Ft Leavenworth SVC Front Cover and Article

Ft Leavenworth SVC Front Cover and Article

• 1.
  NOVEMBER // VOLUME // ISSUE svconline.com SOUND&VIDEO CONTRACTOR R E V I E W S | T E C H N O LO GY | A P P L I C AT I O N S PLUS TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASES: SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION CONFERENCING MICS & SYSTEMS REVIEW: PRESONUS STUDIOLIVE . . MIXER SMART ANALOG WHY IT WORKED AT FT. LEAVENWORTH CLOUD COMPUTING Is it ready for AV control? A Publication 1 Color - 0 Cyan / 100 Magenta / 99 Yellow / 4 Black x NEW PRODUCTS
• 2.
  SMART ANALOG Fort Leavenworth conference upgrade combines high tech with fiscal responsibility. By Steven Swift 34 Svc | Nov e m b e r 2011 | SvcoNliNe . co m
• 3.
  H ow do you cost-justify a complete remodeling of a federal facility in these days of trillion- dollar deficits? You count your pennies and make sure every penny you spend gives you two cents worth of value. Such was the case at the Frontier Conference Center (FCC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., which finished a major remodeling in May. Innovative AV systems designed by the Conference Technologies, Inc. (CTI) office in Kansas City ensured that the upgrade was fiscally conservative yet ready for future technologies. long overdue No one could accuse the center’s managers of wasting taxpayers’ money on an unneeded upgrade. Built more than 50 years ago, the center averages 600 events each year involv- ing tens of thousands of participants. It’s used extensively by the garrison for plan- ning meetings, training, and retirement cer- emonies, by officers as a social center, on a rental basis by local businesses, and by base personnel for weddings and parties. Soon the Army’s Command and General Staff College Images: Pamela Kudlacek of Conference Technologies Sv c oN l i N e.c om | N ov e mb e r 20 1 1 | S vc 35
• 4.
  Above: Digital signagemonitor outside the ballroom shows the day’s schedule. Top right: AMX panel in the control room. Below left: The ballroom, an ABC combinable room, with air walls open. Below right: Extron wall plate with component, S-Video, VGA, and audio inputs plus VGA monitor out. will begin using the center for classes and replaced the kitchen, upgraded the lighting, support facility-wide digital signage and pag- videoconferences. electrical, and HVAC, painted, replaced the ing, and combine any or all of the AV systems The facility is now self-supporting. Rev- carpeting, and installed AV systems for the into a single system supporting very large enues from room rentals and meals served in first time,” Wobker explains. The systems are meetings and events. the center must pay for all maintenance, per- installed in 12 meeting spaces on two floors, sonnel costs, and other operating expenses. including an ABC divisible ballroom with “The new systems have definitely made the seating for up to 398 people, together with a AnAlog vs. digitAl space much more competitive,” says Brett master control room with centralized equip- One reason FCC was able to afford the Wobker, the project manager for the upgrade ment racks. extensive AV systems was a decision to stay and an engineer for the Directorate of Logis- Wobker says the goals for the new AV sys- with analog versus digital audio and video tics at the fort. tems included the ability to show computer signal transport. Given the demand for meeting space and and video images in high definition, provide The most important reason to install an the potential for income, managers decided in HD videoconferencing connectivity, support all-digital system, according to Steve Mar- 2010 that a major upgrade was in order. “We meetings and events with multiple presenters, tin, design consultant for CTI, would have 36 Svc | Nov e m b e r 2011 | Svco NliNe . com
• 5.
  Like all ofthe rooms at FCC, Room 005 on the lower level can be used as overflow for large meetings originating in the ballroom. been HDCP compliance, necessary to show This is not to say that the center expects use considerably more copper than twisted Blu-Ray movies and other consumer media in to stay with an analog system forever. “Our pair, are more expensive to manufacture, and high definition. But that just wasn’t an issue biggest concern,” Martin adds, “was making require much larger conduits. It also takes con- in FCC. sure they had a cable plant that would handle siderably more labor to pull the heavier cables Still, Martin and Don Otting, senior AV 1080p video in native formats when they were through that conduit and then terminate them. technician for the center, wanted to make sure ready to make that investment.” In addition, the Extron switcher and Extron MTP transmitters and receivers make it pos- sible to carry an RS-232 signal on the Cat- “Our biggest concern was making sure they had a cable plant 5e cable, avoiding the need to purchase and install a separate set of serial cables for the that would handle 1080p video in native formats when they AMX control system. The Extron MTP trans- were ready to make that investment.” mitters also have EDID minders built in, so EDID compliance—an issue today for many —Steve Martin, design consultant for CTI analog systems—is not a problem. Martin estimates FCC may have saved as much as 25 to 30 percent of the cost of the that the facility would be ready for new lap- CAtegory CAble entire AV system by using Category cable and tops and other devices with digital HDMI out- Martin says that, for the Frontier Confer- the Extron components. puts. Martin says that as long as HDCP copy ence Center, CTI purchased the very first protection is not an issue, there are several MTPX Plus 64x64 Cat-5 matrix switcher inexpensive converter boxes that will take shipped by Extron, and that made significant AdvAnCed feAtures an HDMI output and convert it to a VGA or additional savings possible. Otting, who has worked in meeting support component signal. “The quality will not be as Cat-5e cable not only will able to handle for more than 20 years, says the new FCC sys- high as it would be carrying the native digital 1080p digital video when the center is ready, tems are the most advanced he has ever seen. signal, but the difference will be subtle,” he but it is far less expensive to install than other “The video is crystal clear, the audio is explains. cabling systems. Component and VGA cables unbelievably clean, and it’s user-friendly. I 38 Svc | N ove m b e r 2 011 | Svco NliNe . com
• 6.
  Left: The signagehead end in the control room. The signage system is powered by a Keywest MediaZone server, which can send messages to an LCD panel in the lobby, another outdoors, and to each of the meeting rooms. Above: The 64x64 Extron Cat-5 switcher, which routes any signal from any source to any combination of displays and sound systems in the facility. can set up the AV for a major conference by ing the combined room. The room-combining every meeting room, hallway, kitchen, and myself,” he explains. and other audio functions are handled by nearby outdoor area, making it easy to reach According to Otting, by putting virtually seven Biamp AudiaFlex processors. any officer or address any group should there all of the system components into a master CTI installed two Polycom HDX8000 vid- be a major or minor emergency. control room, Martin and CTI made it possible eoconferencing systems, one in the ballroom There’s also a digital signage system, pow- for a single technician to support the multiple and one in the 20-seat Centennial Room ered by a Keywest MediaZone server, which meetings typically going on at the center. A (shown on this issue’s cover), together with can send messages to an LCD panel in the 17in. AMX Modero touchpanel in the control Polycom EagleEye HD cameras. There’s an lobby, another outdoors, and to each of the room gives Otting the ability to operate every additional Polycom system on a rolling cart, meeting rooms. The outdoor system uses a system in the facility, switching inputs, dial- which can plug into any of the other meeting 55in. LG LCD display in an iTech environ- ing videoconferences, even adjusting the gain rooms and combine with the center’s AV and mental enclosure. on microphones. control systems. In addition, 12 7in. AMX touchpanels give Another rolling cart delivers a Mackie presenters basic controls over individual sys- 16-channel mixer and 100ft. snake to any still hAve their plACe tems, and a password-protected technician’s meeting room. Otting uses it mainly to mix As conservative as FCC managers have page on each gives Otting the ability to fine- microphones for events with multiple present- been with their capital and operating budgets, tune the systems. “We also have a wireless ers or speakers. Seven wireless mics can be they are very pleased with the capabilities AMX panel, which I can take from room to assigned individually to a particular room they have been able to add. “The more I work room during setups or use for close support of from any of the technicians’ touchpanels. A with the AV system, the more I am amazed at an important meeting,” Otting explains. ClearCom Tempest wireless intercom system all the features it has,” Otting explains. The 64x64 matrix switcher allows Otting to allows up to three technicians to communicate “The other day, for example, I set up 16 route any signal from any source to any com- during larger events. microphones on a U-shaped table. Some of bination of displays and sound systems in the A facility-wide paging system extends into the generals are a little older and don’t speak facility, allowing very flexible overflow for very loud. I was able to leave all the mics live large meetings. Otting can also route cable TV and adjust the gain for each individually, with yMore Online programming into the lobby or meeting rooms, absolutely no trace of feedback.”  which he does frequently for social events. Technology Showcase: “Analog systems still have their place,” Routers and Switchers The ballroom includes an ABC room-com- svconline.com/avcontrol/products/routers_switchers_tech_ Martin adds. “When thoughtfully designed, showcase bining audio and video system, with individ- they can provide exceptional value and out- The Wire: Delta Diamond Installation at JFK ual Panasonic projectors and Da-Lite screens blog.svconline.com/briefingroom/2011/09/21/scharff- standing service for many years to come.” on the north walls serving each section and a weisberg-delivers-display-playback-and-control-for-delta- Steven Swift is a freelance writer based in diamond-installation-at-jfk/ larger projection system on the east wall serv- Des Plaines, Ill. 40 Svc | N ove m b e r 2 011 | SvcoN li Ne . co m