a wireless acoustic communicator is disclosed which permits a remotely - located operator to monitor and control a central vacuum cleaner . the acoustic communicator does not need problematic batteries , airflow blockers , or special wiring networks but uses only low - frequency acoustic signals that are transmitted through the pipe system of the vacuum cleaner . command signals are effectively transmitted , even while air is flowing through the pipe system , by using a continuous multi - frequency signal , a resonant physical structure , and an adaptive signal detector . a preferred embodiment uses a powerful reed to generate a continuous acoustic signal . the reed is manually plucked by a slide switch to start vibration , which is then continued by the airflow through the pipe system caused by the running vacuum motor . the vacuum motor runs only if the signal is present . the acoustic communicator includes a resonant detection tube that filters the signal before it reaches a microphone . the adaptive signal detector reacts to noise and airflow sensed with a microphone by tracking signal phase , altering detection criteria , and sampling independently in time , frequency , and space . in addition , the wave form of the acoustic signal can be changed to create a control signal for other central vacuum cleaner functions , such as motor speed control . the acoustic communicator can also be used to monitor the central vacuum cleaner ; for example , it can report a full condition of the dust filter .