Compatibility Guide

Will it work with
your school's PA?

AnnounceBot outputs standard analog audio — which means it works with the vast majority of school PA systems. Here's how to know for sure, and how to connect it.

The 3 Common Setups

What kind of PA system do you have?

Most school PA systems are some variation of these three. Find yours below to see how AnnounceBot connects.

Works perfectly

100V Line PA System

The most common setup in Australian schools

A central amplifier unit drives ceiling or wall speakers via a 100-volt line. The amp typically lives in the admin block or tuck shop office. It will have an Aux In or Line In socket on the front or rear panel — that's where the iPad connects.

iPad
→
USB-C adapter
→
3.5mm cable
→
Amp Aux In
→
Speakers
Works perfectly

Mixer + Power Amp

Common in schools with a hall or performance space

A mixing desk handles all audio sources, feeding a separate power amplifier. The mixer will have a spare input channel — plug the iPad in there. Use it just like any other line-level source.

iPad
→
USB-C adapter
→
3.5mm to RCA
→
Mixer channel
→
Power Amp
→
Speakers
Check your system

IP / Networked PA System

Found in newer school builds

Digital PA systems (Bosch, TOA, Redback IP) distribute audio over a network to smart speakers. Most modern systems still include at least one analog aux input for exactly this kind of integration — check your system's controller unit or contact your installer.

iPad
→
USB-C adapter
→
3.5mm cable
→
Controller Aux In
→
IP Speakers
Device Setup

AnnounceBot needs to be the
only app running.

The bell system is critical infrastructure. A stray notification, an accidental home button press, or an iOS update prompt at 8:44am is not acceptable. Single App Mode locks the iPad to AnnounceBot — permanently, silently, reliably.

Strongly Recommended

MDM — Single App Mode

If your school uses an MDM platform (Jamf, Mosyle, Intune, Kandji, or Apple School Manager), you can push AnnounceBot into Single App Mode as a managed policy. The device locks to the app permanently — through restarts, updates, and everything else.

  • ✓ Survives reboots and iOS updates
  • ✓ Centrally managed — no physical access needed
  • ✓ Works with Apple School Manager enrolment
No MDM needed

Guided Access

Built into every iPad, no MDM required. Enable it under Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access, then triple-click the side button while AnnounceBot is open. The device locks to the app immediately.

  • ✓ Free — built into iOS
  • ✓ Set up in under 2 minutes
  • ! Must be re-enabled manually after a reboot
Connection Guide

Hooking it all up

Everything you need is off-the-shelf. Set it up once and forget about it.

Essential

iPad to Amp

For bells, tones, and live announcements

1

USB-C to 3.5mm adapter

Plug into the iPad's USB-C port. The Apple USB-C to 3.5mm adapter works perfectly — so do most third-party ones.

~$15 AUD
2

3.5mm to the amp's input

Run a cable from the adapter to the amp. Use a 3.5mm TRS to dual RCA cable for RCA inputs, or a 3.5mm to 6.35mm (¼″) adapter for a mixer channel.

~$12 AUD
3

Plug into Aux In or Line In

Not Mic In — the signal level is different and it'll sound distorted. Look for a label like Aux In, Line In, or CD In.

4

Set iPad volume to 75–80%

Then use the amp's input gain to dial in the level. This keeps the iPad's signal clean with headroom to spare.

iPad
USB-C
→
3.5mm jack
USB-C to
3.5mm
→
3.5mm to
RCA cable
→
Amp
Aux In
→
PA
Speakers
Optional
For live announcements

Adding a Microphone

Using a cheap USB-C breakout box

1

Get a USB-C audio breakout box

A small USB-C hub with a 3.5mm headset jack gives the iPad a combined mic + audio output port. Look for one with a TRRS 3.5mm socket.

~$20–35 AUD See recommendations
2

Connect a headset-style microphone

Plug a standard 3.5mm TRRS headset or lapel mic into the breakout box's audio port. The box separates the mic signal from the audio out.

~$20–50 AUD
3

Run audio output to the amp

Use the box's headphone or line-out port to run a cable to the amp's aux input — the same way you'd connect the iPad directly.

4

AnnounceBot handles the rest

Hold-to-talk captures from the mic input automatically. The built-in DSP — EQ and compression — applies to everything going out through the breakout box.

3.5mm
Mic
→
USB-C
Breakout
⇄
iPad
USB-C
→
3.5mm jack
3.5mm
cable
→
Amp
Aux In
🤔

Still not sure?

Tell us what PA system you have and we'll let you know exactly what cables and adapters you need.

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