SamanthaD

You must be getting power up there to right? And potentially data? Or it's there already? If it really is awkward then ask your electrical / data company to do it, but there's always a way to route a cable. Also - if it's because of tight holes, consider converting to CatX cable so you don't have to worry about large HDMI connectors.

It's a lot more than just that - each display has its own camera, microphone and speaker so when the teacher engages with the person on screen, the remote student feels like they're looking and talking directly at them and the teacher hears the questions coming from the right direction. The student can also choose their view, so they can have "Perspective" view, other cameras, a virtual whiteboard or screensharing. It's very well thought out. The break out rooms work really well too. However, not cheap at all. It's subsciption based on participant hours. So if you have a class of 30 in for a 8 hour day, that's 240 hours used. By the way I don't work for X20 media! As much as the solution is great, it's way too pricey for us. But where they lead, others might soon follow...

Just about to change the last 4:3 analogue systems over this summer. But the academics still have 4:3 content that pillarboxes on 16:9 - what can you do?

Definitely a commercial grade screen. In built timer to automatically turn it on and off, valid warranty and reduced chance of burn in. https://www.rocheav.co.uk/shop/tv-display-screens/commercial-televisions is a good starting point. We use Samsungs as we like the power management and the fact we can set it to change from BST to GMT automatically, but I guess budgets are always paramount!

Microsoft Wireless Display adapters are ok if you only want to use Miracast. You say anything - if that includes Apple products you'll need a different solution. There are quite a few wireless casting devices out there, some of the better ones out there include Kramer Via, Extron Sharelink or AirServer Connect. However they'll still need LAN access. My honest thought? Run the cable. However much pain you might feel now will probably be felt tenfold trying to support an unstable wireless connection.

If you have a healthy budget check out https://www.x2omedia.com/en/solutions/oneroom/classroom/ - we had a demo of this and it's a really slick setup. Pricey though!

HDMI specs do not have a maximum length, and "premium certified" only ensure the cable is suitable for 18GBps and EMI shielded for protection against outside interference (an issue we've had in the past with radio mics). It doesn't guarantee cable length, especially if you're using pig tails to go through a wall plate. If you want a reliable wall plate based solution then I can recommend the Extron DTP system. HDMI wall plate input which converts to a Cat6a cable (not IP) which feeds a receiver box at the projector. If you absolutely have to have wall plates this is the only way I would recommend it, and it ain't cheap!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MillSO-Headphone-Splitter-Headsets-Microphones-Sapphire-Blue/dp/B08D5ZHG8H

At 5m you're reaching the end of passive HDMI, if not past it already. Add in extra connections and you lose effect meters. Active is the way to go. Appreciate the desire to keep the wallbox but a 10m active cable (search for Van Damme HDMI on CPC) should work with anything. Make sure you install it the right way around.

We use GVAV. Nationwide but have an office in Atherton, Manchester. https://www.gvav.com/home Highly recommended!

How about one of the wildlife cameras that are motion activated? Almost as if they were made for the task! :-)

Hi, This is standard in any remote app for digital mixers - it only offers control not a audio monitoring solution (ie it's not just Mackie that this is a problem with). The issues of getting latency free audio over a WiFi connection are huge. If you want remote monitoring the only real way is to get an in ear monitoring system and connect it to the headphone output, so that's using RF for the audio and 2.4 / 5 GHz for the control. A little bit clunky but it does work.

2 points of thought... 1. Although HDMI does a great deal, it isn't the best connection out there. We still provide VGA laptop connections on all of our systems, both for backward compatibility and to provide a solution where HDCP becomes an issue (try to record the output of a Macbook over HDMI - doesn't work). End of the day HDMI is a consumer connection designed for short distance connections between a TV and Blu-Ray player. 2. A faceplate will only add points of failure between the device and the projector. HDMI female connections in faceplates are usually just pigtails to another cable - and every connection reduces effective cable length. At the distance you'll need to get to a projector you'll most likely need an active cable - these don't play well with faceplates. My advice - forget the faceplate, run a direct cable to the projector, conduit to low level and exit via a brush plate into floor management to desk, where the cable is loose on the desk for connection. Even better would be if the HDMI went into a powered dock for your laptops, maybe add power and network connection to it too?

