In this day and age, video conference, video meeting has become an integral part of our professional lives and more often than not the devices has been configured or installed properly to provide the users an optimal experience when it comes to their daily meetings. This is where Cackle Video Conference Installation Service comes into the picture.
There are multiple moving parts investigated during the entire deployment process – From initial consultation and onsite scoping to design work and finally the installation. This is our bread and butter and there is no one else in the market that does this better than us! Have a chat with us today! Contact us at Cackle.co.nz
Cackle also partner with various video conference hardware vendor such as Logitech, Yealink and Poly – with the size of your meeting room in mind, we are able to select the correct equipment that best suit your requirement and meeting room offering a true end to end solution for your business.
When it comes to selecting the the correct hardware, there are lots to consider:
Display
The display, or monitor, is the focal point of every video meeting. Its position in the meeting space is therefore key, both for the people in the room and for remote participants.
Display count
- For huddle rooms and small meeting spaces, a single flat-panel display is sufficient.
- For larger rooms, consider installing two screens to display remote participants on one and shared content on the other.
- Cameras are typically situated just below or above the screen; with dual displays, place the camera at eye level between the two screens.
Display Size
- If you’re using one display, it should be large enough to show both camera video and content video at resolutions at which text is easily readable
- How to determine the optimal display size:
- Measure the distance between the wall where the display will mount and the furthest seating position
- Divide the distance to the furthest position by 4; this is the recommended minimum height of the screen
- Multiply the screen height by 1.8 to determine the diagonal size, which is the dimension given for display sizes
Camera
The conference camera should be positioned at a height, distance, and viewing angle that allows remote participants to see everyone in the room and provides an excellent experience for remote meeting participants. Enterprise-grade conference cams typically include standard features like 4k HD resolution, wide field of view, and pan/tilt /zoom (PTZ) capabilities.
Angle & Height
- If possible, position the camera at eye level, which provides the most natural orientation for face-to-face collaboration
- The video performance may be diminished if the camera is positioned too high or too low relative to meeting participants
- When it’s not possible to place the camera at eye level – for example, when it’s mounted above or below a single display – select a camera with motorized pan and tilt to help adjust the viewing angle
Room Coverage
- Room coverage refers to the area within a room that a camera and microphone can effectively record; “total room coverage” is the ability for the camera and mic to capture the entire room
- Ensure total room coverage by selecting a camera with an appropriate field of vision (FOV) for the space and seating within each room
- Selecting tables that are semi-circular or wider at the end closer to the camera will help ensure more people are included within the camera’s view
Whiteboard Cameras
- The whiteboard is a perfect tool for team brainstorming and collaboration, and nearly every meeting space has one (or more).
- However, integrating whiteboards into a video meeting has been a challenge.
- New, purpose-built whiteboard cameras solve this problem, and in doing so they create more equitable meetings.
Microphone & Speakers
Audio is as important to a successful video conference as the camera. Mics and speakers should be selected to match the room size.
- Verify mic pickup range to ensure you’re getting total room coverage with your sound system, including additional mics.
- For larger spaces, you may opt for modular audio or microphone expansion packs, which extend coverage to ensure people further from the camera are still heard
- Adding mics to a large table also provides meeting attendees with a convenient way to quickly mute the sound
- When adding mics to a large room, don’t forget accessories such as mic pod hubs, mic pod mounts, and mic extension cables
Compute
A compute device is required to run a video meeting, but there are different ways for the computer to be integrated into the meeting room.
Video Appliance
A video device (usually a video bar) works as an all-in-one appliance with its own compute platform, requiring fewer components, cables, and connection points. Setup is therefore simpler, and the purchase price and TCO are generally lower. There may be limitations regarding which video applications can be run on the device.
Dedicated Computer
A separate compute device (usually a mini PC) is permanently installed in the meeting room for running video software. This model is more familiar to IT admins and allows them to standardize on their preferred PC manufacturer. The setup and management may be more complex since video and the PC are often managed separately.
BYOD
A meeting organizer brings and attaches their laptop to the meeting room’s video conferencing system, typically through a USB cable and runs the video application on the laptop.
- There are advantages of each approach, and meeting room designers should consider flexibility, ease of use, and the organization’s long-term needs when choosing a compute mode.
Placement
- In rooms with a separate compute device, consider placing the device below the table or behind the wall that the display is mounted to
- Position the compute device near the display for proximity to power, Ethernet, and other components to which the computer connects
- Because a strong and stable Internet connection is required for quality video calls, a wired Ethernet connection is preferable to Wi-Fi
Touch Controllers
A meeting room touch controller provides a simple, convenient way for employees to start, end, and schedule meetings.
- Securely mount the touch controller on the table or to a wall near the meeting participants.
- To securely attach the touch controller to a table, use a mounting dock and table grommet, running wiring below the table to the floor.
- Some touch controllers like Logitech Tap use a USB cable to connect to a compute device or video appliance, an optional HDMI cable to enable content sharing, and a separate power cable.
- Other touch controllers, like the new Logitech Tap IP, use a single Power over Ethernet cable to connect to the network and the meeting, and for power.
Reach out to us today and consult with one of our expert to see where Cackle Video Conference Installation Service can help your business!
