Five tips for working with HDBaseT cables that will help avoid destroying AV your equipment, avoid cable breakage, avoid interference, and why you should always use shielded Cat6A cable.

Labeling HDBaseT Cables

If there are multiple HDBaseT transmission lines in a system, you’ll end up with two or more HDBaseT cables running to and from the wallplate. If the cables aren’t labeled correctly and connect two transmitters or two receivers, this can and will damage or outright destroy the equipment. Even plugging something in for 10 seconds or less can destroy the connected devices by overloading their internal chips.

This causes a headache for everyone involved because it requires equipment to be replaced, which can take valuable time away from other installations. Clearly and consistently labeling every cable can greatly reduce the chance of this happening.

Testing HDBaseT Cables

Make sure to test your HDBaseT cables and have spares available on site. Even if they’re pre-made or have been tested before, it’s still important to test all HDBaseT cables after the system has been fully installed.

The same cables that will pass tests with flying colors in-factory may break if they’re damaged during installation or installed with too many sharp bends.

Managing Cables within Cable Sleeves

While this makes the cable look shorter, it drastically increases the chance of the cables breaking if they’re stepped on. Unless absolutely necessary, coil the cables neatly before placing them in the run to mitigate the chances of cable damage and system failure.

Oftentimes, cables running from a podium, desk, or other piece of furniture to a wallplate will vary in length, requiring the excess to be bundled somewhere to keep it out of the way. Some installers take the approach of “out of sight, out of mind” by coiling the excess within the cable sleeve running to the wallplate.

Eliminating Zip Ties

When managing or routing cables, avoid using zip ties, especially for HDMI and HDBaseT cables. Tying zip ties too tight can damage the wires inside the cables. If you have to move a cable for any reason, a zip tie would need to be cut and replaced—which runs the risk of damaging the bundled cables— whereas Velcro offers more flexibility while fulfilling the same purpose.  

Furthermore, you don’t want to tie HDBaseT and power cables together, especially over long distances or in the ceiling. This can introduce interference into the HDBaseT signal, causing static to appear on the projected image.

Using Shielded Cat6A

If you’re running an HDBaseT connection through a wallplate, you always want to make sure that you’re using a shielded Cat6A cable. Unlike traditional cat6A cables, shielded cables are wrapped in a thin layer of aluminum which protects them from electrical interference. A quick way to tell the difference between standard and shielded cables is by looking at the connectors; standard Cat6A cables have plastic RJ45 connectors, while shielded ones have metal connectors.

You may be tempted to choose standard Cat6A cables since they’re less expensive and easier to work with, but the lack of added protection can negatively affect device performance (e.g. displays flashing on and off). Knowing the difference and choosing wisely can result in more reliable systems and fewer support calls down the road.

Sam Steup is a mechanical engineer at TEKVOX. He graduated from Trinity University with a Bachelor's in Engineering Science in 2018. He now works as a mechanical systems engineer for TEKVOX, designing Drop-In A/V systems and writing technical documentation.

DJ Virassamy is a system engineer at TEKVOX. Previously, he was a field engineer for CX2, which included commissioning projects upon completion. He’s been in the AV industry for 15 years.

Scott Wold is a content and marketing coordinator at TEKVOX. He previously worked in the healthcare field as a consultant for an electronic medical record company and volunteered with hospice.

As more classrooms and business environments move to collaborative, open spaces, instructors and corporate leaders are looking for AV and videoconferencing systems that fit adaptive spaces that can be rearranged and reconfigured as needed. With expertise in both room combining and HyFlex learning, TEKVOX now offers custom AV and videoconferencing solutions for HyFlex divisible environments. 

[TEKVOX's HyFlex Drop-In Classroom]

Today, room combining often must meet the needs for HyFlex, or hybrid-flexible, learning too. HyFlex combines face-to-face instruction with real-time or post-session online access to offer participants the choice of various modes of engagement. TEKVOX designs, engineers, and manufactures systems that meet the specific needs of customers and how they want to use their physical spaces.

[TEKVOX's HyFlex Drop-In Classroom]

“HyFlex provides people with even more options for how to utilize their rooms and get the most out of their space,” noted TEKVOX CEO, Jim Reinhart. “Divisible rooms already offer the ability for space to work as a single, large environment or multiple, independent rooms. Based on the size of the space, its configuration capabilities, and the equipment preferences of the customer, TEKVOX can tailor plug-and-play systems for HyFlex divisible environments that are easy-to-use and efficient in any application.”

[TEKVOX Unveils ShareView Wireless Pro System]

Each customized TEKVOX system features two or more complete rooms and a combining unit, a hardware/software solution that enables the rooms to operate independently or as a single cohesive system. The combining unit can be installed in a central control room or a ceiling box. Each divisible room can include one or more cameras—including auto-tracking models—a sophisticated microphone system, different display types, and different user interfaces.

TEKVOX, unlike its competitors, considers a system’s custom design and engineering to be part of the quoting process and not a separate consultation fee. TEKVOX also preconfigures and preprograms each system for easy installation and set-up. This comprehensive approach makes quick work of turning divisible spaces into the HyFlex environments which customers across markets demand.

 [The Nine 2022: Meet 9 Pro AV Superstars] 

TEKVOX has completed a number of active HyFlex divisible systems, including one for The San Antonio Orthopedic Group where three medium-size boardrooms with HyFlex capabilities can function independently or combine in different ways to accommodate a large meeting or special event. Additional TEKVOX HyFlex divisible installations are on the horizon for later this year.

HyFlex, or hybrid-flexible learning, combines face-to-face instruction with online learning to offer students access to courses and classroom participation that best suits them. They can attend in person, join a live class via videoconference, or check in online after a class session—whichever model of engagement works best for their needs.

Just as HyFlex students have a choice of instructional modes, HyFlex educators now have a choice of technology paths to deliver their coursework. Instructors no longer need to have equipment-intensive classrooms with dedicated computers and shelves of gear. Instead, they too can opt for a HyFlex approach where systems are streamlined, easy-to-use, and more efficient.

The coronavirus pandemic didn’t create the HyFlex movement, but it has certainly served to accelerate it in the same way that business and industry has embraced remote engagement over the last two years. The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) model has taken hold in videoconferencing, enabling participants to use their own laptops. It’s all about convenience, simplicity, and delivering a user experience that works best for everyone. 

The HyFlex classroom of today doesn’t have to be more equipment-heavy than the non-HyFlex classroom of five years ago. New tools, such as auto-tracking cameras, eliminate the need for complicated control schemes. All the building blocks for HyFlex learning are designed to be easy-to-use and clutter-free.

Thanks to our history of creating drop-in distance learning systems, HyFlex was not a new concept to TEKVOX. We devise systems that HyFlex educators in standard, baseline classrooms would feel comfortable with.

The TEKVOX HyFlex Drop-In classroom (71021-HF1) requires no manual control of cameras and microphones. It features our 1201-MV switcher, an installed PC, laptop connections, and a touchpad at the instructor’s desk. A 180º auto-framing camera captures video of the students while cropping out empty spaces in the video feed. Our ceiling-mounted 4K electronic PTZ camera automatically tracks the instructor as they move around the room. An array mic, also in the ceiling, picks up the voices of everyone in the room, students and instructor alike. HyFlex educators who prefer a wireless environment can substitute the TEKVOX ShareView Wireless PRO for the 1201-MV wired switcher.

[ TEKVOX Unveils ShareView Wireless Pro System ]

Integrators who sell the TEKVOX HyFlex drop in classroom will also install it – a quick and easy process that won’t clutter up the space with equipment. Instructors with no knowledge of how to control an AV system will find that they need to do little more than turn on the system and select a camera. No one is happy with a complicated and unintuitive system, and such a system is not worth the investment. TEKVOX has streamlined the end-user experience, making the system transparent to both remote and local students.

[ TEKVOX Adds 4K Videoconferencing, PTZ Cameras to Line ]

TEKVOX will be deploying several hundred HyFlex Drop-In classrooms, primarily in higher education, during spring and summer 2022. While HyFlex has been largely implemented for higher education, cost-effective, easy-to-use systems make the HyFlex model accessible for K-12 too. Educators who need to continue business as usual during severe weather, health emergencies, or natural disasters will want to consider the TEKVOX HyFlex Drop-In classroom. If COVID taught us anything, it’s that students can and should have access to the classroom at all times, no matter what.

The What: TEKVOX says it is raising the bar for distance engagement in both the educational and corporate markets with its new 1201-MV Universal Switcher. The latest in TEKVOX’s line of switchers delivers Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) video conferencing by eliminating the need for a conventional in-room PC to drive the conference’s technical components.

