The What: SnapAV is introducing the WattBox 800 Series 1U 8-outlet IP power conditioner to provide greater installation flexibility and control. With individually controlled and metered outlets, OvrC functionality and an LED faceplate that displays crucial power and connectivity info, the new 8-outlet model delivers outstanding benefits for SnapAV partners. 

The What Else: The new 8-outlet 800 Series power conditioner provides Partners with immediate information thanks to the new LED faceplate on the front with indicators that denote internet connectivity, outlet-specific current and proper grounding. Additionally, front-facing buttons allow local reset of individual or multiple outlets. These features, combined with the remote management capabilities of the OvrC platform, enable advanced troubleshooting, whether integrators are on site or remote.

The Bottom Line: Like all WattBox products, the 800 Series 1U 8-outlet IP power conditioner is compatible with the industry’s most popular control systems, including Control4. An advanced Telnet API enables integration with any third-party control system, so Partners can program unique features or create custom solutions to monitor WattBox products across thousands of sites. As an 800 Series model, this SKU (WB-800CH1U-IPVM-8) provides surge protection and power conditioning with Safe Voltage to protect connected products from unsafe conditions.

The What: FSR has expanded its line of charging solutions for iPhone, iPad, or any smart device with the introduction of power management options for USB-C connectivity. The Keystone Snap-In charging port is designed for FSR’s Symphony series as well as the company’s table and floor boxes, wall plates, and Raceway system, and the newly launched Dual Combination USB chargers provide a choice exclusively for the Symphony range of table boxes and its pedestal charging tower.

The What Else: FSR’s Keystone Snap-In charging port allows an end user to add USB-C charging to their workspace. The Keystone Snap-In incorporates power management integrated circuitry that determines power requirements connected devices. The built-in electronics provides fast charging using the power available up to 3 amps / 15 watts, a valuable feature since USB-C speeds up the performance of accessories—such as external hard drives and video gear—with data transfer rates that can accelerate up to 20 times faster. The compact snap-in unit, capable of being remotely powered from 160 feet or more, provides an easily installable solution to accommodate already existing applications.

Related: FSR Extends Symphony Collection with Release of New Pedestal

The Dual Charger Combination USB Port is available exclusively for the Symphony collection of table boxes and pedestals. Like the Keystone ports, these chargers incorporate power management integrated circuitry to communicate using todays' protocols to determine the requirements for connected devices. The built-in electronics direct the available power to a single port, or it can divide the power to provide the fastest charging based on the available power.

“The world is shifting from USB-A to USB-C, with USB-C ports now found on all manner of devices,” said Jan Sandri, president, FSR. “As USB-C emerges as the standard for charging and transferring data, our new charging ports support for this technology. Since many preinstalled devices already contain snap-ins, it’s a logical move to offer an upgrade that supports USB-C charging affordably. At FSR it’s our mission to deliver products that simplify everyday working practices with clever innovative designs that meet the budgets of our customers. These new additions to our charging portfolio do all this and more.”

The Bottom Line: These two new products are designed to give users the flexibility to power and charge when and wherever required. Both the Keystone Snap-In Charger Ports and the Dual Charger Combination USB Charger Ports are shipping now.

The What: SurgeX has begun shipping the Squid power management device that includes a number of SurgeX functionalities within a single unit. 

The What: Squid features boxed network control, AC and DC analytics, and front-end protection with patented Multi-Stage surge elimination, along with the remote analytics and monitoring features of the SurgeX enVision. The product delivers all this functionality in compliance with leading network security protocols including 802.1x authentication and active directory.

Related: The Latest in Smart Power Products

As a flexible power foundation, Squid offers SurgeX Axess ELITE capabilities such as sequencing, scheduling, auto-ping, IP control, and monitoring, helping integrators reduce service calls through proactive management. Squid features built-in diagnostic monitoring, like SurgeX enVision, providing a single solution for management, mitigation, and control of the system’s power. Squid includes two 5V USB ports inputs for charging and network troubleshooting, eight outputs, four of which are traditional controlled and monitored IEC receptacles, and four are DC so integrators can eliminate the need for wall warts or a two-box solution. 

The compact nature of Squid allows it to fit easily into a rack, behind a flat panel, under a table, or within a table hatch. With built-in autosensing, Squid is also the first SurgeX product with universal compatibility with 120V to 240V, allowing global companies to simplify installations and spec the same product into offices worldwide.

“Dealers and integrators seek reliability and performance in the products they source to support their installations,” said Lauren Simmen, director of marketing for SurgeX. “SurgeX equipment delivers on both fronts to eliminate power-related failures and dramatically reduce truck rolls. Squid hits the market at the perfect time as integrators shift to support the growing number of smaller huddle and flex spaces. We created Squid as the single solution for both AC and DC in the same chassis with the added benefits of front-end protection, filtration, and SurgeX patented Multi-Stage surge elimination technology. Now that Squid is available, integrators will use it to not only streamline their installs with less hardware, but also to reduce service calls, giving them the confidence that their customers can use their spaces without disruption from anywhere in the world.”

The Bottom Line: With a compact design that combines an array of power quality features into a single chassis, Squid streamlines installation and fulfills the unique needs of collaborative flex environments, home offices, and other tight-spaced AV installs.

Squid is available in three models: 12V (SX-DC-8-12), 24V (SX-DC-8-24), and a combined 12V and 24V (SX-DC-8-1224) model. Units are currently shipping globally with an MSRP of $599.

The What: tvONE has announced the forthcoming arrival of the ONErack Spider, a universal multi-voltage DC power solution and the latest addition to the company’s ONErack universal rack mounting system.

The What Else: The ONErack Spider optimizes any installation by eliminating unreliable DC wall warts and other power clutter from the rack design, according to tvONE. At the same time, it also ensures the provision of reliable power for a choice of up to seven different voltage options: 5V, 7.5V, 9V, 12V, 13.5V, 18V, and 24V.

Watch the video below to learn more about tvONE's ONErack Spider.

The Bottom Line: Available in a 1RU half-rack version (7-module capacity) or rear strip version (23-module capacity), the ONErack spider can be installed at the back or side of the rack to provide the ultimate installation flexibility.

When it comes to maximizing the potential of your systems, there’s a simple place to start: power. Today’s power conditioning solutions do so much more than just protect your deployments from surges and ensure peak performance from your high-end gear. Especially in these times, when staff isn’t always available to assess technical difficulties, the ability to perform a remote reboot from anywhere can be indispensable. 

We’ve gathered a selection of the newest products from top brands that can elevate the foundation of even the most sophisticated systems. 

Furman Elite 15 PFi

For over 40 years, Furman has developed AC power products for the most demanding audio, video, and broadcast professionals. Though the need for pristine AC power is nothing new, the Elite-15 Power Factor i's technology and its unique implementation are certainly groundbreaking.

The extreme AC demands encountered in the professional audio-video arena have required technological developments far in excess of typical home theater/audiophile power products. In studios, live sound, and broadcast facilities, breakdown is unacceptable. Equipment failure or poor performance is costly.

Today's power lines are plagued with RF and EMI noise. When connecting sensitive equipment to a power outlet, AC noise couples into your system's critical components. This AC noise masks low-level signals and cripples performance. This low-level content is critical because it relays the crucial harmonics and ambience in audio, as well as the depth and clarity in video. With Furman's Linear Filtering Technology, televisions, projectors, media players, amplifiers, and processors are fed by linearly filtered AC power. This dramatically reduces noise, ensuring consistent peak operation regardless of load conditions or the time of day.

Middle Atlantic Products RackLink

A quality AV experience depends first and foremost on being able to keep all AV systems up and running. It’s no secret digital devices freeze. So often the solution is simply a hard power reset. With Middle Atlantic’s RackLink, users can remotely turn an outlet on and off from a computer, mobile device, control system, or cloud service without physically going on site. RackLink also allows for continuous monitoring and logging of all power and environmental events within a system and will even let you know if things don’t seem right via text or email alerts. 

Occasionally, the longevity of your AV System hinges on elements outside of your control like heat and humidity. The Premium+ PDU with RackLink has a sensor option that monitors temperature and humidity, and it is possible to connect up to 32 individual sensors to monitor temperature and humidity throughout an entire system. RackLink also features a multiple IP autoping recovery technology for optimal system performance by constantly checking for an internet network connection and rebooting the outlet automatically if the network connection is down.

Panamax VT1512-IP

The Panamax VT1512-IP is a BlueBOLT-enabled, slim-form-factor, vertical-rack power conditioner and power sequencer. The VT1512-IP is a full-featured power conditioner providing protection and filtration for maximum longevity and performance of connected equipment. The VT1512-IP allows remote reboot of 12 individually controlled outlets, as well as the ability to monitor energy use, set alerts, program scheduled commands, and network pings with conditioner reboots. For non-cloud applications, the VT1512-IP has an embedded webpage for control and programming, or you can use a LAN for secure control via an ELAN or other third-party control systems.

Panamax remote management is designed to help technology managers be more efficient, cost effective, and proactive, which increases value to customers while increasing profitability. Tech managers are able to manage their install locations from anywhere in the world. Being able to reboot locked up devices that are on the network is an opportunity to better serve clients, as well as a possible opportunity for re-occurring revenue. The ability to monitor the integrity of the power and ping devices on a network and tie that into a conditional reboot is invaluable for tech managers.

RoseWater SB20

Power is the foundation for all that we do—especially in mission-critical applications. RoseWater’s SB20 Energy Management system (the Hub) ensures critical systems never go down and integrated products are always protected.

