#Robotel's M160 system
5 messages in this thread
so, what does this whizbang system cost?
I don't know if I can quote the prices here (probably not as they're
in canadian dollars and these things are handled differently here in
Canada). Pat Vernon and some of the other guys here know the US
distributor who can give you a more detailed and ACCURATE answer…
I hope that someone else who knows the US representative will chime in.
Mark K.
Shaun,
Call Rob Alge, He is the US rep 1-800-333-4322. Sorry I have not kept
up on pricing lately. I have a system from 3 years ago and I love it.
Really helps any instructor to cover more material faster and be more
effective. I have had 10 stations for over 4 years and started to ask
about audio send and receive and keyboard control back then. Now its
a real learning center. I would like to see it in the latest version.
Call Rob and tell him you would like a Robby Robotel demo special at
your site. He is setup to sell thru the AER's. Hope you are
successful in getting one, its a really nice addition to the teaching
enviroment.
PAT
Pat (and ALL):
I'm in the process of outfitting a new lab right now that is under
construction. I'd like to hear some discussion on which you would put in your
lab if you could afford only one: a Robotel system, or a video projection
system connected to the instructor's station.
Our existing lab has a projector, and I'm getting resistance to go with a
switching system from the other faculty. But, the new projectors that'll do
SVGA and NTSC are $16K-$20K, so the switchers seem cheaper (I need to do 13
machines).
Each system has it's merits and pitfalls. I feel that since we already have a
projector in one lab that the switching system is more attractive.
So…….. What would you all do? I have a real mix of students, with the
ATC, students in the 2-year program, and grad students doing GIS research.
-KLF
Ken,
Definitely a Robotel M160 System. There's only soo much you can do with an
overhead projection system…
The only disadvantage to the Robotel system compared to the overhead is that
you can't have a drawing up on robotel while the students work at the same
time, while you could leave your overhead projector on and have the students
look at it while they work <g>. But that's the only serious disadvantage..
With a video switching system, ANY station can broadcast anywhere else. Any
group can watch someone's station while the others work. In teamwork mode, any
individual can baocast to any other in the team etc…
In your place, I'd start out by getting the Robotel M160C (control unit), the
M160J (junction box) and the M160I (interface boxes) for the system with all
cables and stuff. This will have you switching video, keyboard and serial NOW,
and with the new bandwidth the video network can carry (350 Mhz), you shouldn't
worry about switching it even if you upgrade and start running 2048×1476
resolution <g>..
The next thing you shoulf think about is a video NTSC input card. Something
like the WaveWatcher. You can get the card, plug it into one of the stations
(teacher station for example), then connect anything you want to the three
video inputs (Camcorder, VCR etc..) and baodcast in the lab. Be careful with
these cards, as most have limitations on the resolution you can get from
them… Now you can broadcast video to the whole group. You'll need some sort
of sound system with it (we just roll in a TV and use the TV's speakers or a
boombox) and you're done.
After this, you could start thinking about getting the student control terminal
units (M160T). These will allow you to go into teamwork and testing and
evaluation modes with the multimedia enhancements…
I dunno how much it will cost, but for 13 machines I *guess* the TOTAL cost for
everything above would be about $10-$14K. Rob Alge, the US Robotel rep. should
give you more info on this…
If you DO get pricing on the above please let us all know.
So then, your Xmas shopping list based on Robotel M160:
Phase I:
One M160C unit.
One M160J unit.
Thirteen M160I units.
One NTSC video input board. (Wavewatcher, Hauppage, TV in a PC, etc…)
Some kind of speakers for sound of VCR video.
Phase II:
Thirteen M160T units.
Thirteen microphone-speaker headsets, one with a looonger cord, or equipped
with wireless FM.
I am *convinced* that's your best bet. If I would hold a PPT anywhere and I
had the choice, I'd go for this anyday. I've done both the overhead method and
the old video switching system, and there's no comparison.
If we get this in our labs, we will be walking around with a wireless
microphone/speaker headset on our heads looking like Madonna (but without the
conical breasts <g>)
Mark K.