Hearing Loops & Mobility Vehicle Intercom Systems

Hearing Loop: The problem and the solution.
Hearing loss is the most common disability and affects 1 in 6 of us, yet it is rarely noticed. For hard of hearing people simple activities can be a constant struggle.
Unlike wearing glasses, a hearing aid, including the best digital aids, do not bring all the sounds back into perfect focus. There will be situations where extra help to hear and most importantly understand a situation can be the difference between enjoyment, pleasure and relaxation or confusion, frustration and anxiety.
In the rear of a moving vehicle this is particularly a problem. The driver is speaking away from the person, towards the front windscreen. If the driver turns his head to speak he is distracted from the road ahead with potentially fatal consequences. For people with normal hearing an intercom would help, but the better solution for the hard of hearing is a hearing induction loop.
How a Hearing Loop helps
In a typical installation* the vehicle will have a small and unobtrusive microphone fitted near the driver. This connects to our unique automatic hearing loop amplifier. From this a loop of wire is run behind the trim in the roof to form a large loop around the perimeter of the vehicle. No setting up or adjustment is needed.
If you are hard of hearing and sitting under the area covered by the roof loop just switch your hearing aid onto the ‘T’ position. When the driver speaks the sound will be transmitted directly to your hearing aid. We even provide a sticker to show occupants that the loop is fitted.

* If it is the driver that is hard of hearing the equipment  can be installed in reverse so that the driver can hear the rear passengers.

   Please contact us for further details on Hearing Loop Intercom Systems

                                                        In the USA? Click here to visit our exclusive American distributor

Mobility Vehicles

Our intercom systems for mobility vehicles solve a frustrating problem. The driver is facing forwards with a person in a wheel chair behind them. The driver can usually hear the person behind them when they speak, but the rear passenger can not hear the driver unless he shouts, or turns his head. If the driver is distracted from the road ahead the consequences could be disastrous.

We have two standard products available. Our ‘Talk Back’ system is a one way voice amplifier. This amplifies the drivers voice and sends it to a speaker in the rear of the vehicle. This is a simple and effective solution to the problem.  For greater volume, and if the driver would also like the rear passengers voice amplified, we have a two way system available. If either the driver or regular passengers have a hearing aid also consider a hearing loop.

Our standard kits include all wiring and hardware for the installation. For manufacturers of of mobility vehicles we will work with you to develop an O.E.M. kit for fast installation on your production line.

   Please contact us for further details on Mobility Vehicle Intercom Systems.

                                               In the USA? Click here to visit our exclusive American distributor

Please contact us to discuss your intercom requirements.

Security & Cash Collection Vehicle Intercom Systems

Communication between the driver and crew of security and cash-collection vehicles is vital to ensure the security of the vehicle and its contents is not compromised.

Wolf Elec Intercoms has three different products that can be combined to provide a system to meet all your needs.

1) For the driver of the vehicle to converse with someone on either side of the vehicle (in a security post or booth, for example) without having to open a window or door. The system can be discreet, with hidden microphones and speakers, or it can be a clearly marked panel on the side of the vehicle.

2) For the driver of the vehicle to converse with a guard outside the vehicle (for example, by the rear or door before allowing access to the vehicle).

3) For the driver in the front cab to converse with crew in separate compartments.

Our systems are custom designed for each vehicle. The driver’s operation is usually hands-free, for ease of use and to meet driving legislation.

The rear area can be hands-free or, if more discreet communication is required, the vehicle can be fitted with headset sockets or telephone-type handsets.

Please contact us to discuss your Security & Cash Collection Vehicle intercom requirements.

Police Vehicle Intercom Systems

Wolf Elec Intercoms have developed intercom systems working with a number of police forces and specialist vehicle builders.  These fall into three types:

• Interior communication from the front to the rear of a vehicle. Examples are custodial vehicles for prisoner transport or surveillance vehicles.
  The driver’s operation is usually fully hands-free. The rear area can be hands-free. If more private communication is required, the vehicle can be fitted with headset sockets or telephone-type handsets.

• Two-way communication from inside the vehicle, where the occupants wish to keep the doors and windows closed to maintain physical security. The system can be discreet, with hidden microphones and speakers, or it can be a clearly marked panel on the side of the vehicle. These products have been used for diplomatic and specialist protection squad  vehicles.

