AV Technology 122 - January 2020

VOL. 13 NO. 1 AVNETWORK.COM

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The Great

DEBATE MANUFACTURERS TAKE SIDES ON 10Gb VS. 1Gb

MEET YOUR MANAGER INSIDE FISHTECH’S STUNNING NOC SMART VOLTAGE THE LATEST IN POWER CONDITIONING

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SPECIAL GUIDE Technology Manager’s Guide to Command and Control

The Contents PERSPECTIVE

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MISSION CRITICAL

The Feed

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SKY HIGH TECH The Empire State Building recently completed a four-year, $165 million renovation of its famous observatories, adding in some cool AV-driven features that enrich the vertical adventure and guide the rest of one’s stay in New York.

MEET YOUR MANAGER

Features 8

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THE GREAT DEBATE

As the AV industry shifts to an IP-centric world, one heated point of contention has remained: should AV be distributed over 10Gb Ethernet, or is 1Gb the better choice? We reached out to leading manufacturers of networked AV gear to find out on which side their roadmap lies, what unique value proposition their solutions provide, and what factors tech managers should consider when deploying their network.

22 ANDY JONES AND MATT SKEEN, FISHTECH

GROUP The IT and AV directors of cybersecurity firm Fishtech Group lead a behind-the-scenes tour of the company’s impressive new Cyber Defense Center and its massive 32-foot-diagonal video wall.

GUIDE

25 THE TECHNOLOGY MANAGER’S GUIDE TO COMMAND AND CONTROL

HOW IT’S DONE

42 PREPARING FOR AV-OVER-IP CONTROL ROOMS

18 SMART POWER

No matter how advanced AV equipment becomes, it’s useless without the electricity powering it. Find out about the latest trends in intelligent power conditioning, and how the newest generation of products can not only keep your systems up and running, but make managing them a lot easier, too.

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20 UPTIME, ALL THE TIME

When a two-hour period of internet downtime can wreak significant havoc in a small to mid-sized business, it can be downright catastrophic in organizations responsible for dealing with situations that come down to a matter of life and death. But how can tech managers guarantee that their mission-critical systems will indeed work 24/7?

AV Technology (ISSN 1941-5273) is published monthly except combined February/March and July/August by Future US, Inc., 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AV Technology, PO Box 8692, Lowell, MA 018538692

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Perspective

vol. 13 no. 1

January 2020

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MISSION CRITICAL

twitter.com/AVTechnologyMag CONTENT VP/Content Creation Anthony Savona Content Director Matt Pruznick, matthew.pruznick@futurenet.com

A horde of men in white shirts sit anxiously at their bulky metal consoles, the lenses of their horn-rimmed glasses reflecting the glow of a flashing grid of buttons. From time to time, they glance up from their round-cornered computer screens and peer through the clouds of cigarette smoke at one of the five large displays on the front wall. All is in order.

Constructed in the mid 1960s for NASA’s Gemini and Apollo space flights, Mission Operations Control Room 2 (MCOR 2) at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX is probably the most famous command center ever built, and certainly the most historically significant. Using the simple call sign “Houston,” astronauts conversed with the operators in the room from the lonely vacuum of space, checking in on every aspect of their missions. And to stay on top of this telemetry involved some clever audiovisual engineering.

The MCOR 2 was actually more of a display center than a control center; all of the computing took place in a mainframe in a different part of the building, with information relayed up to the consoles as raw data. To make it graphically intelligible required an automated system that overlaid physical slides with the electronically transmitted figures to create organized tables on the vacuum tube-powered CRT monitors. Through various button pushes, operators could switch between different sets of data.

Long, long before the advent of digital projection, the displays at the front of the room utilized a similar overlay technique to do things like plot a spacecraft’s trajectory over graph lines or its position on a global map. Special quartz-lamp Eidophor projectors were required to bounce the imagery off mirrors and onto the rear side of the room’s 10-foothigh screens. On one of these panels, command center crew could monitor broadcast feeds of the mission, and watch together as Neil Armstrong set foot on the surface of the moon.

Today, command and control centers have expanded far beyond the domain of space travel and military operations to empower nearly any organization with a need for sophisticated analytical monitoring. And while the information displayed on these suites’ sprawling video walls or direct-view LED canvases might lack the immediate gravity of supporting the lives of astronauts in space, their effective oversight of things like cybersecurity—with the potential livelihood of millions on the line—is no less critical.

In this issue of AV Technology, we cover ways that technology managers can equip their facilities to monitor vital situations easily and securely today, and offer insight from manufacturers on which network technologies are best suited to steadfastly power their premises tomorrow and into the future. Because when it comes to your AV deployment— regardless of your organization’s mission—failure is not an option.

Contributors: Cindy Davis, Carolyn Heinze, Camille Burch, Phil Hippensteel, Steve Greenblatt Managing Design Director Nicole Cobban Design Director Walter Makarucha, Jr. Production Managers Heather Tatrow, Nicole Schilling ADVERTISING SALES VP/Market Expert, AV/Consumer Electronics & Pro Audio Adam Goldstein, adam.goldstein@futurenet.com, 212-378-0465 Prahlad Balasubramanian, prahlad.balasubramanian@futurenet.com, 307-222-6950 Janis Crowley, janis.crowley@futurenet.com, 845-414-6791 Debbie Rosenthal, debbie.rosenthal@futurenet.com, 212-378-0468 Zahra Majma, zahra.majma@futurenet.com, 845-678-3752 SUBSCRIBER CUSTOMER SERVICE To subscribe, change your address, or check on your current account status, go to MyAVTechmag.com and click on About Us, email futureplc@computerfulfillment.com, call 888-266-5828, or write P.O. Box 8692, Lowell, MA 01853.

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All contents ©2020 Future US, Inc. or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information.

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SKY-HIGH TECH

The Feed

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING DEBUTS AV-ENHANCED OBSERVATORY RENOVATIONS

By Matt Pruznick

R

ising a majestic 1,250 feet from the epicenter of Manhattan Island, the Empire State Building is one of the most powerful symbols of New York City and perhaps the most recognizable building in the world. As such, an almost overwhelming mass of tourists pass through its doors each year—some 3.5 million—to make their way up to the building’s observatories.

To make the experience for these visitors as impressive as the structure itself, The Empire State Building Observatory (ESBO) recently debuted the results of a four-year, $165 million renovation that includes the addition of tech-driven features that enrich the vertical adventure and guide the rest of one’s stay in New York. These technology appointments were carried out through a collaboration between AV integrator Diversified and creative digital studio Squint/Opera.

“Most visitors, when they come to New York, the Empire State Building is the first place they go,” said Holly Houghton, head of production at Squint/Opera. “With this experience, visitors can orient themselves to the city and find unexpected places that they can go visit for the rest of their time.”

When guests arrive on the 80th floor, they come upon a series of touchscreen kiosks. Powered by data from NYC & Company, they serve up

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activity suggestions for tourists based on their length of stay in the city and their interests. “At the end they can either email it to themselves, scan a QR code, or just take a photo of it, and walk away with recommendations for 10 places to go that you never would have thought of,” Houghton said.

From there, visitors pass by some displays showing content such as a video on the design of the lighting systems that dramatically bring the building’s crown to life at night, as well as a massive 12-foot-long, 8-foot-high Leyard TWA Series LED video wall in a 5x4 configuration with a 1.2mm pixel pitch showcasing a selection of some of the best photographs of the Empire State Building in recent years. In these areas, directional pendant speakers provide audio while keeping noise bleed low.

Guests then progress to a circle of viewfinders, much like the ones located on the outdoor observatory deck on the 86th floor. Inside of each is a 360-degree video shot in a different location throughout the city, including Grand Central Terminal, Central Park, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Using accelerometers and spatial audio, visitors can pan through immersive representations of city landmarks that are visible from the building.

“The idea is as a visitor, you come here, go all through downstairs through the museum and galleries

The classic observatory viewfinders feature 360-degree video shot in a different location throughout the city. Using accelerometers and spatial audio, visitors can pan through immersive representations of landmarks that are visible from the building.

that tell you all about the building, then you come up here to the 80th floor, this is your first view,” Houghton said. “This is your first opportunity to take a breath, and look around. You’re technically still in line for the elevators to get to the 86th floor, but no one knows it.”

The experience doesn’t stop after coming down from the 86th or 102nd floor observatories, either.

Their descent leads them back to the 80th floor, where they can use self-service kiosks to find and purchase their photos from their visit. According to Squint/Opera, these use facial recognition technology to locate each guest’s picture quickly.

Lastly, a series of interactive touchscreen kiosks with Intel RealSense cameras provide a parting treat for visitors. Displaying a dense mosaic of social media-tagged photos from the top of the building, users’ silhouettes are rendered live onscreen in the form of pointillism—with nighttime images making up the dark parts of their body’s outline. When touched, the displays magnify areas of images, so guests can look for their own posts.

“What began with the new observatory entrance opening in August 2018 is now as we intended: a fully educational and immersive journey which connects visitors from around the world to their emotional connections to the World’s Most Famous Building and helps them design their entire visit to New York City from the center of it all,” said Anthony E. Malkin, chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust.

The Great Debate Manufacturers share their take on the question of 10Gb vs. 1Gb

By Matt Pruznick

As AV over IP continues to become the standard for video transmission, the question has remained: which network should be the standard for AV over IP? We reached out to leading manufacturers of networked AV solutions to find out what they think.

ARISTA

PAUL SHU, PRESIDENT Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

Rarely are any two systems identical. Every application has different video quality requirements as well as latency tolerance—and let’s not forget the difference in network infrastructure. There

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simply is no “one-size-fits-all” way to approach matters. Thus, Arista provides 1Gb and 10Gb products to fit whatever the application requirements happen to be.

tions that require perfect color and very low latency and future proofing for whatever the changing circumstances may become, then the focus should be on building up 10Gb network infrastructure to support high-quality video .

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

Arista provides a broad range of AV-over-IP solutions to meet different video quality requirements and network bandwidth constraints. This ensures the best possible fit for any given network infrastructure while providing integrators with a comprehensive range of options to fit budget and other considerations.

needs?

If the application is not particularly sensitive to latency and does not have the infrastructure to support the 10Gb bandwidth requirement, then 1Gb bandwidth should be adequate. For applica-

ATEN TECHNOLOGY YT LIANG, SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

1Gb. Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

We wouldn’t say there are “drawbacks” of 1Gb or 10Gb solutions, but rather it’s more about choosing the right one based on your application and scenario. 10Gb does less compression on video content so it has higher video quality and less latency (spending less time on compressing and decompressing), but it requires higher bandwidth and is more expensive. 1Gb, on the contrary, is more cost effective with visually lossless video.

The compression is not detectable to the eyes and appears identical to the uncompressed data.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

There are two things to consider first when deciding between 1Gb and 10Gb solutions: compression and latency. If you need uncompressed video or close to zero latency, 10Gb would be the better choice. However, if visually lossless compression and 1-2 frames (about 15ms–30ms) latency is OK, you can go for 1Gb. So, even if we’re talking about the same vertical market, if the application is different, the solution would be different. Take healthcare as an example. If you are doing digital signage in healthcare, 1Gb is good, but if you are doing clinical reviews in healthcare, you may consider 10Gb. What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

The main goal of ATEN Technology’s AV-overIP solution is providing easy-to-configure and

install solutions for both the pro AV system integrator and IT. Push buttons help you to finish the switching without the hassle of needing an IP address. The daisy chain capabilities on the receivers help save the cables and extend to further distance if needed. The built-in web server allows the configuration of the AV-over-IP extenders without the need to install another software on a laptop. Moreover, if you want to do a quick configuration on your smartphone, we also have an AV-over-IP mobile app. All of these things aim to reduce the time and overhead of system integrators on AV-over-IP installations.

ATLONA

DAVID SHAMIR, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

1Gb Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

1Gb is the practical choice and offers many features and benefits that will keep it as the go-to technology for years to come. 1Gb networks are easily accessible, widely deployed throughout enterprises and facilities, allow PoE for remotely powering OmniStream encoders and decoders, and are cost-friendly. This is a huge CapEx advantage for companies with existing Cat-5e or Cat-6 cable infrastructure, which readily allows 4K content distribution over long distances. The main advantage of 10Gb is by providing the trunks that enable large amounts of data to be carried between network switches in an IT equipment room or closet. Although prices are coming down for 10Gb network switches, they remain more expensive and not widely implemented for cabling, switches, or endpoints at the edge of an enterprise or corporate network. Additionally, PoE is only available with a select few of the newest 10Gb network switches.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

Each organization’s IT operation needs to make this call based on the greater needs for communication and productivity. 1GbE network remains a more cost-effective infrastructure, and IT managers should consider 1GbE technology if they have budgetary constraints. OmniStream provides the CIO or IT management team the opportunity to utilize costeffective network infrastructure already in place.

