Elevator communication standards have evolved quickly in recent years, with ASME A17.1 (2019 and 2022) introducing new expectations for two-way voice and visual systems. For some, these requirements are new. For others, they\u2019ve already been part of the job for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what have those years of field experience taught the professionals who install, inspect, and maintain these systems every day? We asked them what matters most when choosing a solution, and their answers came down to three things: reliability, security, and flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reliability. Period.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Two-way communication systems aren\u2019t accessories, they\u2019re life-safety devices. Reliability isn\u2019t measured by how impressive a feature appears, but by whether the connection works every single time someone presses the Help button – whether that\u2019s days or years after installation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it\u2019s not just passengers relying on that connection. Inspectors use it to verify compliance, and maintenance teams expect it to work during testing. If the system fails to call out or a response doesn\u2019t come through, downtime, emergency service calls, or even fines can follow. All of which are avoidable with a system built for long-term stability and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No \u201cGhost Calls.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as important as what a system does<\/em> is what it doesn\u2019t<\/em> do. \u201cGhost calls\u201d- false activations triggered by electrical noise or unstable signaling, have become a major frustration for building owners, monitoring centers, and maintenance providers. Each false alarm can lead to unnecessary callouts, confusion over wiring or software issues, and wasted time for everyone involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With decades of experience designing elevator phones long before visual and IP systems entered the market, RATH engineered SmartView 2 to prevent false triggers through robust signal filtering and secure network communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result: fewer maintenance callbacks, clearer testing, and confidence that every call received is a real one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seamless, Secure Updates.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience has also shown that for these new systems, reliability and IT security are inseparable. As communication systems and devices become increasingly networked, keeping them compliant and protected from potential breaches requires more than just strong passwords. It requires constant software and firmware updates to stay one step ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn IT security breach is the last thing anyone wants-but manually managing updates on all the devices in your network would be overwhelming. That\u2019s why we automatically push updates through our secure platform, ensuring every unit stays current, protected, and fully supported without disruption,\u201d says Leanne Fernandez, VP of Sales and Marketing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n With several solutions on the market, including online systems that require manual security updates, building owners, IT professionals, elevator consultants and contractors are encouraged to educate themselves about the risks and choose systems that prioritize their protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flexibility to Meet Different Needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Compliance may have been the starting point for two-way voice and visual devices, but today\u2019s solutions have to consider the rider experience and building aesthetics as well – while also addressing the wide variety of communications and physical infrastructure requirements contractors face. Without tradeoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SmartView 2 was designed to adapt, and elevator pros have taken notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n