The Hub combines industrial-grade energy management tools into one platform that provides power conditioning at a 120V/60Hz sine wave 100 percent of the time. This level of power conditioning means that the microprocessor-laden products installed will operate at peak performance and last longer. The integrated UPS has a zero transfer time with a robust battery backup (28kWH minimum) to ensure mission-critical applications will ride out any power failures. The Hub can take two direct lightning hits and still operate to specs, although those affected varistors will need replacement. 

In most instances, users will only be aware of any power anomaly occurrences when reviewing the online logs or looking directly at the Hub’s video panel. With remote management, tech managers are notified if there is an issue or outage. The remote management portal allows you to see the power quality on the input side, view battery run time, and manage/shed critical loads with instantaneous load recalculation.

The SB20 offers an integration solution in one pre-assembled, configured, industrial-grade platform. RoseWater works with tech managers to correctly spec the right-sized Hub, which is installed by RoseWater’s national installation team. 

Tech managers will have peace of mind knowing that the control room, ERP, security systems, medical applications, or other mission-critical system is safe with RoseWater’s SB20 at the foundation. 

SurgeX Squid

SurgeX Squid is designed to eliminate the need for integrators to install multiple products to build a proper power foundation for AV systems. Squid features an array of power quality features into a single compact chassis, combining both AC and DC outlets with advanced surge protection, power conditioning, power management, and analytical software. With its compact yet multifaceted form factor, Squid can streamline support with a flexible and complete power management solution well suited for any AV installation.

Squid’s remote monitoring and predictive analytics features take the guesswork out of protecting and conditioning electrical systems. Squid actively monitors all incoming power and the health of connected equipment, providing tech managers with a detailed report of potential issues. Then, technicians can remotely diagnose and resolve issues remotely without the end user ever knowing there was an issue. Squid comes equipped with preventative maintenance capabilities such as automatic reboots of connected equipment to keep systems online. This reduces overall system downtime and potential customer service calls, and off-site monitoring triggers allow technology managers to resolve many of the issues that would normally require a site visit, which is especially valuable in today’s remote landscape.  

Squid is the first SurgeX product that works globally, regardless of voltage requirements, allowing tech managers of international companies to spec the same product into offices worldwide. With the space-saving design, preventive maintenance, and power protection capabilities of Squid, end users can be assured that their system is always ready when they need it most. 

The What:  SurgeX has debuted its new family of UPS solutions with built-in Isolation Transformers ahead of CEDIA Expo Virtual 2020. Built to combine line interactive technology and a continuous power supply solution with power conditioning, the UPS + Isolation Transformers create a complete power management solution for any installation. 

The What Else: Available in three models—UPS-1440-Li-ISO, UPS-2200-Li-ISO, and UPS-3000-Li-ISO—to suit various power environments, the cost-effective solutions bring all the benefits of a low-impedance isolation transformer to the rack, coupled with a true sine wave line interactive UPS to filter, condition, and stabilize power.

An isolation transformer is designed to eliminate neutral-ground voltage, reducing lockups and downtime for sensitive electronic systems and AV equipment. With these new UPS + Isolation Transformers, a new neutral-ground bond is established at the rack, rather than at the main breaker panel, to ensure clean power is supplied to connected electronic equipment. The UPSs prevent high-frequency electrical noise and voltage from affecting performance and deliver clean, fully conditioned power free of harmonics and common mode noise to guarantee optimal performance and reliability, according to the company.

The Bottom Line: Each UPS + Isolation Transformer is suitable for both residential and commercial applications with the flexibility and strength to manage environments from 1440VA to 2760VA. All three models are available now.

The What: AtlasIED has introduced a new line of IP addressable power conditioners that utilize advanced power management, distribution, and monitoring to safeguard connected equipment from Radio Frequency Interference and unstable AC voltage. 

The What Else: Each of the new IP addressable power conditioners also feature programmable outlets, a Web-based user interface, and remote monitoring capabilities to further ensure optimal performance of connected devices.

Through each power conditioner’s integrated Web-based interface, dealers can program outlets to sequence on and off individually or in groups; remotely monitor conditions such as voltage, current, temperature, and humidity conditions; and set alarms to alert users when temperature and humidity levels exceed certain parameters or a fault has occurred on the network. An external temperature/humidity probe can be integrated to monitor the climate within an equipment rack and activate a cooling system if necessary. As another safety precaution, installers can disable the ability for users to manually turn outlets on and off. 

The Bottom Line: AtlasIED has created the new power conditioners as an accessory for all AtlasIED racks and to complement the Texas Tough line of equipment racks. There are three models to fit any commercial application. Equipped with a removable 2m, 14-gauge IEC power cord with a retainer bracket, each model permits the installer to select the power cord length required for the installation. 

The What: Nortek Security & Control is now shipping the Panamax VT1512-IP Advanced Power Conditioner, a BlueBOLT-enabled, slim-form-factor vertical rack power conditioner and power sequencer. 

The What Else: Measuring 1.7 by 1.75 by 37 inches, the VT1512-IP is a full-featured power conditioner providing protection and filtration for maximum longevity and performance of connected equipment.

Related: The Latest in Smart Power Solutions

The Panamax VT1512-IP is BlueBOLT enabled, which allows remote reboot of 12 individually controlled outlets, and the ability to monitor energy use, set alerts, program scheduled commands, network pings with conditioner reboots. Additionally, the Panamax VT1512-IP has an embedded web graphical user interface and an integration API available for local IP control.

“This is an ideal power management solution for installers who want to save space in a rack and demand the legendary performance, protection and quality that the Panamax brand delivers,” said Richard Pugnier, vice president of marketing at NSC. “It’s advanced yet is also the most value-driven product in its class.”

The Bottom Line: The VT1512-IP offers 12 outlets in a compact form factor. With its BlueBOLT technology, it allows integrators and technology managers to easily manage their systems and proactively resolve issues before end users know there’s a problem.

The Panamax VT1512-IP Advanced Power Conditioner is priced at $549.95 and is available now.

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 cloud-based 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 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 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 de-stressing 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 far-reaching, 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.

During the fall and winter months each year, the industry starts reflecting on growth, trends, and challenges to prepare for success in the year to come. But this year is different than most, as we enter a new decade that will bring a changing landscape of technologies and opportunities.

Offices, conference spaces, schools, and other environments are more connected than ever before. Millennials are driving the growth of the huddle room, and as companies seek more efficient communications, the market for video walls and collaborative displays is growing. Demand for communications, display, and automation systems to improve work processes means opportunities for dealers to grow their businesses. Whether updating existing installations with upgraded display equipment or offering huddle space systems to new customers, the stakes for system management and performance are rising for dealers. Customer satisfaction can make or break a dealer’s reputation.

[AV Goes Green]

A strong foundation is necessary to make the business, conference room, theater, and security systems reliable and able to perform to customer expectations. Power quality needs the same attention as the network. While power is a constant—save for weather-related outages—it fluctuates. Brown-outs, which cause lights to dim and appliances to shut down, are a familiar though somewhat rare disturbance; electrical sags, surges, spikes, and noise, however, are common and daily threats to equipment and systems. They aren’t often apparent, and can have a number of causes: incoming power from the grid, a neighboring building, a large appliance power cycling, or even a renewable energy source. Common effects of power anomalies include frequent system downtime, device lockup, or complete equipment breakdown.

When power anomalies hit a system, the problems quickly trickle from devices to dealers. Power issues can be wrongly attributed to faulty equipment that isn’t, in fact, faulty, or worse: the dealer, their installation skills, and their reputation. Without proactively addressing the power quality in installations, dealers risk incurring costs—including product replacement and truck rolls to address system downtime—as well as potential loss of business and damage to their reputation. To stay ahead of power problems and their effects, dealers can use a two-pronged approach: get clients on board and choose the right technology for a power foundation.

For clients who are hesitant about adding a power foundation, a simple analysis can prime clients and the installation site for success. A diagnostic tool like the SurgeX enVision, for example, helps dealers prove and find power anomalies. Plugged into any outlet, it tracks the conditions by providing time-stamped reports and analysis. If a customer is skeptical of their need for a power foundation, a simple report shows the spikes, sags, and electrical noise that could threaten their technology investment and system experience. The reports also help dealers find the culprit for a troubled system. Power problems are often present in systems that need extra service, like those frequently requiring remote reboots or equipment that repeatedly needs service and replacement, like a speaker or projector.

[Getting in Front of the Power and Cable Management That’s Behind Every Installation]

For example, consider a case in which the automation system intended to start up a conference room projector continually goes offline, causing the customer to contact the integrator, who must visit the site multiple times. As a result, the expensive projector bulb has had to be replaced three times. While the integrator fixed the system each time, they couldn’t identify the source of the issue. After setting up a power diagnostic tool, the integrator found that unstable power was the reason for the downtime and product breakdown. Using the data, the integrator was able to prove to their client why the system wasn’t performing up to expectations. They could then select equipment that would create a proper power foundation to protect the installation from the harmful anomalies, and over time prove the value in that equipment by reduced downtime leading to service calls and equipment damage.

Using analysis, integrators can design the power foundation. The technology for protecting against power problems is universal, but the devices needed will vary from installation to installation. Small business and office projects may need only a power conditioner installed in the rack, and projects in areas at risk for frequent lightning storms like the South and Midwest may also call for a surge eliminator. No matter the type of installation, surge technology is critical to a successful foundation. Equipment and power strips bought at retailers contain inadequate Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) technology that’s designed to be self-sacrificial: MOVs pop when they absorb the extra energy of a power surge and are destroyed. After a damaging surge, they lose their efficacy and will let harmful surge energy pass through to connected devices. A multi-stage technology ensures that the surge is completely eliminated instead of deterred, and that the equipment will protect systems and devices without a limited lifespan.

