TUKKIES COUNCIL CHAMBERS UPGRADED

Nine years after the original AV installation at the University of Pretoria ‘s Council Chambers (as well as numerous smaller upgrades over the years), the powers that be decided that he much used facilities were in dire need of major upgrade in technology.

New switching in the form of Kramer VP8x8A was installed, as well as videoconferencing facilities with dual camera, and a Plasma screen. In terms of control, a new Crestron TPMC8X touchpanel was installed and a TPMC8X panel in the control room as an engineering panel for back-up purposes. A number of minor changes were also made to the programming. 

TUKKIES - Law facilities

Crestron has been serving the educational market for more than three decades and understands the unique requirements of the academic community.  Top universities and colleges around the world use Crestron technology to control, automate, monitor and manage their campuses.  

By using this technology equipment can be integrated and managed in an easy way.  DVDs, document cameras, Internet, streaming media and PC applications such as PowerPoint and Excel can be controlled.  AV equipment, lights, screens, curtains can be controlled from a touchpanel.

Some applications include classrooms, lecture halls, auditoriums, theatres, observatories, science labs, student activity centres and campus-wide control.

The University of Pretoria is one institution in SA that is using Crestron at their main campus in Hatfield, as well as Campuses at Groenkloof and Onderstepoort.  

Electrosonic SA installed the first Crestron system at Tukkies in 1999 in the Rector's Boardroom.  That system is still working without any problems.  This system centres on a Crestron STCP processor.  Other equipment includes a Panasonic projector, Philips conferencing system, Wharfedale Audio, Shure microphones and a DVD/Video combination.  

The second installation followed at Onderstepoort in the Video Conference Room.  Some equipment includes a Crestron CNX AV processor, STVC volume controller and a STI1550c touch panel, Kramer matrix switchers, JVC projector, VCR, DVD and a Polycom video conference system.

In 2002 building started for the new Law facilities.  Crestron plays a major role in this building, where all AV, blinds and lighting is controlled and automated.  

Of  these the Auditorium has the most comprehensive equipment installed and that includes a Crestron MP2E processor, TPS4500L touch panel, VEQ4, MMS, CHHREL8LC relay module, Kramer matrix switchers and scalers, screens, Panasonic projector, Polycom video conference system, VCR, DVD, Shure UHF radio microphones and a Bose audio system.  

Smaller lecture halls in the law building also have Crestron and that include Crestron MP2E processors, CT1000 touch panels, Kramer switchers, Panasonic projectors, VCR, DVD and Shure radio microphones.  

One installation that will be completed in the near future is the Courtroom.  There students will have the opportunity to get the feel for a real courtroom and scenes can be played.  Crestron MP2E processor, touch panels, Kramer matrix switchers, cameras, Plasma screens, etc will be installed. 

The Sanlam Auditorium run on a Crestron MP2E processor TPS2000 touchpanel, CHHREL8 relay module, Kramer switchers, Panasonic projector, VCR, DVD, Shure radio microphones, Sennheiser radio microphones and conference microphone system,

Other lecture halls have basic Crestron systems and equipment include Crestron MP2E processors, CNXB8 and CNXB12 button panels, relays, Panasonic projectors, VCR and DVDs and Shure microphones.

"Boukunde" runs on a Crestron processor and a CNXB12 button panel with Kramer switching.  With this basic system, projectors, DVDs, lights and sound is controlled.  

This is a long term project and eventually all the lecture rooms/halls will be controlled by Crestron.  Room management is already taking place and for example the lamp life of the projectors can be checked via Crestron.  That saves a lot of time, since managing a facility that size is not easy, with Crestron Roomview it will be child's play.  Crestron addresses the needs of AV service managers and IT directors seeking to monitor and manage a variety of technologies over a single network.  Whether it is a single classroom or the entire campus, Crestron solutions centralize control of audio and video devices, security cameras, lighting and HVAC.

All of the facilities run as separate entities at the moment but the aim is that the whole Campus will be networked and controlled by Crestron Roomview Enterprise. The hardware is in place and once the network is up and running, then all the facilities will be linked to manage from one central point, for issues like lamp life monitoring, etc.

Crestron is making the lives of the lecturers easier at the campus.  Taking care of the control side of things, leaving them free to concentrate on presenting their lecture.

September 2006