Classroom AVOn a Budget

MAEDS 2011Jim Burkhart, IT Director

Coleman Community Schools

What You Can Expect

Disclaimers

Our Classroom AV Needs

Our solution with configuration details

Disclaimer

Building Code

Other duties

One method

Unorthodox use of gear

Prices subject to change

ENO boards

Why

Last year’s presentation

Ideal situation/funding

Real world, real solutions

Problem

$54,000.00 in AARA funds

Do as much with it as you can

Planning Begins

Planning

Start with projector, screen size, number of inputs, vendors, brands?

Gathered all the information

Borrowed and tested

Planning

What do we want to see & hear?– PC with audio– VHS & DVD with audio– Cable TV & Channel One

Planning

Where do we want to see and hear it?– Projection screen– PC monitor– Audio coverage throughout room

Planning

What kind of space are we working with?– Drop ceiling– Fixed ceiling– Encapsulated Asbestos– Size and shape of room– Ambient lighting

Planning

Ease of use– Can teachers figure it out?– Can the instructions fit on one page?– Can a substitute figure it out?– Is it safe?

Planning

Longevity– Is this modular?– Can I replace individual components with

different brands/products?– Will the fancy features still be available?

Planning

Two detailed solutions– Unobstructed drop ceiling– Fixed, encapsulated asbestos– Both with small windows on one side of the

room

Planning

4:3 or 16:9– All PCs had standard monitors– Most classrooms had good 4:3 screens– Most projectors were native 4:3– HD was out of the question at the time

Planning

Cable TV/Channel One– VCR was cheapest option– Separate DVD player and input

Gear

Projector– VCR 1 Composite Video– DVD Player 1 S-Video (converted)– PC 1 VGA– Document Cam VGA Pass-through

Gear

Projector– NEC NP series

2300 ANSI Lumens

4:3 native resolution, capable of HD

2 video inputs

1 VGA

1 DVI

– Kramer VGA DA for monitor

Gear

Audio system– Constant Voltage System (70 volt system)

Flexibility

Inexpensive wiring

Easy configuration

Been around for many years

Gear

Audio system– Crown MA 135 mixer/amplifier

Three separate audio inputs

Four knobs and one button clearly labeled

– JBL Control 24 and Control 25 speakersVery good coverage and quality for the price

Wiring

Wiring

Audio System– 1/8” to 2 RCA from PC to amp– 2 RCA to 2 RCA from DVD to amp– 2 RCA to bare wire from VCR to amp– 18 ga from mixer to speakers

Wiring

Projector and Video– 50’ VGA to VGA from Kramer to Projector– 50’ S-Video cable from DVD player to

Projector (converted on DVD end)– 50’ BNC to BNC video cable from VCR to

Projector (BNC to RCA adapters on each end)

Wiring

Getting wire to devices– Track, wire mold, in-wall???– Cable ties are the answer

Wiring

Wiring

Wiring

Ease of Use

Flexibility

Easy to move

Modular

Does not rely on one set of features

Cost Effective

Quality gear from a trusted vendor is better in the long run

We are always trying to save money in the long run

Time is valuable

Vendors

Advanced Lighting & Sound– Greg Koss, Troy, MI

Alternative View– Tammy Blanchard, Midland, MI

Discussion