Implementing a plan for a power foundation does more than protect devices from breakdown and downtime. It prevents loss to a dealers’ credibility by removing power anomalies as an invisible variable that can impair the proper functioning of their work. Preventing problems safeguards the dealers’ relationship with their customers against the effects of power anomalies; in turn, customers benefit from having their technology investment protected. A power foundation is an all-win scenario, and a must-have on 2020 installation checklists.

The What: Nortek Security & Control LLC has released BlueBOLT Mobile, a mobile version of the company’s real-time, cloud-based power control and monitoring platform for Apple and Android mobile devices. 

The What Else: The new BlueBOLT 2.0 IP Power Management Platform, now with the BlueBOLT Mobile app, pairs with Panamax and Furman power conditioners to deliver power protection for mission-critical projects. 

BlueBOLT Mobile is designed to help integrators be proactive in their client support, deliver superior service to clients, and ensure proper operation of audio, video, control, and security systems. BlueBOLT Mobile’s Watchlist feature enables tagging of high priority locations and devices, those that deserve special attention. Combined with location and device filtering, this allows integrators to quickly identify potential issues, before the customer even knows there’s an issue.

“Intelligent power management has three essential components: protection, performance and management,” said Nortek Security & Control power products manager Christos Desalernos. “Convenience is an important element in the management piece, and the new BlueBOLT Mobile app substantially elevates the convenience of the BlueBOLT 2.0 IP Management Cloud.” 

The Bottom Line: BlueBOLT Mobile makes it easier to minimize service calls with remote reboots of problem devices, maximize network health with scheduled power cycles, and self-heal network devices to save money and time—managed from anywhere with an internet connection.

The What: LynTec will showcase its family of power control, sequencing, and management solutions for the company's inaugural exhibition at AES New York (Booth 446), October 16-18 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. 

The What Else: During the show, LynTec will have its line of RPC panels on display. Designed based on the G3 Powerlink hardware platform by Square D—a universally recognized hardware foundation—this open platform eliminates the expense of custom-designed and -manufactured power control products for the growing number of AVL installations. It can control lighting and AV systems across multiple control zones using multiple control protocols (HTTP, Telnet, sACN, DMX, and RS-232). The RPC family of power control options includes the RPC motorized circuit breaker panels with 30 to 84 controllable breakers per panel, the RPCR electrical relay panels that support eight to 64 relays per panel, and the NPAC rack-mounted relay panel. All of the RPC series panels can be networked together via their onboard web servers to form large-venue power control platforms. From LynTec's GUI, users can select the protocol for each zone as well as set up, troubleshoot, control, and monitor the status remotely across existing networks from any connected computer or handheld smart device. The system can send alert notifications via text or email to warn of panel anomalies.

At the booth, LynTec will also show how its new XPC series of remote relay modules extends beyond the traditional reach of the company's RPC and RPCR relay panels and motorized circuit breakers. Enclosed in a metal cube, the XPC modules can be placed anywhere imaginable: in the rack, on rigging, behind line arrays, or anywhere else equipment is located. Users simply connect the module to a power source and the network, and then plug in each device that needs customizable power control via LynTec's IP-based GUI.

[LynTec Debuts Remote Relay Modules and Standalone Controller]

The family includes the 20A XRM 20 Relay Module with two independent relays to control the two onboard duplex plugs; the 30A XRM 30 Relay Module with a single relay switch that controls a single 30A L5-30 receptacle; a 1-RU rack-mounted XRS 20 Rack Sequencer powered from a 20A circuit to provide control to three separate duplex receptacles with independent relay switches for onboard sequencing; and a vertical rack-mounted XRS 80 Rack Sequencer strip that can manage up to four 20A circuits that power four corresponding duplexes, each with its own relay switch to provide onboard control. In addition, the series features the XPC stand-alone controller, which brings all the capabilities and features of the popular and time-tested RPC controller to a stand-alone 1-RU rack-mounted enclosure.

Additionally, LynTec will demonstrate the ready-to-install NPAC rackmount power management solution. The rackmount solution can sequence on/off complex digital audio systems with extended step rates and time delays to enable proper component boot-up and shutdown automatically. NPAC is available in two models, 120V or 240V, and features four 20A circuit inputs in a single 2-RU enclosures—saving valuable rack space over 4-RU systems and eliminating the need to wire multiple units together.

"The RPC and RPCR series are the first systems of their kind to not only provide comprehensive and affordable power management solutions but also properly sequence on and off digital audio equipment with customizable step rates," said Mark Bishop, president of LynTec. "These same powerful features are also available within our NPAC and XPC series, allowing customers to use one power control platform to manage every device in the AVL platform, simplifying operation, and reducing maintenance time and cost. Additionally, our patented web-based control system works with any device on the same network, extending the power control and sequencing platform across installs of any size. For example, customers could set up a line array within an audio system to power on, integrating that action into their audio powering sequence—all from their laptop or phone."

The Bottom Line:  Engineered to intelligently manage the power control requirements of pro AVL equipment, the company's RPC Controllable Circuit Breaker Panels, RPCR Fully Automated Relay Panel, XPC Remote Relay Modules, and NPAC Rackmount Power Management Solutions will be demonstrated.

The What: Middle Atlantic Products, a brand of Legrand | AV, has released its Premium+ PDU with RackLink. This next- generation power distribution and management solution builds upon the company’s Premium and Select Series PDUs, leveraging RackLink technology and Raritan's XERUS platform. 

The What Else: The Premium+ PDU features the full potential of RackLink, Middle Atlantic's remote management system. RackLink allows integrators control either locally or virtually through third-party AV control systems, cloud platforms, RESTful API, and SNMP for flexible management. In addition, it's developed around Raritan's XERUS platform, a solution for secure networks. Together, this power distribution and management solution provides advanced monitoring, control, logging, security, and power protection capabilities available for the most demanding AV applications.

Available in horizontal rackmount and compact models, the new solution provides under/over voltage, filtering, and surge protection with Middle Atlantic's patented Series Protection. It also provides accurate power monitoring and logging for current, voltage, watts, and power factor at the outlet level. This deep system insight enables integrators to understand exactly what any AV system is doing at any moment. Helping to curb the problems that heat and humidity in the rack can create, it features enhanced environmental monitoring capabilities with up to 32 individual sensors that can connect to a single unit to keep tabs on temperature and humidity. Finally, it enables integrators to solve simple problems through comprehensive, flexible control options for proactive system management and restoration if equipment issues occur, including IP, RESTful API, SNMP v3/MIB, CLI, RS-232, and dry contact.

"For 20 years we have been investing in developing power solutions for AV that go beyond just turning outlets on,” said Scott Lowder, director of product management for power at Middle Atlantic. “These have provided a foundation of system reliability, protection, and control that play huge role in the performance of the AV experience. Our Premium+ PDU incorporates the next generation of the RackLink technology we first introduced in 2011, empowering integrators to make actionable energy management decisions surrounding system design, optimization, and service. The significant system data now available for monitoring and analysis is also key to maximizing the impact of the next AVIXA Energy Management Standard revision that is currently in development."

The Bottom Line: With individual outlet power cycling/logging/monitoring, advanced environmental monitoring and control, and maximum security, the Premium+ PDU is designed to deliver a comprehensive suite of control, data, and security capabilities for the highest degree of network safety while eliminating unnecessary truck rolls for simple equipment fixes.

The What: Nortek Security & Control is now shipping the new Furman SS-6 Power Conditioner and the ACX-25 Power Cord.

The What Else: The Furman SS-6 is a black steel chassis floor strip power conditioner that serves as a narrow form factor version of the top-selling SS-6B, with standard surge protection RFI/EMI filtering. Including six outlets, the SS-6 comes with a 15-foot captive cord and features a line voltage of 120V, a current rating of 15 amps, and a safety listing of cULus. Designed to extend the protection from a power conditioner like the SS-6, the Furman ACX-25 is a discreet, 25-foot power cord that provides ultimate durability and longevity with a line voltage of 120V, a current rating of 15 amps, and a safety listing of cULus.

The Bottom Line: The power conditioner is not limited to music professionals, however. For residential custom installers, the compact form factor of the Furman SS-6 makes it ideal for applications within a credenza or in the back of the rack. And the ACX-25 Power Cord is a convenient tool for installers as well as help manage large power supply transformers, such as wall warts, and to extend protected power up to 25’ from the power conditioner.

The What: Extron has begun shipping the IPCP Pro PCS1 high-performance IP Link Pro control processor with AC power and device control. 

The What Else: Featuring IEC power connectors and rated for 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz operation, the IPCP Pro PCS1 provides worldwide compatibility. The compact IPCP Pro PCS1 features advanced security standards and gigabit Ethernet, enabling compatibility with multiple TouchLink Pro touchpanels using a standard network infrastructure. It also supports Extron LinkLicense, which further enhances the capabilities of Extron Pro Series control systems. 

“The IPCP Pro PCS1 is a versatile and powerful addition to our IP Link Pro family of control processors,” said Casey Hall, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Extron. “It's ideal for providing centralized AV control in a broad range of presentation environments and for managing power to multiple devices. Its compact size makes it easy to fit in an equipment rack or behind a display for power management and AV control in collaboration spaces.”

The Extron IPCP Pro PCS1 can be configured using Global Configurator Plus or Global Configurator Professional software or programmed using Extron Global Scripter. For enterprise-wide applications, GlobalViewer Enterprise can provide centralized AV resource monitoring, management, and control over a computer network. A wide range of control ports, including bidirectional RS-232, IR/Serial, digital I/O, and eBUS make this a powerful control processor for a wide variety of presentation rooms and modern workspaces.

The Bottom Line: The IPCP Pro PCS1 control processor combines a variety of AV control ports and the ability to supply and manage device power, and is well suited for controlling multiple devices and control signal types, as well as device power within an AV system.