OmniStream also offers some distinguishing features ideal for IT operations. These include streaming and network redundancy with automatic failover, forward error correction (FEC) for performance and reliability over large networks, AES-128 encryption, and IEEE 802.1x authentication for network security.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

AV over IP offers undisputable advantages for system scalability, flexibility, and overcoming traditional signal distance limitations. There is additionally reduced capital outlay for medium to large AV system designs. OmniStream offers the ability to route not only AV signals, but also control, digital audio, and USB signals with uncompromised 4K video over IP performance, near-zero latency, builtin security, and network error resilience.

AURORA MULTIMEDIA PAUL HARRIS, CEO AND CTO Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

Aurora has chosen to focus on both 1Gb and 10Gb because each has its purpose based on the application and expectation of the client. 1Gb is currently a more economical solution, delivering visually

“Although prices are coming down for 10Gb network switches, they remain more expensive and not widely implemented for cabling, switches, or endpoints at the edge of an enterprise or corporate network.”

—David Shamir, Atlona

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lossless video that looks very good at a reasonable latency that is still very good to the human eye at one to two frames. However, 1Gb is limited in bandwidth for future higher resolutions and refresh rates, as the compression will need to increase, in turn degrading the image quality. 10Gb is great for future proofing infrastructure for HDMI 2.1 at 8K and 4K120 (1Gb will be 50:1 compression). It also can deliver a full 480Mbps USB 2.0 with the content, 1Gb ethernet per drop point, windowing, zero-frame latency, and perfect image quality regardless of motion or test patterns. 10Gb pricing will continue to drop and is already at similar price points to 4K60 4:4:4 1Gb solutions.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

1Gb is best for budget constraints while still delivering a quality image. Most organizations do not need 4K60 4:4:4 high-end 1Gb solutions, and can use the 1Gb 4K30 4:4:4/4K60 4:2:0 solutions, which are priced much more affordably. For the typical usage, having a higher refresh rate at the 4K resolution to show power points, surf the web, and even watch a movie is not necessary in those environments. Also, keep in mind the VTC is highly compressed and refresh rate reduced due to the bandwidth, so it will not achieve the same expectations as locally. Only users on site will benefit from the better quality of images distributed room to room.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

Aurora 1Gb and 10Gb solutions are enterprise-class products made right in our own facility in New Jersey. We differ with our transceiver topology, which allows us to limit the SKUs making serviceability and troubleshooting easier. Even our wall plates are transceivers, which allows us to reverse the direction of the video feeds, making it very powerful. Aurora innovated this technology over five years ago and has innovated many other technologies that are shaping the future of the industry.

BLACK BOX

JONATHAN MCCUNE, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, AV & INFRASTRUCTURE Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both.

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Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

We are continuing to have focus on both 1Gb and 10Gb solutions, but there are benefits and drawbacks to both. 1Gb solutions can offer highquality 4K video and low latency on a 1Gb network infrastructure, but you’re typically sacrificing something for that—in most cases, it’s bandwidth.

Ask any IT professional and they’ll tell you that having both AV and IT data on a 1Gb network will cause major bandwidth restrictions. To get around this, they typically maintain dual networks to support AV and IT data independently across the enterprise. A 10Gb solution eliminates any compromise between low latency, low bandwidth, and high video quality, as well as the need to maintain dual networks to support AV and IT data independently across the enterprise. A common concern with 10Gb solutions is the required upgrade to a 10Gb network infrastructure; however, 10Gb networks are now more common and becoming the standard in new builds.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

I hate to be on both sides of the fence on this one, but it’s very contingent on the organization and on whether they’re constrained by an immediate budget restraint or whether an investment now would ultimately be more cost-effective in the long run.

Adding 1Gb solutions on an existing network will be less of an investment in the short term; however, upgrading to a 10Gb solution will ensure that the organization is set up for future network expansion and the increasing AV demands. A 10Gb solution also allows AV and data payloads to exist on the same IT network, which reduces network management time and costs.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

The Black Box MCX solution delivers up to 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 video over 10GbE (or higher) with the lowest latency and switch times available in the AV marketplace. The system eliminates the need to compromise between latency, bandwidth, and

video quality, as well as the need to maintain dual networks to support AV and IT data independently across the enterprise. MCX makes it possible to handle video walls, video extension (point-topoint and point-to-multipoint), and digital signage on an IT network. Because MCX uses SDVoE to distribute AV signals over IP networks, integrators and IT teams can create dramatically new architectures and user experiences at the speed and quality that pro AV applications demand. As a software-controlled system, MCX brings not only flexibility, but also infinite scalability that allows for unrestricted expansion.

CRESTRON

JOSH STENE, VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

1Gb. Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

The benefit of standardizing on a 1Gb network is that 1Gb is the standard for customers today.

Developing a solution that uses what they already have not only cuts costs, but also decreases deployment time. We took on the complexity of developing a 1Gb solution and successfully transmitting 4K content over the network without impacting the image quality or increasing latency, because it benefits our customers. With over 180,000 endpoints deployed all over the world, Crestron has designed a dependable solution that is perfect for the enterprise and educational space by simply using what is already there.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

With a solution that is built to perform on a 1Gb network, organizations can continue to introduce technology into new spaces without having to worry about new wiring and budget constraints. With Crestron’s multi-layer technology, our AV-over-IP solution goes beyond AV including data, control, and USB connectivity that

allows organizations to add conferencing cameras, headsets, keyboards, and mass storage devices with ease.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

Crestron’s AV-over-IP solutions provide managers with a secure, flexible, and scalable platform that can easily grow and shift with their organization’s needs. Unlike any other 1Gb solution, DM NVX provides dealers and integrators with the robust platform they need to design and deploy the most intuitive spaces.

EXTRON

ferencing. That said, it is more economical to deploy 1Gb solutions. Long-term, it could mean that the customer must upgrade their network and encoders/decoders if they want to support higher resolutions at low compression ratios (e.g. mathematically lossless vs. visually lossless.)

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

The Extron NAV Series provides opportunities to leverage AV-over-IP solutions onto existing network infrastructure while also being able to deliver the visual performance of a more traditional circuit-switched product.

GEFEN

JOE DA SILVA, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MARKETING

JASON FITZGERALD, PRODUCT MANAGER

Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both.

Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Currently 1Gb, but considering adopting 10Gb.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

By offering solutions that work on 1Gb and 10Gb networks, Extron is able to tailor the exact design to the network conditions of the end user. Many customers want to use a 1Gb solution, since it is more common to see that data rate supported to the access layer of the network. Other customers demand the mathematically lossless performance of a 10Gb system and are willing to use dedicated infrastructure as part of the deployment.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

1Gb network infrastructures in our serviceable markets far outweigh the adoption of 10Gb systems, in terms of current availability and new installations. This made the decision to provide a 1Gb solution simple. Gefen has been developing and provid-

ing the AV industry with AV-over-IP products for over six years, and all of them have leveraged 1Gb Ethernet networks.

With the majority of addressable Ethernet networks operating at 1Gb, a solution that fits this bandwidth limit has the highest degree of applicability. Cost is the major drawback for 10Gb solutions, for both an endpoint and the infrastructure standpoint. However, the requirements of a project and reliance upon an existing or newly installed Ethernet network need to be considered when choosing a solution. A higher education, campus-wide installation may already leverage the bandwidth and capacity that 10Gb and faster networks can provide, while a smaller retail outlet may only require a 1Gb infrastructure to manage its needs. If these networks already exist, the benefit for 1Gb solutions in both of these installations is that is can be installed in both cases.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

Either can make sense depending on the true requirements of a project, but 1Gb AV-over-IP solutions simply require less bandwidth to operate. If budget and bandwidth are the top priority, then 1Gb will win every time. The search for more efficient means of data transfer is a never-ending road, and while 10Gb and faster Ethernet networks may become the standard in the future, and new technologies will arise, today 1Gb is still king.

“While 10Gb and faster Ethernet networks may become the standard in the future, and new technologies will arise, today 1Gb is still king.”

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

Most networked AV products are intended for LAN distribution, so that application is different from videocon-

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—Jason Fitzgerald, Gefen

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

In a word, Gefen’s AV-over-IP solution offers flexibility. With a range of products that are completely interoperable, AV/IT managers have no worry about the types of devices that they need to connect to an AV-overIP network. Whether the application is for workstation management, or simply a digital signage deployment, Gefen’s

AV-over-IP family of products includes individual HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, and VGA solutions that are ready to work with any source or display without the need for external conversion boxes or adapter cables. The ability to seamlessly convert any of these connection standards from one to another opens a new level of compatibility within an organization or project that allows everything to seamlessly work together.

HALL RESEARCH A.J. SHELAT, VP OF SALES Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

1Gb. Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

We selected a 1Gb design to achieve a price point per screen that would fit most applications today.

While a 10Gb video performance is higher, the cost of the product and networking infrastructure to achieve a 4:4:4 60Hz product was much higher and most sources were not providing that resolution. The cost benefit was better for 1Gb; however, now that the cost of 1Gb and 10Gb network switches are coming down, that may change. Also, chip technology improvements may soon be seen, so we assume that this may bring the AV-over-IP costs down and lower the costs of a more robust system.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

Budget is the main reason to go with 1Gb. You may be compromising image quality a little, but it is often absolutely fine for the price. As stated before, the 10Gb system with 10Gb network switch is a significant price jump that may be unnecessary if you do not need very high resolutions on a large screen. Many current applications work well at a 1Gb level.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

AV over IP allows the system to be more scalable

than the traditional cross-point switches. While it offers greater flexibility, it actually opens the door for more questions. Do you want to create a separate network or a separate VLAN, or is this so outside the comfort zone and needs that it is unnecessary to install AV over IP and a traditional hardware extension system is a better fit for the install? It ultimately rests with the experiences of the AV/IT manager as to what they have become comfortable installing. AV over IP is becoming easier to implement as manufacturers have jumped in to offer classes on AV over IP and have designed an easier product to implement, and more information is now available as the market matures. Overall, integrators have improved their abilities and manufacturers have given them workable tools.

JUST ADD POWER TAFT STRICKLIN, SALES TEAM MANAGER Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

Building out your network is quite important.

As installers price out 10Gb fiber to pull to each TV location and deal with high cost of goods and skilled labor to make the fiber work, we have designed our products to work on a gigabit network without quality loss by segregating the traffic. Be careful with your design and get educated before you start installing products onto a network. Nothing is worse than slowing or killing a client’s network that they rely upon 100 percent to work 100 percent of the time.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

While running a fiber IP infrastructure certainly provides more bandwidth, all that video traffic is still living together on that 10Gb line. Installing a fiber line alone will not improve quality. The key to ensuring pristine quality of the stream requires

segregating and dedicating 1Gb of the network for every video source.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

As FHD and 4K pushes into more and more offices, this is where AV-over-IP infrastructure perhaps makes the most compelling argument.

An AV-over-IP infrastructure that’s been built to provide proper source segregation will mean a bit more expensive network backbone upfront, but it’s also ready to take on developing video formats. Using specified network switches along with cost-effective video-over-IP end points built for forward and backward compatibility for video formats, users can easily step into 4K as display options and UHD content continue to morph forward, because the system can be scaled to meet a wide range of format requirements.

Not every screen has to be 4K ready; instead, they can set up a mixed environment with an older 1080p projector or display, yet still support ultra HD signals for that blazingly crisp 4K display and support content with high dynamic range (HDR). This is a scalable approach that’s designed to get out ahead of today’s fast video evolution.

KANEXPRO

MANNY HERNANDEZ, SR. PRODUCT MANAGER Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

The key to success is to offer the right solutions for the client. 1Gb systems are an affordable way to deploy a large number of nodes over an existing network. When simple functions like distributing 1080p video or static images, a 1Gb AV-over-IP system is going to be ideal. 1Gb systems are limited by the bandwidth available in the system and they rely on high compression formats like H.264 and H.265 protocols. These are powerful tools because they can be deployed in environments where the installation has not

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been certified. The downside to using 1Gb is that there will be an inherent latency introduced into the operation of the system. The system will experience momentary blackouts and ununiform switching times when switching from one source to another. A 10Gb system, on the other hand, is more than just an extender; 10Gb SDVoE-based systems are more like full-fledged HDMI matrix solutions, with the key difference being that deployment and scalability are significantly more affordable and reliable when done over a certified network installation.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

1Gb systems make most sense when there are tight budget constraints and there is a requirement for system expansion in the future. The 1Gb system is best used for digital signage, hospitality, and general entertainment environments where the functional speed and quality of the picture is not a high priority. 10Gb systems offer frameless switching, multiview, picture-in-picture, and zero latency performance, which make these systems ideal for medical environments, videoconferencing, and intricate video displays where complex video scaling is needed.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

AV-over-IP solutions are the future of AV technology. System integration is made easy by using the existing networking backbone that is already installed in the majority of buildings, saving the need to run expensive and unreliable HDMI cables susceptible to EMI/RFI interferences. AV-over-IP solutions allow administrators to control systems remotely without the need to perform expensive physical service calls.

