The Tech Challenge

The corporate boardroom is used daily, which made it difficult to find a time on the schedule to complete the installation. While the director was abroad, the team had just two weeks to complete all major installation work. The client also wanted a clean, stylish installation that was powerful, yet largely invisible to the end user. In addition, the new system had to incorporate user-friendly, intuitive control, reliable, seamless AV switching among multiple formats, and efficient, remote system monitoring.

The Extron NAV Pro AV over IP Solution

The boardroom features two professional displays along the side walls and a four-display videowall at the front of the room, Extron NAV Pro AV over IP encoders, scaling decoders, and system manager, as well as AV switching and control systems, room automation and sound reinforcement products.

In the boardroom table, four Extron Cable Cubbies, equipped with Show Me cables, connect to Extron SW HD 4K switchers to provide HDMI content switching for source signals up to 4K resolution. Room control is handled with an Extron IPCP Pro 250 IP Link Pro control processor and Extron NAVigator System Manager conveniently accessed wirelessly via an Apple iPad running the Extron Control app.

Installing the Extron NAV Pro AV over IP System

Given the need for a discreet installation and very tight deadline, the ability to minimize cabling was critical to the project. Using LAN cabling, the installation was done using existing raceways, which saved the time and expense associated with running new cables. The team used Extron’s NAV Pro AV over IP encoders for their ability to stream ultra-low latency, high-quality video, audio, and control signals to NAV Pro AV over IP scaling decoders located by the Panasonic videoconferencing system and behind each display.

The compact, one-inch (2.5 cm) high, half rack width form factor of the NAV enclosures were easy to conceal beneath the conference table and behind the displays for a discreet installation. NAV endpoints also accept PoE+, eliminating the need for bulky power supplies and making concealment even easier for an aesthetically appealing installation.

Remote Monitoring Made Easy

The end user reported they were delighted to find that the entire system could be monitored and managed via LAN without affecting the main network, allowing the IT professional (located in another building) to monitor systems without needing to travel to UFlex’s headquarters and enter the boardroom.

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We figured we should get to the bottom of why this PoE lighting solution was so well-recognized by CI‘s panel of judges.

Why PoE lighting?

Kathy Katz, managing partner at Brightline, says PoE lighting control provides safety, energy savings, and more for technology managers.

“We’re definitely seeing a need for smaller products to address video lighting needs,” she says.

“In Hollywood, everyone knows it is ‘lights, camera, action!’ but in huddle rooms, we tend to focus on just the ‘camera, action’ — but then we’re seeing noise in video feeds, etc. because they don’t have the lighting.”

But isn’t lighting an extra expense?

“Lighting becomes prohibitive because you need to bring in a high voltage electrician.
Low voltage lighting options like the Brightline PoE FlexT running over a CAT 5 simplifies the process,” explains Katz.

Learn more about the Brightline PoE FlexT here

More info on lighting commercial spaces:

• Audio/Video Design Consultant Brad Gallagher weighs in on 5 key tips end users should follow while installing lighting in a college auditorium in this featured article, “5 Tips to Setting up Lighting in Higher Education Auditoriums“
• In the first of a three part series, we explore how classroom lighting can help keep students alert: “How Does Classroom Lighting Affect the Students? Part I“
• Lighting is an important, but often overlooked aspect of technology decisions for institutions. Here are the differences between CFL Lighting and LED Lighting, “What Are The Differences Between CFL Lighting and LED Lighting?“
• 10 Lighting Apps for iOS and Android Devices

The post Why BrightLine PoE Flex-T is an Award-Winning appeared first on My TechDecisions.

“Commercial buildings are facing increasingly complex local code requirements,” said Andrew Gjertsen, Platformatics Product Manager. Platformatics worked with LynTec on the project.

How the PoE Lighting Control System Helped

“For this project, in order to conform to local building codes and help reduce the customer’s overall energy consumption, the customer requested plug load control, Gjertsen says.

“By integrating LynTec’s intelligent relay panels and our sequence of operations, we were able to deliver an outstanding solution to make that possible.”