The What: Middle Atlantic Products is now stocking and shipping the High Power DC Distribution solution, solving the installation challenges posed by powering a high density of DC-powered components with similar voltages. 

The What Else: Part of the DC Power Distribution family, the new 200W and 300W models provide high current capacity to a high quantity of outputs—up to 24 devices—maximizing the same voltage in a single unit, 5V, 12V, or 24V, or splitting between 12/24V.

"When we introduced the DC Power Distribution family two years ago, for the first time we made it possible for integrators to install the growing number of DC-powered small devices easily in a rack and reliably power them," said Scott Lowder, director of product management for power at Middle Atlantic. "Since then, our customers have anxiously awaited models that would meet their higher power and density system demands. With these new solutions, customers can solve every power requirement that comes their way."

The Bottom Line: As devices and applications shrink in size, technology professionals must maximize utility of every AC outlet available, especially in European applications. Middle Atlantic Products' DC Power Distribution solutions gives AV consultants, integrators, and installers access to a broad DC power distribution portfolio. They not only remove messy, space-consuming, unreliable wall warts from the design and provide maximum power to support, but they also increase system efficiency, which saves energy and reduces heat generation. 

The new 200W and 300W models deliver the same features as the family's 45W DC compact and 125W DC 1-RU systems, eliminating power-cabling clutter caused by the growing number of small devices. The solutions' reliable multilevel protection on both AC input and DC outputs and built-in individual redundancy ensure maximum uptime. The multimount design can be installed in an available 1-RU space or at the back or side of the rack for zero-U mounting, providing ultimate installation flexibility. A supported input voltage range of 100-240VAC, 50/60 Hz provides additional design flexibility for international applications.

The What: Lectrosonics has introduced the RPS4, a high-reliability universal DC power supply with redundant internal supply modules.

The What Else: The RPS4 supplies four 12V DC thread-locking (LZR type) taps, each providing up to 1.5 amps. Two internal power supplies and two temperature-controlled fans operate in a failover mode for an automatic backup in the event one of them fails. Individual 2A automotive blade-type fuses protect each 12V tap from overload or direct short. The unit can be powered by 100 to 240V AC, 50/60Hz. Output DC ripple is less than 20mV. The unit ships with both two 12-inch and two 18-inch DC supply cables.

“The RPS4 is a perfect companion to our Venue and Venue 2 receivers, Duet M2T transmitters, and IFBT4 IFB transmitters,” said Karl Winkler, VP of sales at service at Lectrosonics. “Our users and dealers have asked for a highly reliable rack-type power supply for use in a variety of professional applications, such as broadcast, theater, touring, and houses of worship, and this unit will fill those needs nicely.”

The Bottom Line: The unit is designed as a 12V DC source for low-voltage devices such as wireless microphone receivers, IEM transmitters, IFB transmitters, and audio signal processing equipment. The 1RU chassis eliminates the need for a separate power strip with individual DC supplies for each device. The RPS4 is well suited for use in broadcast, theater, touring, houses of worship, and many other professional applications.

The RPS4 is available now with an MSRP of $2,290.

The What: Luxul announced that drivers for all major control and automation systems are now available for the company's PDU-2, PDU-8, and PDU-16 intelligent network power distribution units (PDU).

The What Else: Developed by RTI, Savant, and Luxul in partnership with Middle Atlantic Products, the drivers allow devices plugged into the PDU-2, PDU-8, and PDU-16 to be powered up or down as part of scheduled and triggered events. In addition, they provide users with convenient outlet control to power-cycle locked-up components locally using hand-held remotes, touch panels, and other controllers or remotely via control-system apps on mobile devices.

The PDU-2 features two individual IP-controllable outlets; the rack-mountable PDU-8 features eight controllable outlets and one noncontrollable convenience outlet; while the PDU-16 offers eight controllable outlets and eight additional noncontrollable outlets. Fast and easy to set up, the Luxul units allow for the local monitoring and rebooting of unresponsive devices, while their self-healing function performs reboots automatically to avoid costly truck rolls and service calls for integrators. Power management features for the PDUs include MOV surge and spike protection for connected equipment in addition to remote sequencing for controlled startup and shutdown.

The Bottom Line: The new drivers enable seamless integration of the PDUs into Control4, Crestron, RTI, Savant, and URC systems, allowing any programmable capability to include power control over connected devices.

AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection (ESP) has entered into an exclusive commercial distribution partnership with Herman ProAV. Effective June 1, 2018, all commercial SurgeX orders will be processed and facilitated by Herman ProAV.

The exclusive distribution partnership with Herman ProAV provides SurgeX customers with the ability to consolidate the sourcing of over 60 manufacturers anywhere in the U.S. from Herman’s four distribution centers located in Georgia, New Jersey, Florida, and Nevada. According to the company, more centralized warehousing of SurgeX products will provide customers with quicker delivery times and lower freight costs, especially for West Coast customers; they also say customers can expect to receive orders faster and more efficiently while retaining SurgeX direct pricing.

“You spoke and we listened,” said Rick Komendera, SurgeX sales manager for AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection. “In an effort to enhance the SurgeX customer experience, the partnership between SurgeX and Herman ProAV will provide additional support, benefits, and amenities our customers have asked of us. While the order fulfillment process has changed, our customers will continue to be supported by their appointed SurgeX representative.”

SurgeX customers who are existing customers of Herman will not experience any disruptions in their business, and all SurgeX orders moving forward will be placed directly through Herman. SurgeX customers who are not currently customers of Herman ProAV have already been set up with accounts within the Herman system. Both SurgeX and Herman customer service representatives will work with dealers to ensure a smooth transition.

“We are very excited to enter into this strategic partnership with SurgeX,” said Jeffrey Wolf, executive vice president, Herman Pro AV” Our partnership with SurgeX has grown over the years and enabled us to leverage our capabilities towards greater benefits and value to our mutual customers. We believe this partnership will improve the overall customer experience for SurgeX customers and we are looking forward to expanding this relationship.”

This exclusive agreement only affects commercial customers.

“We’re excited and confident that this partnership will allow us to strengthen our relationship with our customers and provide an enhanced SurgeX experience,” concluded Komendera.

The What: Middle Atlantic Products has expanded its DC Power Distribution Series for commercial and residential AV.

The What Else: The 200W and 300W units provide high current capacity to outputs for up to 24 devices—maximizing the same voltage in a single unit, 5V, 12V, or 24V, or splitting between 12/24V. The multi-mount design can be installed in an available 1RU space or at the back or side of the rack for zero-U mounting, providing increased installation flexibility. A supported input voltage range of 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz additionally provides design flexibility for international applications.

"DC Power Distribution was the first solution of its kind to help integrators reliably solve the installation challenges posed by powering small devices," said Scott Lowder, director of product management for power at Middle Atlantic. "These new additions to the line solve the challenges our customers encounter when systems employ a high density of DC powered components with similar voltages. In direct response to integrator input, these latest DC Power Distribution products provide industry-leading power—up to 300 watts to power as many as 24 devices—in flexible, easy-to-install form factors to suit any application. This expanded offering allows designers and integrators to optimize any system by improving the reliability, performance, and organization of small devices."

The Bottom Line: Now featuring higher power capacity and availability for both North American and European installations, the portfolio's new 200W and 300W models deliver the same features as the 45W DC compact and 125W DC 1RU systems, eliminating the clutter caused by a growing number of DC transformers ("wall warts") within AV installations. These solutions provide reliable multi-level protection on both AC input and DC outputs with individual redundancy built in to ensure maximum reliability.

The new DC Power Distribution models will be on display at InfoComm 2018 at Legrand's booth C3683.

Nortek Security & Control LLC (NSC) has promoted company veteran Jason Dominique to the position of director of sales, pro AV, with primary responsibility for driving sales of the Furman line of power conditioning solutions.

“Jason has held a number of positions within Nortek Security & Control over the last decade and he has demonstrated his ability to provide customers with the programs and support they need to drive their business,” said Jeff Costello, NSC vice president of sales. “We have a number of exciting new Furman solutions coming up for the pro AV channel and Jason is going to play an important role in delivering our solutions to our dealers and distributors.”

Dominique has more than 30 years of experience in security and consumer electronics as well as residential and commercial custom installation. He previously served as NSC national sales manager, security channel, the strategic accounts manager for Legrand, and the Eastern regional sales manager for Proficient, a Nortek Security & Control brand.

The What: Luxul has extended its product line with a new series of intelligent network power distribution units (PDU). With features such as self-healing and seamless integration with remote management platforms, the PDU series makes it simple for integrators to monitor and manage connected devices, increasing efficiency and customer satisfaction.

The What Else: Luxul's PDU series consists of the PDU 2, with two individual IP-controllable outlets; the rack-mountable PDU 8, with eight controllable outlets and one additional convenience outlet; and the PDU 16, with eight controllable outlets and eight additional convenience outlets.

"Including an intelligent PDU is a must for any installation for integrators to more effectively monitor and manage their clients' networks and create a better customer experience," said Mike Grubb, vice president of marketing at Luxul. "That's what makes our new PDU series such an important and exciting addition to our platform of networking solutions. Now integrators have a solution backed by the Luxul name and another piece toward a complete Luxul installation."

Power management features for the PDU series include MOV surge and spike protection for connected equipment in addition to remote sequencing for controlled startup and shutdown. Luxul offers a lifetime limited warranty for connected equipment, while the PDUs are backed by a three-year limited warranty and lifetime remote support.

The Bottom Line: Designed for fast setup, the PDUs allow for the local monitoring and rebooting of unresponsive devices, while their self-healing function performs reboots automatically to avoid truck rolls and service calls. When used with third-party remote management platforms, like Domotz and Ihiji, the units' capabilities expand to include remote access and control. This allows integrators to receive port status notifications, power-cycle unresponsive devices from anywhere, and deliver a better overall customer experience.