KRAMER ELECTRONICS DAVID MARGOLIN, VP OF MARKETING Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

As network bandwidths continue to increase and compression technologies evolve, we understand that the IP highway will eventually become the path for AV. We strive to educate and support the community with the most robust, reliable, and flexible solutions available. We don’t limit our solutions to exclusively one codec or one approach. We offer the entire range, from JPEG2000, H.264, H.265, to SDVoE, covering every application requirement.

“A 10Gb system is more than just an extender; 10Gb SDVoE-based systems are more like full-fledged HDMI matrix solutions.”

—Manny Hernandez, KanexPro

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What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

The newest 10Gb solution is Kramer’s KDS-8, a zero-latency, 4K60 (4:4:4) streaming transceiver using SDVoE technology. KDS-8 comes as an encoder in default mode, with the ability to easily switch to a decoder at the

touch of a button. It brings a full range of connectivity options as well as the benefit of being futureproof with the power and versatility to handle high data packages. It is HDCP 2.2 compliant with HDR support and features Genlock and Fastswitch modes. The managed network switch provides multicast, jumbo frames, IGMP snooping, and fast leave. Analog audio embedding provides an unbalanced analog audio port for embedding audio into the streaming signal. Bi-directional IR over IP lets users control an IR device located on the decoder side from the encoder, and vice versa. KDS-8 also offers video wall and multiview support.

Kramer’s 1Gb solutions include the KDS-EN6 encoder and KDS-DEC6 decoder, which stream 4K60 (4:2:0) video, audio, IR, RS-232, and USB over IP with HDCP 2.2 in unicast (one-to-one) or multicast (many-to-many) configurations.

MATROX GRAPHICS

SAMUEL A. RECINE, DIRECTOR OF SALES, AMERICAS & ASIA PACIFIC Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Matrox has AV-over-IP technologies for compressions levels ranging from less than 100Mb to 1Gb, and up to 25Gb and 40Gb. Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

Matrox embraces all the major AV-over-IP technologies including uncompressed and top-grade compression. What we see in practice is that sub-100Mb and sub-1Gb technologies satisfy the majority of projects in terms of latency and audio/ video quality—including PC text and performance 3D and video. And the completely uncompressed technologies allow organizations to work in the most demanding applications like live television broadcasting, medical, and live events. It’s also at the 25Gb and 40Gb uncompressed level that the earliest 8K work is being done. Eventually this will trickle down to broader applications, including various compression options. But, for the time being, interoperability of performance media is optimal in raw for 8K.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

Each of the main technologies (sub-100Mb, sub-1Gb, and uncompressed over-25Gb and 40Gb) are optimal for budgets in different scenarios. There is no question that sub-100Mb products offer the most logical solution for high node count and multi-site applications. When networks can get noisy or when deterministic performance must be sustained for large deployments, bitrate is always important. Also, for wireless applications or mixed-mode operations with IT networks, this is the best price-performance fit. Sub-1Gb is the most popular node in the market for low-cost endpoints with reasonable network density. The performance is great and it can scale nicely. When applications require manipulating video in raw, uncompressed formats and interoperability of different specialized equipment is in service, then the network bandwidth can be what it needs to be to serve those applications. In this case, standards-based video with real industry interoperability is the best price-performance.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

Easy. Easy to install; easy to get running; easy to scale; easy to program with many options for applications, APIs, and third-party hardware and software support; easy to maintain; easy to hybridize; and easy to support.

MUXLAB

JOE TEIXEIRA, VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCT MANAGEMENT Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

A 1Gb network is going to be ideal when you can accept compression, while a 10Gb network is the

powerhouse that supports uncompressed delivery of 4K content.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

One of the great things about MuxLab is that we offer a wide variety of solutions that support both 1Gb and 10Gb networks. We can actually tailor a solution to meet budget requirements. For example, a streaming 4K video wall in a railway command center includes a 16 display video wall, running 24/7. Our 4K over IP PoE Extender Kits transmit data via a 1Gb Ethernet switch. Using an IP-based solution, it was very cost-effective, and is completely scalable. They can swap in and out MuxLab equipment to take advantage of a 10Gb network or stay with the 1Gb. What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

MuxLab has the most complete line of AV-over-IP solutions, and we’re refining it all the time. All of our models are controlled by a single central controller that vastly simplifies tasks such as

What if your customers didn’t know it was networked AV?

• Fast, seamless switching between sources - <10 ms • Encoder grouping for auto input switching • Audio, video, USB, and Control routing

OmniStreamTM Advanced AV routing without the complexity

atlona.com

discovery, configuration, firmware upgrades, and access and control. Our solutions are competitively priced, and integrators have access to our internal technical support and our engineers for expertise when they need it.

QSC

TRENT WAGNER, AUDIO PRODUCT MANAGER Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

1Gb. Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

Until capacity or scale demands it, and until 10Gb infrastructure is widespread and cost-effective, 1Gb is sufficient to conform to the needs and standards of most modern AV transports. That said, 10Gb and 40Gb do have a place in larger facilities for uses outside of AV devices. At this point in the industry, the cost-benefit tradeoffs just don’t make sense for the application.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

A 10Gb infrastructure may be required at the core depending upon central capacity, trunking, or aggregation needs, or for heavy or unoptimized video transports. For general processing and endpoints in the system, 1Gb is still sufficient for most organizations.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

The QSC Q-SYS Ecosystem is the only integrated audio, video, and control platform in the industry that’s built on standard off-the-shelf IT hardware and network infrastructure, allowing it to easily integrate with other IT platforms. It offers a flexible software foundation that scales simply and cost effectively, while reducing the need for dedicated hardware and eliminating the complex integration workarounds that are common to traditional AV&C solutions. Furthermore, by utilizing a native Q-SYS system across the entire signal chain,

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end users can take advantage of a system that was built to work together, offering greater system stability and maximized system performance.

ROSE ELECTRONICS

MIKE ROHAL, MARKETING MANAGER Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

With so many diverse applications, use cases for both 1Gb and 10Gb networks exist. Displays for digital signage, or video walls and servers, or control computers are typically 1080p and run well on 1Gb networks. Advanced desktops, eyelevel kiosks, medical, broadcast, and industrial are 4K or migrating to it and can benefit from 10Gb networks. Ultimately, one must consider the main driver of the system, be it performance (resolution and latency), cost, display type, or cabling. Certain features may apply only to one speed, such as a multiviewer function on 10Gb and PoE on 1Gb networks.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

For existing installations, the decision on network speed is often made by the cabling. New installations should go to 10Gb cabling, on which 1Gb infrastructure can still be run. If certain applications are too slow due to a network bottleneck, then a cost-versus-benefit decision must be made.

In time, migration to a higher bandwidth will naturally occur due to lowered pricing and massmarket acceptance.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

Rose offers three different AV-over-IP systems with varying price points and features. Control is done by a central network app or local keyboard and mouse. USB peripherals, serial, and infrared are standard. To achieve the optimum solution, some installations utilize other products such as

matrix or KVM switches, AOC cables, or other extenders and video processing products. Since Rose is willing to customize its products and has very long product life cycles, the customer can create streamlined systems that perform and last for years.

SILEX INSIGHT

TOM VANTHUYNE, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both, as well as for 2.5Gb networks.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

As mentioned, we’re not giving more focus to the 1Gb or 10Gb solution. We are offering both (also the 2.5Gb) and it really depends on the implementation of the solution what we recommend.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

Seen from a pure budget constraint, we would recommend 1Gb; this is a cheaper implementation as the switches and cabling are less expensive.

Again, it really depends on each use case. If there is a need for a lot of data transfer, then 10Gb is of course needed.

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

We are already offering many benefits using our solutions, with ongoing development of new features. These include zero latency of less than 3ms; support for various codecs including our own in-house video codec (JPEG 2000, VC-2 HQ); AES 256 encryption for maximum security; HDCP compliance; enterprise-grade 802.1x authentication; scalable forward-error correction to support poor IT infrastructure; SMPTE 2110 open-standard AV transport and uncompressed audio through AES67 protocol; HDR support for standards such as Dolby Vision; and over-the-air updates for already installed units.

ZEEVEE

BOB MICHAELS, CEO Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

Both.

Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

We’ve made the decision not to choose, and instead focus on customer needs. Based upon the requirements we have seen over the last six years, 10Gb solutions deliver uncompressed video just like a traditional matrix switch. In fact, in numerous deployments, the color depth, pixel quality, and latency associated with uncompressed 4K that runs over a 10Gb network is the only suitable direction to meet customer expectations. Having a 1Gb solution is beneficial when an end user does not have the capacity to move to a 10Gb infrastructure. Even for some of our 1Gb deployments, a 10Gb infrastructure can prove beneficial for campus-wide video distribution.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

Much of the attention in the 1Gb-versus-10Gb debate has been focused on cost, but the delta between the two is not as significant after a full assessment of a customer’s needs.

For those looking for a solution that offers the ability to distribute uncompressed video with sub-millisecond latency, more attention needs to be directed at the per-port cost-effectiveness of IP versus HDbaseT. A 10Gb solution may also provide costeffective futureproofing as end users’ needs change.

products. ZeeVee is a founding member of the SDVoE Alliance and one of the first manufacturers to offer these products. Where many manufacturers have been introducing AV-over-IP products in the last two years, our third generation line of awardwinning HD to Ultra-HD/4K solutions for the pro AV and IT marketplace have been battle-tested, honed, and shaped by end users and integrators for more than five years and are serving users on five continents in a variety of challenging applications—including operating room theaters, higher education, large enterprises, museums, retail, bars and restaurants, and even high-end residential and yachts. Our management platform requires no programming nor training, enabling integrators and end users to configure a system in minutes.

ZIGEN

VANESSA ZITZMANN, MARKETING & SALES Is your networked AV product roadmap designed for 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet networks?

10Gb. Why have you chosen to focus on 1Gb/10Gb? What are the benefits of your choice and the drawbacks of the other?

To have the virtually zero latency and 1:1 compression

that Zigen is known for, we utilize a 10Gb network. We chose to focus on engineering the 10Gb network because we believe in developing the highest quality product to allow our engineers to think outside the box and bring the best possible solution to market without constraints. The benefits of a 10Gb network versus a 1Gb are based on the needs of the application. The 10Gb network allows our solution to have 1:1 (up to 1.4:1 at 4K60) compression of data, which translates to better video and audio quality. 10Gb provides sufficient bandwidth margin that enables us to include other enhanced protocols including AES67, USB 2.0, and 1Gb Ethernet to share the same AV-over-IP network. 10Gb will also allow room for growth within the application and future technology, allowing you to be on the front end of expanding the network as the technology evolves.

Which choice makes the most sense for organizations with budget constraints but increasing videoconferencing, data transfer, and virtualization needs?

When it comes to the decision on 1Gb verses 10Gb, it depends on what the organization is looking for in terms of quality of audio, video, size of the application, future growth of the company (need for more bandwidth) and the expectations they have on the solution’s performance. The perceived sticker shock on a 10Gb network can be smoothed over when the limitations of the 1Gb network are explained and the additional costs that will be accrued to compensate.

“In numerous deployments, the color depth, pixel quality, and latency associated with uncompressed 4K that runs over a 10Gb network is the only suitable direction to meet customer expectations.”

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-overIP solution?

No other company has the experience or has made the investment we have in developing AV-over-IP

—Bob Michaels, ZeeVee

What is the value proposition for AV/IT managers with your AV-over-IP solution?

The value proposition for Zigen’s IP-Logic solution is simply that our patent-pending technology integrates both SDVoE and AES67 on the same network, thereby reducing network infrastructure cost. Any managed 10Gb switch will work with our platform, allowing the dealer to choose. Having Zigen’s new audio matrix (AV over IP) on the same control graphical user interface will also save time, space, and money in your installation. The IP-Logic is a one-stop AV-over-IP solution.

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Smart Power The latest in power conditioning products for mission-critical environments

By James Careless No matter how advanced AV equipment becomes, it is useless if the electricity powering it is erratic and surge-ridden, resulting in inconsistent performance and even outright failure if the sensitive circuits within get fried. This is why power conditioning products such as Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSes) are so central to building reliable AV infrastructure operations—especially when it comes to sustaining mission-critical environments.

AV Technology spoke with leading manufacturers of power conditioning products to learn how their latest breed of connected solutions are helping to increase the uptime and longevity of AV equipment— and making tech managers’ lives easier, too.