The What Else: The 1201-MV switcher features a two-way USB hub at the far end, which allows any connected laptop to host meetings from the conference room using the installed technology. This capability is designed to do away with the need for a dedicated conferencing PC, and removes the security risks and overall annoyance associated with the old use model, according to the company.

“Laptops today are powerful, and a lot of video conference participants would really prefer to present from them,” said TEKVOX CEO Jim Reinhart. “But they’d have to connect the laptop to the eyes and ears—cameras, mics, speakers—of the conference room and play out the content. Before, that meant running a lot of cables to the conference table or using a separate PC. Now, they can use the 1201-MV and its built-in USB 3.0 hub to gain immediate access to far-end USB mics and cameras. The full infrastructure of a modern conference room has become plug-and-play.”

The 1201-MV utilizes 6-Play HDBase-T to transport 4K video, digital audio, PoC, RS232, LAN, and USB over a single cable. It also includes a native USB-C input with up to 60W of power charging for a tablet or laptop. It features 12 flexible multiview modes for viewing up to four sources at once without additional hardware.

The Bottom Line: The 1201-MV features auto-switching—a useful function for collaboration and conferencing—and a breakaway HDMI output.

The 1201-MV is available now with an MSRP of $2,998. TEKVOX says the switcher is shipped fully functional, pre-programmed, and rigorously tested.

The What: TEKVOX has announced that its cameras are now compatible with the HTML5 standard, enabling camera control via web portals.

The What Else: TEKVOX’s cameras are part of the company’s Drop-In A/V solutions for videoconferencing and distance learning; cameras may also be purchased separately for video capture in classrooms and conference rooms. Most available cameras support resolutions up to 1080p; however, TEKVOX has recently added 4K cameras for customers who demand the highest standard in video quality. In addition, TEKVOX offers two new auto-tracking cameras to capture speakers dynamically: the Wunderbar All-in-One Conferencing Bar—featuring a built-in microphone and speaker—and the stand-alone HD/1080p Auto-Tracking Camera, with smooth 10x optical zoom.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Videoconferencing and Streaming

TEKVOX’s PTZ cameras have different levels of zoom: from 5x optical zoom—for use in small spaces requiring a wide field of view—up to 20x zoom for larger lecture halls. They feature smooth and precise movement for pan, tilt, and zoom operations.

All the cameras offered by TEKVOX are available with HDMI or HDBaseT outputs. In addition to TCP/IP (web-based) control, they are controllable via RS-232, RS-422/485, or the included IR remotes.

“The new auto-tracking and 4K cameras bolster our full range of professional-quality PTZ cameras,” said TEKVOX CEO Jim Reinhart. “By offering HTML5 compatibility, all TEKVOX cameras are now fully qualified for corporate and educational applications in a post-Flash world.”

The Bottom Line: With Adobe ceasing to distribute and update Flash Player after December 31, 2020, HTML5 is recognized as a viable alternative for Flash content, and major browsers have integrated the open standard. TEKVOX has recognized this industry shift by providing HTML5 compatibility for control of its cameras.

The What: TEKVOX has begun shipping the Wunderbar All-in-One Conferencing Bar, featuring a 4K auto-tracking camera, an array microphone, and an audio speaker. 

The What Else: The Wunderbar’s versatile 4K camera dynamically tracks speakers to keep them in frame. It features an ultra-wide field of view for capturing full-room video, and 5x digital zoom for detailed, reliable video. The sophisticated beamforming microphone and full-frequency speakers deliver high-quality audio for superior clarity during videoconferences.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Videoconferencing and Streaming

A single USB 3.0 connection offers convenience and ease of installation. The versatile Wunderbar also includes multiple mounting options and joint HDMI/USB 3.0 outputs for other use cases.

“Every iteration of TEKVOX videoconferencing systems is more integrated and easier to install and use,” said TEKVOX CEO Jim Reinhart. “By combining three incredible technologies in one, the Wunderbar is another step in that direction.”

The Bottom Line: Well suited for small conference rooms or huddle rooms, the Wunderbar can be combined with a PC and display to deliver all the essentials needed for videoconferencing.

