Impera Echo Plus 8DKW

What the Echo Plus does in a Qatar room

The Biamp Impera Echo Plus 8DKW is a compact white control pad that mounts on a wall and gives people one place to start, stop and switch the room's AV equipment. Its eight buttons are assigned in software, so one pad can run a presentation scene in one room and a video call scene in another, with functions changed as the room evolves.

Because the controller is built in, the pad does not need a separate control processor. That keeps the equipment list simpler for a small meeting room, a classroom or a reception area where a full control system would be more than the space needs.

Ports and control reach

Network control runs over Ethernet, and the pad can command up to two third-party devices over that connection. Serial and contact-based control are covered by three ports: one bidirectional RS-232/IR port that receives feedback from the device, one unidirectional RS-232/IR port for commands only, and three GPIO ports for simple switching jobs such as triggering a relay or a light.

• Feedback: the bidirectional port can read status back, so the interface can reflect what the connected device is doing.
• Expansion: the Expansion Bus takes up to two additional devices such as keypads or port expanders.
• Configuration: a Micro USB connection supports setup and maintenance.

Where it fits in Qatar

In a boardroom in West Bay, the Echo Plus can sit beside the door and start the display, the camera and the conferencing system with one press, which suits executives who want a short routine rather than a remote control. In a classroom at a private school in Al Wakrah being fitted out for a new term, one pad per room keeps the teaching routine consistent across the building. At a university training centre in Education City, the expansion bus allows extra keypads to be added later as the room is reused for different courses.

Its email notifications for lamp and filter hours and warnings also help facilities teams in Doha. Projector servicing can be planned from alerts rather than discovered when a session is already due to start.

What to plan before you order

• Choose the wall position at a height that suits the users, and keep the pad away from direct sun and dust-laden draughts.
• List the third-party devices and their control protocols before quoting, so the right ports are assigned.
• Plan Ethernet and serial cable routes in advance; SmartRooms Qatar offers a free site survey before installation.
• Confirm the operating environment with our team, since the manufacturer data we hold does not list an operating temperature range for this model.

The pad carries the manufacturer's 5-year warranty. Request a quote from SmartRooms Qatar with your room layout and device list, and we will confirm the configuration and pricing details on your quotation, usually within one working day.