Platformatics’ President Matt Laherty designed LynTec’s RPCR panels into the company’s large-scale PoE lighting system proprietary building control platform, which easily integrated with Platformatics software and ensured building inspection deadlines were met.

The RPCR panel controls plug loads in offices and conference rooms for the corporation and is managed by Platformatics control software and sensors.

LynTec RPCR: More Info

Designed to add circuit control in a traditional relay panel, the RPCR combines relay functionality with a built-in web server to bring remote electrical control to applications, including LED lighting, powered amplifiers, and energy management programs.

RPCR panels add on/off control to any existing circuit breaker panel installation and are compatible with popular control systems, such as ETC, Creston, and AMX.

In addition, the units offer the ability to control relays directly via TCP/IP, DMX, RS-232, or contact closure control systems.

Read Next: 5 Tips to Setting up Lighting in Higher Education Auditoriums

“As the demand in smart buildings and PoE light networks is increasing, it has highlighted the need for power control solutions with the infrastructure to support intelligent control and monitoring,” said Mark Bishop, president of LynTec.

“Although we’re only just starting to see steadier adoption in the market, our portfolio of web-enabled lighting control solutions complements this shift, furthering the benefits of low installation and maintenance costs, less downtime, and more control over the system.

“We’re thrilled to have been able to work with Platformatics on this project.”

The post LynTec PoE Lighting Control System Saves Client On Their Energy Bill appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Microchip Technology says the PDS-408G PoE switch is ideal for digital ceiling installations, runs noise-free, and is IEEE 802.3bt-compliant.

What the PDS-408G can do for your facility

The post 8 Port PoE Switch from Microchip Technology Can Save Money on Connected Lighting appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The first widely-adopted Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard for PoE 802.3af accommodates a power draw up to 15.4 Watts per port over Cat5 cabling. That’s ideal for low voltage devices like the ones commonly found on home and business networks in the recent past.

You may have noticed that some newer network switches are built to a newer PoE+ Ethernet standard, or IEEE 802.3at. PoE+ switches deliver more power per port, up to 30 Watts. A PoE+ switch accommodates the growing power demand of networked devices in the modern workplace. So if you’re building out network architecture and deciding if you need PoE+ equipment, you’ll want to have an understanding of what the devices require in terms of power draw.

Moreover, you’ll want to think about not just the devices you want to network today, but rather, think about what you’ll need over the entire lifespan of your network switch. Considering that the typical lifespan of networking equipment is five years, you’ll want to plan for the devices you might connect to your IP network in 2023.

Today, you will find a more diverse set of endpoints on a small business IP network than you would have five years ago.

The Growing Power Draw of IP Surveillance

A company that runs video surveillance over its Ethernet connection may have eight or 16 cameras drawing power from a network switch. It has become commonplace to find card swipes, smart door locks, HVAC sensors and control modules connected to a network switch as well, drawing additional wattage.

With that in mind, you need to consider the total power budget of a PoE switch. If you’re looking into installing an IP surveillance system, check the data sheet for your PoE switch and look for the total power budget per-device—not per-port. Note that the total power budget of the entire switch is generally lower than the sum of the maximum output per port combined, and that’s very important.

For example, a five-port PoE+ switch might have a power budget of only 60 Watts even though all five ports are capable of supporting PoE+. If you do the arithmetic, the switch will not support five devices that draw close to the per-port maximum of PoE+ at 30 Watts. Instead only two PoE+ devices at full power can be supported. Insufficient power to the IP cameras are among the common culprits for video loss and poor camera performance—and that’s problematic, especially for the newer breed of power-hungry point-tilt-zoom surveillance cameras–some of which may draw 20 Watts per camera.

Consider then buying a switch with a higher power budget ceiling. It will provide headroom for adding more cameras to your surveillance setup should you decide to do so during the lifespan of the equipment.

Screens are Everywhere

In conference rooms, hospitality locations, and on showroom floors, small-screen commercial displays add tremendous value and convenience for delivering messaging and information to their respective audiences. The technology allows you to connect displays with a single Ethernet cable, and create and control media from a remote location.