The Wunderbar is shipped fully functional, pre-programmed, and rigorously tested. It has an MSRP of $1,325 (dealer $795), and is now shipping.

The What: TEKVOX has announced the release of 710BP-Room_Mics, a Drop-In booster pack designed to add a system of microphones to a new or existing AV system. This booster pack consists of a fully integrated system of array microphones for capturing clear audio in any room, plus an audio digital signal processor (DSP) for performing automatic echo cancellation and mixing. All ceiling microphones come mounted on clear Plexiglas plates for easy installation and high-quality sound pickup.

The What Else: The Room_Mics booster pack includes connections for an instructor’s wireless mic, a desk- or podium-mounted mic, and six high-quality, ceiling-mounted array microphones for students. Each array microphone picks up sound in a wide arc for consistent sound from anywhere in the room.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Audio in the New Era of UC

“Room_Mics stands apart in its approach since it is designed to work with the AV system a customer already has,” said TEKVOX CEO Jim Reinhart. “The booster pack can be an option for new systems to add full-room videoconferencing, or it can upgrade an existing AV system with videoconferencing capabilities. Room_Mics saves time and money compared to buying individual components, and its install-plug-play operation couldn’t be easier.”

The Bottom Line: All microphones are connected to the DSP, which dynamically adjusts, filters, and enhances room audio so everyone is heard, loud sounds are dampened, and any noise or echo is eliminated. A USB connection routes audio to and from a videoconferencing PC (not included) for full-room integration. Once adjusted, filtered, and mixed, the mics are routed to an audio amplifier to be played over the room’s speakers.

The Room_Mics booster pack is shipping now with an MSRP of $6,650 (dealer $3,995).

The What: TEKVOX has begun shipping the 81200-DLC Drop-In AV Solution, a turnkey solution for educators looking to provide distance learning.

[TEKVOX Ships 4x4 HDMI and HDBaseT Matrix Kit Solution]

The What Else: TEKVOX’s Distance Learning Drop-In features flexible matrix switching, controllable PTZ cameras, content broadcasting and recording, and occupancy-based automation for classroom AV control.

The 81200-DLC utilizes USB to HDMI encoders to enable a customer’s PC and a TEK-PC controller to act as the codecs for the system, recording or broadcasting camera footage and local content simultaneously with no additional hardware. A local DHCP server on the TEK-PC allows the room to operate on its own local network, ensuring that everything works even in the event of a network outage. A combination touchscreen and real-time confidence monitor provides synchronized room control and source previewing. 

Multiple PTZ cameras record the instructor and students in 1080p. Flexible matrix switching handles an expandable number of sources and displays. The drop-in solution is HDMI, HDCP, and HDBaseT compliant. In addition, TEKVOX’s 81200-DLC offers LVC screen-lift control for electric projection screens, occupancy-based energy automation and hardware, and real-time anti-theft protection. TEKVOX rigorously tests the drop-in solution and ships it fully functional, pre-programmed and ready to use.

The standard configuration supports four HDMI inputs, two PZT cameras, and two displays, which can be any combination of flat panels or projectors. Extensive upgrade and customization options are available.

The Bottom Line: The latest drop-in solution from TEKVOX builds on the company’s range of products designed to facilitate learning as educational environments evolve and change in response to new classroom demands. The 81200-DLC provides all required components in an complete system while supporting extensive customization for those using larger rooms. 

The What: TEKVOX has added the 79055-K, a kitted and ready-to-use 4x4 HDMI/HDBase-T matrix, to its product line.

The What Else: The 79055-K kit is built around a 4k/UHD matrix switcher with four HDMI inputs and four matrixed HDBase-T outputs, each with a mirrored HDMI. The kit includes four HDBase-T receivers that are powered from the matrix and four 75-foot Cat-6A shielded cables that have been individually certified for HDBase-T compatibility. 

Any source is accessible at all times by any display by selecting it via the supplied IR remote control, RS-232, TCP/IP, or by using the selection buttons on the front panel. 

The matrix supports resolutions up to 4Kx2K at 30Hz and LPCM7.1ch, Dolby TrueHD, Digital Plus, and DTS-HD digital audio formats. Input mapping can be changed by front-panel buttons, the included IR remote, or RS-232 serial commands. It is compatible with all TEKVOX control and user interface solutions. HDBase-T outputs transmit video, audio, and control up to 230 feet (70m) and cable lengths can be customized at order time for precise installations.  