• Audio Surveillance.  Discreet microphones are  permanently installed on the outside of the vehicle and relayed to speakers or headsets inside the vehicle.

Wolf Elec Intercoms also manufactures high security locking and unlocking systems such as stainless-steel electronic bolts .

Due the secure nature of these vehicles we can only provide more specific information on request from qualified enquiries.

Please contact us to discuss your Police vehicle intercom requirements.

Fire & Rescue Vehicle Intercom Systems

The Wolf Elec Fire & Rescue Vehicle Intercom System shown was developed for communication between the operator at the base and the fireman at the top of a Snorkel fire appliance. In addition to meeting the need for clear communication, Wolf had to ensure the system was 100% waterproof and could be operated simply, by gloved hands, in extreme conditions.

The lower unit with telephone handset.

The upper unit is ‘hands free’.

All Wolf intercoms are individually built to meet our customers’ requirements for wired communication systems.

Our development engineers will be pleased to discuss your needs.

Contact us to discuss your Fire & Rescue Vehicle intercom requirements.

Custodial & Prison Transport Intercom Systems

The Wolf Elec Intercom System helps ensure that the security of a prisoner transport vehicle is paramount at all times.

In 2012 most of the British fleet for prisoner escort and custodial transport were replaced with new vehicles. These varied from single cell, soft skin vehicles to high security, multi-cell armoured trucks. These were built by various highly specialized vehicle manufacturers, but each chose Wolf Elec to supply the intercom system for the driver to communicate with a guard, either inside or outside of the vehicle. We now supply these products around the world.

To meet these requirements we developed a range of intercoms to suit each type of vehicle.  These fell into two categories.

Driver to Rear

Driver to Outside Persons

Due to the secure nature of these vehicles, we can only provide more specific information on request from qualified enquiries.

Driver to Rear

To meet legislation and ensure safety the driver operation is normally ‘hands free’. The front cab usually has just a microphone and a speaker.

A number of solutions are available for the officer or guard in the rear. These can include telephone handsets, a pre-fitted intercom control panel, or components to integrate in to your own console.  Headsets and sockets can also be provided for more discreet communication.

In single or two -ell vehicles, with no guard, we can provide a system to monitor and speak directly to the cell occupants.

       Please contact us for further information

Driver to Outside Persons

It is often important for the driver to be able to have a two way conversation with someone outside of the vehicle, however a window cannot be opened as this reduces security.  Wolfelec have a range of discreet, yet rugged and reliable, external microphones and speakers to accomplish this purpose and keep the vehicle secure.

Contact us to discuss your Custodial & Prison Transport intercom requirements.

SUVs & Minivan Intercom Systems

The Wolf Elec Intercom System for SUVs and Minivans solves a frustrating problem. The driver is facing forwards with all the passengers behind them. The driver can usually hear the persons behind them when they speak, but the rear passenger can not hear the driver unless they shout, or turn their heads. If the driver is distracted from the road ahead, the consequences could be disastrous.

We have two standard products available:

Microphone shown on left side of vehicle

Our ‘Talk Back’ system is a one-way voice amplifier. This amplifies the drivers voice and sends it to speakers in the rear of the vehicle. This is a simple and effective solution to the problem.

An example of the kit contents is shown (please click on the picture to enlarge). We can also supply with flush fitted speakers and an extra microphone for the front passenger.

Gooseneck Microphone shown on RHD vehicle

For greater volume, and if the driver would also like the rear passengers voice amplified we have a two-way system also available.

The driver has a flexible gooseneck microphone to speak directly into. This can be pushed away when not in use. The rear passengers have discreet  microphones in the side or roof of the vehicle.

If either the driver or regular passengers have a hearing aid also consider a hearing loop.

Please contact us for further details.

In the USA? Click here for our exclusive American Distributor.

Limousine Intercom Systems

Modern or Traditional?

Wolf Elec Limousine Intercom Systems for the Limousine Industry divide into two sections, the traditional long wheel base ‘stretch limos’ and the modern Mercedes Sprinter type ultra luxury vehicles.

Traditional stretch limos typically use a telephone-type intercom where the driver picks up a handset to speak to passengers.

For Mercedes Sprinter type limousines we have developed a completely hands-free intercom for greater safety and ease of use by both the driver and passengers.

Modern

The Wolf Elec Limousine Intercom is simple to operate: You just switch it on. You don’t have to adjust any volume controls, as these are preset at the time of installation. There are no handsets, just discreet microphones and speakers built into the vehicle.