THE LATEST TRENDS According to the experts, remotely monitoring/ controlling power supply quality, extending power conditioning to every space that uses AV equipment, and managing electrical voltages in all aspects are the big trends influencing power conditioning products today.

“The latest trends are IP monitoring, control, and network pings,” said Christos Desalernos, product manager, power, at Nortek Security & Control. “The ability to monitor the integrity of the power can help the tech managers be proactive if they see a voltage abnormality. With cloudbased monitoring systems such as Panamax’s BlueBOLT, you have power history that you can take to your client and in turn possibly take it to the utility company so they can rectify the situation.”

“The rise of telecommuting and remote offices/ workers has placed increased emphasis on conference spaces, and AV and collaboration systems,” added Lauren Simmer, director of marketing for AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection’s SurgeX. Essentially, every single space that uses AV equipment requires power conditioning to keep it safe—no matter how small.

“Within the commercial AV industry, there’s increasing concern not only for over-voltage but

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under-voltage as well,” said Nyron Kahrim, applications specialist for Middle Atlantic Products’ Legrand AV Division. “This is a trend that’s born from the industry’s evolution from analog to digital devices, which are very sensitive to power variations and require extremely clean power.”

WHAT TECH MANAGERS ARE ASKING FOR Just as important as the trends driving power conditioning technology are the needs of the AV technical directors who use this equipment. So what are they asking for?

“Middle Atlantic is seeing more growth in our UPS line due to tech managers wanting the benefit of not only backup during power outages but also a clean power supply and, subsequently, a longer device life cycle,” Kahrim said. “They also want a system that can log and deliver data on power

anomalies and system responses, so they can stay informed about the health of their AV systems.”

Tech managers are also interested in “power foundations.” These are electrical supply systems to AV equipment that have power conditioning already built in, ensuring that everything that gets plugged is protected from voltage issues. “To protect their equipment and avoid system downtime, tech managers are prioritizing power foundations,” Simmer said.

Remote power monitoring is proving popular with tech managers, who find that “the ability to ping devices on a network and tie that into a conditional reboot is invaluable,” Desalernos said.

“They can contact their client letting them know that there was a network issue and that it has been resolved; although, in most cases the client was not aware there was an issue. Now the tech manager has the client on the phone and they can ask

With cloud-based monitoring systems such as Panamax’s BlueBOLT, tech managers have access to power history.

SurgeX products combine true surge elimination, EMI/RFI filtration, and diagnostic intelligence to help tech managers diagnose, monitor, and protect their systems.

Middle Atlantic’s patented Series Protection power distribution solution uses a microprocessor that more closely monitors voltage.

if there are any other services that they need at that time—thus, a soft sales pitch.”

PRODUCTS THAT STAND OUT The companies who spoke to AVT for this article all sell power conditioning products for AV. So we asked them what features made their offerings stand out from the competition.

“Middle Atlantic’s patented Series Protection power distribution solution uses a sophisticated microprocessor that more closely monitors voltage,” Kahrim said. “If a power anomaly occurs, it will turn the device off when voltage exceeds plus or minus 1 percent of the predefined threshold and turn it back on only when it’s within that very limited voltage window.”

“Middle Atlantic is also a pioneer in automatic power restoration, saving the AV tech manager the extra task of manually turning on systems that were shut down,” he added. “Our intelligent power capabilities are also an option in our UPS units, which are being used more frequently for power conditioning.”

According to Nortek Security & Control’s Desalernos, “Panamax and Furman are the leaders in mission-critical surge suppression and design comprehensive filters that filter out all AC line noise that comes from the utility companies and

noise from devices within the system. What sets us apart is that our devices are also compatible with LAN (Local Area Network) control. This allows our products to be specified in high-security applications where cloud-based systems are unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection’s SurgeX products “combine true surge elimination, EMI/RFI filtration, and unsurpassed diagnostic intelligence to help tech managers diagnose, monitor, and protect the sensitive and critical systems of their business,” Simmer said.

“SurgeX’s patented Advanced Series Mode technology eliminates surges, rather than suppressing surge energy, so that no harmful spikes are let through to devices. The multi-stage technology never degrades, as it doesn’t rely on self-sacrificial Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) technology.”

MAKING LIFE EASIER AV tech managers like power conditioning products that make their working lives easier. After all, there’s more than enough problems for them to cope with in managing audio and video, without having to worry about power too.

Middle Atlantic said it eases tech managers’ lives by including Internet of Things (IoT) network connectivity in its power conditioning products.

“IoT solutions are game changers for AV tech managers,” Kahrim said. “Not only can they monitor and control AV systems from anywhere, but they can do so more efficiently and effectively than ever before. Our products are also engineered with tomorrow in mind, allowing organizations to

expand the capabilities of their power protection system as their needs grow or to unlock new ones as technology continues to evolve—all without purchasing, installing, or managing additional hardware.

AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection points to enhanced customer contact as its way of destressing tech managers.”SurgeX stays in tune with market needs through communication and support for AV integrators and tech managers in the space to continually support smooth facility operation,” Simmer said. “Our current product portfolio and technologies can support a wide variety of installations, and our team supports integrators with design help and education to create adequate power foundations.”

Finally, Nortek Security & Control power conditioning products allow tech managers to be more efficient, cost effective, and proactive, “which increases their value to their customers while increasing profitability for the firm,” Desalernos said. “The real magic happens with our ELAN Management Cloud coupled with Panamax and Furman devices, [which gives users one point of access] to the network and all the items that reside on said network.”

THE BOTTOM LINE Today’s power conditioning products are meant to make power management systems more farreaching, protective, and easier to reset. There’s no reason for AV equipment to fail due to power spikes any more—the solutions are out there.

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Userful’s control room video wall helps make critical decisions to ensure efficient operation of public transport in the city of Malaga, Spain.

Uptime, All the Time The Intersection of Mission-Critical Facilities, Tech, and People

By Carolyn Heinze The Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Conroe, TX serves as a centralized hub for data analysis and the management of response efforts related to large-scale events and natural disasters. The facility— which serves as a resource for government agencies—recently upgraded its AV/IT systems with the deployment of a Christie Terra SDVoE (Software Defined Video over Ethernet) solution, which enables signal distribution to any displays in the EOC, via 10Gb Ethernet.

Chris Lawson, regional vice president at Conference Technologies out of St. Louis, MO, the AV design and integration firm charged with deploying the solution, said that prior to this project, the Montgomery EOC was equipped with a fixed chassis system that limited the number of sources and options for distributing information. “It was important for them to be able to add sources and displays, and push information

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to them in real time with low latency in any arrangement of video and data required,” he said.

“Choosing Terra enabled that.”

While scalability and flexibility are high priorities for anyone charged with deploying AV support for mission-critical facilities, so too is the question of uptime. When one considers that a two-hour period of internet downtime can wreak significant havoc in a small to mid-sized business,

it can be downright catastrophic in organizations responsible for dealing with situations that come down to a matter of life and death. But how can tech managers guarantee that their mission-critical systems will indeed work 24/7?

For Sumanth Rayancha, CTO at PepperDash Technology Corp., an enterprise AV solutions provider headquartered in Salem, MA, it starts with accepting that they won’t. “Everybody on the team

has to understand that you define the nance to keep things up and running. to.” If the tech is 100-percent redundant, but only goal as the system never going down, “The other problem that we’ve run a limited number of team members know how but the reality is, at some point the into is where the customer builds to operate it, eventually there will be problems, system will go down,” he said. And, out the system and then the system he added. he added, the general rule is that sits there,” Rayancha said. In this sceAnother issue that exists in mission-critical system failures will occur when one nario, the technology is performing deployments is the tendency to over-engineer least expects them to. “The first part well during relatively calm periods, solutions in order to compensate for potential is, regardless of what you’re doing but when “the customer has a real failures, Rayancha noted. “The problem with from a technical standpoint, you emergency and then they discover a that is eventually, your engineered solutions for have to be operationally prepared for problem, processes and procedures failure are more likely to cause a failure than to Sumanth Rayancha the downtime.” aren’t set up to actually work through actually help you through one,” he said. OneThe key word here, Rayancha the room properly.” Regular testing hundred percent redundancy is one way people underlined, is “operationally”—it’s and maintenance contribute to pre- try to address failure, which isn’t necessarily a not enough to have all the right venting this situation. good approach when it comes to AV. “Part of the equipment in place unless those Daniel Griffin is vice president problem is, a lot of the equipment that we deal operating it have prepared for an of marketing at Userful, a visual net- with isn’t designed for redundancy—not for true, inevitable failure. “You can’t just actiworking platform developer head- active/active fail-over scenarios,” Rayancha said. vate the room and [only] use the quartered in San Ramon, CA. He “People will try to engineer their way around room when you have an emergenargues that his company’s software- one, but there’s a reason [these solutions] don’t cy,” he said. Instead, mission-critical based solution contributes to main- always exist off the shelf—they’re difficult to operations center teams should hold taining uptime because it’s built on build.” Sometimes, he added, the best workdrills that simulate failures and how Daniel Griffin the same standards that tech manag- around is simpler: move the entire team to to best respond to them. “You need ers are used to working with—thus, another equally equipped mission-critical space to be drilling, you need to be preparkeeping things simple. “What needs down the hall. ing for failure.” He said that in his to be paid more attention is the At PepperDash—a technology firm, after all— experience, the two industries that human side,” he said. “What hap- tech obviously plays a key role in mission-critical have the most experience with this pens when you’ve made things so deployments, but it’s not necessarily the silver approach are broadcast (where dead complicated that only one engineer bullet. “It comes back to the human aspect of it, air equals disaster), and the military understands how your video wall especially in circumstances where you have lives (whose job is to deal with disaster). works? Keep this standards-based, on the line,” Rayancha said. “If you’re not menOf course, it’s also necessary to simple, and intuitive, and operating tally prepared for that, the technology is not going select the right equipment for the on the infrastructure every other IT to get you out of that situation.” job. “What we’ve seen from time to Howard Nunes person in the world is accustomed Carolyn Heinze is a freelance writer/editor. time is that people stick with what they know, and what they know depending on who the team is—and that might be conference rooms,” Rayancha said. “Typical conference room equipment might be good for a lot of circumstances, but it might not be the right product for One of the best ways to ensure uptime (almost) all the time is to drill team members on what to do when the syssomething that’s really meant to be 24/7 mission tem fails. Usually, this starts with defining likely failure scenarios, and then creating run books that detail things critical.” like who is responsible for what; what must be visible in the room at all times; and what outside sources—such as This means that not only the technology has teleconferences—are implicated. Then, the AV/IT manager activates the failure scenario, and team members run to be high-performing; so too does the manufacturer’s support team. While IT managers are through simulations.

Sumanth Rayancha, CTO at PepperDash Technology Corp., uses an example from the oil and gas sector: “They accustomed to purchasing service-level contracts that include benefits such as parts replacement have specific emergencies that they know they’ll have to deal with—it could be a natural disaster, it could be drill within two hours, this isn’t always possible with rig problems—and they simulate it,” he said. “They run through: this is happening here—what do you do? And the AV equipment. The solution: having cold spares operators in the room have to keep it together and do what they’re supposed to do, which could be: call this peron hand. “You figure out what has the heaviest son up and get a video feed so we know what’s going on from here.” hitting impact if you have a failure, keep spares “It’s basically scenario or business case-based,” said Howard Nunes, CEO at PepperDash. “And the concept of around, and have your team trained on replacethe run book is a very important one, where you define ahead of time what the likely scenarios are that you’ll have ment,” Rayancha said.

As is the case with conducting drills, it’s also to face, and how you would address them, and then run drills against that. And the drill may not be perfect—your necessary to perform regular preventative mainte- predictions may not be perfect—but you’re at least somewhat prepared.”

—C.H.

The Will to Drill

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SEEING IT ALL

MeetYour Manager

BEHIND THE AV IN FISHTECH GROUP’S WORLD-CLASS CYBERSECURITY NOC

By Matt Pruznick

A

s audiovisual technology pervades our lives to an everincreasing degree, it often falls into two categories: things designed to solve problems, and stuff engineered to amaze. Occasionally, though, there comes a special integration that does both equally. Fishtech Group’s cybersecurity operations center (CSOC) is one such installation.

The Kansas City, MO-based data-driven cybersecurity solutions provider recently opened a world-class facility packed with tech designed to both serve the company’s clients and wow new ones. And the centerpiece is a massive, 32-foot-diagonal video wall, on which the company’s security analysts vigilantly monitor threats.

“Our clients are blown away by the Cyber Defense Center,” said Andy Jones, Fishtech director of digital solutions. “Most people have never seen anything like it here in the Midwest; it’s pretty remarkable.”

