I have recently seen a number of social media posts that go something like this: “We were hosting a wedding/funeral and someone walked up with a phone to play a song from it and it didn’t have a headphone jack. Help!” Or, “A guest pastor just showed up with his laptop/tablet and wants to teach from it, but it doesn’t have an HDMI port. Help!”
While it is easy to be angry with technology manufacturers who continually change their connectors as if they were a new flavor of the month, it is not actually that difficult to see the trend: wireless.
In September 2016, Apple shocked the world—and angered many AV techs—with the announcement that all new iPhones would be dropping the coveted headphone jack. And the dongle-adapter-thingy war continued. While it is easy to be angry with technology manufacturers who continually change their connectors as if they were a new flavor of the month, it is not actually that difficult to see the trend: wireless.
Besides the headphone jack disappearance, laptop connections are likewise vanishing; currently we are experiencing fewer and fewer standard USB ports, VGAs, HDMIs and even power connectors, all in favor of the USB-C, all while cell phones are adding wireless charging features and promoting Bluetooth accessory connectivity. The trend is obvious. Likewise, let’s not get too comfortable with whatever the connector of the day is; it’ll change soon enough as well. Not to mention, even our audio and lighting equipment is moving away from XLRs and DMX to using standardized network cables. The point is, tech is always changing, but this time the destination is clear.
Even though it is understandable to have the proverbial “freak out” when we have the unexpected happen at front-of-house just minutes before an event, this time we ought to embrace it rather than fight it. In a production environment there is still a fear of using wireless connectivity devices due to fear of dropping signal, weak Wi-Fi, etc. However, technologies have come a long way, especially once we move out of the consumer-grade technologies. I propose that we not view new wireless collaboration devices as another possible headache, but rather as a $1,000 insurance policy. Yes, it may be pricier than a $20 dongle, but how many dongles are you going to buy? What stops someone from grabbing it from FOH and not returning it, and you don’t notice until you need it? And why add another possible point of failure? I know many have an Apple TV to share an iPhone/Mac from, but what about Android and Windows users? What is needed is a fully cross-platform BYOD device. One device which has a video out to feed the switcher and an audio out to feed the sound console.
Here is my evaluation of the main pro versions of the name brand fully cross-platform wireless collaboration devices currently on the market, allowing for Mac and Windows computers, Apple and Android tablets and smartphones, and native app connectivity. All options essentially work in the same fashion; they either broadcast their own SSID for users to connect to and/or join your current network and are accessed via a dedicated IP address. All options include encrypted 2.4 GHz WiFi IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n WAP broadcasting and an on-screen security codes displayed on a branded splash screen. All options have 1080p 30fps output resolutions or greater (list prices noted):
Extron ShareLink 250 / ShareLink 1000
Grade: A
List Price: $1,690 (SL250) / $2,390 (SL1000)
I/O (SL250): HDMI out, VGA out, 3.5mm audio, HDMI audio embed, LAN network and control, POE, Dual USB
I/O (SL1000): HDMI out, HDMI in, Phoenix audio out, HDMI audio embed, LAN network and control, POE, Dual LAN networks, Dual USB, RS-232 control, CEC control, POE
Comments: Extron ShareLink is the most stable, user-friendly, and feature-rich version of the options on the market. Even though the Extron ShareLink 250 and Crestron AirMedia are both rebranded OEM versions of Barco’s wePresent, the ShareLink has the most user-friendly configuration and moderator modules. The SL1000 adds an additional HDMI input to allow simultaneous direct-connect and wireless collaboration, perfect for the small room where both a wired connection and wireless connection would be desired. Up to four users may share simultaneously, and the moderator web control page allows for the selection of any of up to 64 connected users, and allows for bi-directional screensharing for accessibility; i.e., a connected user can view the presentation on his/her laptop screen.
Crestron AirMedia 2 AM-200
Grade: A-
List Price: $1,800
I/O: HDMI Out, HDMI in, USB, Lan network and control, HDMI audio embed, RS-232 control, Dual IR out, CEC control, POE
Comments: AirMedia 2 is a redesign of the original, now discontinued, AirMedia. While its capabilities are similar to that of the Extron ShareLink, there is a move away from using Barco’s solution as an OEM component to creating their own technologies and embedding them into Crestron’s proprietary control devices. The AirMedia devices integrate well with Crestron systems allowing for control pass-through for display control, however this requires a complete Crestron control system. The moderator and configuration pages are similar to that of the Extron ShareLink, easily allowing collaboration between multiple users. With the price-point falling between the Extron 250 and 1000 models, it is a more cost-effective option for HDMI loop-though, however it lacks any audio breakout, meaning that an additional HDMI de-embed device is necessary in order to use in a production environment, which gives it a lower overall grade.
Mersive Solstice Pod
Grade: B+
List Price: $799 (4 users) / $999 (unlimited users)
I/O: HDMI out, HDMI audio embed, LAN network, Open API
Comments: The Solstice has the most user-friendly UI of all options, with simply connectivity. The Solstice includes a “Preview Mode,” allowing the host to view the presenter’s screen prior to allowing it to go live. An open API makes it controllable through all major systems. There is limited I/O with no audio breakout available, requiring a way to de-embed the audio in order to feed the audio desk. It’s simplicity and powerful functionality make Mersive Pod a popular choice in the corporate conference room environment. The biggest negative is that if a user on an iPad/iPhone disconnects without logging out, the Solstice keeps the person in the room as a user, making it difficult for others to join the collaboration; a firmware upgrade is expected shortly to address this issue.