It’s not uncommon to find many of the newer displays in the AV-over-IP category with a power draw of up to 25W. That means if you wish to take advantage of the features that digital display OEMs are building into the next generation of devices, then PoE+ is going to be a must-have. If you’re thinking at all about scaling up your commercial display profile, you’re going to want your PoE switches to accommodate the power draw of more high-definition displays around the workspace, retail floor, building atriums, and conference rooms.

Power-Hungry 802.11ac Access Points

Over the past several years, the market has witnessed the emergence of 802.11ac wireless access points (WAPs) that require PoE+ to enable full functionality. If switches do not deliver the full amount of Wattage to the WAP, the WAP may lose features. For example, all the antennas may not be enabled therefore limiting the bandwidth and throughput of the access point, or security features like W-IDS scanning may become inactive.

While it’s difficult to project whether under-powering WAPs causes them to be partly-operational is reflective of any kind of industry trend, it’s hard to deny that manufacturers are putting to market wireless equipment that requires higher power consumption. This is definitely something to keep in mind if you plan on scaling up wireless connectivity in your place of business.

Building for the Future with PoE+ Equipment

Any experienced network architect will tell you it’s best to consider the future when choosing networking equipment. In the realm of PoE technology, the ideal implementations of the equipment are trending towards a higher power draw. We’re seeing this in wireless networking, IP surveillance, and commercial displays over IP.

Ideally, any hardware investment you make today will continue to yield ROI over the entire course of its lifespan. As such, the power draw of the equipment you connect to a PoE network must be considered. For many businesses and organizations, planning accordingly likely means installing one or more PoE+ switches.

This might mean installing a solution in a piecemeal fashion, which is fine. You shouldn’t discard PoE switches that are in good working order if they fit your needs as they are right now. However, if you’re starting fresh, or plotting a brand new network installation, PoE+ is probably the way to go because the equipment gives you flexibility to add the latest and greatest endpoint powered devices to your network.

Anthony Pham is Senior Product Manager at Linksys.

The post More Devices, More Power: PoE+ Network Switches to the Rescue appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The TLP Pro 725M includes a 1024×600 capacitive touchscreen built with scratch and smudge-resistant edge-to-edge Corning Gorilla Glass, according to the Extron press release.

It also features Power over Ethernet, which allows it to receive power and communication over a single Ethernet cable.

It is “ideal in any environment requiring a stylish, wall-mountable touchpanel with a fully-customizable interface,” according to the company announcement.

“Our latest wall mount TouchLink Pro touchpanel provides powerful features and a clean, sleek design with edge-to-edge glass,” said Casey Hall, VP of sales and marketing for Extron, in the company press release.

“Inside, we added substantial processing power, memory, and graphics capability, and then gave it super-tough Gorilla Glass to make sure the touchscreen is as robust as it is stylish.”

Here’s more from the Extron Wall Mount Touchpanel press release:

The TLP Pro 725M is built for today with an eye on the future. With its improved graphics engine, quad-core processor, and increased RAM, you’ll see faster background graphic loads and crisper page flips.

These performance enhancements offer an enhanced user experience now, while providing ample memory and processing power to support exciting new features and capabilities in the future via firmware updates.

A variety of mounting kits are available, providing a clean installation on a wall, glass, podium or other surface. All TouchLink Pro touchpanels can be customized using Extron GUI Designer software. This powerful interface design software offers ready-to-use templates for a wide variety of rooms and presentation environments.

Last year, Extron released the TLP Pro 725T, claiming the higher resolution combined with deeper color depth and increased pixel density deliver crisp, bright graphics for a satisfying user experience:

• 7″ capacitive touchscreen with 1024×600 resolution and 24-bit color depth
• Newly designed inside and out for the ultimate balance of performance and style
• Tough, scratch and smudge-resistant screen
• Faster, quad-core processor
• Eight times more memory
• Compatible with all IP Link Pro control processors
• Power over Ethernet provides power and communication over a single Ethernet cable

Click here for more information about the Extron TLP Pro 725M touchpanel.

