Author: Gareth

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CYP Video Over IP Training

At ISE 2018, CYP launched its latest range of video over IP devices, including the IP-7000RX/TX (HDMI or VGA over IP with USB support & PoE) extender kits and the IP-CS7 IP system controller.  These new products make it easy to add 4K UHD video transmission to an established IP network, ideal for where an existing network is in place and/or running additional Cat cable is not an option.  Although a very useful system, it does introduce IP networks into the mix, which require a higher level of education to make sure that the most is being made of the products.

Therefore, CYP is introducing a new IP Network training package, to give installers a better understanding of networks, of how to make them stable and how to integrate video over IP products successfully.

 The CYP Video over IP Installation training seminar is a one day course hosted at our Training Room here at the TDI offices, near Winchester. Matt Dodd, CYP Technical Trainer, has put together a hands-on course with lots of practical elements, ensuring that any delegate that attends will leave with the confidence of knowing the ins and outs of IP networks and the confidence to easily install and control video transmission products to achieve the highest-possible quality levels.

Initially, delegates will be taught the framework of networking.  Although Ethernet has been around for over 40 years, many of us are only really familiar with standard ‘plug-and-play’ home systems. Now we are relying on Ethernet to move 4K video signals, it’s vital we fully understand the basic concept. Using the OSI model (Open Systems Interconnection) as the networking framework, this course will help delegates understand more about the complex interactions that happen in an Ethernet installation.  We will then explain how the data packet moves from one network device to another, giving an in-depth understanding so that delegates can understand how video integrates into the network.

The course moves on to discussing what IP actually is, and where it fits into the framework.  Once a clear understanding of the OSI model is established, it’s much easier to identify the importance of IP, and how it works in relation to other protocols in the model. During this session, delegates will drill down into the IP address and identify how they can use this knowledge to successfully troubleshoot IP issues as they arise in the field.

Once delegates are educated on IP, the course moves on to explore Multicast Technology and its counterpart layer three protocol responsible for distributing video signals across a network – IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol). In this section, delegates will gain more confidence in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of video over IP distribution, such as point-to-point (uni-cast) and one-to-many (multicast) video distribution applications.

With a clear understanding of the theory, the course will drill down into the practical side, giving a full understanding of how to configure a network switch for the perfect integration of CYP products into a system.  At this stage, the IP-7000RX/TX extender kit will be introduced and CYP will explain how relatively simple it is to integrate, set up and manage, particularly using the IP-CS7.  This powerful IP system controller and configurator is capable of managing multiple IP extenders across the same network, enabling unicast and multicast installation using its comprehensive WebGui.

Once completed, delegates on the course will have a comprehensive understanding of IP installations and how to achieve the best results when integrating video.  Crucially, they will have the essential knowledge of how to trouble-shoot an installation and the confidence required when discussing this new technology in project meetings with client IT departments.

If you want to know more about video distribution over IP and how to achieve the very best signal quality levels, this is an essential course for any installer.

Overview:

  • The ‘framework’ of networking – Using the OSI (Open System Interconnection) model as the framework we will explore how the data packet moves from one network device to another.
  • What actually is IP, and where does it fit into the framework? – In this section we will drill down into the IP address and identify how we can use this knowledge to successfully troubleshoot IP issues as they arise in the field.
  • What is multicasting? – In this section we will gain more confidence in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of video over IP distribution, giving us more confidence when discussing this new technology in project meetings with client IT departments.
  • Understanding the configuration requirements of network switches for use with CYP’s IP range – Once the concepts of IP is clear, we’ll go on to understand the required network switch settings for Video over IP.
  • CYP IP-7000 Transmitters and Receivers, the I/O Structure and the features – An overview of the physical inputs and outputs of the IP-7000 plus a review of their feature sets.
  • CYP IP-CS7 IP System Controller and Configurator – Learn how the IP-CS7 empowers the integrator to easily configure and control an IP system.
  • Let’s get physical – Using the knowledge gained for delivering content over IP Systems, we shall put together and configure a simple system.

Cost:
CYP Video over IP Training Course is FREE OF CHARGE. We only ask that you commit to attending once you have signed up!

Date:
Wednesday 3rd October 2018

Time:
CYP Training Courses begin at 09:30am and run until around 17:00pm.

Location:
TDI Tremiver Ltd, West Farm, Popham, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 3BH. (Click HERE to see us on Google Maps)

Contact:
To secure your place on our FREE CYP Training Academy, please email your request using the link below or, alternatively, give us a call on 01256 397 770 to register.

Our close relationships with manufacturers enables us to offer bespoke training sessions. Give us a call to discuss your training requirements for course content, presentation style (classroom or hands on workshop), and location. We can tailor training to suit your needs.

