5.0. SWCSR 02-01-2018 Sherburne Wright Cable Commission
Equipment and Technology Report
February 1st, 2018
Sympodium Replacement Monitor Update
As I mentioned at a previous meeting, the company that makes the Sympodium monitors that we
have used for many years was sold last year. The new owners have decided to discontinue the
sale of any new units and concentrate on the educational market by selling only SmartBoards.
Even though they are not supporting our equipment anymore they have started asking existing
users to pay a subscription support fee of$129 per year for the software.
We have started to see these monitors wear out and fail. The majority of the monitors we own
are the old style 4x3 screen size and do not support the 16x9 format commonly used in
computing and display.
While searching for a replacement I have tested software and monitors from many
manufacturers. I have found one touch panel that not only interfaces with all our current
equipment but also is very easy to use and costs significantly less than the Sympodium with No
Subscription Fees! We paid an average of$3250 for each Sympodium monitor. The new touch
monitor that I have found costs only$500 with software and interface.
I have held demonstrations for several cities and everyone that has tried the monitor has
commented that it is very easy to use. Elk River has used one for almost 2 months now and has
requested that we replace all their existing Sympodium units.
Wireless Microphone Changes
Congress authorized the FCC to auction off spectrum in the 600 MHz band to make way for
wireless broadband use. The auction resulted in frequencies from 614 to 698 MHz being sold to
cell phone companies such as T-Mobile and others. These are bands that were used by low
power TV stations and wireless microphones. The FCC order lists a phased in timetable to allow
users until 2020 to vacate the use of these frequencies with one catch. Those bidders that win the
auction can decide to use those frequencies sooner in which case any unlicensed users (most
wireless microphone users are considered unlicensed)must immediately vacate use of their
affected wireless microphones or face substantial fines.
I was at an audio conference in California last week and this was a big topic of discussion as
every wireless user sorts through the implications. It is affecting not only cities but also schools,
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churches, theaters, music groups and private business. I heard one rental house owner mention
that they had to replace over 400 microphones.
Some communities have already changed out their wireless microphones while others are taking
a wait and see approach.
At the conference I learned that T-Mobile bought up 45% of the spectrum space and is
aggressively moving forward to ramp up its 5G network. They put out a U.S. chart in 2017 of
their intended phased rollout but that is already obsolete as they have moved into many areas far
ahead of schedule.
It has been very hard to get specific information from T-Mobile and other companies because
they don't want to tell their competition which areas they are starting up next. One government
conference attendee told a story about contacting T-Mobile and having to sign an NDA but he
was still not given adequate information. He was initially told that his city wouldn't be affected
until mid 2019 but T-Mobile had already started testing.
Other companies besides T-Mobile have also purchased spectrum space and tracking that
information has been difficult. So far we have only been affected in Monticello. The city started
having numerous problems with their microphones in late summer and we tried everything to
correct it. I was able to borrow a spectrum analyzer for a brief time and see that those
frequencies were being used. We tried many options such as changing the frequencies, checking
with other city departments to see if they were using equipment that might be causing
interference etc., with no success in determining exactly where the interference was coming
from.
This problem has cropped up before when wireless users had to vacate the 700 MHz band with
the arrival of DTV. So the real challenge now is trying to purchase equipment that is a little more
future proof Equipment vendors have been trying to steer end users towards purchasing 2.4MHz
wireless microphone equipment but that is in heavy by many cities for Wi-Fi.
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In Monticello we ended up swapping out their equipment for a Shure digital encrypted system
that allows us to use software to coordinate the frequencies to avoid interference. I have already
ordered a spectrum analyzer so that I can do a city by city check to determine the best
frequencies for each location. The microphones have been in use in Monticello for almost a
month with no problems.
Overall the our cities have a total of 46 wireless systems in use not counting the assistive
listening devices (these are not affected). Of the 46 we have 25 microphones that use 600 Mhz
band. 4 of these have already been replaced in Monticello so that leaves a total of 21.
Wireless microphone manufacturers are currently offering rebates for the trade in of qualifying
600 MHz systems. In Monticello a new digital handheld wireless microphone with transmitter
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and receiver cost $1300 and a lavaliere system cost $1400. We are going to get a rebate of$500
for each mic bringing the cost down to $800 for the handheld and $900 for the lavaliere.
The rebates for these specific Shure systems run until April 30, 2018. I would recommend that
the commission consider prioritizing our microphones in the trailer and those in use in our
portable production equipment. I'll continue to research this in each city and come back to the
commission with my test results. This will give us a little more time but eventually we will need
to replace all those in the 600MHz range.
Sherburne Wright Equipment Purchase Requests
Touch Panel Monitors (Sympodium Replacement)
Action Requested:Approval of the purchase-22" Touch Panel Monitors which includes
Monitor,Stand, Software and System Interface for$500 from AV Solutions at Qty. (17) for a
TOTAL COST-$8500
Wireless Microphone Replacement
Action Requested:Approval of the purchase of Qty. (11) -Shure Wireless Microphones from
A VI Systems which breaks down to Qty.(5)Handheld systems at$1300 each for a total of
$6500 before rebate and$4000 after rebate. And Qty. (6)Lavaliere systems at$1300 each for a
total of$8400 before rebate and$5400 after rebate. TOTAL COST-$9400 after rebate.
Elk River Council Chambers Overflow Meeting Room
Elk River has requested assistance in upgrading their overflow council chambers meeting room.
The projection system and other equipment in the room is very old and they would like to have
the ability to adapt the room for multiple meeting uses in conjunction with their cable television
cablecasts of City Council meetings and workshops, Planning Commission, Park and Recreation
Commission and other city department use.
Action Requested:Approval of the purchase from AV Solutions of Qty. (2)Samsung 4K 75"
displays at$2650.00, Qty. (1)BenQ projector at$1380.00, Q07.(1)Draper 54x96"Projection
screen at$430.00, Qty.(1)Luxor Monitor Cart at$350.00 and a LogiTech R800 Presenter
mouse at$65 for a TOTAL COST- $8042.34
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Monticello VieBit Live Streaming
Monticello would like to have the ability for residents to view the live stream of their council
meetings and cable channel. This would be the same equipment that we use in several other
commission cities. We would need to purchase the streaming appliance and pay a yearly
subscription fee. This would be the same fee that the other cities currently pay.
Action Requested:Approval of the purchase of a Leightronix IncodeX streaming unit directly
from Leightronix for$3995 along with a yearly subscription cost of$2388. TOTAL COST-
$3995 for equipment and$2388 yearly
Cokato Monitor
There is a beam in the middle of the Cokato council chambers that has been obstructing the
council members view of the main monitor. Mounting a smaller monitor in front of this beam
would improve their ability to view documents. We use a 55" monitor. We would also purchase
the appropriate wall mount.
Action Requested:Approval of the purchase of a Samsung UN55MU8000 55 inch 4K Monitor
and monitor mount from AVS for a TOTAL COST of$1475
Maple Lake Audio Recorder
The Maple Lake Council has asked that staff start archiving audio files of their meetings. Big
Lake has used a Denon networked audio recorder that we installed previously to do this.
Action Requested:Approval of the purchase of Qty. (1)Denon DN-700R for$538.46 from
AVI Systems fora TOTAL COST of$538.46
Total Cost for All Projects Requested: $34,338.80
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