In addition, both the driver and passengers can have independent on/off switches and a warning LED alerts passengers when their conversation can be overheard by the driver.

The kits include all necessary components such as wiring, speakers, microphones, switches, and hardware. We can also design and build the intercom as a tailor-made system for your particular needs and, if required, help you develop your own harness to allow our intercom to be simply installed on a production line.

    Contact us to discuss your Limousine intercom requirements.

Traditional

American stretch limos typically usef a telephone-type intercom where the driver picked up a handset to speak to passengers. However, it’s now a specific offence in the U.K. and the U.S. to use a handheld phone or similar device when driving.

The Wolf Telephone Intercom for Limousines offers completely hands-free operation for the driver, but there are still one or more telephone-type handsets in the rear for the passenger area only.

They are simple to use:

• For the passenger in the rear: Pick up the handset and press the button. This will call the driver to switch on the Intercom. Speak and then replace the handset when finished.
• For the driver: When called from the handset, a buzzer will sound. Switch the Intercom on. Speak to the passengers and hear their response over the front speaker.
  To call the handset, turn on the Intercom and press the call button. Wait for the handset to be picked up.

Contact us to discuss your Limousine intercom requirements.

Taxi Intercom Systems

Wolf Elec Intercoms have been manufacturing taxi intercoms systems for almost 20 years. Initially made for the iconic London Black Cab, Wolf Elec Taxi Intercoms are now built for any vehicle with a security partition between the driver and the passenger area. The Taxi Intercom System is simple to operate: You just switch it on. You don’t have to adjust any volume controls, as these are preset at the time of installation.

In addition, both the driver and passengers have independent on/off switches. A warning LED alerts passengers when their conversation can be overheard by the driver.

Our standard model includes two rear microphones and twin flush-fit speakers. We can also design and build the intercom as a tailor-made system for your particular needs.

Wolf Elec Taxi Intercom kits include all necessary components such as wiring, speakers, microphones, switches, hardware. Warning Signs, often required by taxi licensing authorities, also are included.

When required, we work with vehicle builders to develop your own harness for a simple installation of the Wolf Elec Taxi Intercom System.

Induction loop systems compatible with hearing aids also are available. More details here.

Please contact us to discuss your taxi intercom requirements.

Ambulance Intercom Systems & Hearing Induction Loop Systems

The Wolf Elec Ambulance Intercom System is specifically designed for clear communication between the driver of an ambulance and the paramedic in the rear compartment.

That’s why our Intercom System is the choice of many leading ambulance manufacturers. Wolf Elec Ambulance Intercom Systems are found throughout the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Eire in almost every front-line emergency ambulance. In Europe and the Middle East, our intercoms are used by the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Ambulance interior with intercom installed

The Wolf Elec Ambulance Intercom is simple to operate: You just switch it on. You don’t have to adjust any volume controls, as these are preset at the time of installation.

In addition, both the driver and passengers have independent on/off switches. The driver’s operation is hands-free, so he can speak whilst concentrating on his driving.

Our standard model includes two rear microphones and twin flush-fit speakers. They ensure the paramedic can hear and be heard, from anywhere in the rear compartment.

We also supply Hearing Induction Loop Systems. These allow the paramedic to converse with someone with a hearing aid using the ‘T’ coil system. More details here.

The Wolf Elec Ambulance intercom system can be designed and built as a tailor-made system for your particular needs. The kit includes all necessary components such as wiring, speakers, microphones, switches and hardware.

In addition, we work with vehicle builders to help you develop your own harness to allow our intercom to be simply installed when required.

Contact us to discuss your ambulance intercom requirements.

Bus & Public Transport Intercom Systems

In 2010, one of Europe’s largest bus and coach manufacturers asked Wolf Elec Intercoms to develop an intercom for use at the customer point of entry onto the bus, to allow communication between the driver and embarking passengers.

For the protection of the driver, he now sits behind a secure screen but needs to communicate and take payment as people board.

We successfully developed a simple to use system with microphones at two heights for the passengers (typical child and adult height) and a flexible goose-neck microphone for the driver. These intercoms are now in use around a major city and have also been supplied to British bus manufacturers.

Whatever your requirement for bus and coach communication please contact us  to discuss your project.

  Contact us for more information on Bus and Coach Intercoms