“Our new solution provides a low-cost matrix solution with complete receiver set and certified HDBase-T cables for about half the price of old-fashioned solutions,” said TEKVOX CEO Jim Reinhart. “It’s a state-of-the-art, easy-to-use, plug-and-play solution that offers the ability to apply a matrix where it previously wasn’t possible due to cost and complexity. It gives users a great deal of flexibility in creating dynamic multimedia environments.” With matrix switching, any of four inputs can be routed and transmitted to any or all displays and changed dynamically as usage varies. “This type of technology is greatly beneficial for event-oriented spaces such as house of worship, conferencing, and similar uses where a fixed mapping doesn’t work well.”

The Bottom Line: Now shipping, the TEKVOX HDBaseT 4x4 HDMI Matrix is designed to meet the needs of the education, corporate/conference, and worship markets, which are making increased use of multiple video displays.

The What: TEKVOX has introduced ShareView technology, designed to streamline and empower PC-based web videoconferencing. ShareView allows meeting attendants who are in the same room to share sources to the web-based conference video stream, adding a capability previously reserved for proprietary and expensive professional videoconferencing systems.

[TEKVOX Introduces HDMI to USB Capture Device]

The What Else: ShareView is a hardware/software bundle that is easily installed by non-technical users and corrects these issues by allowing local video sources to be shared within the web-based videoconference via a USB input stream for both video and audio. A single computer joins the meeting, and any additional sources needed can be connected locally, then transferred to the computer for sharing. ShareView features a minimal user interface for selecting video and audio sources without cluttering the image being shared. It also re-sizes automatically to allow for easy sizing and positioning of the window, all while maintaining the correct aspect ratio.

The Bottom Line: Available immediately via TEKVOX authorized dealers, ShareView is designed to transform a conference room with web-based videoconferencing into a professional videoconferencing system, ready to handle large meetings without interruption.

The What: TEKVOX has released the 79084S HDBaseT 2.0 transmitter-receiver pair. The 79048S is capable of sending full HD video with high fidelity a distance of up to 325 feet, or 100 meters, in a single Cat-6a cable run. 

The What Else: All TEKVOX systems are assembled, programmed, and tested in the company’s central Texas facility and are pre-integrated with required cables, ready to install. Programming and cabling is customized for each room solution and new installations are added to the customers AV management system with no programming or data entry.

 “Upgrading to an all-digital managed system is now in reach for nearly every school,” Jim Reinhart, CEO of TEKVOX, said. “More importantly, this technology can be built upon and upgraded with confidence.”

The Bottom Line: With a maximum power consumption of only 18W, and a compact form factor, the BT150P makes it simple to connect distant digital video sources to a display with no video distortion or need for armored cable.

The What: TEKVOX has released its 79060 HDMI to USB capture device. The 79060 features full 1080p60 resolution on its HDMI input and output, and can both insert and extract audio from external sources. This versatility allows it to take in HD video and audio from a mixer while recording to a connected PC, displaying video on a confidence monitor, and feeding an extracted audio signal to a speaker system.

Implementation of a low-cost HDMI to USB recording system is often complicated by the addition of splitters, audio embedders, de-embedders and scalers. The 79060 avoids this problem by fully integrating all necessary functions into a single, compact unit. 

“The 79060 provides an innovative way to build an affordable recording/streaming solution,” said Jim Reinhart, CEO of TEKVOX. “The flexibility in this compact device is unprecedented.”

The Bottom Line: Retailing at $249, the 79060 is engineered as a cost-effective solution available for those who want versatile, reliable, and compact video recording via a single USB connection.

Lone Star College (LSC)-University Park Conference Center has installed TEKVOX Drop-In A/V solutions throughout the venue for the purpose of outfitting multiple rooms in modular configurations to meet its current and foreseeable audiovisual technology needs. 

With more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space that can be arranged in a variety of configurations, the LSC-University Park Conference Center has also simplified AV tech setup for LSC staff with factory-preprogrammed touchscreens—a push-button solution with TEKVOX Drop-In A/V systems.

As one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the nation, LSC looks toward innovative technology companies to meet the needs of its 99,000 students across six campus locations. TEKVOX is represented in more than 1,000 LSC classrooms, lecture halls, and conference rooms.

