A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
MAY 2020

Here at ZeeVee, we speak often about how we can enhance our connection with channel partners. Following on the positive and enthusiastic feedback we’ve received for this newsletter, we are set to produce a new series of webinars for our partners and current and potential customers.  

 

These online events, which we’re calling SIGNAL Sessions and Certified Solution Partner Training, will provide you with best practices for signal distribution technologies, product information and case studies of successful AV projects.

 

SIGNAL Sessions, which will be open to all—including end-users, consultants and resellers—will run 45 minutes and feature insights for those working in key vertical markets. The first of these is scheduled for Thursday, May 21 and will focus on corporate projects. We are excited to highlight recent projects with VICE Media and Commvault.

 

Our Certified Solution Partner Training webinars, designed to support the channel, begin on Thursday, May 28 and will be open to current and potential SIGNAL Partners, including pro AV consultants. For several of these events, which will vary in length, we are proud to offer up to 3.5 AVIXA CTS credits to all participants.

 

A schedule of our first events is listed in the SIGNAL Sessions section of this newsletter. We ask that you also keep an eye out for invites with starting times and registration information. For those unable to participate live, each session will be archived on our website. 

 

We invite you not only to participate in these sessions, but to let us know what topics are of interest to you for future sessions. Where we can, we will include feedback and participation from integrators and consultants to these sessions. The key to SIGNAL Sessions and Certified Solution Partner Training is to not only share our resources with you, but to engage you in mutually-beneficial conversations that will elevate all of our businesses. 

 

Be well and we look forward to seeing you online!


Regards,


Bob Michaels
CEO, ZeeVee

 

Set Your Calendars for New ZeeVee Webinars

Our dual-tracking webinar events begin this month. ZeeVee SIGNAL Sessions start on Thursday, May 21; with Certified Solution Partner Training a week later. Below is a schedule of the events through June:

  • May 21 – ZeeVee SIGNAL Sessions Episode 1 exploring enterprise corporate installations and highlighting project for Commvault and Vice Media
  • June 18 – ZeeVee SIGNAL Session Episode 2 with a focus on higher education
As part of our CERTIFIED SOLUTION PARTNER TRAINING, ZeeVee offers a 2.5 AViXA accredited class and a 1.0 RF modulation class.
  • May 28 – ZeeVee CERTIFIED SOLUTION PARTNER TRAINING on AV over IP and RF Modulation on AVoIP with NETGEAR overview offering 3.5 AVIXA CTA credits to all participants
  • June 25 – ZeeVee CERTIFIED SOLUTION PARTNER TRAINING on AV over IP and RF Modulation on AVoIP with NETGEAR overview offering 3.5 AVIXA CTA credits to all participants

You can get additional information and register for these webinars via this link.

ZeeVee University Training Goes Online! 

In recent months, ZeeVee has embarked on a proactive online training initiative that has to date garnered the participation of 25 universities in the U.K. and Ireland. This effort, spearheaded by Charlie Sullivan and George Vlismas, covers the basics of AVoIP, with discussions of new and existing products and applications for which they are best suited. In addition, they provide a technical dive into network requirements, as well as live demonstrations, of ZyPer Management Platform software.

 

Key products covered in these presentations include: 

  • ZyPer4K encoders and decoders (SDVoE; 10GB Uncompressed – 4K) 
  • ZyPerUHD encoders and decoders (1GB Compressed – JPEG2000 – 4K) 
  • ZyPerHD encoders and decoders (1GB Compressed – H.264 – 1080P)  
  • ZyPer MX4 quad encoder (Video Streaming - unicast, multicast, HLS streaming 1080P) 
Our Camarillo, California-based partner Americon, a leading control room, call center and emergency operations center design firm, used ZeeVee ZyPerMX2 and ZyPerMX4 encoders to obtain video signals living on a secure military network into a video wall system – all without breaching protocols and compromising the site’s security. Americon chose these encoders because they are small, powered by POE and easy to manage and setup. In addition, they are far less expensive than the alternative, PCs with HDMI capture cards. They also reduce the number of failure points which makes the system more robust and reliable.

Savory Sound of Porter Ranch, California, recently created a state-of-the-art AV system for the Milpitas outpost of Big Al’s, a popular chain of larger-than-life entertainment destinations with five locations in California, Oregon, Idaho and Washington. The new 45,000 square foot facility was outfitted with dozens of ZeeVee ZyPerUHD audio video over Internet protocol (AVoIP) encoders and decoders and the ZyPer Management Platform for intuitive control to drive a 55-foot x 10-foot HD Dalite projection screen—the region’s largest—two 20-foot Dalite screens in the boardroom and a total of 42 LG large screen TVs throughout the sprawling facility. Hats off to Raul Gonzales and his team.

Paddy Power Betfair, an international sports betting and gaming operator founded in 1988, recently used ZeeVee HDbridge 3000 encoders to distribute TV channels and other content throughout its London and Cluj offices. Brian O’Flaherty, Paddy Power Betfair’s telecom and AV manager, states the system is doing everything they wanted it to do and that the company’s plan is to integrate a similar system in its Malta facilities. In addition to its performance, Brian gives a shout out to our own George Vlismas for his assistance in completing the project.

Time for a bit of your favorite bubbly beverage as we announce that the ZeeVee ZyPer4K Quad Encoder Card for Netgear M4300-96X is now available. This is a groundbreaker as it enables the first Ethernet switch with integrated HDMI connectivity for video sources with the capacity to distribute uncompressed 4K/UHD and HDR content. Now integrators and end-users have unparalleled options for system customization, cost savings and reduced power consumption, as well as greatly simplified installation and deployment of large IP-based video networks.  

