Specifications

10 ExtroNews 11.2 May/June 2000
exist as it can affect the final arrangement of
products on the floor.
Once the basic floor plan is designed, it
must be reviewed for compliance with all
local fire safety codes. The appropriate fire
marshal must approve the layout before our
arrival at the site for setup. All plans are used
to provide the necessary information for
show decorators and other support
personnel such as the electricians who must
wire power to each projector stage and all
distribution and control equipment. All
information for the Supplement is sent for
printing. At that point, no changes to the
plan can be made.
No two Shoot-Outs are the same. We’ve
returned to the same convention center sites
for several shows, but each show always has
its nuances due to growth, rearrangement of
events, etc. This means that each Shoot-Out
event is treated just like it is a brand new
experience. All of the same concerns and
attention to detail must be considered.
Our engineering group drafts all plans for
layout on CAD. Prior to arrival at the site, all
physical layout drawings, equipment
inventory, show sequence, personnel
arrangement, and other unique details are
compiled into a manual that is distributed to
all our staff supporting setup. Every technician
and engineer working with us has a “full
blueprint” of the operation. Prior site surveys
allow us to establish the placement of all
components of the event down to the foot.
Setup for the domestic show begins at
8 a.m. six days before the show opens. The
Stewart Filmscreen team supervises the
construction of most all the large screens for
the event. Typically, all screens go up on the
first day. This sets the boundaries of the
layout such that the decorator staff knows
the positioning of drapes and other
boundaries. The electrical staff begins the AC
wiring. The Extron staff breaks into teams,
each taking one or more groups of the layout
and collecting all the cabling and equipment
to wire video signals for each designated
area.
The Right Tools For The Job
Each group of projectors or converters is
wired as a unique distribution system of its
own. The head end is the graphics computer
generating pixel rates of up to 150 MHz. All
interface and distribution components are
300 MHz (-3dB) video bandwidth minimum.
Typically, the computer feeds a
buffer/amplifier specially built for the Shoot-
Out having pre-emphasis compensation for
the 100-foot length cables extended to each
participant. This amp is a combination GLI
350 and ADA x/300 with level and peaking
controls. This is one of the instrumental steps
in minimizing ground loop issues. In the line
is an SW6 ARMX HV that is used to switch
between the two computers in the group.
Remember, we have two resolutions supplied
to each category in the Shoot-Out. There will
be one downstream ADA 6 300 HV used to
drive all of the final DAs in the chain. After
this DA, we fan out with up to six other
ADA 6s to complete the drive array, thus,
providing up to 36 outputs for the group. So
far, this has been sufficient for our purposes.
The largest single group of projectors in one
cluster was 31 in 1997.
For projector groups at 1024x768 resolution
and less, we use our BNC-5 HR 100’ cable to
deliver RGBHV signals to each projector. For
resolutions using 1024x768 and above, we use
SHR-5 100’ cables. All NTSC composite video
feeds and HDTV feeds are made using either
BNC-4 HR 100’ or BNC-5 HR 100’ cable. This
is done because we use one coax for the video
signal (three for the HD analog component
feed) and one other one for the contact
closure line supplied to support format
switching in case the participant does not have
auto-switching inputs. Signal levels are pre-
emphasized so that we have proper level and
high frequency response at each destination.
Our engineers develop at least two teams that
review every single destination with a
wideband oscilloscope.
All NTSC and HD sources are located in
the Control Room. Here, digital disc
recorders from QuVIS process digital signals
to the required analog formats and connect
to our CrossPoint 1616 Switcher. The
CrossPoint Series has bandwidth far in
excess of the minimums needed for
composite NTSC and high definition video
sources. Extron’s BNC HR cable is used
throughout the Control Room wiring. The
CrossPoint creates the optimum point for
control and distribution of input for
nominally 12 fiber optic transmitters. From
these transmitters, fiber cables run outward
to all points requiring these formats. Locally,
in each projector category, an optical
receiver is located. The receiver restores the
electrical signal without any measurable
degradation. The receiver output is
connected to a local ADA 6 providing the
required head end. Like the graphics signal
chain, one DA provides the head end for a
second group of DAs that provide all the
required outputs.
Getting It Under Control
By the second day, the Crestron team
begins all wiring for the control system. Their
equipment is paired with each location of the
graphics computers that generate the high-
resolution images in each group. Recently,
wiring design changes in the control system
allowed for the implementation of Ethernet
type networking between all Crestron
control components. Furthermore, this
network is connected to our Control Room
location via the same fiber optic cables we
use to deliver high quality NTSC and HD
video to the floor.
The next days involve video and control
wiring details, placement of risers and
staging for projectors, completion of power
wiring detail, Control Room wiring, sign
placement, setup of the Shoot-Out
classroom, and signal testing. By the
morning of the fourth day, participants can
deliver their products for staging in the area.
Prior to this time, the area is open only to
ICIA, Extron, Stewart, and Crestron
personnel along with the show decorating
staff. The fifth and sixth days are devoted to
supporting all participants as they set up and
prepare for the event. The complexity of the
rotating and changing software program
requires a detailed setup schedule just for
delivery of test signals and trial runs needed
by the participants to ensure full operation of
their products with the program.
Each morning for one and a half hours
before the show opens, participants may
come in to turn on their equipment, test, and
adjust it for the show opening that day. No
adjustments to products are allowed during
the exhibit hours. Repairs and adjustments
may commence in the evening following
close of the show each day. Should a
catastrophic failure of a product occur, the
participating company is notified and literally
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING...