Aug 6, 2018
Wireless Presentation Solutions
With a few clicks, wireless presentation solutions allow you and up to three other colleagues can present Audio Visual materials without dealing with cord connections, cumbersome wires, and the need to be directly in proximity.
There are many options on the market, but they don’t all offer the same capabilities. In this post, we’ll review Crestron Airmedia and Barco Clickshare, two well-known and reputable manufacturers. Both Crestron and Barco produce highly functional wireless presentation solutions.
Each company also offers a 3-year warranty and their products work well on WiFi or corporate networks; both are well-suited for enterprise clients with large meeting rooms or who need remote access and presentations.
However, there are some differences between the two products which can make a difference depending on your specific needs.
Here’s an overview of considerations for each option:
1. Crestron Airmedia
Crestron Airmedia was one of the first players in the wireless presentation arena, and continues to develop innovative and user-friendly products. This device connects via wifi to most smart devices, including iPods, iPhones and Androids, and Windows or Mac laptops and desktops.
Crestron Airmedia’s selling feature is that no dongle or USB connection is required; that means no wires at all are necessary. It supports four users with a “quad screen” and allows up to 40 people to remotely view presentations.
It offers functional integration for larger systems and a customizable welcome screen. AirMedia it uses existing LAN and leverages standard network security protocols. Because it introduces no new wireless networks, it has a security advantage over some other wireless presentation options.
2. Barco Clickshare
Barco Clickshare comes in several different models designed for different sized rooms. It supports a large 4K screen for HD quality visuals, and can support touchscreens.
It does require a USB button, instead of being totally wire-free, but this can sometimes be an advantage, as it requires no software and can therefore be easier to set up and use without the need for any training.
Barco Clickshare was designed as an enterprise product; the developers include a number of security features. It’s possible to add a conference monitor, and includes the option to transmit information completely off network. Most models are slightly less expensive than the Crestron Options.
Bottom Line
In short, Crestron Airmedia supports more types of devices supported, includes more robust options for remote viewing, and doesn’t require a USB connection.
Barco Clickshare is typically a more affordable option, offers an off-network functionality for increased security, and offers resolution adjustability and HD visuals.
Both options provide a high-quality, professional remote presentation service AV system that work beautifully in the majority of corporate settings.
VSSi is a design-build Audio Visual solution company which provides individually customized professional and corporate AV technologies. For more information about the best product for you, or to schedule a consultation regarding wireless presentation systems or any other audio visual needs, get in touch here.
Jul 24, 2018
audio visual technology
Every time we invest in a new technology, we never know how long your investment will last. Purchasing the latest version and most expensive does not mean that in a few years it will not be outdated and will not require a certain upgrade. It does not matter how much the audio visual technology upgrade costs, no one is interested in investing certain amount of money every three or five years. To avoid falling into the trap of spending on the system all the time, you need to find audio visual technology solutions that will meet not only your current needs, but also future ones, especially when there is a budget.
What steps should you take to make a good AV technology investment with spending less:
Always Look to the Future: If your company is under the budget and cannot allow all audio visual technology solutions integrated or upgraded all at once. Make sure the equipment that you install will be friendly and will not require a certain customization to perform upgrade or add any other technologies in the future.
Choose Cloud-Based Collaboration Technologies: Select AV systems that support any cloud-based collaboration platform (GoToMeeting, Skype for Business, WebEx, BlueJeans) that your company uses. It would be the right and the safest investment.
Wander Around and Get Multiple Quotes from the Audio Visual Companies: There are a lot of audio visual technology company and you can get ton of companies with better and lower prices. Request three different quotes from different companies: this will give you an option to choose within your budget.
Choose the System that Easier to Support: Some of the AV systems are very expensive to maintain. To avoid unexpected significant expenses, select the systems that are easier to accommodate.
Consider Preventative Maintenance for Your New Investment: Having preventative maintenance of your system is not less important. This will help you to avoid mishaps that could lost revenue opportunities and make a negative impact on the way your organization operates especially in meetings.
Looking for an AV upgrade, but do not know what will be the best audio visual solution for your investment? To request a free consultation, click here.
Jul 16, 2018
Audio Visual over IP (or AV/IP) is a method of transmitting audio and video data over a network such as the Internet. This is the same technology that enables “streaming” video services like Netflix and YouTube.
How does it work?
In traditional AV framework, each function per device had to be connected through a dedicated cable.
For example, you used to need at least three cables if you wanted to control a display and also connect it to audio and visual signals. Technicians used time-consuming and expensive fittings to patch together all of these sources, and the number of switches possible was functionally limited.
VA over IP solutions instead connect all devices using a single Ethernet cable. That single cable powers devices, controls them, and transmits audio and visual signals all in one.
Why is this important?
AV over IP offers a number of benefits over traditional AV systems, including:
1. Cost effectiveness & Scalability
IP-based solutions reduce the number of cables required, producing both equipment and labor cost savings.
They are also easily scalable. The number of inputs and outputs in an Audio Visual over IP system is limited by bandwidth, not hardware. As your organization’s AV needs change over time, you can keep adding sources and destinations without totally redoing the main infrastructure.
2. Reach
AV over IP is no longer confined to a single room – decoders can be controlled to stream displays from any encoder, wherever they are, depending on the network configuration.
Where traditional AV is limited by distance (it’s costly to wire any distances over a few meters), AV over IP is transmitted over a single fiber optic cable, which can inexpensively cover great distances.
3. Security
As Audio Visual over IP technology improves, so do the encryption technologies which keep entire AV systems secure and encrypted. Many products provide completely encrypted video streams, ensuring that even if a video stream can be intercepted, a hacker could not decode it and view it.
4. Quality
Because Ethernet cables carry higher amounts of data than traditional wires, AV over IP solutions bring the added benefit of higher quality video and reduced lag, or latency. Audio Visual over IP products scale conveniently and inexpensively and often offer higher quality AV solutions.
Is an AV/IP Solution Right for My Business?
AV/IP has dramatically expanded the options available for AV technicians over the past decade. Though it’s a great solution for many enterprises, there are still considerations to remember when comparing options.
One is bandwidth – when comparing solutions, it’s important to keep IT concerns like the bandwidth available in mind.
Another is interoperability – different vendors provide varying levels of compatibility. Encoders and decoders from one manufacturer might or might not work with hardware and software from another provider.
Vendors also vary widely in terms of picture quality, bandwidth requirements, and cost.
Finally, audio visual solutions are very flexible, so it’s important to design a solution which will work well with your existing infrastructure and meet your needs. However, we’ve found that transitioning to AV over IP equipment makes a great deal of economic and practical sense for many businesses.
If you’d like to speak more with us about how we can design a solution tailored to your organization’s needs, get in touch here.
To learn more about VSSi solutions, click here.
