What to Know Before Buying Call Buttons
Save yourself the hassle of having to deal with the problems that an inferior call button system can cause. Before you buy, read this to find out 5 things to check out.
Check Your Wireless Range
Range in open air is often greatly reduced as the signal travels through thick stone walls, between floors, through busy kitchens lined with metal shelving etc. Check the actual range required and take note of any obstacles in the line of sight between the button and receiver.
Choose the Right Receiver Type
There are different types of receivers available for call buttons, including wristwatch pagers, wall mounted display panels and simple buzzers. In noisy environments, a vibrating wristwatch pager is more reliable than a simple buzzer as staff may not hear the buzzer in noisy environments. Reference can be made to the noise at work guidelines to see how quickly ambient sound can mask an alert in the work environment.
Check Battery Life and Replacement Cost
Check Battery Life and Replacement Cost. Many Call Button Systems use batteries. Find out if they are standard sized batteries such as AA or AAA, or special coin sized batteries. Find out how long the batteries last and the cost of replacing them.
Look for Water or Grease Resistance
Are the Call Buttons going to get wet? Kitchen, Outdoor Service Point or Bar Area – Water Resistant? Check the IP rating of the Call Button – IP65 or above means it will be able to withstand water jets and will be able to operate in very moist environments.
Confirm the System Can Expand
If you’re purchasing a system to start small and expect to grow, make sure the system can support extra buttons, in different zones. Also make sure that you won’t have to replace the whole system if you want to add a few more buttons in the future.
A few minutes of investigation before you buy can save a lot of hassle when you install the system.
