Documented specifications
Algo · Manufacturer product, user-guide and firmware pages were current at review; exact regional inventory, purchased hardware revision, approved firmware and remaining support period were not established.
| Specification | Documented value |
|---|---|
| Form factor | 6.5-inch coaxial ceiling speaker for dry indoor locations, with integrated microphone Source ↗ |
| Power and amplifier | PoE and PoE+ operation documented; maximum 16 W audio when standalone on PoE+, shared equally across the main speaker and connected satellites Source ↗ |
| Maximum SPL claim | Manufacturer specifies 100 dB SPL at 1 kHz, 16 W and 1 metre for a standalone 8198 on PoE+ Source ↗ |
| SIP audio codecs | G.711 µ-law, G.711 A-law, G.722 and Opus Source ↗ |
| Satellite speakers | Up to three Algo 1198 satellites; manufacturer documents 50 ft maximum between speakers and 150 ft maximum total satellite cable Source ↗ |
| Paging paths | SIP registration, RTP multicast send and receive, stored audio, ring and emergency-alert extensions are documented Source ↗ |
| Microphone | Integrated omnidirectional microphone supports talkback and ambient-noise response; 1198 satellites have no microphone and are silent during talkback Source ↗ |
| Security controls | TLS, SRTP, mutual authentication, HTTPS provisioning and 802.1X are documented controls Source ↗ |
Unlisted fields remain unverified. Platform compatibility and remaining support life require confirmation for the exact ordered model.
Choose 8198 for its documented power and satellite boundary
Algo's comparison distinguishes the 8198 from the older 8188 by PoE+ operation, up to 16 W of audio power and support for as many as three 1198 satellites. Confirm the exact orderable model and supplied accessories; mounting brackets, pendant hardware and a hydrophobic membrane may be separate items. Do not infer an outdoor or wet-location rating from an optional membrane.
The maximum SPL is a manufacturer measurement at 1 kHz, 16 W and one metre for a standalone unit. It is not a promised level at a listener position, a speech-intelligibility result or a safe-volume setting for an occupied room.
Model a satellite group as one controlled endpoint
The 8198 exposes a second RJ45 connection for the proprietary satellite chain and can supervise up to three 1198 units. The guide requires the termination plug at the last speaker; the manufacturer limits each inter-speaker segment to 50 ft and the total run to 150 ft. Record the actual order, cable, termination and supervision result.
The 16 W amplifier budget is shared equally: the manufacturer lists 16 W for the main speaker alone, 8 W each with one satellite and 4 W each with three satellites. All units in the group play the same audio and share the main endpoint's zone. Satellites have no microphone and remain silent during talkback, so use individual IP endpoints where independent zones, full power or per-position talkback are required.
Keep SIP, multicast, stored audio and alert priority distinct
The guide documents two primary SIP extensions for page and ring plus additional page, ring and emergency-alert extensions, as well as multicast send and receive. Registration confirms an identity binding, not coverage, priority or authorization. Record the called extension, responder, negotiated codec and final audio path for each accepted workflow.
For a SIP-registered receiver, the documented priority puts a priority call above a SIP extension and multicast zones. Verify the complete local configuration because emergency triggers, input actions, stored files and multicast zones add their own controls. Define who can start and stop each alert and how a stuck or repeated message is cleared.
Commission the mount, PoE path and installed room
Use the 8198 only in a dry indoor location and follow the mounting, cable-perimeter and support instructions in the exact guide. The guide reports an independent UL 2043 compliance result, but the local authority and project team still decide whether the complete ceiling, cable, bracket and installation meet the applicable rules.
Measure switch PoE allocation, endpoint power state and audio in the final room. Test representative speech and tones at normal noise levels, every satellite, ambient-noise response, reboot and loss of network or power. A published placement table is a starting estimate, not an installed acoustic survey.
Protect the microphone and management plane
The embedded microphone supports talkback and ambient-noise measurement. Define approved callers, microphone state, privacy notice and whether any management or monitoring system can expose room audio. Confirm that talkback silences the satellites as documented and that receive-only multicast does not create an unintended microphone path.
The guide identifies an initial administrative password and a status page that can be publicly visible unless restricted. Replace defaults before deployment, limit administration, and validate certificate trust, TLS, SRTP, provisioning and 802.1X independently where used. A control in a specification is not evidence that the shipped unit has it enabled or correctly trusted.
Use bounded acceptance and preserve emergency ownership
Pilot the purchased hardware and firmware with the chosen switch, VLAN, PBX or UC service and multicast design. Confirm authorized and rejected calls, page start and stop, ring behavior, codec selection, level, zone, talkback, input and relay behavior, stored audio, satellite supervision, management recovery and ordinary failure restoration.
Treat emergency alerting as a separately engineered workflow with responsible owners, approved content, stop controls, redundancy and documented drills. No speaker, mount, PoE path, PBX, SIP service, multicast network, microphone, room acoustics, certificate, life-safety function, regional availability or price was validated for this guide.
Sources & applicability
Primary references for the technical details above. Operational examples and planning checklists are VoIP.info editorial guidance.
- Algo 8198 product page and specifications ↗
- Algo 8198 user guide ↗
- Algo IP speaker placement guide ↗
- Algo satellite speaker technology ↗
- Algo 8198 product sheet ↗
- Algo 8198 power-output reference ↗
- Algo 8198 firmware page ↗
Examples require adaptation to your topology. No live PBX or hardware testing is claimed.