Interview with Jens Werner

Presented by: Sennheiser

#News & Events

Interview with Jens Werner, Product Manager for TeamConnect Ceiling 2

To make sure everything runs smoothly at the end of the year: The Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 gets new features with the firmware update v1.4.2. (Interview)

The TeamConnect Ceiling 2 ceiling microphone has become an indispensable part of many conference and meeting rooms. At Sennheiser, we always strive to offer our customers the highest quality, particularly in view of the constantly growing demand for innovative audio solutions. Taking into account customer feedback on our products and the permanent innovative spirit of our employees, the firmware update v1.4.2 (available since 6.12.2019) provides our customers exciting new features when using TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (more on this in the Sennheiser Newsletter of 9.12.). The responsible product manager Jens Werner tells us in an interview about the new features that our customers can look forward to.

Here you have all the 5 new features of the new update at a glance:

802.1X configuration support - via SSH
DANTE Input level meter and gain setting (in Control Cockpit) for AEC Reference Channel
Far-end activity LED feature
TCC2 operating system updated to latest patch level
Bug fix for DHCP reconnect IP handling

Hello Jens, we are looking forward to the new firmware update for the TeamConnect Ceiling 2. What are the most important improvements?

TeamConnect Ceiling 2 can now be configured from an SSH Client (OS agnostic) for 802.1X networks. It supports two authentication methods EAP-TLS und EAP-PEAP (PEAPv0/EAP-MSCHAPv2) using private keys and / or certificates. This allows the IT admin to include our TeamConnect Ceiling 2 in secure network environment.

In terms of usability and setting options via the Sennheiser Control Cockpit, innovations have also been announced. Could you please give us a brief overview of what this is all about?

While we added the support for an AEC Reference channel already in firmware 1.3.4 you can now see the input level in Sennheiser Control Cockpit and adjust the gain of the Dante Input channel according to the connected device. The usage of the AEC Ref channel is recommended to ease the processing of echo cancellation and smooth double-talk performance.

That sounds very promising already. The key facts talk about a far-end activity LED feature. What can we imagine behind this new feature?

The new far-end activity LED feature allows for easier adjustment of the AEC Ref channel during the installation. It is indicated by blue and yellow LEDs when the audio activity of the remote party is detected by the microphone via loudspeakers.

Security within the system is a priority for all customers. What's new at this point?

We updated the operating system of TeamConnect Ceiling 2 to the latest patch level for any security critical environments. This includes all used software modules within the system.

Bugfixes are also part of a firmware update. Was there anything to optimize?

We fixed the Mac Address Client ID handling (mobile/static) in DHCP environments. The client ID does not change anymore when the device is rebooted.

Thank you, Jens, for this brief introduction about the innovations our customers can look forward to.

Jens Werner, Product Manager Meeting & Conference at Sennheiser Business Communication, has worked for Sennheiser for 14 years and was involved in the development of the ceiling microphone from the very first second.

I shifted gears for the next level