Starting from scratch

[seawolf]

This is currently exactly what we're doing, so I figured some rough prices might come in handy for planning purposes: 2 core A5800 and 9 edge 2920 HP switches (and we did look at every other brand we could think of, but HP still came out on top) are going to cost around £40,000. That's with 10GbE fibre connections between the core and edge switches, and edge switches capable of PoE to VoIP handsets.

 

I would be inclined to go for the HP 5400 zl modular unit for the core switch or an 8200zl model If you could afford it. Far more flexibility for future upgrades or reconfiguration. We're going to upgrade to an 8206zl at the end of this year for the core for that reason. Otherwise, I agree with the choices, the ProCurve switches are probably the best for the money and are widely supported. HP support has been good as well. We had a couple of 2520s that developed a PoE issue and they replaced them very quickly no fuss.

 

A VoIP phone system with a controller and 50 handsets is around £10,000.

 

Sounds reasonable though you might want to consider a service agreement that includes PABX and handsets. This usually works out cheaper, the provider is responsible for repairs and upgrades, and gives you more flexibility to upgrade in 4-5 years time (technology does progress in Telephony too). We bought our current PABX four years ago, but I wouldn't do it again I don't think.

 

A new projector and sound system, with installation, is costing us around £1,200 per classroom, although that doesn't include an interactive whiteboard (add another £1,000 or so per classroom for a SmartBoard if that's what you intend to use).

 

I would think long and hard about installing IWBs and projectors. My experience has been that the IWBs are mostly a gimmick that made some vendors a lot of money and tricked a lot of educators into thinking they were going to revolutionise teaching and learning. The reality is that they are expensive, the software is often buggy, they need regular recalibration, the interactive features are unused or underused and they mostly become a very expensive screen. Then there are the projectors. Let me count the ways I hate thee...constant cleaning of filters, globe replacement, failure to remember settings after power outages, too dim to use with any ambient light, teachers losing remotes, or switching source and thinking its not working, or putting them on blank screen rather than turning them off and burning them up at 1/10th expected lifespan (oh yeah had a teacher do that - "you mean I shouldn't just leave it on all of the time"). Projectors are a constant thorn in the side in a school environment.

 

No, I would recommend buying some 65-70" LED TVs with RS232 connections and at least 2 x HDMI and 1 x VGA with a Joey wall controller (or similar) with on/off buttons, volume controls, and buttons to switch between VGA and HDMI. We use wall mount Mac Minis running either Windows 7 or Mac OS connected to ours and with AirServer running on them to allow AirPlay for screen sharing of iPads or Macs and a spare HDMI and VGA wall plug to connect a laptop or Chromebook (or whatever else they want - DVD payer, etc,).

 

If you go with interactive gear you'd best budget for lots of training and make regular IWB training mandatory for all teachers or you will be wasting the money.

Edited July 23, 2013 by seawolf

[Ephelyon]

The Epson range of interactive projectors are also a good alternative if you like interactive gear, and come in very cheap at about £1,200 for the full solution (minus speakers, though they do have basic speakers built-in) with replacement bulbs costing only around £50. The EB-485Wi is a good example. We've put one in here to very good feedback and we may be putting another one in in September.