 

The card, which was developed in collaboration with Netgear, successfully combines IT and AV at the product level and will speed the adoption of next generation communications systems for industrial, commercial and residential applications. Plugging neatly into the Netgear M4300-96X switch chassis, each card accommodates up to four HDMI sources, and multiple cards may be used in the same switch.  

 

The Netgear M4300-96X Modular Managed Switch is preconfigured for easy, true AV and multicast zero-touch network set up. It also allows designers, integrators and end-users to simply select the combination of HDMI, copper, PoE+ and fiber M4300-96X port expansion cards that suit system requirements and connect cables from sources or decoder-equipped displays. The switch also requires just two units of rack space, presenting a compact, efficient and high-value solution to customers.   

 

As with other SDVoE components, the switch easily accommodates symmetric input/output configurations such as 48×48, as well as asymmetric solutions such as 10×86, 24×72, etc. The modular design of the switch allows reconfiguration of inputs and outputs should system requirements change.  

 

The ZyPer4K Quad Encoder Card for Netgear M4300-96X is shipping this month. ZeeVee is an authorized Netgear reseller, enabling us to provide you with the Netgear M4300-96X switch, as required. More information can be found at www.zeevee.com. 

New this month, as a founding member, we will be highlighting various tidbits regarding the SDVoE Alliance.

On the SDVoE website (sdvoe.org), the SDVoE Alliance is a nonprofit consortium of technology providers collaborating to standardize the adoption of Ethernet to transport AV signals in professional AV environments, and to create an ecosystem around SDVoE technology allowing software to define AV applications. Founding members of the SDVoE Alliance are Semtech, Aquantia, Christie Digital, NETGEAR, Sony and ZeeVee. The Alliance now consist of 51 diverse members.

The SDVoE has a wonderful Academy for designers, installers, sellers and managers of pro AV systems that gives one the opportunity to become a certified SDVoE Design Partner. Recent video training content covers translating EDID data, a Multiview explanation, and a terrific video that provides best practices for on-site time management.   

ZeeVee’s ZyPer4K product family represents a world class implementation of SDVoE's underlying technology. Our pro AV partner, Snelling Business Systems, incorporated ZyPer4K into their overall design for the new Samsung experience in London’s newest shopping and dining development next to King’s Cross station. The objective of the project is to showcase the full Samsung ecosystem – how multiple devices and services come together to deliver a complete and harmonised experience.
For more information on this project you can read a great article here:
https://www.installation-international.com/case-studies/new-samsung-experience-space-relies-on-zeevee-infrastructure
ZeeVee Shows ZyPer4K Quad Encoder Card for Netgear M4300-96X at ISE (Art Weeks interview)
rAVe Publications (Video), April 29, 2020
 

 
The technologies disrupting education
InAVate Magazine, February 25, 2020
 
Charlie Sullivan, head of business development for the UK and Ireland at ZeeVee, an AV distribution company, says AV over IP is flexible, cost-effective and opens new possibilities for teaching. “Our ZyPer4K AVoIP encoders and decoders were recently integrated in a major US university’s AV system and provide USB/KVM support for students to easily connect their devices to share their work and collaborate on projects with the group,” he offers as an example. “In addition, these components drive the school’s new videowalls and enable the combining of multiple images across one or more displays without the need for expensive video processors for edge blending and collaboration.

LINK TO FULL STORY
 
Learning in lockdown – a training roundup
AV Magazine, April 22, 2020
 
ZeeVee: Hear from top industry experts and stay up-to-date on the latest industry news, trends, and training through ZeeVee’s educational webinars. If you’ve got an hour (or less), the informative webinars will give you practical insights into the ProAV market.   

LINK TO FULL STORY
 
This month, we bring you a healthy dose of inspiration!


Like thousands of other athletes, Joyce Cron (wife of the very proud Dan Cron, principal engineer, ZeeVee) was disappointed that this year’s Boston Marathon was cancelled. Instead of letting it get her down, she completed a 26-mile course on the treadmill in her basement. In recognition of her feat, she was featured on the Today show – which you can see via this link – and received a gold medal from her daughter. Way to go, Joyce!
 

Melanie Rodrigue is ZeeVee’s technical support manager. She joined the company in 2008 – in its second year and just before it began shipping any products. Charged with setting up the company’s customer service operations, she is proudest of building a team renowned for giving knowledgeable and attentive counsel to installers and integrators. 

 

Smart. Funny. Caring. That’s Melanie’s description of her colleagues. She sees the latter trait as particularly important to providing a high quality of service, and believes sometimes, just a quick response to those calling in for help can make a big difference. Just recently, Melanie’s department received a note from a senior living center that sums up the rewards of working in technical support: 

 

“My activities department and myself wanted to say thank you for helping us,” said Gregory DeBrango, maintenance director, Riviera Senior Living of Holly Hill, Florida. “Having the ability to utilize our signage channel has made a big improvement to the activities department. Being able to play workout videos and DVD movies they like brings back a little resemblance to the community events they enjoyed. Getting through this pandemic has put a strain on everyone, especially our seniors. Your company going out of its way to help us speaks volumes about who you are.” 

 

What she finds most interesting about working in the pro AV industry is that ZeeVee gear is used in so many vertical markets such as medical, education, hospitality and retail, and can be found not only in buildings, but even in oil rigs and yachts. 

 

When off stage from ZeeVee, she can be found on stage as part of the Queen City Improv troupe, as she is pictured above with fellow performer Toby Paul, or beekeeping in her backyard. She lives in Nashua with her wife Laura, along with one dog, four cats and a whole bunch of bees.

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