Our goal as AV field techs should be first-call resolution. To make that happen and be pro-active, I try to follow some basic guidelines.

Brett Cohen

As soon as I get a ticket assigned, I call ahead to confirm contact info and address. I do this because tickets are often auto-populated by CRM software with outdated contact info or the HQ address, even if the ticket is for a remote site. Do everybody a favor, and let the help desk know about contact and address corrections.

I review the reported issue and if something doesn’t sound right, I ask the help desk for the actual e-mail from the customer or the reported issue in the customers own words.

DOCUMENTATION ESSENTIALS

Don’t wait till you are on-site to start downloading important documentation of your customer’s system. You may get blocked by their firewall. Grab Audio, Video, and Control diagrams, and your QRGs (Quick reference guides) while on your own company’s network.

Got a ticket for a complex site? Ask your CAD team for full-sized, and shove it in the rack when you are done for the next tech. Or, head to your local office supply super store and spend a few bucks on full-size print-outs. I’ve never had that expense questioned.

Room numbers and room names will change between design, install, commissioning, and client turnover. When you see those changes, report them to your team so they can be applied to the ticket systems and drawings.

DON’T LEAD THE WITNESS

When I arrive on-site, I ask to be shown the exact issue(s) they are experiencing. It’s good policy to squelch your pride, and ask them to show you how the system is supposed to work—for them. Personally, I can’t recall how every customer’s system works, and let’s face it, we work on hundreds of varying systems and touch panels. Often we can uncover a simple user error and be on our merry way.

Some key questions to ask are: When did you first notice the issues? Have there been any upgrades on the company’s network or operating systems? Any recent power outages, surges, or storms?

Has anybody been troubleshooting on their own? Sometimes after an innocent customer states “No, nobody’s touched it,” I’ll find an RS-232 3.5mm plugged into IR out jack, or a RJ-45 moved from a DM port to the LAN port. Hmmm.

BURN OUT, BURN OUT

Scenario: Last call of the day and you are exhausted and baffled. Here are some options that I use to clear my head and rethink my strategy. I call my wife and kids to tell them I’m not coming home anytime soon (so they won’t be calling every 10 minutes).

The monitor radiation, fluorescent lights, rack, and projector fan noise can often cloud my thinking, so I walk out of the room to clear my head. If I’m still stuck I prepare to call my help desk or another tech. Often, I say out loud what I am going say to my colleagues at the help desk about the symptoms and steps I have taken, and the fix or the cause comes to me before I have to make the call.

RIKKI DON’T LOSE THAT NUMBER

Create and keep a log of your company’s commonly used system passwords and default manufacturers passwords. Because I keep mine in a 99¢ analog iPad, of course I use code names to represent the devices and site names.

I also do the same for Wi-Fi SSIDs and passwords, bathroom, and room access codes.

I once picked up and turned in an iPhone that was left in a conference room I was servicing. Because the screen was locked, I could not determine to whom it belonged. That day I realized I was at risk of the same fate. So, I took my home screen photo, and using MS Paint, I added an alternate phone number to it. That’s one less thing I need to worry about.

MANUFACTURERS’ GOODIES: PORTALS YOU NEED TO BOOKMARK

HTTPS://V3.SAMSUNGGSBN.COM
Videowall color balance using Color Expert Software

HTTP://DISPLAYSOLUTIONS.SAMSUNG.COM
Video tutorials and their videowall configurators

HTTP://CRESTRON.COM> PROPANEL > ONLINE HELP
Search the published answer IDs. You might find info that could cut your troubleshooting in half, and avoid on-hold time when calling for support.

HTTPS://SUPPORT.BIAMP.COM
Technical Support Database a.k.a. Cornerstone

CHECK ONE, TWO

Ceiling mics can be a little hard to isolate for verification. To test for functionality, I use a long shipping tube, bring it close to each mic, and with a very gentle tap I can hear it through the mic loud and clear, without any bleed through into the other mics.

This can be also used for speaker verification, but I usually just cup my ears. Try this during the next concert you attend. It’s a whole new experience.

CRESTRON: WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT THEM?

Make use of your Info, View, and Route buttons on the front panel of your Crestron DM Switchers.

Press Info, then select input and output buttons to get signal details and device names.

Press View, then select either an Input or Output to see what is routed to it by watching the In & Out indicator lights.

Using your Route button when in a pinch to restore service when your touch panel is not functioning:

Press Route then desired Input followed by desired Output (or vice versa depending on your model). Don’t forget to take the route by hitting Enter. If you want to access more details via the Menu button, you can often enter your password using the Input selection button instead of the tedious rotary dial.

If you are a site facilitator, it’s good practice to double-check the labels on the Crestron switcher. Re-label them to something more meaningful to your application. Instead of HDMI 1, label it name of the source device. You can also edit the display names for the info buttons. Got some extra time? Make a two-column Excel spreadsheet that has A-end and a B-end for every cable and tape it inside your rack. That will save you the time, hand cramps, skin cuts and abrasions of going hand-over-hand to trace out cables if you have a failure.

IS INSIDE-OUT THE SAME AS OUTSIDE-IN?

Only if you got dressed in the dark. But if you are upgrading Crestron firmware, you’ll want to use the Inside out method. Start with the DM Switcher firmware, then the cards, then the transmitters and finally scalers/receivers. When you do the transmitters and receivers, make sure you are not doing them from the device itself or you will lose your connection in the process. Do these remotely from the frame. Always use Ethernet for these upgrades as wireless and USB will be too slow or leave you hanging.

RETURN TO SENDER

Crestron RMAs: Don’t wait on hold to submit an RMA. Submit them via E-mail, include Item model #, S/N, firmware. Include the associated components (run a DM report) Firmware that it communicates with. E.g., If it’s a TX-200 transmitter, include the details of the receiver or the receiver card and DM chassis info. Also, include the trouble shooting techniques you have tried and the results. You already know what Crestron is looking for, so just include it. If you provide all the right info, you may get your RMA confirmation E-mail without further questions.

SEQUENCE DOES MATTER

We all know that a reboot is a quick way to restore service, albeit we don’t really find the root cause that way. There are many opinions about what order to boot-up your rack. Polling for states and initialization can vary depending on hardware and coding. So, suffice it to say, if you don’t get your desired results with one re-boot sequence, try another.

MACGYVER STUFF

How do you color balance a video wall if you can’t get the camera to rest against a completely upright monitor? Stand there and hold it with one hand while you run your software with the other? Not unless you’re Mr. Fantastic or Plastic Man. Instead pick up some shock cord (bungee cord) make a large loop and stretch it from one corner of the monitor to the other. Now tuck your camera in it. If you size it correctly, the pressure will be gentle yet secure. I’ve had a lot of success using an X-Rite i1 Display Pro and Samsung’s Color Expert Software.

Selfie sticks are great for capturing S/Ns off of hanging monitors if you don’t have the remote.

Carabiner-o-adapters: I saw one of those Apple Store Ninja guys with one of these. He had every adapter he needed right on his hip. Use wire ties to fashion a hook point on any connector or adapter.

PICK A PORT…ANY PORT

Need to connect to a device, and you can’t figure out what its IP is? Run a scan with WireShark and look for IP addresses associated with familiar manufacturer ports:

AMX ports: 1319, 1320, 292, 2930, 3839
Biamp ports: 12000 - 12003, 61451
Crestron ports: 41794, 41795, 41796, 41797

Once you have a suspect IP, you can use the ping and pull method to identify the device. That is pull the device’s Ethernet cable off to see if the ping drops.

ping 10.0.0.217 -t (the -t gives you a non-stop ping, stop it with cntrl-c.)

If you have already pinged off your screen, add the time stamp “switch” by adding a -s and any number between 1 – 4 Ex. ping 10.0.0.217 -t -s 2

WithWireshark or other network scanning tools, use caution and make sure your AV gear is on its own network and if not, make sure you have express permission to scan. Otherwise you could find yourself escorted out the door by IT Security staff.

REALLY. IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S ME.

It’s awful to get dumped, but Crestron’s Dumpdmipconfig is a useful command for providing the port numbers of attached scalers/transmitters which then allows you to start a telnet session with that device. Use switcher ip:port of connected AV devices to issue reset or initialize commands, check IP table setup, issue ping commands, etc.

INVASION OF THE PORT SNATCHERS

You want to have eyes and ears on a room as you work, but what if the rack is in some far off telco/data closet? Find yourself an unused data port in your room and use the corresponding patch panel connection in the telco room to jump over to your AV rack network port. Now you are in. Just don’t forget to restore it.

As an alternative, I’ve seen many field engineers and programmers use wireless routers to accomplish remote access.

If you do use a wireless router to connect your laptop to the AV subnet via the rack switch, take Dale Becker/FE’s advice: Double check that your router has its DHCP server turned off or you run the risk of dishing out an inappropriate IP address onto that subnet and your AV gear. Also, remove any connections that go back to the client network because you might cause a port shutdown when the customers’ data switch senses your rogue router.

Important: Don’t forget to connect the client connect back before leaving.

APPLE SOURCE

Another goodie from Dale Becker, CTS, DMC-E-4k: “Apple products have HDCP enabled at all times, regardless of whether the content being viewed on them is HDCP protected or not,” he said. “Devices like video conferencing codecs and digital recorders will not pass HDCP content, therefore your programmer will need to disable HDCP support for a source/sink pair like AppleTV/Codec, but enable it if your source/sink pair is for presentation purposes, e.g, DVD player/Samsung monitor.”

YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET

Have tired or weak eyes and need to make network or DM cables? Try the Platinum Tools EZ-RJ45 Crimp Tools for Shielded and standard RJ45 EZ connectors. The wires pop out the end so you can pull the jacket all the way into the strain relief tab and you can make sure you’ve got the color sequence right.

ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Isolate your point of failure. I’ve been saved so many times with a $20 pair of folding headphones and a 3.5mm barrel connector to a Hosa Technology Phoenix adapter to check for line level audio. Use the same barrel to take the output of your phone’s headphone jack to inject audio into a DSP or input card. Bring up you levels slowly on these to be safe!

QUICK TEST CALLS

Check out http://thetestcall.blogspot.com for a list of phone numbers that you can call to test DTMF tones, latency times, and audio quality with frequency sweeps.

TEST EQUIPMENT

Got one of those Atlona HD800 signal generators, the ones without a readout? Obviously, you can’t determine which resolution your monitor won’t pass if you don’t know what you are sending to it. Procure a 1 x 2 HDMI splitter so you can use your AT-DIS7-PROHD portable monitor to decipher what you are sending to the monitor in question.

Gripe #1
VELCRO, IT’S WONDERFUL THING, BUT…
Installers, please stop putting Velcro over the manufacturer’s stickers;we can’t see S/N, P/N or MAC addresses. And when we try to peel the Velcro off, you know what happens….d-oh!

Gripe #2
2 RU KIDDING ME?
One of a field tech's worst nightmares: a 2 RU ceiling box. These things are populated in the shop with all the necessary gear and cabling to run a whole room. The last time I encountered one of these, the cabling was so tight across both shelves that there was not one component I could safely access to test or service. Hey, rack builders, remember that us field techs are working on a ladder against gravity, not at a workbench. Show some love and think of us when you assemble these. Make them serviceable.

Brett Cohen’s career has had its highs and lows, from satellite communication to transatlantic fiber operations, and almost everything in between, including being an inventor and a chauffeur. Currently, he is an AV Project Coordinator at a large corporate facility. He holds Cisco CCNA and CTS certifications. Connect with him via linkedin.com/in/bretthcohen.

Christos Desalernos has re-joined Core Brands as manager of power product management. Desalernos previously served as Core Brands’ director of pro division sales for nine years, and has returned to develop Furman and Panamax power solutions.

Christos Desalernos

“We are ecstatic to welcome Christos back to the Core Brands family as the product manager, Power,” said Mike Jordan, Core Brands VP of product management. “Not only does Christos have years of invaluable experience selling, developing and manufacturing power products, he also intimately understands the Furman and Panamax brands and what they stand for in the eyes of our dealers and their customers. He is already bringing exciting innovations to both of these iconic brands.”

Prior to re-joining Core Brands, Desalernos served as the senior retail regional sales manager, West region at Shure Incorporated, where he managed a team of four rep firms in the Western United States. In his earlier career with Furman and then Core Brands, Desalernos’ roles grew from engineer and account executive to the director of pro division sales, with responsibility for Furman Pro Audio division growth in both revenue and profit as well as the management of 15 rep firms across the United States and Canada. Desalernos holds an electronic engineering degree from CSU East Bay.

“I can confidently say that Core Brands is the best control, audio, and power solutions provider in the business today, and I am honored to rejoin to the team,” Desalernos said. “I have been living and breathing power products for years, and I look forward to applying my expertise to developing the next generation of Panamax and Furman power products.”

IT services provider, ConvergeOne, has acquired Strategic Products and Services (SPS) according to an internal memo sent today. Effective immediately, SPS, a global, multivendor communication and networking managed service provider, is now SPS, a ConvergeOne Company.

“We are really excited about the acquisition of SPS which stems from the complimentary businesses we both have,” Scott Clark, vice president, Marketing at ConvergeOne, exclusively told SCN.

“This acquisition advances our strategy to continue to grow ConvergeOne’s managed services and cloud solutions,” John A. McKenna Jr., chairman and CEO, ConvergeOne, stated in today's release. “With this acquisition, ConvergeOne gains scale, portfolio expansion with a growing video solution, additional managed services, and technical resources backed by decades of experience and certified expertise."“ConvergeOne and SPS are focused on services – professional, managed and cloud. The addition of SPS compliments the ConvergeOne portfolio and how we service customers,” added Clark.

Read the full press release here: https://convergeone.com/press-release/acquisition-of-sps/

The What: SP Controls (booth 2056) will demonstrate at InfoComm a simplified method of distributing audio and power to ceiling speakers using Cat-5/6 cables.

The What Else: Each AmpLINC amplifier (or “Puck”) allows selection of left, right, or mixed mono audio. No transformers are required as each puck powers the speaker directly; pucks may be mounted directly to the speakers if desired. Power and signal for each puck is sent over the Cat-5/6 cable.

Designed and manufactured in California, the system consists of an AmpLINC HUB and one or more AmpLINC pucks, depending on the number of speakers in the room. System power and a stereo line level input are located at the HUB with four RJ45 jacks distributing the power and signal to the pucks. Much like traditional 70V systems, each puck can be “tapped” to deliver 0.3, 1, 4.5, or 10 watts into an 8-ohm speaker. Up to six speakers may be run at the full 10 watts each; more speakers can be attached if the power tap at each speaker is lower.

“The AmpLINC system is an attempt to bring the best features of 70V systems into the modern era where small, Class D amplifiers can now be located at each speaker,” said Paul Brown of SP Controls. “In a distributed audio application, a low amount of power per speaker does a great job of covering a room. This system allows the use of readily available category cable and greatly simplifies the installation process.”

The Bottom Line: The SP Controls AmpLINC system offers integrators an alternative to traditional 70V systems through the use of small Class D amplifiers at each speaker, permitting both point-to-point or daisy-chained wiring topologies. Applications for the AmpLINC system include classrooms, collaboration rooms, coffee shops or any facility where a ceiling distributed speaker system is appropriate.

In This Edition:

—Tech employers, for one thing, often use generous compensation packages to attract top talent to their organizations. But money still isn't growing on trees. So when an employee comes asking for a raise, how should you react?

—As the ISE show continues to impress with its growth, key product launches are following suit there, and there's a great opportunity to take advantage of seeing the latest technology innovations on display a full four months ahead of North America's big AV show.

—Dana Corey discusses how Avocor is working on next-generation visual solutions that are simple, standardized, and that maximize scale for users

—This past ISE broke attendance records again, particularly a significant increase in the amount of Americans traveling overseas to attend. What's changed to make 2017 what looks to be something of a turning point in this regard?

It’s an exhilarating time to be involved in this industry. Each year, we come together to witness the astonishing march of technological progress, where last year’s revelations look relatively ancient compared to this year’s faster, finer, and smarter versions—and to stand in collective awe of the things we never saw coming. That’s InfoComm; and at SCN, we tip our hats to the manufacturers that brought these wonders of technology into fruition in the form of our annual Installation Product Awards.

The 2017 SCN/InfoComm Installation Product Awards will showcase the most innovative commercial AV products of 2016. Manufacturers must enter their product or products for consideration before March 31, so please submit your entry now.

Please send one high-resolution image of each product entered to SCN digital editor, Garen Sahagian (gsahagian@nbmedia.com).

Winners will be announced during InfoComm 2017 In Orlando, FL.

To be eligible for an award, the company must be exhibiting at InfoComm, and the product must have shipped in 2016.

Each product entry is $295 and must be sent in along with the entry form.

Any questions can be directed to SCN senior editor Matt Pruznick.

2017 SCN InfoComm Installation Product Awards Categories:

• Most Innovative Audio Hardware: Speakers, microphones, amplifiers
• Most Innovative Audio Processing: Switching, routing, transport and control
• Most Innovative Equipment Rack/AV Furniture
• Most Innovative Mounting Solution
• Most Innovative Video Display (Panel): LCD, OLED, LED, Cubes
• Most Innovative Video Display (Projection): Projectors, screens,
• Most Innovative Video Processing: Switching, routing, transport, image management and control
• Most Innovative AV Installation Accessory: Brackets, rigging, cabling, connectors, power management, test/measurement/calibration hardware and software
• Most Innovative Videoconferencing Hardware and Accessories
• Most Innovative Collaboration Product (Hardware and Software)
• Most Innovative Digital Signage Product (Hardware and Software)
• Most Innovative AV Automation/Show Control
• Most Innovative IoT Product (Hardware and Software)
• Most Innovative Emerging Technologies

The What: At ISE, Huawei debuted a network switch that allows the IPX transceiver by Aurora Multimedia Corporation to receive Power over Ethernet (PoE) directly from the 10G network switch. The switch will enable 10G speed and PoE function to be carried by the same data cable. Huawei is a partner with Aurora in its IPBaseT technology, which debuted more than two years ago with the IPX Series, 10G with zero compression/zero latency and 4K streaming boxes and wall plates.

The What Else: The S6720 Series of switchers consists of 24-port and 48-port 10G PoE models. They feature pluggable redundant power supplies, with up to 320G stack bandwidth, and 60W PoE++, long distance power supply and fast PoE.

"We are glad to work with Aurora on this innovative solution," said Kevin Hu, president of switch and enterprise gateway product line at Huawei. "This is an up-and-coming use case in the industry requiring 10G speed and PoE function. It is truly exciting to see the low latency, non-compressed 4K video transmitted through our new S6720 series switches. We look forward to future collaboration with Aurora to provide the most advanced solutions to the AV industry."

"Aurora designed the IPX Series with the intent of changing the topology of AV industry and is the first to introduce many new capabilities never previously accomplished on a streaming platform," said Paul Harris, CEO of Aurora. "PoE over 10G is one of the capabilities, but requires the industry to provide the other half. Huawei is an Aurora IPBaseT partner and I am pleased to collaborate and show the way to a new era of streaming content over 10G networks with no power supplies at the endpoints."