If you would like to book on this CYP Training Academy, please click the following link – BOOK NOW

To view the CYP IP-7000 Range of Video over IP Solutions, please click HERE.

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Zxyel Network Switch Training – 28th June 2018

Empower your Expertise for the Internet World

Networking environments today have become more dynamic. AV and IT professionals cannot rely on being just ‘good enough’. Individuals and organizations need to be equipped with the right knowledge and skills to overcome any and all situations to keep ahead of the technology curve.

Zyxel’s Training Course ensures that AV and IT professionals are constantly learning about the cutting-edge of networking technology, and will be well-equipped with in-depth knowledge and pertinent skill-sets to deploy, maintain and improve their network’s performance.

Introduction to Zyxel and the switch range

  • Learn about the different switch ranges that Zyxel have to offer from the unmanaged to the full Layer 3 range.
  • Zyxel’s range of switches offer different PoE power budgets so how can we make the most of the available power budget and make sure that switch provides the correct power to the correct device.
  • 10Gig options that Zyxel offer to support your higher network throughput including stacking and what does this mean for your network design.
  • Understand the fibre connections and the different modules that Zyxel offer to interconnect your switches.

Technical setup of the switches

From the very basic environment to the complex, the Zyxel product range can handle all these requirements. Introduction to Zyxel configuration and the features that might be useful in your environments.

  • Look at different network designs and the pro’s and con’s in these environments.
  • VLAN – what are they and how can we use them to isolate and segregate a network.
  • Link aggregation – What is it and why should I use it?
  • Spanning Tree – Providing resilience in your network.
  • IGMP – What is Multicast, and how do we control it on the network?
  • Look at the Zyxel GUI, and how easy these features are to configure for any installer.

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Hugh Simpson – Head of Channel Pre Sales, Zyxel
Hugh has been with Zyxel for over 12 years, having started as the UK support manager. He then moved to run the European Customer Support Organisation and then into Presales focusing on the UK channel business. By being with Zyxel for over 12 years, Hugh has seen a wealth of change and experience in the organisation, products and features.

 

Cost:
The Zyxel Training Course is FREE OF CHARGE. We only ask that you commit to attending once you have signed up!

Time:
The Zyxel Training Courses begin at 10am and run until around 2:30pm.

Location:
TDI Tremiver Ltd, West Farm, Popham, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 3BH. (Click HERE to see us on Google Maps)

Contact:
To secure your place on any of our FREE training academies, please email links above or, alternatively, give us a call on 01256 397 770 to register.

Our close relationships with manufacturers enables us to offer bespoke training sessions. Give us a call to discuss your training requirements for course content, presentation style (classroom or hands on workshop), and location. We can tailor training to suit your needs.

If you would like to book on Zyxel Training, please click the following link – BOOK NOW

To view our range of Zyxel Network Solutions, please click HERE.

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CAN A CAT6 CONNECTOR WORK ON A CAT5E CABLE?

If you’ve been running Ethernet cable or making patch cables for any length of time, you now have an assortment of RJ45 connectors and cable types representing the evolution of your network. You may be tempted to use what you have on hand to do your work, mixing and matching a bit. Visions haunt you of hunting through the cable jungle only to find that it was one of your cables that came loose, cable from connector, or even worse — looks just fine, but really isn’t making reliable contact. But is that just unnecessary worry?

It Just Might (Reliably) Work!

If you’re using Cat5e cable and all you have is newer Cat6 connectors, you may be all right. Generally, connectors may be backwards compatible with cable from older standards, but the reverse is not true — if you’re pulling Cat6 cable, time to update your Cat5e and older connector collection! There are some things to consider in proving that you’re using a workable combination of cable and connector, including a simple friction pull-test, cable and connector measurements, conductor fit and contact quality. There’s also the question of whether you’re already playing the odds with your cable quality.

Does It Hold Securely?

This is a simple test that determines whether the diameter of the cable is in the range which works with the Cat6 connector. This test ensures that the primary latch takes the strain of cable pull, rather than the conductors. Some Cat5e cables won’t be big enough for the latch to grab.

  1. Cut a 4 inch piece of cable
  2. Insert it into the connector
  3. Crimp the connector
  4. Tug and test the strain relief from the crimped cable

Do the Numbers Match?

Cat6 connectors are designed to accommodate much larger cable diameters than Cat5e, so most cables should fit — but check the numbers. For example, Cat6 EZ-RJ45 connectors from Platinum Tools use 0.275 inches as a maximum cable OD, which is plenty for a typical 0.205 diameter Cat5e cable. For these EZ-RJ45 connectors, individual insulated conductors must also be 0.041 inches or less to fit through the connector. Cat6 connectors are designed for 24 and 23 AWG conductor wire sizes, and less can be problematic. Most 24 AWG Cat5e cable should measure up, but depending on the source it sometimes it doesn’t, as mentioned below.