“The LSC-University Park Conference Center demonstrates our forward-thinking attitude toward technology,” said Butch Juelg, associate vice chancellor, office of technology services at LSC.

TEKVOX Drop-In A/V solutions are automated, network managed, and factory programmed, and are configured for simplified integration and installation, reliability, and maintenance. Within the standard Drop-Ins, application-specific configuration options include combining or dividing rooms at a touch, optimizing conference table installation, adding podium/credenza inputs and control to conference rooms, and making conference rooms and board rooms ready for complex audio and VTC integration.

At the University Park Conference Center, two TEKVOX Drop-In A/V solutions with distributed control serve as separate and independent head ends, one for the building’s conference center floor and one for the executive briefing center’s array of rooms. Each system features a 32-slot flexible matrix and is populated with 4K technology to meet users’ current and future needs.

Education technology solution provider Troxell Communications and AV integrator CX2 partnered on the University Park installation, which is housed in the former Compaq/HP facility. “The conference center is heavily used by Houston-area businesses and is a significant asset for Lone Star College,” said Jim Reinhart, CEO of TEKVOX. “Drop-In A/V solutions from TEKVOX give conference managers what they need: AV tech that works the way you need it, when you need it.”

“The size and scope of the University Park Conference Center were exceptional,” Adela Briner, account executive at Troxell said. “We are proud that our partnership with all the players enabled such a large-scale project to be successfully delivered on time and on budget.” 

TEKVOX teamed with CX2 to design the custom Drop-In and audio solutions for the conference center, tailoring the head ends for the rooms’ different configurations: number and type of displays, inputs for roll-in podiums in the executive briefing center, and fixed inputs in the larger conference rooms.

“The system is operated by simple in-room touchscreens,” Reinhart said. “No training and no special maintenance are required. Users can control anything from any touchscreen in the facility, and layout changes—when a room is partitioned, for example—are transparent to the user.

“TEKVOX Drop-In solutions offer predictability in scheduling and costs, which is important for educational institutions,” he added. “Because the systems are largely built and programmed at TEKVOX, we can accurately predict how long installation will take—a key factor when the school’s space needs to be taken offline for the install. Cost-effective Drop-In solutions enable educational institutions to generate revenue from their assets, which often may have gone unused.”

The What: TEKVOX has released its 71400 Drop-In A/V family of entry-level, all-digital managed classroom systems. The 71400 family combines TEKVOX's TEK3 networked control system with digital switching hardware to reduce the cost, equipping a classroom with remote management, asset tracking, support, and maintenance, among other benefits.

The What Else: Because the 71400 Drop-In A/V utilizes TEKVOX's TEK3 networked control system, it can be expanded to include additional capabilities as needed. At a third the cost of TEKVOX's standard managed classroom solution, the 71400 is a family of mass-customized, factory-built Drop-In A/V solutions designed for easy installation. Initial members of the family include:

• 71404 digital managed classroom with MSRP of $2,149
• 71406 digital managed classroom with enhanced audio with an MSRP of $2,825
• 71424 HD collaboration pod for four students with an MSRP of $1,995

"Upgrading to an all-digital managed system is now in reach for nearly every school," said Jim Reinhart, CEO of TEKVOX. "More importantly, this technology can be built upon and upgraded with confidence."

All TEKVOX systems are assembled, programmed, and tested in the company's central Texas facility and are pre-integrated with required cables, ready to install. Programming and cabling is customized for each room solution and new installations are easily added to the customers AV management system with no programming or data entry. As with all TEKVOX products, the 71400 Drop-In A/V is warrantied by the manufacturer, and all software updates occur automatically via network. 

"We strive to deliver precisely what the customer needs," Reinhart said. "And, continue to promise our customers an economical managed system with high up-time and years of operation."

The Bottom Line: Managed AV systems are traditionally limited to well-funded university environments due to cost and complexity issues. With the introduction of the more economical 71400 Drop-In A/V, managed systems may become more ubiquitous in the education space.

Serving more than 70,000 students in the North Houston, TX area, Lone Star College has one of the largest managed audiovisual systems in higher education with more than 1,000 classrooms spanning 10 campuses. The entire college system is equipped with AV systems that are monitored 24/7/365 under a single, cohesive enterprise management system.

Lone Star College began implementing AV management systems developed by Texas-based TEKVOX in 2009. It is now deploying the company’s third-generation technology, the Drop-In A/V system.

