AV CENTER INTRODUCTION TO THE ELECTRONIC CLASSROOM
(This is not a tutorial for actual use, rather an explanation of how the parts of the console interact. Tutorials are here.)
Please call Laurie at 338-1492 to schedule a training session for your classroom console.
Before you actually use an electronic classroom, here are a few basic concepts and terms:

The VIDEO PROJECTOR takes the signal from the console and projects it on the classroom screen. Every projector has a controller to turn it on and off. Press the POWER button on the controller once to turn it on. It takes about 30 seconds to warm up. You never need to touch the projector itself; the remote mounted in the console does all that.

The PROJECTOR can handle two types of signals: COMPUTER and VIDEO

  • All the equipment in the console uses the VIDEO INPUT on the projector.
  • Only a laptop uses the COMPUTER INPUT.

There is a button on every controller to change the input.
Labelled SOURCE, it may have one button or separate buttons marked VIDEO and COMP.

The CONSOLE contains several Video sources:

  • Cable TV (for cablecast)
  • VCR/DVD player
  • Local Input (for external equipment)
  • Video (Visualizer) Overhead (some rooms)

You need a way to switch between these sources. We use an INPUT SELECTOR. When a button is pushed, that is the signal being sent to the projector. See photo to the left.

The Projector's SOURCE must be set to VIDEO

Because the projector processes the COMPUTER signal differently than Video, you must change the SOURCE on the projector to COMPUTER to use a laptop.

Check the instruction manual attached to the console for the correct setting.

Every computer has a MONITOR OUT connection. The most common connection is called VGA (Video Graphics Array).

The connector and the cable are both referred to as VGA.

All of our consoles have this VGA cable to connect to your laptop's VGA MONITOR OUT.

The Projector's SOURCE must be set to COMPUTER.

Important note: Some laptops like the Sony Vaio and the Apple iBook and G4 laptop do not have standard VGA monitor connectors. Make sure you have any adapters or docking connectors with you or you will not be able to connect to our consoles. Please call Laurie at 338-1492 for a consultation if your laptop does not have the standard VGA connection pictured above.
The DOWN ARROW button is used when the computer image is cut off or jumps around on screen. Press it once, wait a moment and the image should stabilize. If it doesn't, restart your laptop.
The UP ARROW button is programmed to provide a NO SHOW function.
Press it once and the projector's image will go black.
Press it again and the projected image will return.
 
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