Will the Connections Work?

Conductor size determines whether the connection is going to be reliable or not. Although Cat6 solid conductor cables usually contain 23 AWG wire, Cat5e cables with 24 AWG conductors should seat and connect properly in the Cat6 connector. Conductors on the small side which worked for Cat5e may float or shift in the connector channels. This can cause problems ranging from an obvious open circuit to failure during certification. Ongoing issues from unreliable and incomplete surface contact may also occur.

Where Did You Get That Cable?

The volume of cable that installations use can tempt the use of questionable cable, often unknowingly. Purchasing can find a great price that appears to meet specs, but fails in the field. Cable such as “offshore deals” (some have other, more colorful names for it) can have marginal performance and quality. Marginal wire sizes, in particular, can produce intermittent or failed conductivity in Cat6 connectors, and PoE heat problems.

Once you do your homework, using those spools of Cat5e cable with new Cat6 connectors is a pretty safe way to keep moving forward with your network installations. Remember to check that the strain relief is from crimping the cable jacket, protecting the conductors, and that your conductors are seating securely in their channels for reliable connections at any speed, and in any rated conditions!

Check out the tutorial video below

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How To Identify, Verify, and Test an RJ45 Pinout

Ethernet cables, the 8-pin variety which are terminated by an RJ45-style connector, can come in just enough varieties to spread confusion. There are four basic types:

  • Rollover type which only looks like an Ethernet cable, but can be useful with Cisco equipment consoles. Usually light blue, sometimes with a 9-pin RS-232 connector on one end.
  • Straight through type, connecting to networking equipment such as routers, hubs, and switches, which is the predominant cable type now.
  • Crossover type which was necessary to connect computer to computer without any intervening network equipment. Becoming unnecessary.
  • A fourth type, which has to be mentioned — home made cables with nonstandard pinouts, often non-Ethernet. Hopefully, someone labeled them and identified their use.

Sorting Spares

The first place where you’ll have to figure out which cable is which is when you’re retrieving spare premade cables from your extras box. You should only save known good cables, but you can use a basic cable tester with remote to check out continuity and wiring. The Platinum Tools Lanseeker does an excellent job at this.

Common Cable Arrangements — TIA-568A/B

Look at the RJ45 connector on a cable, holding the flat underside toward you. On the left is pin 1. For Ethernet use, the straight through configuration is what you’re likely to see, in TIA-568B arrangement:

  1. Orange stripe
  2. Orange
  3. Green stripe
  4. Blue
  5. Blue stripe
  6. Green
  7. Brown stripe
  8. Brown

For the less common TIA-568A arrangement, pins one and two are Green stripe and Green, and 3 and 6 are Orange stripe and Orange. The connections are the same, but the colors are swapped. You can identify them that way, and suspect which one you have just by the pin 1 color.

Standard, Crossover, and Rollover

Computer equipment sends data using pins 1 and 2, and receives using 3 and 6. This is part of a convention which is used when these connectors and cables are used for Ethernet. For shorthand, you can call this MDI, or the Medium-Dependent Interface.

In the past, computer-to-computer “crossover” cables were needed when bypassing network equipment. As a variation, they were called MDI-X, for Medium-Dependent Interface Crossover. Network interfaces have advanced enough to detect cabling and switch pin usage as needed, so crossover cables are rarely used.

Crossovers not only exchange pins 1 and 3, 2 and 6 to exchange data and transmit, but also 4 and 5 cross and connect to 7 and 8, exchanging blue and brown pairs. Testers such as the Platinum Tools VDV MapMaster 3.0 can check all of the exchanges in a crossover cable quickly and simply, and identify common wiring problems in the cable such as miswires and split pairs. Of course, it can’t detect wrong wire colors!

For completeness, the rollover cable reverses every pin: 1 to 8, 2 to 7, etc., as if the wires were part of a ribbon cable which was reversed. If you have Cisco networking equipment nearby, you may have a few console cables in your cable box which are wired this way — beware!

Verification and Testing

Testing devices such as the Platinum Tools VDV MapMaster 3.0 can verify cable wiring, check for shorts and opens, and verify more exotic cable configurations such as mixed data and video. They can also map cabling using the remote module.

