4K – No Myths, No Exaggerations, Just the Facts webinar

Lots of webinars get pumped out by manufacturers which focus more on sales. But this one was technical for the design and field guys who have to make it happen. Thanks Gary Kayye!

This one covered industry standards for resolution, frame rate, chroma sub-sampling, pixel clock and data rate (bandwidth). Each one is a session in its own so this was a nice overview.

Q-Sys Certification Level 1 Renewal

The QSC Level 1 Certification expires periodically which requires re-certification. This updated class discussed cameras, software changes, hardware changes, licensing and design concepts to the user interface. Fortunately, I did not have to re-submit another DSP design so that saved a lot of time. Now on my way to the job site to work some audiovisual magic.

Q-SYS Level 2 Certification

This certification was a two day in-person training from QSC.

Topics include: Public Address, Teleconferencing Suite (Acoustic Echo Cancellation, Softphone, Proper Gain Staging) Third-Party Control, Advanced User Control Design, GPIO Integration, Networking Troubleshooting, and Core-to-Core Control. A graded schematic project was required after the class to achieve the certification.

Lutron RadioRA2

My home is being “converged” into a smart home with Lutron RadioRA2 lighting. It is being integrated with a Crestron processor and Amazon’s Alexa. But Lutron requires several layers of credentials before you can download their software called “Lutron Essentials” for RadioRA2 programming. Naturally, they only want trained professionals using and selling their product. So here it is.

Barco Unisee Video Wall Certification

With the Barco UniSee
LCD video wall, companies can capture customers’
attention to corporate messages from
the moment they enter the lobby or
the company’s experience center with
a seamless display of dynamic images
or infotainment content. Integrating
the newest Barco LCD video wall
solution in the corporate lobby creates
a welcoming and inviting atmosphere,
adds ambiance without being
overwhelming and signifcantly reduces
the perceived waiting time for visitors in
reception area.

TesiraServer I/O Certification

This certification required that I build a Tesira System on the fictitious Wilson Willamette Riverboat Rambler (WWRR). A paddle wheel steam ship providing an old time experience for tourists and locals alike, along the Mississippi of the NW, right here in modern day Oregon. It is a very complex system complete with logic, remote expanders and external amps.

Crestron DM-NVX Certification

DM NVX is the latest addition to the DigitalMedia™ family. Together with XiO Director, NVX creates a secure, reliable and versatile solution that can be monitored, managed and controlled on the same network. This course covered the design, configuration requirements and the unique capabilities of Crestron DM NVX solutions. I learned to add flexibility and scalability to applications by incorporating XiO Director to control an entire DM NVX network.

This certification class covered:

  • The fundamentals of network architecture for NVX.
  • How to design a system using NVX and XiO Director.
  • Multicast addressing in your network design.
  • Configuring your network switch for a proper NVX deployment.
  • How to add NVX devices and create domains within XiO Director.
  • How to Route and Manage your devices using XiO Director for various applications.

Crestron DM-NVX Networking Certification

This 1-day course covered topics such as networking components, designing a network, network topology, unicast and multicast, network applications and troubleshooting the network.

This class certification covered:

  • Network fundamentals.
  • Topology for setting up large NVX systems.
  • Network architecture.
  • Network designs.
  • The function and capabilities of internet protocol technologies for a network application.
  • Unicast and multicast applications and configurations.
  • Troubleshoot common network issues with Wireshark.