DETECTING POTENTIAL CEO Gary Fish founded Fishtech Group in 2016 as a successor to his previous company, FishNet Security, which was primarily a product retailer. Fish wanted his new venture to capitalize on the broader services side of cybersecurity as well.

“Fishtech is focused on services,” said Matt Skeen, director of information technology. “We take an overarching approach to our customers’ challenges. And rather than just throwing a product at the problem, we provide a solution and the path to get there.”

In addition to this consultative branch and the company’s product vendor business, the third arm of the group is CYDERES—an acronym for cyber defense and response.

“CYDERES uses a security-as-a-service platform as a managed SIEM [security information and event management],” said Skeen, who has worked in enterprise IT for more than a decade, including at FishNet. “The platform ingests logs across various different security technology platforms, so analysts can provide feedback to our customers about potential security threats and vulnerabilities. Often times, we then take action on a manual and automated level to mitigate those threats.”

A NEW VISION To execute the CYDERES branch of the company required a new space,

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Andy Jones

Matt Skeen

and Fishtech began planning the facility two years ago. The 20,000-square-foot operations center, which sits next to the company’s main headquarters, was to feature open-concept work spaces, private offices, meeting rooms, an executive briefing center, and, of course, the CSOC with its massive 7-by-7 video wall.

“Gary [Fish] envisioned a security operations center that other companies could enlist rather than having their own,” Jones said. “And he wanted to build one bigger and better than any before it. Hence the two-story video wall, which, really, the whole SOC was built around that video wall concept.” Jones, who began his AV career doing high-end residential integration and has worked with Fish for more than a decade, took on the task of leading the installation of the wall.

With a project this size, the process involved more than just hanging displays. “I worked closely with the engineering

Fishtech’s new 20,000-square-foot operations center features a 32-foot-diagonal video wall composed of 49 55-inch Barco UniSee panels.

firm pre-construction to ensure that we really bolstered that wall that it’s mounted to,” Jones said. “I also worked closely with the electrical and HVAC engineering firms to ensure ample power and avoid creating a furnace on the wall. That space has to be comfortable for employees to work in as well as for clients to visit and use.”

Jones and the HVAC company created a system with ventilation below an elevated floor, and a suction system at the ceiling that pulls hot air up from behind the video wall.

Jones also underwent a nearly yearlong process of evaluating options for the wall displays. “We wanted something that was easily serviceable, that looked great, and that was reliable,” he said. He eventually settled on Barco’s UniSee. “You can slide the wall up, pull a screen out, and just pop it back in if you have to. With a wall that size, everything has to be laser perfect.”

Another challenge remained: enabling current and prospective clients to view the opera-

tions center without seeing private customer information on the analysts’ computer screens.

“The solution was to put a viewing platform in that room above our analysts,” Jones said.

“Our potential clients can now walk within that viewing platform. They can see the huge screen and even interact with a nearby touchscreen on a podium. They get to see this state-of-the-art facility and we don’t reveal any proprietary or sensitive data.”

SECURING THE SECURITY As a cybersecurity company, it was paramount that the screens in the CSOC not only stayed operational, but that the signals feeding them would be impervious to threats as well.

“The video wall was mission critical to our CSOC environment,” Skeen said. “The data displayed on that screen is potentially customer-impacting—from alerting to our managed SIEM platform. We had to ensure that that those screens would always be up, and that the data transferred to those screens was always

secure. We took a 5,000-foot view to see how we could architect that not only securely but efficiently and effectively.”

Through the company’s established relationship with Crestron, they were aware of its NVX AV-over-IP platform. “NVX could provide not only government-grade security around the actual networking side of the house, but also reliability and availability in the ways they actually manage that product,” Skeen said.

“Crestron NVX’s security definitely went above and beyond what we were looking for.”

MEETING NEEDS Crestron solutions permeate the rest of the facility as well. With only a little more than 100 out of the company’s 220-odd employees based in the CSOC, robust conferencing capability was key.

“We use Crestron for scheduling our conference and huddle rooms and managing the content,” Jones said. “Screens in all those areas allow employees to bring their own device and

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just plug right in.” The team settled on Zoom Rooms with Crestron Flex hardware, including its wall-mount UC Video Conference Smart Soundbar & Camera, and displays from Sharp, LG, and Christie. “Zoom Rooms fit pretty well for some of our large conference spaces, where 10 to 20 clients at a time sit in a room and talk remotely to their remote staff and our remote staff.”

Of course, standardization is crucial. “We needed it to be the same user experience in every room, for the most part,” Jones said.

“We’re still kind of tweaking it and improving it constantly, but we’re doing pretty good keeping that user experience the same everywhere.”

Jones said that Fishtech is currently considering migrating from Zoom to Microsoft Teams, as the company uses Microsoft Office 365 for the rest of its communications.

To ensure the technology would be well received by employees, Jones and Skeen took a proactive approach to developing a training regimen. “When we built out the building, we went to our facilities team and said ‘Sit down in these rooms and let’s go through how it works,’” Skeen said. “Consequently, we developed a five-step process of things to do to make the rooms work.”

BRAND BUILDING In addition to the CSOC video wall, Fishtech’s new facility has another room to show off what the company is all about, the executive briefing center (EBC). “There’s a stage in there, and eight restored cars—our owner is a car guy,” Jones said. “We have professional stage lighting, video presentation equipment from Blackmagic, microphones, and more.” The centerpiece is a large Christie LED wall, and the space is used for various purposes, including events that are livestreamed, called “Disruption Theater.”

“Our marketing team uses the theater to record Fishtech initiatives and expert panels; we record it and put that out,” Jones said.

These videos are published to YouTube and Vimeo, and occasionally broadcasted leveraging Zoom’s livestreaming capabilities. The space is also used for internal all-hands meetings.

REFINING THE SYSTEMS Since opening in early 2019, the reception to the facility has been overwhelmingly positive.

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Above: The company’s executive briefing center, which is used to host livestreamed events, features stage lighting, video presentation equipment from Blackmagic, microphones, and a large Christie LED wall.

Left: Fishtech standardized its conference room setup with Zoom Rooms, Crestron Flex hardware, and displays from Sharp, LG, and Christie.

Beyond the amazement experienced by clients on their tours, Skeen said the employees have been happy with their new systems as well.

“The Crestron systems and scheduling outside of all our conferencing rooms makes it absolutely fantastic for our end users who need to have an impromptu meeting,” he said. “And having the same technology within each of those rooms makes the end-user experience repeatable and efficient every time they go into those rooms.”

Naturally, no technology implementation is without its issues. “Things will never go 100-percent smoothly,” Skeen said. “Even though we’ve documented and trained users, there’s still some challenges.” Another issue revolved around the hundreds of Crestron endpoints across the company’s multiple facil-

ities—a challenge that’s being addressed using Crestron XiO Cloud management platform.

“Before XiO Cloud there was no way to centrally manage those well, from a software upgrade, a firmware upgrade, a code upgrade perspective,” Skeen said. “We believe XiO Cloud will be able to solve a lot of the challenges we had from an implementation perspective. The ability to centrally manage all of those devices more effectively is a huge win for us.”

Looking a step further down the road, Jones said he’d like to see a platform like XiO Cloud that could aid in the management of all the devices under his purview. “We are constantly leveraging and interfacing with 160 cameras, IP-controlled door access system, security system, Four Winds Interactive digital content management for our signage, and many other platforms,” he said. “We’re always looking for a better solution to manage all of that together.”

THE TECHNOLOGY MANAGER’S GUIDE TO

COMMAND AND CONTROL

IMAGE: SAMSUNG

Featuring

4 ADVANCED VIDEO WALLS AND CONTROLLERS 4 NEXT-GEN KVM TECHNOLOGY 4 MAINTAINING NETWORK SECURITY 4 CASE STUDIES AND NEW PRODUCTS

sponsored by

BLACK BOX • HALL RESEARCH • TVONE

from the editors of

Editor’s Note [by Cindy Davis]

A COMMANDING ADVANTAGE Today’s command and control centers and NOCs are more demanding than ever. Security cameras spread throughout buildings, campuses, and cities enable teams to parse more data at speeds never seen before. Video walls and controllers are enabling large screen real estate to be more attainable for facilities that need to monitor an immense amount of information simultaneously. The latest generation of KVM technologies make it easier for operators respond more swiftly. The migration to IP technologies is streamlining processes, but what does that mean for security of critical information?

This guide takes a look at the evolution of technology for one of the most important verticals that the AV industry furnishes. From features that explore the latest platforms for managing and operating video walls and keeping them secure, to case studies of upgrades by prominent organizations, to new products that get the job done, these pages are a must-read for technology managers looking to bolster their command and control operations. nager’s nology Ma The Tech

of Noventri.

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Table of Contents Editor’s Note........................................................................................................................................................................26

FEATURES All Together.......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Agile Action.........................................................................................................................................................................30 Ready and Resilient............................................................................................................................................................ 32 Control in Action.................................................................................................................................................................34 Products to Monitor............................................................................................................................................................36

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COMMAND AND CONTROL

All Together

By Cindy Davis Government facilities and public works entities require an immense amount of information to ensure the efficient and unbroken operation of their services—and they need a streamlined way of analyzing and acting upon that data. “In such a highstakes environment where missioncritical decisions are made constantly, temporary hiccups stemming from display technology performance malfunctions are not an option,” said Brett Farley, director of strategic business development at NanoLumens.

Networked digital display systems, with the ability to consolidate countless inputs of data into one versatile platform, provide the most reliable information distribution ecosystem.

“The primary reason why federal facilities and public works organizations will reap so much utility from the incorporation of networked display solutions is because these groups are responsible for such sprawling matrices of operation that require constant communication,” Farley said.

“Communicating in real time with every part of this sprawl is absolutely necessary, but to this point it has proven too tall a task for traditional display solutions.” Information just simply isn’t being accessed and distributed quickly and easily enough. A networked large-format digital display system is ideal for this challenge because it enables a command and control center to not only assess and act on information from each data point in their matrix, but also allows operators to see these workings as part of the same uninterrupted image.

“The internal digitized network of a display

MATROX

Today’s video walls and video wall controllers are making large screen real estate more attainable than ever.

Metsä Fibre, part of the Metsä Group, is the world’s largest producer and seller of softwood pulp through its new bioproduct mill in located in Äänekoski, Finland. Metsa Fibre’s control room powered by Matrox has a 6.5-meter-long, 12-monitor video wall that enhances collaborative decision-making by displaying crucial process control information for everyone to visualize at the same time.

system is where the majority of its communicative efficacy is derived,” Farley said. “But let’s not forget that sometimes the best way to get a handle on the whole picture is to actually see the whole picture. Networked large-format display systems allow for exactly that.” Visualizing the entire scope of an organization on a single uninterrupted display will make performance patterns easier to identify and will streamline the problem-solving process if and when issues arise.

The higher the resolution of the display, the more detail you can zoom in on, if the data is there. “When you’re dealing with enormous files of data that you want to visualize, you need a display platform that can accommodate such size,” Farley said. “And beyond the obvious practical

in-house benefits of a video wall, the ‘wow factor’ makes a big difference in inspiring potential and current employees and setting the tone for the building and organization.”

AN EXPLOSION OF DATA Video walls in command and control rooms can be driven by a standard user workstation to power small multiviewer or personal videos walls, or by a custom-built, high-density video wall controller to power ultra-large configurations.

“As we see an explosion of available data points, it is important to note a video wall’s capability to be able to capture and display all of this information,” said Mariane Kim, product manager, Matrox Graphics. These data points come

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COMMAND AND CONTROL DATAPATH

To monitor the Automated People Mover (APM) Control Centre at the Greater Toronto Airport Authority, ICON Media Communications created a large, near-seamless video wall canvas using eight Samsung 55-inch video wall displays, with 3.5mm bezel-to-bezel seams arranged in a 4x2 landscape pattern. A Datapath VSN1172 video wall controller was chosen for its ease of use and flexibility.

from a variety of sources such as DisplayPort, HDMI, SDI, or IP. “The ability for a video wall system to capture and consolidate many different types of sources to display onto a single video wall significantly increases efficiency while lowering costs,” Kim said. Similarly, the flexibility for the system to have high-density outputs allows for visualization on many displays, enabling larger screen real estate.

It is important to also take into account other capabilities such as streaming and recording.

“Streaming capabilities increase value as they enable the sharing and visualization of entire video walls in real time from remote locations— whether they are within the same facility or halfway around the world—and allow decisionmakers to determine the best course of action,” Kim said. Similarly, recording allows users to review material, either the complete session or at certain timestamps, and can aid in training or data verification. “Not only is it important to stream or record the entire video wall but homing in on specific regions of interest can be critical as well,” Kim said. Region-of-interest streaming and recording support allows users to decide what portion of the video wall can be streamed or recorded. These features allow for the distribution of the video

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wall content and can drastically increase the value derived from such video walls.