Cable Tester Comparison Chart

Links to Product Information:

Lanseeker 

MapMaster 3.0

Net Prowler 

 

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Essential Install Live 2018

Visit EI Live! 2018

The EI Live! Show is the only dedicated custom install / home automation exhibition in the UK, catering for every home automation / smart building professional’s requirements and purposely designed to give you a truly rewarding and informative day. The 2018 show will be held on the 9th-10th May at Sandown Park, Surrey

Whether you are an established operator, are new to the industry or are looking to make the transition into including smart building products and services into your company’s offering, EI Live! has the people you need to speak to in order to make your business a success.

The show also offers insight from keynote speakers delivering a glimpse of the future of the industry, helping visitors to shape their business for success.

A visit to EI Live! will keep you fully briefed on the latest product and service innovations, fulfill all your sourcing needs and help grow your business productivity and profit, entry is totally free. Simply apply for your free ticket by clicking HERE to register online. If you register online and collect your Visitor Badge before 11am on the day, then you will be eligible for a FREE Bacon Sandwich! 

Come and chat to our friendly Sales Team and let them show you all of the latest AV solutions from our key AV manufacturer partners such as CYP, Penn Elcom, Polk Audio, Zyxel, Sanus, Syncbox, Platinum Tools, plus a whole lot more!

We are located near the main entrance at Stand 17 – Doors Open From 10:00AM – 4:00PM

For directions and parking information, please click HERE.

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CYP 6×8 HDBaseT Matrix Units – Now Shipping

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We’re excited to announce that the long awaited CYP 6×8 HDBaseT Matrices are in stock and available for immediate shipping. CYP’s latest offering comprises of a Full HDBaseT Matrix capable of delivering 4K Video, HD Audio, PoH (Power over HDBaseT), LAN, and OAR (Optical Audio Return) up to 100m via CAT6 cable, whilst their PUV-662PL-4K22 HDBaseT LITE version delivers the same functionality (excluding LAN), but via a maximum of 60m of CAT6 cabling.

With on-board Audio matrix functions, including audio de-embedding for each HDBaseT zone, and routing of audio from any source to any output, these new CYP matrices offer the installer incredible flexibility when integrating into a multi-room installation.

Control is via manual selection buttons, IR, RS-232, Telnet or Web GUI. CYP provide FREE control drivers for all the major control systems.

To learn more and check the full matrix specifications, click HERE to be directed to the product information on our website.

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HOT OFF THE PRESS!! – Our NEW 2017/2018 Catalogue is Available Now

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We are very proud to announce the arrival of our NEW 2017/2018 Catalogue. The presses have been running furiously on the weeks running up to the annual ISE Show pilgrimage to Amsterdam and it’s now here ready for dispatch direct to your door!

This years’ catalogue brings a wealth of new solutions sourced using feedback from all of our valued customers, enabling us to focus our product offering specifically for your installation projects. We are excited to share the latest and greatest custom AV products with you.

New additions include an expanded range of 19″ Rack Solutions including a new Acoustic Rack Cabinet range, along with new Wall Mounted Rack Cabinets and Custom Shelves for Apple TV, Sonos, and SKY Q.

Our range of Triax solutions has also been expanded to include new Quad and Octo LNB’s, Multiswitches, and new additions to the range of Triax CCTV Equipment.

As demand for the latest 4K UHD video resolutions continue, we understand the importance of ensuring that the technology must be capable of delivering the highest level of performance whilst being robust enough to meet the demands of modern multi-room environments. CYP is a brand that have been at the forefront of this technology and have further expanded their product range with a selection of new Video Matrices, Audio Breakout devices, Scalers, Switchers, and Extenders.

One last highlight to mention is a completely new range of Fibre Optic solutions which incorporates bulk cable from Tru Cables, Fibre Patch Leads, Patch Panels, Breakout Boxes, Fast Fibre Terminations, and a full compliment of tools and cleaning products.

If you would like us to send you a hard copy of our NEW Catalogue, please email your contact information and company details to info@tdigroup.co.uk or call us on 01256 397 770, and we will send one to you without delay!

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CYP 4K HDBaseT LITE Matrix Kits in stock – Order today for next day shipping

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The NEW PUV-44XPL-4K22-KIT HDBaseT Matrix Kits from CYP are in stock and shipping for next day delivery. This matrix kit comprises four HDMI inputs to four HDBaseT Lite (60m) outputs, plus two independent HDMI outputs, and is supplied with four PUV-1210PL-RX Receivers.
With 4K, HDMI2.0, HDCP2.2 and HDR compatibility, this matrix kit provides installers with everything required to create a stunning 4K six zone multi-room system.

In addition, the PUV-44XPL-4K22-KIT enables audio signal management via the on-board audio matrix which allows users to de-embed audio from any source any HDBaseT zone.

Click HERE for product information or to order online, or call our friendly sales team on 01256 397 770 for further advice.