The post New Wall Mount Touchpanel from Extron appeared first on My TechDecisions.

“Our new pocket-size PoE Detector detects PoE end/mid-span voltages on network cables,” explains Jason Chesla, Platinum Tools marketing manager. “This is just another great test tool from Platinum every tech should have in their bag.”

Plug cables directly into the built-in RJ45 jack or use the included patch cord, and the detector’s LED indicators instantly show “GO/NO-GO” detection on PoE networks.

The PoE detector also differentiates between end-span PoE power, which is supplied from PoE switches, router and mid-span voltage from injectors.

End-span detection indicates voltages are found on pairs 1/2, 3/6; mid-span detection indicates voltages found on pairs 4/5, 7/8. The PoE Detector is also 802.3af or 802.3at compatible.

Watch the video above for a product demonstration.

More from Platinum Tools:

The Platinum Tools pocket-size PoE Detector detects PoE end/mid-span voltages on network cables. LED indicators instantly show “GO/NO-GO” detection on PoE networks. Plug cables directly into the builtin RJ45 jack or use the included patch card to detect voltage in wall jacks. Differentiates between end-span PoE power which is supplied from PoE switches or router and mid-span voltage from injectors. End-span detection indicate voltages are found on pairs 1/2, 3/6; mid-span detection indicates voltages found on pairs 4/5, 7/8.

• Go/No-Go PoE Voltage Detector

• End-span or Mid-span

• Bright LED indicators

• Plug direct or use included patch cord

• Pocket-size

• 802.3af or 802.3at compatible

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From the company on the KD-IP1080TX and KD-IP1080RX:

Using these devices within the Key Digital ecosystem enables up to 1024 transmitters to be connected with unlimited receivers operating on the same network.

This also enables a great degree of scalability, depending on the size of the system requirements.

With this system HD video is transmitted from the HDMI input on the transmitters over Ethernet at only 15Mbps for high-quality video streaming.

These signals can be reliably sent up to 400′ using CAT5e/6 UTP/STP cable, and since the entire system exists on a network, every component can be configured and controlled over an intuitive software interface or with the free Key Digital app on iOS devices.

For larger video installations, multiple units can be mounted in a rack using optional KD-RK120PLT rack hardware.

“We are excited to ship Enterprise AV over IP solutions, as we have developed an amazing Key Digital software app to use along with the hardware and deliver a turnkey solution for the dealers,” says Michael Lakhter, COO.

KD–IP1080TX and KD–IP1080RX join a suite of Key Digital IP enabled products that are now app ready, the company adds. Installers and users can switch inputs and control systems from an iOS device. The app can be downloaded free from the App Store.

The post Key Digital IP Transmitter and Receiver have PoE Support appeared first on My TechDecisions.

PoE-optimized LANmark IP cable addresses the challenge of excessive heat rise that comes with high powered wireless access points and HD video, which can interfere with IP traffic, resulting in transmission errors and an underperforming network compared to 1 Gigabit cabling, according to the company.

“PoE lighting networks are becoming more and more popular, due to the efficiency of LED luminaries and the control that comes with having lighting connected to the IP network,” says Brian Simmons, Copper Product Manager, Berk-Tek, “LANmark-IP provides all the bandwidth you need to run your IP lighting network, but with a lot less heat generation than traditional cables.”

Berk-Tek says LANmark-IP cable more effectively manages the heat generated by high-power PoE because it is specially constructed with 22AWG conductors and all-FEP insulation.

In tests performed at the TEK Center at Berk-Tek, LANmark-IP generated 44% less heat rise than traditional Category 5e cabling (based on 192-cable bundles with all cables energized to 100W).

Berk-Tek claims LANmark-IP is 88% efficient, compared to the efficiency of Category 5e and Category 6 cables (that can go up to 68% depending on conductor size).

This means that 88% of the power transmitted by the power sourcing equipment will reach the powered device. Additionally, LANmark-IP has a temperature rating of 90°C.

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