Extron Provides AV and Switching Solutions to UWE

To respond to your new educational offer, la University of the West of England (UWE) has designed an infrastructure based on AV distribution solutions, interconnectivity and control Extron, the screens of Sharp/NEC and the projectors Epson.

For new learning and collaboration rooms, UWE has chosen AV distribution products, Extron interconnectivity and control.

The Frenchay Campus of the University of the West of England – UWE in Bristol has expanded its police education provision for the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship – PCDA programme., in collaboration with Avon and Somerset Police.

To support this growth, UWE has needed additional learning spaces with improved technology. The project included collaboration classes with 60 seating, a standard classroom of the same size, six police officer interview/interrogation simulation rooms and a series of crime scene spaces for forensic training.

The different rooms are spread over three floors., with some spaces that pose architectural challenges. Vertical layout space between floors was limited and power and data requirements were considered complex.

The AV systems had to meet the university's demanding standards for performance and support of the Technology-Enabled Active Learning methodology (TEAL) from school, in addition to being profitable.

The sources would be NUC of Intel, servers, BYOD and broadcasts from numerous PTZ cameras and lapel microphones, handheld and ceiling mount. The number of cameras and microphones depended on the size of the room and its purpose. System control had to be intuitive and allow remote access.

The installation had to support two-way communication between all rooms. The design team specified AV distribution products, Extron interconnectivity and control.

Facility design

The UWE elected GV OFF in Exeter for the design and construction of this project. Each class has two projectors Epson EB‑L530U with whiteboard displays on front wall. Collaboration classrooms include a LED display device 43 inches NEC C431 wall mounted for each of the six student positions.

Stall displays are connected via floor boxes and follow the main projection system by default. A student can switch between sources for his position.

The AV system in each class allows the instructor to start an exercise and, next, walk freely, being able to offer general guidance and answer questions. Students work together in small groups, or positions, and share available resources. The instructor can also control content from different sources displayed on the kiosk displays, including wired or wireless connected student devices.

Certain AV system components and sources are rack-mounted in an equipment closet inside the room or in an attached storage closet.. Signals from rack-mounted sources and devices in the room or those connected to the lectern and/or stands can be sent to any combination of display devices of one or more classes.

a computer Intel NUC5PGYH It is installed in each position for student collaboration. Many cameras and microphones are also available in the six simulation interrogation rooms and the different forensic spaces, which include a kitchen, a living room, a room, a bathroom and a space that can be configured as a store, banco, post office, etc.

In addition to system control within each room, Central control room operators can manage a large group of transmissions to assign them to one or more rooms and/or displays.

GV AV has installed the eight-input scaler presentation switches from the series IN1608 some from Extron within classes. Professional AV over IP NAV products route video and audio signals from simulation and forensic spaces to student desk displays.

Every AV system includes an audio processor ProDSP from Extron to enable mixing and two-way communication between rooms. Pro series touch screens within different rooms and eBUS control products at each station complete the AV system.

Active learning

The core of the class's AV system is Extron's IN1608 xi IPCP SA presentation scaler switcher that includes integrated control processing and audio amplifier.

This model also provides integrated signal extension via DTP, reducing system complexity. The switch's compact size allows it to fit inside the music stand. The content is also sent to the UWE Panopto platform, making the AV system ideal for TEAL.

In addition to supporting the extension of the AV signal up to one hundred meters, Devices connected to the DTP twisted pair output and inputs of the IN1608 xi switch receive commands inserted from the control system. AV and control signals are carried over shielded CATx cable, making system maintenance and troubleshooting more efficient.

Extron Audio Solutions

For audio mixing, the sound system of each class includes a processor DMP 64 More C AT of 6×4 Extron and simulation rooms use the processor DMP 128 More C AT of 12×8.

Both models support AEC and Dante, allowing communication within the room and between them. An audio expansion interface AXI 016 from Extron adds 16 channels to support many microphones in learning spaces.

GV AV installed ceiling mount PTZ cameras, array microphones and full-range speakers in rooms with exposed ceilings or structural pillars. As an example, room with exposed ceiling required different speakers.

Hanging speakers have been installed 76 mm. SoundField SF 3PT from Extron to complement room aesthetics and optimize sound in each student location. speaker cable PendantConnect from Extron carries the audio signal and also hangs the speaker. Students can use wireless headphones while watching simulated activities.

Intuitive control with touch screens

The classroom AV system is controlled using the touch screen TouchLink Pro TLP Pro 1022M of 10 inches of Extron lectern-mounted. Works in conjunction with the IN1608 xi presentation switch control processor. Instructors can use any of the many presets to automate a lesson, depending on their switching sequence and functionality.

A button panel eBUS EBP 110 MK of 10 Extron buttons, installed in each collaboration position, Allows students to select from a variety of sources and control their station's LED display device.

CEC commands can be activated to control display devices over HDMI. The instructor can disable control of any display device at a student station using the touch screen.

“Thanks to Extron's innovative TouchLink Pro and eBUS solutions, We have been able to create an extensive control program for class collaboration that is shared between two GUIs, 12 button panels and two switches with control processor integrated into the IN1608 xi” switch, mention Nicola Cutting, commercial director of GV AV.

Professional AVoIP NAV

The NAV system allows sharing the point of view of students with other rooms. NAV Pro encoders and decoders convert HDMI signals to Ethernet and back to HDMI.

These work together with network switches Cisco SG350X‑48MP installed on each lectern and center rack, and facilitate interconnection between learning spaces through LAN. For simulation spaces, the switch and the encoders NAV E 101 allow students in classes to see and chat with participants from their respective rooms.

The climbing decoders NAV SD 101 of Extron inside the lectern and at each collaboration station support display devices. Cisco switch transmits power to NAV encoders and decoders using PoE+, reducing the number of exits required at remote points.

Support staff use the Extron NAVigator Systems Manager installed in the central rack to monitor and manage NAV endpoints, when necessary.

The new rooms and AV systems designed for the TEAL teaching methodology are essential to help students develop their skills and techniques as part of the police force. Graduates instinctively apply what they have learned at UWE to serve, protect and respect the communities of the West of England.