On AVoX: Vanco

Frank Santos, Director of Product Knowledge at Vanco
(Image credit: Future)

AVT Question: Please share insight into the current state of networked AV and control; what you see as barriers to entry; and what advice can you offer on how AV/IT managers can overcome limited resources or a lack of buy-in.

Thought Leader: Frank Santos, Director of Product Knowledge at Vanco

I’d really love to see the industry get past the idea that AVoIP is expensive. There’s a persistent belief that AVoIP solutions aren’t cost-effective unless you’re operating at a really large scale.

I’m a big believer in buying boxes for today and putting in infrastructure for tomorrow." — Frank Santos, Director of Product Knowledge at Vanco

That’s just not true anymore. Once a system is big enough to require an 8x16 matrix, you can deploy an AVoIP solution for an equal or lesser cost, and that’s just the initial outlay. When it comes to maintenance and expansion, AVoIP has a big advantage over traditional AV. You can expand the system easily and keep it cost-effective by just adding more switches, and you don’t have to worry nearly as much about distance limitations; the content can go wherever the network does. There are also hidden savings in terms of labor. With remote monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities, you don’t have to roll trucks every time there’s a problem, and a single skilled technician can manage a sprawling system.

I’m a big believer in buying boxes for today and putting in infrastructure for tomorrow. Maybe you’re not ready for 10-Gig switches now, but you should pull cable like you are. Even legacy gear can benefit from a robust, structured cable plant, using devices that convert and extend the AV signal over CAT cable or fiber. Getting that infrastructure in place is the first step towards a fully networked system, and you benefit immediately.

AV Technology's Thought Leader Series on AVoX

Check out what other industry thought leaders have to say about the state of networked AV. A full list with links can be found at the bottom of the On AVoX, the Intro Article

Cindy Davis
Brand and content director of AV Technology

Cindy Davis is the brand and content director of AV Technology. Davis enjoys exploring the ethos of experiential spaces as well as diving deep into the complex topics that shape the AV/IT industry. In 2012, the TechDecisions brand of content sites she developed for EH Publishing was named one of “10 Great Business Media Websites” by B2B Media Business magazine. For more than 20 years, Davis has developed and delivered multiplatform content for AV/IT B2B and consumer electronics B2C publications, associations, and companies. From 2000 to 2008, Davis was the publisher and editor-in-chief of Electronic House. From 2009 to present, as the principal of CustomMedia.Co, Davis developed content plans and delivered content for associations such as IEEE Standards Association and AVIXA, content marketing for Future Plc, and numerous AV/IT companies. Davis was a critical member of the AVT editorial team when the title won the “Best Media Brand” laurel in the 2018 SIIA Jesse H. Neal Awards. A lifelong New Englander, Davis makes time for coastal hikes with her husband, Gary, and their Vizsla rescue, Dixie, sailing on one of Gloucester’s great schooners, and sampling local IPAs.