“When it comes to video walls, versatile products must be chosen to manage all use cases and meet current and future requirements without compromise,” Kim said.

SCALING THE VIDEO WALL Unless a facility is building a new control center, it is unlikely to receive a fork-lift renovation of mission-critical AV equipment. “There are a lot of existing control centers that were deployed one, two, three decades ago,” said Anthony Ferreira, solutions engineer at ICON Media Communications, a division of Ontario-based Icon Digital. “They’re not going to be able to shut down for two weeks and completely rewire everything.”

Such was the case for a recent ICON Media project at the Greater Toronto Airport Authority in Ontario. The Automated People Mover (APM) Control Centre hadn’t been upgraded in nearly 30 years. The upgrade was done in two phases to minimize downtime.

The first phase involved the replacement of 14 small 4:3 displays that were fed analog video content through multiviewers, which were then quad-split to each display, Ferreira said. ICON cre-

ated a large, near-seamless video wall canvas using eight Samsung 55-inch video wall displays, with 3.5mm bezel-to-bezel seams arranged in a 4x2 landscape pattern.

“The client wanted to be able to resize any of the camera feeds into whatever size they wanted on the video wall canvas,” Ferreira said. Varying window sizes helps prioritize images displayed on the wall. “Some larger regions of the wall are used to display the more important cameras needed to monitor on a regulator basis.” The remaining cameras are displayed in smaller areas around the canvas. A Datapath VSN1172 video wall controller was chosen for its ease of use and flexibility.

During the second phase of the upgrade, more than 50 analog video cameras feeding the video wall will slowly be replaced with IP cameras.

Ferreira said, “Datapath’s architecture is designed so you can select the type of input and output sources or target devices that you want to connect, and order and replace the appropriate input and output cards.”

In addition to replacing the old system, the new displays required extending the digital output signals from Datapath via HD baluns. Ferreira ensured his client that it would be easy to configure new layouts in the future.

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COMMAND AND CONTROL SAMSUNG

From large video walls, to individual workstations, control room displays must be able to show even the most minute details to ensure nothing is missed. Samsung’s control room display solutions feature cutting-edge picture quality with unmatched brightness, contrast and 8K resolution to ensure leaders don’t miss any important details.

Agile Action The latest generation of KVM technologies are making it easier for command and control and NOCs to operate more swiftly.

By Cindy Davis Command and control rooms increasingly rely on IP-based systems to enable distribution of data and high-quality, high-resolution content. A KVM platform with support for IP-based, proprietary, or mixed KVM transmission allows for convenient and secure high-speed access to all sources, whether physical or virtual. While providing access to data in a safe and protected environment, the platform must offer enough flexibility and scalability to accommodate changing requirements and new technologies.

AGILE “One challenge that comes with this shift to an IP-based signal distribution and connectivity platform is to ensure that the system deployed allows for agile operation and administration, with the resiliency essential in mission-critical environments,” said John Hickey, senior director, KVM and pro AV business at Black Box. The latest generation of KVM platforms makes it easier for command and control and network operation centers (NOCs) to operate with agility.

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“They do more than support the switching and extension of video, audio, and USB data across a facility or between sites,” Hickey said. “Designed to be user- and administrator-centric, these solutions offer intuitive controls while eliminating the need to worry about how to use the system, e.g. through intuitive user interfaces and central, remote system management.”

Compatibility with touchscreen and AV control systems simplifies integration with existing systems, and user-friendly GUIs replace old text-

based on-screen displays for more intuitive control. “Providing high-resolution video and access to USB peripherals at zero control latency, state-ofthe-art KVM systems also offer users the feel and performance of a directly connected computer,” Hickey said. “Supporting multiple-PC desktop workflows and eliminating any redundant input and control devices, the KVM system allows operators to focus more closely on their work rather than the gear supporting it.”

When equipped with a built-in management

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COMMAND AND CONTROL platform, IP-based KVM solutions make it easy for administrators to scale up the installed system and to connect it with other AV systems. “Central user access management and active directory support through just one platform add further to operational agility,” Hickey said.

FLEXIBILITY Command and control rooms and NOCs are adopting networked AV solutions and moving away from traditional matrix switchers for signal management. “Encoders, IP-enabled KVM extenders, and video wall controllers transporting signals over standard networking infrastructures—especially low-bitrate solutions that run on gigabit Ethernet—offer tremendous flexibility to connected control rooms,” said Caroline Injoyan, business development manager, Matrox Graphics.

Information is readily accessible as it is easy to send any source to any destination. “For example, the operator desktop can be shared on a central video wall, streamed to another facility or through a mobile device through a CDN—low bitrate is critical to reach longer distances and easily scale,” she said.

The number of signals that are managed in control rooms is on the rise. “These high-density installations need solutions that efficiently transport AV and control signals at low bitrates and maximize the available bandwidth by putting more streams on the network,” Injoyan said.

Today’s solutions need to simplify network management and boost scalability.

Injoyan noted a shift toward open-standardsbased technologies versus proprietary ones, citing broader interoperability with different endpoint devices. “This helps them to fully benefit from the flexibility and reach that an IP-enabled signal management solution offers,” she said. Standards are developed through the work of many stakeholders balancing the needs from many different technological perspectives. “Standards-based products tend to have a road map and evolution that provides much greater infrastructure migration benefits than anything based on a single supplier,” Injoyan added.

KVMs directly alleviate the space constraints faced in command and control rooms. “KVM solutions enable the design of ergonomic workspaces and improve the operator’s environment by removing noisy workstations from the control room and back-racking them in a secure server room, which frees up premium control room space,” Injoyan said. “The interoperability and integration of IP KVM solutions with video wall controllers becomes necessary for operators to easily share content on the video wall and create digital spaces for visualization and collaboration.”

SCALABILITY Control rooms are vital for various organizations to efficiently and effectively monitor multiple information streams and to make accurate mission-critical decisions. “With an ever-increasing number of content sources and applications to manage, in addition to collaborative information

integration needs, today’s control rooms need to enable system management that is efficient and cost-effective while at the same time offer maximum operator comfort,” said Aaron Johnson, senior product manager at ATEN Technology.

The major benefit of IP-based KVM in the control room is unlimited scalability and flexibility. “An IP-based KVM system also provides more extension options beyond traditional keyboard-monitor-mouse, including server sharing, video extension, and multicasting,” Johnson said.

“IP-based control units mean you can upgrade your IP management efficiency by increasing productivity and reducing operational costs. IP-based solutions that utilize TCP/IP for the communication protocol also allow control room operators to monitor, access, and troubleshoot control room assets from any location within the local network.”

Utilizing IP technology in control rooms for video, audio, and control data distribution and extension offers more flexibility and scalability for centralized or distributed control room operation. “In control room scenarios, the migration from direct-connected systems to those that make use of IP networks has had various advantages,” Johnson said, “mainly, that controllers can configure connectivity architecture and the overall size of the KVM installation based on specific requirements, and systems can be designed to accommodate large distances, high performance, and varying levels of system redundancy and resiliency.”

A Unified Solution The Emerald Unified KVM extension and matrix switching platform, developed and manufactured by Black Box, eliminates sacrificed performance, compromised solutions, and fractured networks. Emerald can be operated as a point-to-point extension or an IP-based KVM matrix switching system that supports HD and pixel-perfect 4K video signals, high-speed USB 2.0, and bidirectional analog audio. It provides access to both physical and virtual machines via RDP/RemoteFX or PCoIP. Emerald receivers and transmitters deliver video resolutions up to 4K60. The management GUI lets you choose from five video compression settings, including highly compressed (ca. 35Mbps, 1080p at 60Hz) and pixel perfect (450Mbps, 1080p at 60Hz).

Access VMware and Microsoft VMs over RDP 8.1/Remote FX or PCoIP in real time and provide a high-quality user experience across any given distance. By adding the VMs to a matrix setup, multiple users can switch seamlessly between various physical and virtual desktops without being able to tell the difference. Connecting VMs to the Emerald IP Switch eliminates the need for additional transmitter

BLACK BOX

units.

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COMMAND AND CONTROL

Ready and Resilient Organizations must ensure their network is secure and redundant so that connectivity mission critical information isn’t lost.

By Cindy Davis By ensuring the KVM network is secure and supports redundant network paths, administrators can protect against the loss of connectivity in critical situations.

“Network resiliency and transmission over fiber or secure KVM connection (i.e., NIAP certified) are essential,” said John Hickey, senior director, KVM and pro AV business at Black Box. Zero latency and low switching times are important, as they enable immediate response. “The latter also helps to optimize operator workflows by ensuring users lose neither time nor critical information,” he said. Support for non-IP based infrastructure and signal transmission may be needed if security concerns demand it or if switching time is critical.

A modern system also eliminates single points of failure. With KVM matrix setup information stored on all individual KVM devices, the connections between users and sources stay alive.

“IP-based KVM networks often incorporate dual network ports to allow for an immediate switchover to another IP switch in case one network switch fails,” Hickey said. “They also support pooling of resources so that instead of making connections to dedicated computers, operators connect to the next available machine within a larger pool of machines.”

A network management system makes the network even more resilient by giving users the ability to create alerts for events such as bandwidth consumption, user access, and extender status. “The use of dual network management devices to the system likewise further ensures network uptime,” Hickey said.

HIGH AVAILABILITY STRATEGY Organizations running critical systems for command and control or network operation centers (NOCs) need a high availability strategy for continuous operation. “This strategy includes build-

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ing a secure network, redundancies, and failover mechanisms for resiliency, to help them recover quickly in the event of a system failure,” said Caroline Injoyan, business development manager, Matrox Graphics. “In these, and in many other environments, IP KVM extenders are deployed to secure computer assets in server rooms and enable users to control them from a distance, so it’s essential that they help organizations build redundancy and fault tolerance into their installations, and remove single point of failures that disrupt operations.”

accidently or intentionally disconnected from the KVM network, or a KVM unit is taken offline, the rest of the KVM systems continue to operate.” An IP KVM solution that supports a distributed model will not become the cause for a single point of failure in the entire ecosystem.

“Key security features such as encryption, user management, and authentication further protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the systems that are part of the KVM network,” Injoyan said. IP KVM extenders that support encryption, such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES),

“A network management system makes the network even more resilient by giving users the ability to create alerts for events such as bandwidth consumption, user access, and extender status.”

— John Hickey, Black Box IP KVM extenders transport audio, video, and USB signals efficiently over standard networking infrastructures. “The inherent switching capability of IP KVM extenders is often used to build system redundancy,” Injoyan said. With support for many-to-one configurations, each remote user will have access to a main system, and the option to quickly switch to the backup unit when the main system fails. “IP KVM extenders should also be resilient to communication failures caused by either a faulty cable or network problem,” she said. Link redundancy enables an IP KVM extender to detect a communication failure and automatically switch to the backup interface, enabling operations to quickly resume with minimal downtime.

IP KVM solutions that support a distributed model help improve the resiliency of the overall KVM network. “In a distributed model, after the initial configuration of the KVM units, all device settings and parameters reside locally in each KVM unit,” Injoyan said. “If the computer system or server running the management software is

securely distribute audio, video, and USB signals over the IP network, and maintain the integrity of the transmitted data by preventing third-parties from modifying the content during transport.

“While there is no substitute for knowledge and responsible deployment efforts when it comes to securing networks, IP KVM extenders with key security and redundancy features help to align with an organization’s high-availability and security strategy,” Injoyan said.

CONFIDENCE For command and control use cases such as video extension, switching, video wall (cockpitstyle) management, and system control, a robust IP-based KVM platform offers numerous benefits—all from a single system, interface, and management console. “With confidence in system resiliency and enhanced agility in accessing and managing video and data sources, operators can dedicate their time and energy to critical control and monitoring tasks,” Black Box’s Hickey said.

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COMMAND AND CONTROL

Control in Action Case studies of exceptional implementations NANOLUMENS

The Sydney Trains Rail Operations Center (ROC) in Sydney, Australia features a NanoLumens Operational Visual Display Screen, a Performance Series display with a 1.6mm pixel pitch.

Measuring 106.4 feet wide by 11.8 feet tall, the display contains more than 41 million pixels.

ON TRACK The Sydney Trains agency in Sydney, Australia, embarked to optimize efficiency by merging six different monitoring locations into one central hub to more cohesively administer the day-today operations of its 178 stations, and ultimately enhance the passenger experience. The Rail Operations Centre (ROC), positioned near the Green Square Station in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Alexandria, had to be capable of receiving every piece of information Sydney Trains required to run its operation and deliver information to each of the estimated 100 staff members who will be working the ROC’s main floor.