Does this really need a live stream? Would a time lapse not be good enough, with video being recorded locally when hatching is getting close for distribution after? Just thinking a still image will use a lot less bandwidth than video ever would. If not then maybe an off the shelf CCTV system with remote viewing might work, depending on who wants to watch the video. If it's just for staff to monitor and observe this might work well, if it's for all and sundry to coo over then perhaps not.

I'd say probably not. If you already have an input that is providing sync your monitor would lock onto that, and only go searching for other inputs if it loses sync or if it doesn't have one in the first place. I doubt software would help either. You could achieve this by using an external switcher that has priority switching, so whenever your PS5 is turned on and provides sync to the switcher it switches input. When you turn off the PS5 and sync it lost it reverts back to the PC.

That Samsung product looks good. I'd be more worried about security than the actual screen being damaged, and how you plan on getting content to it as you wouldn't be able to sneak a content player behind it! We use Samsung digital signage screens and haven't been let down yet (only indoors though) so I'd be happy going with that product. The enclosure I wouldn't be too confident about though, usual caveats about consumer equipment in a professional setting not being covered under warranty apply.

Been using RS232 control panels (Extron - other brands available) for a good few years. No remotes, no batteries, no issues. Yes they're a little more pricey but for the reduction in support costs it's so worth it!

For a 15m run I recommend stay on copper - the Van Damme active HDMI cables are rock solid and cheaper than any fibre based solution. Again they're directional. If you must go fibre then IMO stay away from the Kramer offerings - we've had an awful experience with them with failures. So far (touch wood) the Extron Pro series cables have been fine, runs of around 45m+ in our lecture theatres and no issues. Finally if you're looking at converters (HDBaseT et al) look at the chroma sub-sampling. I'd rather have a 1080p @ 60 with 4:4:4 subsampling over a 4k @60 with 4:2:2 - it will always look nicer. 4k @ 60 @ 4:4:4 is achievable, but again at cost!

JSpaced - forget 3.5mm for constant unplugging and plugging in. As you've found out it's just not up to the abuse. 1/4" jacks however should be a lot better. Headphones - https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/psg08239/education-headset/dp/AV12754?ost=av12754 Combined with this - https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/psg03257/6-35mm-st-skt-to-3-5mm-st-plug/dp/AV18845?ost=av18845 Cable goes in the back - secure the cable with a couple of cable ties and leave the socket loose. At least now you have a cheap headphone that is a bit more durable and a sacrificial cable that can be replaced for £1 and the damaged one possibly repaired?

Sorry - you'll get used to my sense of humour.... New Maths department with god knows how much spent on kit, yet they still insist on using Chalkboards and refuse to use touchscreens or visualisers. End result, everything covered in chalk dust after 6 months and looks like it's 20 years old already.

Hi TMBS, Still using the Iiyama touch, still working fine (mind you they haven't had much use over the past year so.......!) I've heard they're about to release a new model so there may be some bargains to be had on the older model if they're looking to move old stock. Keep your ear to the ground! As for SMART notebook - to my knowledge we don't use it apart from in the School of Education, with SMARTboards. Our Maths department are using much more advanced software - it's called chalk

Logitech Rally camera mounted above 75" touchscreen Wolfvision Eye 14 mounted using ceiling tile grid mount

Just because everyone else is doing it, doesn't make it right. And definitely wouldn't stand up in a court of law. Proper ceiling visualisers have a load rated, primary suspension method (bracket) and secondary suspension method (safety wire) that must be installed correctly. I'm from a theatre background where we fly stuff over peoples heads all the time so a little more paranoid about this stuff than most. Unfortunately we're the creators of our own issues here, goodwill and self induced (or SMT induced) pressure to deliver solutions on a budget have lead to an attitude of "can do", which leads to greater expectations with less and less resources. Unless you're prepared to dig your heels in and insist it's done the correct way (and I know that's not easy in secondary education) it's a self perpetuating cycle. But I can almost guarantee no-one else is going to change the system for you. £2000 for a camera is a lot. I know that, and you can do a lot elsewhere with that amount of cash. But if they're not prepared to buy the correct tools to achieve what they want then it can't be that important, right? /rantover

I'm going in to sign off an install we've just had done with Rallys and an Eye-14, so will post them up when I can. Not in a medical setting for once so I can share the pics!

One other thing to note - you're putting this over peoples heads. If you jerry rig a product not designed to be suspended and it fails and knocks someone on the head, you're the one going to be sued, not the school. Compare the price of the correct piece of kit over a head injury lawsuit, and bear in mind that'll be your money, not the schools. Buy the right thing.