The Bottom Line: Huawei is set to release its 24-port S6720-32C-PWH-SI and its 48-port S6720-52X-PWH-SI 10G PoE/PoE+/PoE++ switches in the second quarter of 2017. With Aurora's technology, the products aim to exhibit the effectiveness of 10G PoE in real-world applications.

The What: Visionary Solutions, Inc., provider of AV network technologies, has introduced PacketAV Duet, a platform that delivers Dante connectivity for visually lossless, ultra-low latency 4K UHD video.

The What Else: With Visionary's PacketTV and PacketAV products, 4K UHD, as well as full 1080p HD and lower resolution content can be deployed to a virtually limitless number of screens over any standard GbE network, even sharing space on existing enterprise networks, using standard network protocols and devices.

PacketAV Duet modules

A single network can carry audio, video, and data. Installation is designed to be as simple as possible, with no need for expensive proprietary components or 10GbE switches. Distributed displays and multi-component video walls are easily configured, and controllers from Crestron, AMX, and other third parties are supported.

"Audio professionals have long understood the power, control, and expandability of the Dante platform for digital audio," said Scott Freshman, Visionary Solutions chief operating officer. "Now PacketAV Duet delivers that same connectivity for UHD video, enabling you to route video using Dante Controller. This is video for audio pros. If you know how to use Dante for audio, you know how to use PacketAV Duet for video. This really does change everything."

Visionary Solutions will be showing the new PacketAV Duet, along with their full range of high-performance AV network solutions, at ISE booth 6-K162.

The Bottom Line: Visionary Solutions' PacketAV Duet Encoder and Decoder deliver visually lossless, ultra-low latency 4K UHD video and Dante over gigabit Ethernet, bypassing the constraints of traditional switch matrix systems by harnessing the flexibility and scalability of converged IP networks.

The What: Middle Atlantic Products has expanded its lineup of power solutions with the new Controlled Wall Plate. Designed for simplified universal control and efficient integration, the Controlled Wall Plate provides extended power and control capabilities to AV, residential, and security devices within a compact, single-gang design.

Middle Atlantic Controlled Wall Plate

The What Else: Available with 15A NEMA or 20A Neutrik PowerCON receptacles, the Controlled Wall Plate helps integrators avoid the complexity and expense of breaker panels or multiple high-/low-voltage boxes. Its internal power supply removes reliance on external input voltage, which is susceptible to voltage drops on the wire, furthering the system’s reliability.

Both models feature LED indicators and low-voltage, integrated contact connections at the rear of the unit, which alleviate the need to run exposed control wires to the front of the wall plate. The PowerCON receptacle option provides the additional security of locking the power cable to the device and wall, mitigating the risk of the powered device becoming unplugged.

“There are many solutions to control AV components within a rack, but options for extending control are limited and involve manual or expensive motorized breaker panels,” said Scott Lowder, CTS, senior product manager of power at Middle Atlantic Products. “This robust wall plate was designed to extend simple dry contact control from the rack to distant powered speakers in the most efficient and reliable way possible.”

The Bottom Line: Its compact, decorator-style single-gang form factor fits standard wall or floor boxes as well as within a partitioned, multi-use box. Controlled Wall Plate is designed for simple and cost-effective methods for controlling powered loudspeakers, lights, displays, projectors, and any other integrated AV device.

Legrand North America has reaffirmed its commitment to fight climate change by joining the Scientific Based Targets program, and supporting Global Alliance for Energy Productivity.

The Science Based Targets program, which is supported by the WWF, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and the Carbon Disclosure Project, encourages companies to commit to specific targets for cutting their carbon dioxide emissions. Targets adopted by companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are considered “science-based” if they are in line with the level of decarbonization required to keep global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial temperatures. Legrand proudly joins some 200 major global businesses in supporting Science Based Targets.

"As a manufacturer, we are acutely aware that energy efficiency is crucial to maintaining economic competitiveness and reducing carbon emissions," said John Selldorff, president and CEO, Legrand North and Central America. "We're proud to support the Science Based Targets program and we will be working toward achieving specific and practicable carbon reduction targets while encouraging our government and other businesses to keep pace."

The Global Alliance for Energy Productivity, an international initiative launched by the Alliance to Save Energy and Climateworks, has established the goal of doubling global energy productivity by 2030. The Global Alliance builds on the success of the Accelerate Energy Productivity 2030 initiative in the United States as well as ongoing energy productivity efforts around the world. Framing efficiency goals in terms of energy productivity promotes a better understanding of how efficient energy use contributes to these solutions. It enables decision-makers to set actionable agendas by connecting energy efficiency investments with positive economic outcomes.

By endorsing this goal, Legrand acknowledges the important role of the private sector in driving the deployment of the energy-efficient technologies and practices that will help the world get twice as much economic output from each unit of energy consumed. Legrand joins more than 100 other organizations that have endorsed the 2030 goal and it has committed to share its own success stories, while encouraging others companies to also endorse.

"We have supported the U.S. goal for energy productivity for several years now,” said Susan Rochford, VP, energy efficiency, sustainability, and public policy, Legrand North America. “Expanding our involvement to the global level underscores the deep commitment of our company to promoting the strong business case for an active and continuous energy management program and the many benefits, economic and environmental, that these efforts reap.”

Legrand, North America has released major updates to the Wattstopper LMCS configuration software and Wattstopper Segment Manager Network software that extend the power of the Digital Lighting Management (DLM) control platform.

The LMCS software provides industry professionals with important commissioning documentation, an indispensable tool for all building projects, including LEED projects. With active real-time monitoring of the DLM system, field technicians can easily configure, manage, and update job information while onsite as well as set up advanced features of DLM devices.

New LMCS features include Network View, which provides an entirely new and holistic view of all DLM networking components on a project, making it possible to design, document, and keep track of all components that make up the entire DLM system. This feature, which includes fields for documenting network addresses for DLM devices, is designed to aid in the development of Typical Room and One Line Riser diagrams, and allow technicians and owners to stay organized and make working with larger systems more effective.

In addition, Bill of Materials can now be quickly and easily exported at the area level through the device context menu, Network Bridge Report can document room bridges all on one page, and firmware has been improved for updating rooms and devices, as well as a variety of bug fixes.

Segment Manager software helps building owners, facility managers, and electrical engineers optimize building performance and reduce energy costs with monitoring and management of lighting controls systems and their related energy usage. In addition to a tile-based interface that allows for easier organization of networked DLM systems, Segment Manager automatically populates tiles into the dashboard, which reduces setup time and provides alerts when a room or area exceeds normal usage.

Features of the new Segment Manager include Uploadable Floorplans (Supervisor version only) that not only provide the benefit of custom graphics, but now are also more user-friendly to insert, manage, and maintain; full Wattstopper LMZC-301 zone controller support (the LMZC is used to provide power and connectivity to DLM fixture controllers, but can also respond to schedules sent from a Segment Manager); direct access to the Segment Manager manual from the user interface; and bug fixes to scheduling, network discovery, and LMCS file uploads.

Legrand has added five new fixture integrated sensors to its Wattstopper FSP-200 product family. New choices of IP66-rated FSP sensors include the FSP-2x2 product family, which provides code compliance for fixtures that require the simplest code compliant lighting controls capability to the enhanced, fully enclosed FSP-2x1B product family.

New features and benefits include a new universal voltage sensor option (120-480VAC), four different mounting options, and four color selections to match forms and colors of modern LED lighting fixtures, and IP66 rating for applications needing reliable operation in harsh wet and cold conditions. Additionally, photosensor and daylight capabilities add a dusk-to-dawn control option for sequence of operation flexibility. The sensors offer a unique security feature that locks the sensor configuration preventing any unauthorized changes.

Designed for optimal performance, the FSP-200 line provides effective lighting control to improve energy performance and simplifies compliance with the latest parking garage and outdoor lighting control code requirements including California Title 24 (2013) and ASHRAE 90.1 (2010)/IECC (2012). These sensors are well suited for outdoor parking lots and pathways, indoor parking structures, and high bay applications such as warehouses.

Available now and in three models, the Wattstopper FSP-2x1B Series features multiple voltage options, allowing customers to control a variety of fixtures ranging from low-voltage 12-32VDC, single phase, and now dual phase with a universal voltage option (120-480VAC); flexible mounting, with three configurations for mounting inside or to the outside of a fixture or enclosure via a 0.5-inch knockout or to a pole; and ladder-free configuration, simplifying the initial setup and sensor adjustments, which can be made using the Wireless Handheld Configuration Tool (FSIR-100).

The Wattstopper FSP-2x2 Series is available soon and will feature multiple voltage options, offered in two models operating on low (12-32VDC) and line voltage (120-277VAC); code compliance for fixtures that require the simplest code compliant lighting controls capability; and a novel form factor that allows for quicker snap-in installation with a rectangular punch-out. Also, simple trimpot-based controls allow the user to set parameters.

“We are excited to offer even more versatility to our award-winning FSP sensor line for LED fixtures,” said Ryan Smillie, OEM sales manager for Wattstopper at Legrand, North America. “Now our OEM partners have more flexibility with more mounting, color, and voltage options. They can also have peace of mind knowing that they have additional security features and a sensor that is IP66 rated and can stand up to harsh environments.”

This unveiling follows the launches of the FSP-201 low-voltage sensor and the FSP-211 line voltage sensor.

Juice Goose has announced three new manufacturers representative firms to support its power distribution products.

Sonic Sales, based in Carlsbad, California, headed by Josh Carruthers, will represent Juice Goose in northern California and the Northwest. Reflex Marketing assumes Juice Goose sales responsibilities in the metro New York area. Reflex operates from Franklin Square, New York and is headed by Bob Brennan. Warman Marketing is now working with Juice Goose in the Rocky Mountain region, including Arizona. Harry Warman and his team are based in Broomfield, Colorado.