The team from Sydney Trains engaged Australian integration firm Critical Room Solutions (CRS) and the technology consultant

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Digital Place Solutions (DPS). “Essentially, it’s like a NASA command and control center for the entire rail network,” said Gerry Thorley, the cofounder of DPS. The team went to work to identify the best solution for the “Operational Visual Display Screen” (OVDS) for the new ROC control center.

According to John Kimenkowski of CRS, “We presented the option of LED display technology for several reasons and once we made that pitch, NanoLumens quickly became the solutions provider of choice.”

The NanoLumens OVDS has transformed the way the new headquarters monitors the entire rail system. “The Operational Visual Display Screen plays a key role in providing the control center real-time information to make informed decisions with train operations, and incident and customer management,” said Tony Eid, executive director at

Sydney Trains. Referred to as the “WOW board,” the 106.4-foot-wide NanoLumens display contains the equivalent of 20 windows of full high-definition resolution without the need for scaling and occupies less space than any alternative display solution would have—especially projection cube walls. “For the first time in our history, we have managed to bring together and consolidate multiple control centers in the one location,” Eid added.

The NanoLumens OVDS allows ROC staff to control the entire network of trains, stations, tunnels, and railways for the millions of daily customers relying on Sydney Trains to deliver a safe and swift journey. “The NanoLumens wall is central to the main operations of this command and control center for the entire rail network,” Thorley said. “[It] provides the centerpiece for the continued world-class operation of this growing railway system.”

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COMMAND AND CONTROL Gassco, a Norwegian state-owned company that transports natural gas to Continental Europe and the United Kingdom, monitors its gas transports through pipelines that flow along the coasts of Western Europe—all from a central control room in Zeebrugge, Belgium.

A staff of about 30 people in Zeebrugge handles both Belgian and French gas deliveries from the 840-kilometer (522-mile) pipeline on the bottom of the sea.

A complete control room refurbishment project in 2008 included a large video wall and control room media management platform. Now OpSpace, Barco’s operator workspace solution, is also deployed at Gassco Zeebrugge.

“From our control room we monitor and control the steady stream of gas flowing from Norway through this pipeline,” said Tom Brondeel, operations supervisor at Gassco. “We monitor not only the amount of gas that flows into Belgium and France, but also a number of technical parameters to uphold security of the installations. For example, the difference in gas pressure (which is 110 bars upon entering the pipeline and 40 bars

BARCO

TACTICAL TRACKING

Barco OpSpace enables the operators at Gassco in Zeebrugge, Belgium to control all operational sources using just a single keyboard and mouse.

less when it leaves), requires a temperature adjustment. This needs to be performed with accuracy.

We also monitor safety of the site. Everybody who performs construction work at the Gassco site needs to pass via the control room. Plus, a CCTV system allows us to monitor site security.”

Gassco Zeebrugge has been a long-time control room customer of Barco. The video wall, installed in 2008, was recently upgraded to streamline the operators’ efficiency. Before there were six screens for every operator, and three keyboard/mouse combinations to operate them. Barco OpSpace enables the operators to control all operational

sources using just a single keyboard and mouse.

“Our setup has now become one seamless digital canvas,” Brondeel said. “We can open all the same applications, [and] we gained efficiency because we did not have to continuously switch from one keyboard and mouse to another. The software is easy to understand and to use, and [it helps] streamline our operational processes.

“There are always two people present in the control room: an operator and a supervisor. Today, the operator desk is using OpSpace in full, and after the upcoming system evaluation we will switch the supervisor side as well.”

®

KVM over IP

The ultimate KVM solution with zero latency, true 4K60 performance and easily scalable to thousands of endpoints.

Throughout 2020, tvONE Inc. will make a donation for each unit sold to Susan G Komen® whose mission it is to saves lives by investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.

+1 513-666-4210 • www.tvone.com • sales@tvone.com

COMMAND AND CONTROL

Devices to Monitor The latest products for command and control ABSEN ARIES, CR Absen’s has combined its Integrated Matrix Device (IMD) and Common Cathode (CC) technologies to reduce the pixel pitch of its LED screens while ensuring maximum durability. The new Absen Aries Series (AX 1.5mm) and CR Series (CR 0.9mm) provide five times the strength as traditional LED screens while consuming 20 percent less power, according to the company.

Absen Aries Series 1.5mm is the company’s first NPP display that has been specially designed to meet the growing demand for sub-2mm Narrow Pixel Pitch LED in rental staging. The Absen CR Series has been designed to provide the highest detail to support mission-critical decision-making in secure operations. In addition, the Absen Absenicon is an all-in-one display solution developed for meeting rooms, event spaces, and lecture theaters. The new products are shipping immediately in Europe and all products will be available in the U.S. with release dates to be announced. absen.com ATEN KVM OVER IP MATRIX SYSTEM The ATEN KVM over IP Matrix System combines KVM-over-IP Extenders with KE Matrix Management Software (CCKM) to extend, control, monitor, and access DisplayPort/ HDMI/DVI-interfaced computers across an independent network, with flexible configurations.

Over-IP solutions allow operators to be separated from servers, while secure, remote access is made easy, and servers remain centrally manageable. The KVM Over IP Matrix System offers effortless over-IP digital media extension (all popular video interfaces are supported), boundless switching, powerful centralized management, adaptive fast switching, video wall versatility, and up to 4K video quality (3840x2160 at 30Hz 4:4:4). aten.com DATAPATH ARQA Datapath’s Arqa range of KVM systems have been developed for demanding command and control environments and other AV applications. These include utility operations, process control, national defense and emergency services, corporate boardrooms, and broadcast media centers. Arqa gives operators access to multiple remote sources from a single workspace, without sacrificing video quality or round-trip latency. Arqa’s Push and Pull function-

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ality is ideal for users who require the ability to monitor, control, and share multiple sources from a variety of workstations. With minimal effort, each user can choose from a pool of remote sources and pull them onto their individual workstations. Users can monitor any source of interest that might be under the control of another user without distracting their workflow. Users granted with sufficient permissions can choose to push their source onto other workstations or onto a central video wall via a Datapath video wall controller. datapath.co.uk HALL RESEARCH POLARIS-1 The Hall Research POLARIS-1 is an IP controller with internal web servers to support up to 32 users simultaneously.

Designed for GUI control of large AV-over-IP installations, it enables administrators to create various zones or rooms and assign displays to each zone. Display names and video source names are programmable.

Layouts or maps can also be uploaded to aid users in identifying the physical position of the displays in each zone. Each specific user can be assigned the zones that they are allowed to view and control.

Users can access the controller using any browser from any smart device (phone, tablet, PC, etc.). hallresearch.com HIPERWALL V6 Hiperwall is a software that powers cutting-edge video walls and distributed visualization systems. Hiperwall Version 6’s HiperSource Browser enables operators to pull video content from anywhere on the web and display it in the right size and resolution, while significantly lowering total cost of ownership (TCO). The new HiperView LED add-on controls every pixel within an LED video wall, making it possible to crop the native LED controller resolution to the actual size of the visual canvas.

NEC customers can benefit from Hiperwall’s new licensing program, which can deliver cost-effective flexibility. The systems can be re-configured in the future. hiperwall.com

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COMMAND AND CONTROL LG 55SVH7F The LG 55SVH7F video wall display is designed for security monitoring, video surveillance, and other command and control room activities. Virtually seamless, the LG 55SVH7F is the world’s narrowest 0.44mm even bezel video wall, according to the company, providing distraction-free images for command and control functions. LG’s IPS panel technology enables broader vertical and horizontal viewing angles with the same quality images from any viewpoint, and provides a 60-degree elevated viewing angle for uniform and vivid picture quality when positioned above eye level. Additionally, LG’s image improvement algorithm helps minimize the impact of image gaps among tiled displays when playing back videos, while crisp FHD resolution provides excellent image detail. lg.com MATROX EXTIO 3 Matrox Extio 3 IP KVM extenders provide the performance, flexibility, and security features required in command and control room and network operation center (NOC) environments. With advanced multi-monitor and 4K resolution support, Extio 3 extends all audio, video, and USB 2.0 signals over standard gigabit Ethernet at low bitrates. Compatible with standard network

switches, Extio 3 delivers a scalable KVM matrix switching solution over IP, where any system can be accessed from any remote operator station—maximizing information flow for improved collaboration and decision making.

Extio 3 KVM extenders also boost productivity with an efficient multi-system control feature, as an operator can view and monitor multiple computer systems with a single keyboard and mouse set. Control can be shifted from one computer to another seamlessly by moving the mouse freely across multiple desktops. matrox.com RGB SPECTRUM GALILEO RGB Spectrum has a major new enhancement to its Galileo video wall processor line, now offering integration with industry-leading VMS suppliers Genetec and Milestone. Optional plug-ins provide seamless integration between cameras managed by Genetec or Milestone and other video and computer sources. The Galileo VMS integration allows alarms, access control, GIS, and more to be displayed alongside the Genetec and Milestone VMS

video in a consolidated, easyto-manage view. Operators familiar with the Genetec/ Milestone VMS interfaces can control the video wall from within the standard VMS interface. They can recall layouts, move and resize windows, and drag-and-drop any VMS or other signal source into a window on the video wall display. rgb.com TVONE MAGENTA PATHFINDER Magenta Pathfinder provides a scalable, zero-latency, KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse, and USB 2.0) extension and switching solution. Capable of up to 3,000-plus high-quality endpoints in a single system, it’s the perfect solution

for mission-critical control and collaboration including medical, broadcast, and control room operations. Magenta Pathfinder offers plug-and-play setup with no configuration of endpoints required, nor any costly user licensing fees. Pathfinder can extend and mix 4K and HD sources via category or fiber cable to create a flexible wide-reaching KVM matrixing solution. magenta-research.com VUWALL2 VuWall has updated its flagship VuWall2 video wall control and collaboration platform. New enhancements to the software solution include colored borders and color detection, support for the Milestone XProtect unified security platform, further integration with the IHSE Draco tera matrix, and extended KVM support of IP sources. New colored borders around windows are automatically triggered by events such as intrusion detection or fire alarms. The software also includes a color-detection feature that triggers a new layout on the video wall after a color change has occurred in a specific pixel location on a source computer running process-control applications. A new customizable taskbar facilitates common operations directly on a video wall, including opening and closing windows, launching layouts, and running preset commands. The new VuWall2 release includes upgraded support for its Milestone XProtect plug-in (Smart Client 2019 R1 and R2). The new software release also features additional support for IHSE’s Draco tera matrix switch. vuwall.com

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NOW SEE THIS Sites Worth Watching

www.ces.tech

www.iseexpo.com

The Goods

www.avusergroup.com

Protean Products for Problem-Solving Tech Managers SONY TEOS The What: Sony has announced the North American launch of TEOS, a suite of new workplace management solutions designed to give AV, IT, and facilities managers full control over devices, signage, and content across the entire workplace ecosystem.

The What Else: From meeting rooms to reception areas, the TEOS workplace management solutions are designed to offer a simple, scalable, and costeffective way to manage facilities in corporate and education environments. The solutions come with a range of features and functionalities including advanced analytics, mobile room-booking app for employees, remote firmware updates, universal remote control, wayfinding capabilities, the ability to manage and integrate video wall content, IPTV support, and secure visitor check-in process. Additionally, the core workplace management solutions feature a design that includes a search bar and a “workplace solutions” section, giving AV, IT, and facilities managers the ability to customize and control all add-ons.

The Bottom Line: TEOS workplace management solutions are a complete suite of solutions designed to make the smart workplace more efficient. Users can orchestrate their entire workspace centrally using personalized signage, room booking, automated reception, and technologies to enable more streamlined communication and collaboration.

MAXELL MA-XL1 The What: Maxell has announced the release of its new Lecture Capture Collaboration Station, the MA-XL1, for K-12 and higher education facilities.

The What Else: The Lecture Capture Collaboration System is designed to record, save, and stream content simultaneously with a simple menu

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screen. Ten different audio/video sources are available, and users can choose three to use simultaneously during the recording/streaming session. Featuring interactive content switching, instant playback, recordstream-upload capabilities, remote classroom collaboration, and an interactive white board, the new system is well suited for education facilities to manage multiple video sources and the displayed image on the main screen of the classroom or meeting room.

The Bottom Line: The new multifunctional tool is designed to give operators the power to upload interactive video content and collaborate with classrooms across remote locations while keeping students fully engaged in the lesson. Outside the classroom, the Maxell Lecture Capture system is also well suited for managing content in corporate settings including conference rooms, training centers, conventions, and multi-room business meetings.

ATLONA OMNISTREAM 111 The What: Atlona has announced the immediate availability of the OmniStream 111 Wallplate (AT-OMNI-111-WP) single-channel networked AV encoder.

