. As the name suggests there is no sales hype, it is an end user's group only.

The ubiquitous campus policy of providing accessible facilities 24 hours a day, together with a safe and secure environment, needed to be balanced with the ability to provide seamless security and discrete access control. With a population the size of a small city, most University's have several similar evolving requirements for the electronic security system they have invested in.

The biannual meetings provide an opportunity for customers to get together with Cardax and discuss wish lists, innovations and support. It also gives the users an opportunity to network, discuss common issues, identify problems and share solutions.

Fergus Ross
Security Manager
Queensland University of Technology