TEKVOX Drop-Ins are a family of factory-built, factory-programmed managed AV systems that are designed to be easy to install and require no in-field configuration or programming. Drop-Ins come in distinct configurations for classrooms, lecture halls, conference rooms, and active learning labs and are customized at the manufacturer to meet customer requirements. All Drop-Ins feature built-in management systems that integrate into the campus enterprise management system once installed.

With its early-generation systems approaching a decade of operating life, Lone Star recently completed two AV refresh projects upgrading older rooms to current TEKVOX technology. Working with leading national education technology distributor Troxell Communications and local integration expert Cx2, Inc., the latest round featured a complete upgrade of 100 classrooms, including removal and replacement of AV technology as well as projectors, screens, and AV input devices. This 100-room refresh was completed in 20 working days with no disruption to scheduled classes.

To accomplish this in so little time, each of the three companies involved in the AV upgrade demonstrated its particular expertise while working together to achieve the project’s goal. Troxell provided the financial and logistical muscle to credibly handle all aspects of supplying equipment for 100 rooms to a public education entity. Cx2 provided the "eyes-on" ability to assess each target room, classify its priority status and any unique installation or equipment requirements, and handle project management with skilled technicians to conduct precisely timed de-install/install operations. TEKVOX supplied 100 units of its 71021-DI Drop-In A/V classroom solution—each individually programmed, configured, tested, and delivered, ready for installation, within a closely coordinated project schedule.

Because Lone Star College could allow little disruption of instructional activities even in targeted classrooms, precise coordination of the three companies was essential even before the final contract was awarded. To that end, Troxell selected Houston AV integrator Cx2 as its partner in the pre-bid stages.

“As a national solutions provider, Troxell has the privilege to work with many independent integrators who all do great work,” said Troxell account executive Adela Briner. “But, Cx2 stands out clearly in execution, efficiency, and experience, having completed more than 1,000 successful TEVKOX installations with us.”

Cx2 was tasked with assessing each room, identifying any unique requirements, and transmitting to TEKVOX a completed configuration worksheet identifying each room and the make and model of displays or projectors needed along with any special equipment.

Drawing on its workhorse 71021-DI Drop-In A/V classroom solution, TEKVOX’s manufacturing operation assembled, programmed, configured, tested, and kitted each individual room system prior to sending it to Cx2 for installation. The 71021-DI contains a complete managed AV system that includes all required electronics, cabling, and enclosures to connect the customer’s input devices to the projector or display.

While Claude Moore, president of Cx2, has personally been involved with numerous colleges and university installations and understands their unique needs for economical solutions that are installed as quickly and efficiently as possible, AV upgrades for 100 rooms in such a short period of time was unprecedented.

TEKVOX’s ability to deliver complete, ready-to-go Drop-In A/V systems significantly reduced installation time: Cx2 was able to install five room upgrades in the time it typically took to install one.

“We installed the AV systems off-hours from the classroom schedule to minimize any disruptions,” Moore said. “Having Drop-In, ready-to-install packages from TEKVOX made this possible.”

TEKVOX’s managed AV system was well suited for the project for three main reasons. First, all of the equipment was standardized and factory programmed resulting in an absolutely consistent user experience from room to room and campus to campus. Second, building on multigenerational technology, new systems integrate easily into the enterprise management system with prior generations of equipment. No new training is required for the support staff. Finally, with a platform that is kitted, configured, and programmed in the final stages of manufacturing, Drop-Ins are complete and highly standardized while accommodating room-specific variations.

TEKVOX CEO Jim Reinhart oversaw his company’s involvement in the Lone Star College installation and delivered on the promise to provide an economical AV managed system complete to the customer’s needs and requirements.

“We’re demystifying the pro AV industry by making customers aware of our complete, factory-built, pre-programmed solutions that are reliable and repeatable across rooms, buildings or campuses,” Reinhart said. “Managed AV systems should just work every time you power on, and we deliver on that promise.”

Since installation, the entire system is monitored 24/7/365 and maintains a 99.9 percent uptime with all software system updates occurring online.

“This was one of the largest and the best upgrades that we’ve ever seen,” said James Crawford, executive director of the office of technology services at Lone Star College. “It was a model of execution on the large scale that we needed, and it has been completely trouble free.”