Project Portfolio

Cisco NOW Van AV Integration

Cisco, San Jose, CA

Challenge:

Cisco Systems cites the Network on Wheels (NOW) program as a powerful new tool in its marketing arsenal. Cisco's worldwide NOW vans bring products and services to customers, rather than the other way around. The main challenge for system designers was to keep things simple, accommodating a complete AV system into a limited area of space.

Solution:

Each NOW van is built on a 25' Ford shuttle bus chassis, but has a completely redesigned interior with an AV system. Inside each van is seating for 10 people, plus a powerful computer demonstration system. Gear includes a Fujitsu 50" plasma screen, four Viewsonic 21" LCD displays, an Extron VGA and stereo audio matrix switcher, and a complete SP Controls sound system that includes speakers, a subwoofer, and satellites. A small Crestron system allows user control over the van’s AV system. Additionally, a small rack with Cisco routers and switchers drives a wired and wireless network, and another rack houses the AV equipment.

As a part of the new integration, there are four workstations installed; video and audio is taken from them and processed into the matrix switcher. Signals either go from each workstation to the corresponding 21" monitor, and from there to the big display, or presenters can choose to send any signal to all five displays.

The Crestron remote system was duplicated four times, so a presenter can control sound and video from whichever workstation he or she happens to be using. This simplicity was especially important because Cisco does not put presenters on the road with the vans, but rather makes them available to its certified partners and resellers.

Equipment Highlights:

50" plasma screen; 21" LCD displays; control system; stereo audio matrix switcher; sound system with speakers and subwoofer; satellites

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