The What Else: The OMNI-111-WP a member of Atlona’s OmniStream Pro Series, which is designed to provide flexible, high-performance, distribution of video and audio over standard, off-the-shelf gigabit Ethernet switches in commercial AV applications. The new wallplate encoder is HDCP 2.2 compliant and supports HDMI sources up to 4K/ UHD at 60Hz with High Dynamic Range (HDR)—including optional support for 12-bit Dolby Vision content at 60 frames per second—plus embedded audio. Like all OmniStream models, the OMNI-111-WP

features visually lossless VC-2 video compression technology with user-selectable quality optimization engines for delivery of motion video content or computergenerated imaging. The new offering combines with OmniStream networked AV decoders to achieve ultra-low, sub-frame latency from encode to decode.

The Bottom Line: Combining the core features and performance of the AT-OMNI-111 encoder into a compact, U.S. two-gang wallplate form factor, the OMNI-111-WP enables convenient, discreet installation wherever an AV source connection is required.

OPTOMA QUICKCAST PRO-4K The What: Optoma has launched its one-click QuickCast Pro-4K HDMI wireless display and presentation system. The QuickCast Pro-4K does not require any additional software or applications to operate, enabling any user to share native 4K UHD content from HDMI sources for plug-and-play functionality to display content in boardrooms, classrooms, or any presentation environment.

The What Else: With HDMI connectivity, the Optoma QuickCast Pro-4K supports all resolutions, including 1080p and WUXGA, as well as a wide array of devices, including Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android 6.x and higher, UHD Blu-ray, and HDMI media devices (Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast). In addition, because the unit operates on 802.11ac MIMO technology with a 5GHz frequency, it features maximum connection stability with minimal signal interference from up to 30 feet away.

The Bottom Line: Engineered to be seamless and hassle-free, users simply connect the QuickCast Pro receiver to an HDMI display input and plug the HDMI transmitter into the source to begin transmitting up to 4K UHD videos, presentations, documents, and more with the click of a button.

ANALOG WAY AQUILON RS ALPHA The What: Analog Way has added the Aquilon RS alpha to its LivePremier series of 4K/8K live presentation systems and videowall processors.

The What Else: Aquilon RS alpha offers eight seamless HDMI 2.0 inputs, four HDMI 2.0 outputs configurable as single screens, edgeblended widescreens or scaled auxiliary outputs, two dedicated 4K Multiviewer outputs, and up to four 4K or eight HD freely assignable mixing layers in a 4RU chassis. Aquilon RS alpha’s modular design allows users to swap I/O cards to accommodate a variety of connectivity arrangements to match the source and display requirements. Like all products in the LivePremier range, Aquilon RS alpha combines industrial-grade construction and real-time 10/12-bit 4:4:4 video processing power compliant with HDR and pure 4K60 on each input and output

with ultra-low latency. With native Dante audio routing capability, up to 64 channels of audio can be embedded or de-embedded over a Dante network.

The Bottom Line: With eight 4K60 inputs and four 4K60 outputs, Aquilon RS alpha offers the same core features as its larger siblings in the range and helps deliver uncompromising presentation experiences to high-end staging and premium system integration.

EPSON PRO L10-SERIES The What: Epson has announced availability for its Pro L10-Series interchangeable-lens laser projectors that offer a compact solution with robust features.

The What Else: The new series offers up to 7,000 lumens of equal color and white brightness, along with 3LCD technology and native WUXGA resolution with 4K Enhancement Technology. The projectors are compatible with Epson’s current Pro L-Series lens family, including the 0.35-throw-ratio ultrashort-throw lens with zero offset, and come equipped with built-in edge blending, image warping, and shape overlay features. The Pro L10Series offers simplified installation tools, including HDBaseT and wide lens shift, making them well suited for large-venue usage—from visitor attractions to higher education, museums to corporate meeting rooms.

They produce detailed, high-contrast images and a Rec.709 color space for more realistic images.

The Bottom Line: The new 6,000-lumen Pro L1060U and 7,000lumen Pro L1070U and Pro L1075U combine advanced installation features with high brightness and resolution in a discreet design to fit seamlessly into virtually any environment.

NETGEAR GS324P/PP The What: Netgear has released a line of highpower Unmanaged Gigabit Ethernet 24-port PoE+ Switches with the company’s PoE Power Auto-Balance and Allocation technology.

The What Else: The Netgear GS324P 24-port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged PoE+ Switch provides 190W PoE budget across and 16 ports PoE+ with an additional eight non-PoE ports. The new GS324PP 24-port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged High-power PoE+ Switch has a 380W PoE power budget across all 24 ports to connect to an existing core network. Netgear’s PoE Power Auto-Balance and Allocation PoE technology automatically balances the PoE power allocated to each port based on the device needs independent of PoE class detected, enabling optimal power allocation and energy efficiency across PoE ports.

The Bottom Line: These new members of the Unmanaged Switch family enable deployment of PoE+ ports exactly where they are needed.

Additionally, the compact design makes the switches well suited for any business environment. The GS324PP and GS324P come with the same features of all Netgear plug-and-play Unmanaged 300 series switches.

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HOVERCAM PILOT X The What: HoverCam’s new Pilot X digital teaching station is now shipping. The teaching tool enables teachers to interact with and share content to displays in the classroom without being tethered to a computer or display.

The What Else: With the HoverCam Pilot X, teachers and presenters can work from an ergonomic and mobile teaching podium featuring a slide-out keyboard. For even greater freedom, the 13-inch, 10-point-touch tablet can be unlocked and used anywhere in the classroom. With multi-touch technology, the tablet features Windows 10 OS combined with the intuitive hand gestures of a mobile device. The system includes HoverCam’s fold-out 4K 13MP document camera, as well as a built-in wireless HDMI transmitter that beams content to any interactive flat panel, projector, or display in resolutions up to 4K. The Bottom Line: The Pilot X combines a tablet computer with an Intel CPU, wireless 4K presentation capabilities, microphone, and a fold-out document camera in one wireless station.

EIKI EK-818U/812U The What: Eiki International has announced two new WUXGA large class 1-chip DLP Laser Projectors: the EK-818U and the EK-812U. The What Else: The EK-818U and the EK-812U Laser Projectors deliver WUXGA (1920x1200) resolution with supports 4K content and HDR. The EK-818U provides 9,500 lumens brightness and a 100,000:1 contrast ratio while the EK-812U offers 8,200 lumens and a 100,000:1 contrast ratio. Additionally, both models carry an IP5X Dust Ingress Test rating and include a 20,000-hour laser light source—resulting in long-term reliability in cost-effective packages. Both offer a wealth of connectivity options that provide greater flexibility in terms of both signal access and control. For access on a LAN, these systems provide RJ-45 connectors for both HDBaseT and Ethernet. They also provide support for RS-232C (9-pin D-Sub) control as well as an input for a dedicated wired IR remote.

The Bottom Line: With support for 4K resolution and HDR, these two new projectors are well suited for digital signage, auditoriums, large conference rooms, theaters, houses of worship, and other large venue applications.

PANASONIC AW-UE4 The What: Panasonic has begun shipping the ultra-wide-angle lens AW-UE4 compact 4K pan/tilt/zoom camera.

The What Else: Designed with a single-cable solution for video transmission, camera control, and power supply, the unit supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) and can be used as a USB camera powered from a computer. The AW-UE4 features operability through RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol), compatibility for direct upload of video to livestreaming services such as YouTube Live and Facebook Live, and is able to meet the

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needs of other live production implementations.

The camera supports 3840x2160/30p 4K video output and a variety of other formats for use in a wide range of environments.

The Bottom Line: With a 111-degree field of view and capable of video output through three interfaces (HDMI, LAN, and USB), the AW-UE4 is well suited for large or small areas, from huddle spaces to lectures/ meetings to e-sports production. Available in both black and white finishes, the AW-UE4 has a suggested list price of $1,200.

JBL DSI 2.0 SERIES The What: JBL Professional has announced the JBL DSi 2.0 Series cinema amplifiers, offering high power output, DSP, and networking capabilities for the entire range of JBL cinema loudspeakers.

The What Else: The first ever JBL-branded cinema amplifiers, DSi 2.0 Series combines the DSP of Crown’s CDi DriveCore Series amps with a new high-power design to deliver improved efficiency, reliability, and audio fidelity. The DSi 2.0 Series includes three power configurations— 350W, 700W, and 1,200W—available in analog and analog-plus-digital versions with Dante/AES67 and SNMP connectivity. DSi 2.0 Series amplifiers provide four channels of clean, efficient, amplification with bridgeable outputs in a compact 2RU footprint, and are efficiently PowerMatched for JBL Cinema loudspeakers to deliver greater power density in the same rack space.

The Bottom Line: The DSi 2.0 Series consists of six amplifier models, ideal for cinemas, theaters, and premium large-format rooms. The LA4 and LA4-D deliver 1,200 watts at 8 ohms, the MA4 and MA4-D deliver 700 watts at 8 ohms, and the SA4 and SA4-D deliver 350 watts at 8 ohms.

YAMAHA UC – INTEL UNITE The What: Yamaha Unified Communications’ CS-700 Video Sound Collaboration System and USB speakerphones now integrate with Intel Unite, allowing users to control Yamaha audio and video products for more seamless meetings and greater productivity.

The What Else: The Intel Unite solution comprises an Intel Core vPro processor-powered hub that communicates with the app for PC, Mac, or tablet devices and a small server component that orchestrates and manages the solution across devices and hubs throughout the network.

From the Intel Unite app, users can mute products and control the unit’s volume and camera zoom, alongside the platform’s other capabilities.

The Bottom Line: The Intel Unite solution is designed to simplify the meeting experience through a central, user-friendly management platform engineered to integrate with a business’ chosen UC system and meeting technology. Yamaha’s USB audio and video products, together with the Intel Unite solution, give organizations a complete system that’s ready to transform the participant experience without adding to IT’s heavy workload.

GOING HYBRID

PREPARING FOR AV-OVER-IP CONTROL ROOMS

By Paul Vander Plaetse

he control room market is amid a major transition. For the last several years, it’s been shifting from an environment with strictly AV-managed signals to one incorporating those that are IP based. While other sectors are years into its AV/IT convergence, this segment of the AV market is in its infancy due to stringent security, quality, and reliability requirements. As the AV-over-IP trend matures, it’s presenting evolving video wall requirements that AV managers must understand and prepare for to achieve organizational objectives.

New developments in network, software, and hardware technology certainly play a role in this journey, but the biggest influence is the increased affordability of high-bandwidth networks. A stronger, more efficient network means control rooms can

T

now reliably support a variety of IP- and IT-based sources with the best quality and the lowest possible latency. This includes traditional AV sources such as HDMI settop boxes (STBs) and DVI signals from PCs alongside IT sources—web pages, cloud applications, screen capture (VNC), and KPI dashboards—and emerging AV-over-IP sources such as IP cameras and Ultra HD IP-encoded streams.

The most pressing challenge now is providing an intuitive way for operators to control the growing number of sources, and to be able to do it from any screen. Operators expect seamless continuity between their workstation and the video wall, which is no longer a static board of information but rather an extension of the desktop. Whether they’re working at their desk or controlling the video wall, the experience should be no different. This requires KVM function-

To convert all AV sources to IP demands a large investment in time and hardware. Hybrid solutions allow organizations to migrate at their own pace and more affordably.

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How It’s Done

ality control, both on the desktop and the video wall itself, without any complex steps for the operator. For example, recently developed KVM solutions allow operators to simply use a mouse to pass over any window on screen and take control of that source from their desktop, as well as extend that worksurface to a video wall.

Another consideration is that although more organizations are using IP, most are still migrating and will be for several years to come. They may also have areas where network connectivity is prohibited for security purposes. In order to manage all the different source types within the application and smooth the transition from AV to AV-overIP, hybrid solutions are a must. Hybrid solutions not only accommodate traditional AV sources but are also advanced enough to give organizations the capability to transmit AV-over-IP sources within one system.

Hybrid solutions are also more cost effective and productive than buying a purely IP-based solution. To convert all AV sources to IP demands a large investment in time and hardware. Hybrid solutions allow organizations to migrate at their own pace and more affordably. Traditionally, control rooms have been designed for a five-to-10year lifecycle. However, with technology evolving so quickly, in order to maintain this life expectancy, designers need to consider a scalable solution that can easily be upgraded in the field. A strictly AV system will certainly not last 10 years anymore, but a hybrid system can be gradually upgraded as technology evolves and perhaps even extend the expected buying cycle. With such a comprehensive, scalable platform, organizations will be able to protect their investment while ensuring that tech managers have the tools that they’ll need to support operators quickly and efficiently, now and in the future. The objective of any control room or visualization space is to be able to control what you see, which is why it’s important to take clear, actionable steps now.

Paul Vander Plaetse is the CEO of VuWall.

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