You can use the Verkada BZ11 horn speaker with and without Verkada’s cameras, and it can also be paired with an Alarms license to provide advanced functionality, including agent talk down.
As a standalone device, you can use it from the Devices page to initiate a call from Verkada Command to the speaker. When associated with a Verkada camera, you can use the camera to provide the Command user with the necessary context for talk-down.
In combination with an Alarms license, a Command user can configure custom audio files to play through the BZ11 when an alarm is raised. You can also enable Agent Talk Down, allowing Verkada’s video monitoring agents to respond to threats and live talk-down through the BZ11 to deter intruders.
Start a call on the Devices page
In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Devices
.Search and find your BZ11 device.
Click Play to play a short test sound.
Click Phone
to initiate the call.
Adjust the volume
At the bottom of the Devices page, use the slider to increase or decrease the volume level to your preference.
Enable or disable the microphone
On the Devices page, you can enable or disable the microphone and adjust the microphone sensitivity using the slider.
Start a call on camera live stream
Associate a camera with the BZ11.
Go to the Devices page and search for the BZ11.
Select the speaker.
Click Select Cameras to add cameras to the speaker for additional context.
Once configured, access the live stream from the camera you want to initiate the call.
At the bottom right of the live feed, click Phone
to initiate the call.If multiple BZ11 devices are configured for the same camera, click the back arrow (<) to select the specific device you want to call.
Enable the speaker to be an Alarm output
By default, play audio is disabled when the speaker is first added to an alarm site. To enable the speaker to play when an alarm is raised:
In Command, go to All Products > Alarms
.Select an alarm.
At the top, click the Settings tab.
Go to Alarm Responses > Alarm Actions > Enable Play Audio. This setting plays the default alert message, Alarm has been raised please leave the premise immediately, when an alarm has been raised. You can customize this message by uploading your own .mp3 file.
Upload a custom MP3 file
Note: Uploading a custom MP3 file requires an alarm location license.
In Command, go to All Products > Alarms
.Select an alarm.
At the top, click the Settings tab.
Go to Alarm Responses > Alarm Actions > Enable Play Audio > Upload Audio File.
Note: The BZ11 is only compatible with .mp3 files and the file must be under 20 MB.
Configure Agent Talk Down
In Command, go to All Products > Alarms
.Select a site.
At the top, click the Settings tab.
Go to Alarm Responses > Emergency Dispatch, toggle on Agent Talk Down.
When enabled, Verkada’s video monitoring agents attempt to talk-down through the BZ11. The agent then subsequently calls through the contact list, regardless of the outcome of talk-down.
Required. In order for agents to use the speaker, the camera that is associated to the BZ11 must be configured as a context camera or trigger for the alarms site.
Related resources
Need more help? Contact Verkada Support