Lifesize Share
Grade: B+
List Price: $499
I/O: HDMI out, HDMI audio embed, 3.5mm audio out, 4x USB, LAN network
Comments: Lifesize Share is the newest player on the market but has been the device of choice by some major institutions including Stanford University and Major League Baseball, quickly creating a name for themselves. It approaches connectivity differently than the other hardware solution by creating a web URL inferface, allowing the user to choice whether to share their full screen, part of it, or even simply a link like a YouTube video. Because it utilizes a web-UI, users can be put on a queue list and be granted special access. In a campus environment, users can be allowed or denied access to certain end-points based on need. They claim to be the sole truly wireless option by eliminating all dongles and being a fully self-contained device. There is limited I/O, but does offer the necessary HDMI out and audio out for a production booth. The price-point makes for an easy entry point.
Barco wePresent WiPG-1000
Grade: B+
List Price: $499 / $929 WiCS-2100 full capabilities
I/O: HDMI out, VGA out, USB, LAN network and control, 3.5mm audio out, HDMI audio embed, POE
Comments: Barco actually holds 73% of the BYOD market, because the wePresent is the original non-OEM version of the Extron ShareLink 250 and Crestron AirMedia 1. The lower price-point allows for an easier entry point. The WiPG-1000 limits connectivity, with WiCS-2100 increasing to allow for dual outputs.
Barco ClickShare CS-100
Grade: B
List Price: $1,000 / CS-200 $1,359
I/O: HDMI out, 3.5mm audio out, HDMI audio embed, Optical out, LAN network and control, POE
Comments: The ClickShare is one of the largest players in the commercial integration industry because of its ease of use. It is a dongle-based system that connects the user’s laptop to the Barco ClickShare unit at the push of a button. The biggest negative is that it does not get rid of the dongle issue, still requiring the correct end-user connectivity. It relieves the issue of having to connect to a device SSID, with the push-and-go technology, but the issue of lost or broken click devices is an issue. There is no native laptop application, and mobile devices can only connect through downloading the ClickShare app. There is not ability to AirPlay directly. While it is not truly pure wireless connectivity (since the ClickShare dongle is required), the ease of use for a guest to plug-and-go makes up for the loss of features, yet does give it a lower overall grade.
Atlona SW-510W
Rating: B-
List Price: $1,975
I/O: 2x HDMI in, DisplayPort in, USB-C, USB for Miracast, USB for WiFi, Presentation USB, 3.5mm audio in, HDMI out, HDBaseT out, RS-232, Relay control, Phoenix audio out, LAN network and control.
Comments: Atlona’s wireless collaboration solution is actually an integrated switcher. It would be overkill as an additional audio/video input to a system, however in a smaller room where there was only one computer, a laptop HDMI, and wireless sharing, without the need for a production switcher, this could give switching capability and wireless sharing in one small box, making it an affordable complete video system option. To utilize all features, a control device/touchpanel would need to be added in order to select and present devices.
Kramer VIA Pro
Grade: B-
List Price: $796 / $496 (VIA Go)
I/O: HDMI out, mini-DP out, 3.5mm audio out, S/PDIF audio, 4x USB, LAN network and control
Comments: Kramer’s VIA comes in multiple models, with the difference being the number of connected users. The Go version is a simple connect and share, while the Pro allows for 4-person collaboration with up to 254 total connected users. It does include a digital whiteboard option which could be useful for teaching spaces. There are not as many bells and whistles, but does what it is intended to do well. Though it includes dual outputs, only one is available at a time. For campuswide management, paid software solution allows for user management and remote firmware updates. The low price-point makes for an easy point of entry.
Christie Brio Team & Team+
Grade: C
List Price: $1,995 (Team) / $2,995 (Team+)
I/O (Team): 2x DisplayPort out, 4x USB, LAN network and control
I/O (Team+): 2x DisplayPort out, 2 DVI-D input, 2x 3.5mm audio in, 4x USB, LAN network and control
Comments: The Christie Brio Team is almost too good for its own good, incorporating unique features like whiteboarding, cross-device annotation, and auto-adjusting resolutions for optimal display. However, it is the most expensive option, and loses basic functionality in the low-end model, like no audio breakout connectivity and connectivity is solely through the IP address of the device through a browser. This made it more difficult and unnatural to connect to. The Brio is geared toward being an enterprise solution, with the Team+ being a 1U rack-mountable device. The strength lies in sharing to and from other Brio Team devices, making it a solid product in a multi-screen flex-space venue, but it lacks the ease of direct-to-device connectivity of the other options on the market. The moderator interface is the most robust of all the other options when used with multiple displays.
Conclusion
End users are desiring BYOD connectivity. Therefore, wireless interfacing into production environments will continue to grow and the technologies will continue to be more stable. As teams whose role is to allow easy and smooth presentation of the gospel of Christ, it is even more reason for us to be proactive in handling possible end user requests. The days of losing dongles and fearing guest laptops that lack the proper connectivity options for your production environment should no longer be an issue. There are enough trustworthy products now on the market to handle these last-minute surprises. In fact, in testing all options, I only experienced connectivity issues with the Solstice Pod and Christie Brio. All options did require restarting or waking after a long period of nonuse, which is to be expected. They’re all good options, and it really comes down to personal preference, trust in the brand, and priority of the features.