D-Tools reminds entrants of the annual D-Tools Design Awards there are only three weeks left to submit entries this year’s contest (click here to enter).

D-Tools is pursuing System Integrator (SI) software users’ greatest success stories and project designs that display not only how the organization or individual uses the software platform, but also how the software has positively affected their business and ROI. The contest is open to those using the D-Tools software platform and winning success stories will be selected from a diverse group of D-Tools users from around the globe serving residential, commercial, security, education, hospitality, HoW, and IT markets. D-Tools Design Awards winners will be announced in September, during CEDIA in Dallas, TX.

D-Tools Design Awards contest categories include Best Residential, Best Commercial, Most Unique, and Best Overall Winners, which will be selected by both the D-Tools product team and a select group of D-Tools Certified Partners. The winning entries will be judged on a number of criteria, including originality, depth of use of D-Tools’ software, overall system design, and will include entries which best communicate and demonstrate the system designer’s knowledge of the software.

Winners will receive valuable prizes from the contest sponsors and D-Tools Manufacturer Vantage Point (MVP) partners, including Atlona, Avenview, Autonomic, IC Realtime, KanexPro, KEF, Kramer, Leon Speakers, and LILIN.

The deadline for submitting projects is August 26, 2016. D-Tools customers can submit their entries by visiting http://d-tools.com/design-awards/ or by sending an email to Josh Carlson at JoshC@d-tools.com.

The What: Raritan, a provider of intelligent data center management and rack power distribution, has added new security and performance features for its Dominion KX III User Station at the Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems (DoDIIS) Worldwide Conference.

User Station by Raritan

The What Else: The User Station simplifies how IT professionals access and manage multiple servers and other devices connected to Raritan’s Dominion KX III KVM switch. Both the KX III and User Station now meet widely used U.S. government security mandates, including smart card/CAC authentication; LDAP, RADIUS or active directory authentication; certified FIPS 140-2 cryptographic module; 256-bit AES or 128-bit RC4 encryption; and dual-stack networking: IPv4 and IPv6.

The User Station’s Intel-based platform supports two 1080p streaming video sessions at 30Hz, and is small enough to sit on a desk or be mounted in a standard 19-inch data center rack slot.

According to Richard Dominach, director of product management at Raritan, the User Station can replace outdated analog matrix switches or expensive, inflexible broadcast systems, and can be used in environments where a PC is not wanted.

“Our server and IT infrastructure management solutions are widely deployed by government agencies, defense contractors, and the military because of their security and high-performance features,” Dominach said. “Our solutions are known to improve productivity, collaboration, and mean time to repair—all without sacrificing security.”

The Bottom Line: Raritan will exhibit at DoDIIS, in booth 936, to showcase the new User Station, KX III KVM switch, intelligent rack PDUs, and SX II Serial Console Server for managing serial devices such as routers, switches, and blade servers.

These solutions also will be shown at Los Alamos National Laboratory Tech Expo, October 24; Kirtland AFB Tech Expo, October 25; and Holloman AFB Tech Expo, October 27.

The What: Altinex has introduced the MT322-105 and MT322-107 (International version) Power Distribution Cards for use with the company’s MT302-201 Digital MultiTasker. Both units distribute AC power from a single AC source to multiple AC outlets.

MT322-105 and MT322-107 power distribution cards by Altinex

The What Else: The new MT322-105 and MT322-107 are designed with safety as a top priority. Both cards have built-in current measuring circuits to detect load levels. The value of these loads may be read over the IP port and an alarm can be triggered when power is exceeded.

The MT322-105 contains an IEC male connector for the AC supply input and standard NEMA 5-15R power receptacles for the three outputs. Built-in sensors alert the user by flashing the LEDs when the load exceeds 9.5 amps, as well as a warning message over the IP port when the current draw approaches the maximum 10.5-amp limit. The MT322-107 international version contains one IEC male connector for the AC power supply input and three IEC 320 female outlets.

With this model, sensors alert the user when the load exceeds 8.5 amps and a warning message is sent over the IP port when the current draw approaches the maximum 10-amp limit. Both cards have safety provisions that cause the cards to automatically start turning outlets off should the system approach maximum power draw. A message informing the user that outputs are being shut down is sent to the MT302-201 Digital MultiTasker’s IP port.

Both the MT322-105 and MT322-107 are able to turn audio/video equipment on or off in a sequential order, which may be defined using IP protocol commands. The time delay between switching is also programmable from zero to 50 seconds. The threshold level for the on/off-detect feature is adjustable to accommodate different loads and determine when AV equipment is on or off. This feature is particularly important for DVD players or any other equipment that has only IR control capabilities. Using this feature, the control system can determine if the device is on or off by the amount of current it draws.

“The MT322-105 and MT322-107 are the ideal solution for distributing and managing the amount of AC power that is being used by AV equipment in meeting rooms, lecture halls, and similar AV environments,” said Gershfeld, president of Altinex. “The power controller cards provide an easy way to execute a total power shutdown for AV equipment when not use, making this solution valuable for green building initiatives. With their ease of use and flexibility, I’m confident AV integrators will find them very useful for system design.”

The Bottom Line: With these one-in, three-out AC power distribution cards, the outlets can be connected to any type of audio/video equipment—making both cards well suited for controlling power to multiple AV equipment units.

Computer-based testing for the new Portable Power Distribution Technician examination is now available. ETCP needs as many candidates as possible to test by August 23, 2016 to obtain cut-score information on the new examination. The first 25 candidates to apply will receive a free t-shirt with the new PPDT logo and their name if they receive a passing score. Because this is a new examination, score reports will be delayed during this time.

The ETCP PPDT certification is focused on the large population of industry workers in the roles of technicians, stagehands, portable power set/strike technicians, as well as facility maintenance personnel for a wide variety of venues. This certification targets the top two-thirds of people working with this technology at various types of facilities in the corporate, trade show, outdoor event, theatrical, and motion picture/television segments of the entertainment industry. This certification is a subset of the Entertainment Electrician content outline and does not include questions relating to luminaires, networking, or control systems.

ETCP uses a point system to determine eligibility to sit for examinations. A candidate must have 25 points to apply for the ETCP Portable Power Distribution Technician examination. Points can be earned through work experience alone or through a combination of training (i.e., internships or apprenticeships), licensure, and degrees from accredited institutions. Courses taken outside a formal program of undergraduate or graduate studies do not count toward eligibility.

To apply, candidates must submit the 2016 PPDT CBT Application, which can be found here:

http://etcp.esta.org/ppdt.

AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection has added Expert Manager to standard Next Gen and Envision software. Expert Manager provides analysis of a complex array of power-related data with the ability to translate that data instantly into reports that pinpoint problems and offer solutions to solve them.

According to the company, Expert Manager is the first software tool in the industry that analyzes a wide range of conditions and issues, such as electrical parameter data, under-voltages, over-voltages, or power outages and surges. It provides various solutions to mitigate problems at the touch of a button. When combined with ESP/SurgeX cloud capabilities, Expert Manager also can send power quality alerts to users as a preventative measure.

“Every time a piece of equipment needs replacing or is taken offline because of a power-related issue, it costs money,” said AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection business manager, Dave Perrotta. “Expert Manager minimizes costs associated with power-related downtime because it provides instant monitoring of power quality and allows a technician to take immediate corrective action when diagnostic equipment detects an abnormality.”

Without proper diagnostic intelligence equipment, power issues often go unnoticed or misdiagnosed as “no problem found.” Over time, small issues can become more serious and result in unnecessary parts replacement, increased service costs, profit loss and customer frustration.

The robust analytics tool offers a corrective course that can be as simple as adjusting an abnormal load, or something more serious like contacting an electrician to correct excessive neutral-ground voltage. Expert Manager is designed to help keep connected equipment running smoother without disruption, against a wide variety of power issues.

The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) Portable Power Distribution Technician (PPDT) examination will be offered at more than 190 testing centers in North America beginning July 15 for computer-based testing. There is no application deadline, and once a candidate is approved he or she can usually test within a couple of weeks, depending on candidate volume. Because this is a new examination, score reports will be delayed during this time.

ETCP uses a point system to determine eligibility to sit for examinations. A candidate must have 25 points to apply for the ETCP Portable Power Distribution Technician examination. Points can be earned through work experience alone or through a combination of training (i.e., internships or apprenticeships), licensure, and degrees from accredited institutions. Courses taken outside a formal program of undergraduate or graduate studies do not count toward eligibility.

To apply, candidates must submit the 2016 PPDT CBT Application, which can be found here: http://etcp.esta.org/ppdt

ETCP is also offering the examinations via paper and pencil in the following cities in August 2016: Orlando, FL; Dallas, TX; and Phoenix, AZ. If you would like to test in one of those cities, please contact Meredith Moseley-Bennett, etcp@esta.org.

The ETCP PPDT certification is focused on the large population of industry workers in the roles of technicians, stagehands, portable power set/strike technicians, as well as facility maintenance personnel for a wide variety of venues. This certification targets the top two-thirds of people working with this technology at various types of facilities in the corporate, trade show, outdoor event, theatrical, and motion picture/television segments of the entertainment industry. This certification is a subset of the Entertainment Electrician content outline and does not include questions relating to luminaries, networking, or control systems.

The ETCP Council members are key leaders drawn from entertainment business, labor, facilities, associations, and academia representing the diversity of the entertainment industry. Membership includes ESTA, AMPTP, Cirque du Soleil/MGM MIRAGE, CITT, Disney Theatrical Productions, IAVM, IATSE, InfoComm, The League, Live Nation, PRG, PSAV, TEA, and USITT. ETCP is an ESTA initiative created to promote industry safety.