Hi Jeanette, 1. My approach to testing was to get everything running and join an AG venue. There is a test session run by Jason Bell most weeks and attending that test session each week for the first couple of months was invaluable. There were certainly plenty of problems, and I'm remembering most of them now (helping RMIT with some issues). My biggest issue was related to sound cards and RAT, but hopefully that has been sorted out with the new stealth machines.
2. We purchased our setup with a Polycom vortex EF2280. There is a lot of info on setting up the gentner/clearone XAP800 for the access grid (it seems to be the unit of choice in the US), but only a little bit on the vortex. The AV contractors had no idea, but I found a few instructions that a guy from Canada had made available and that got me by. It does take a fair bit of time, and it can be a 2 person task (one in the room fiddling/talking and one sitting elsewhere listening in). 3. I took part in a python course when preparing to set up our room, but it wasn't necessary. I've written one script myself, and copied a few that others have made available, but none of it is really absolutely necessary. I think that the 2 things that you will find most helpful are: 1. Get someone to install software install on their desktop machine and start using it. It is simple enough to use, and the sooner the person that will be running the room is familiar with the software the better. 2. Get someone to sign up for the 2 AG mail lists. ([email protected] and the Australian list [email protected]). You can get a good feel for the type of problems are facing by watching these lists. There are a lot of helpful people out there and I have called on their expertise regularly. Cheers, Darren. -----Original Message----- From: Jeanette Hopley [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, 11 May 2007 4:31 PM To: Darren Condon Cc: David Koch; Robert Bull Subject: Access Grid Room Hi Darren Do you have any information you can feedback to us in relation to: 1. Problems you may have encountered when testing the connectivity between the various IT and AV equipment and your approach to testing? 2. Echo cancelling unit - How easy/difficult it is to set-up? 3. How much programming is involved in supporting the AGR system? Thanks in anticipation of your response Jeanette Jeanette Hopley Project Coordinator The University of Newcastle Information Technology Services Office: (02) 49854152 Mobile: 0413146151 email: [email protected] ( mailto:[email protected] )
