Account Options

  1. Sign in
The old Google Groups will be going away soon.
Switch to the new Google Groups.
Google Groups Home
« Groups Home
Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms
There are currently too many topics in this group that display first. To make this topic appear first, remove this option from another topic.
There was an error processing your request. Please try again.
flag
  12 messages - Collapse all  -  Translate all to Translated (View all originals)
The group you are posting to is a Usenet group. Messages posted to this group will make your email address visible to anyone on the Internet.
Your reply message has not been sent.
Your post was successful
 
From:
To:
Cc:
Followup To:
Add Cc | Add Followup-to | Edit Subject
Subject:
Validation:
For verification purposes please type the characters you see in the picture below or the numbers you hear by clicking the accessibility icon. Listen and type the numbers you hear
 
Derek Madge  
View profile  
 More options Feb 10, 11:16 am
From: Derek Madge <dma...@uwaterloo.ca>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:16:53 -0800 (PST)
Local: Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:16 am
Subject: Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms
Hello-
This is a low tech but frustrating issue. We have over 100 classrooms
with rechargeable batteries, AA Nimh, and running around campus
replacing batteries that don't last long (or get stolen) takes up a
lot of time and the costs do add up. I've also found that as the price
of battery chargers seems to go up, the longevity of them seems to go
down. (I will not get on my usual soapbox about perceived quality
issues from manufacturing plants.)

Other problems with them: The alkalines from projector remotes end up
in the chargers, sometimes ruining both. Batteries are installed
upside down or simply left out to be scooped up by students (who sell
the on the used battery black market ?)

So, all in all, providing rechargeable batteries is a pain, financial
and logistically.

Do other institutions handle this differently? Has anyone tried
supplying alkalines to 100+ rooms and if so, how do you recover the
spent ones for proper disposal? has anyone done a cost comparison of
alkalines vs rechargebles (which never get nearly the theoretical re-
use).

thanks,
Derek


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
Larson, Kelly J.  
View profile  
 More options Feb 10, 11:31 am
From: "Larson, Kelly J." <klar...@stcloudstate.edu>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:31:16 +0000
Local: Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:31 am
Subject: RE: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms
I hate batteries..period  if there I another way, we find it.

We moved to control systems and wired touchpanels...absolutely no remotes in the rooms, that we oversee

Wireless mics, were kinda of stuck with 9volts, but used Lithium rechargeable for high use rooms, with a charger in the room.

Kelly Larson
Lead Campuswide A/V systems

St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud, MN


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
Rothstein, Ned  
View profile  
 More options Feb 10, 11:37 am
From: "Rothstein, Ned" <nrothst...@babson.edu>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:37:28 +0000
Local: Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:37 am
Subject: RE: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms
We also use control systems in all of our classrooms, group study rooms, conference rooms and mixed use spaces.  Anything that isn't nailed down may disappear, and we just don't have the staffing to be constantly swapping batteries.  

NED ROTHSTEIN, CTS, DMC-D
Classroom Technology Support Specialist
MEDIA & ACADEMIC PRODUCTION SERVICES
BABSON COLLEGE
781-239-6487


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
Jon Bannan  
View profile  
 More options Feb 10, 11:41 am
From: Jon Bannan <ban...@tcnj.edu>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:41:44 -0500
Local: Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:41 am
Subject: Re: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms
We also use control systems in all of our classrooms/lecture halls,
etc.  There are a couple small departmental conference rooms that the
wall mounted display is controlled by the remote.  It is the
responsibility of the department to store the remote and to change the
batteries when needed.  It's pretty easy since they control the use and
schedule of the room.

Jon Bannan - CTS - DMC-D

Media Manager
Media&  Technology Support Services
http://www.tcnj.edu/~mtss

The College of New Jersey
2000 Pennington Road
Forcina Hall 123
Ewing, NJ 08628
609-771-2304 - Office
609-637-5126 - Fax
ban...@tcnj.edu

--Follow MTSS on Facebook--
www.facebook.com/TCNJMTSS

On 2/10/2012 11:37 AM, Rothstein, Ned wrote:


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
David C. Althoff  
View profile  
 More options Feb 10, 11:46 am
From: "David C. Althoff" <dalth...@capital.edu>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:46:07 +0000
Local: Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:46 am
Subject: Re: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms
On Feb 10, 2012, at 11:16 AM, Derek Madge wrote:

You can substitute "remote control" for "battery" for many of those arguments.

I hate remote controls, and I hate batteries.  My classrooms all use hard switches for the projectors, or when Facilities was too busy and/or lazy to install hard switches, I have rooms that use Lightning Switches ( http://lightningswitch.com ) which are remote control switches that DO NOT require batteries. My general hatred of remotes and batteries is also the main reason we do not have DVD players in the classrooms; instead we make sure that the classroom PC is equipped with PowerDVD, VLC, RealPlayer, and WiMP so that just about any DVD our professors can throw at it should be able to play...with on-screen mouse-operated controls.

So far I don't have any wireless microphones here, but as we get into lecture capture I am sure that will change.  I think the answer there is microphones with drop-in chargers if you can find such things (that's at least one good thing about Revolabs...).  As much as possible, keep the users away from the batteries!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
  Remote Control and Battery Eliminator
  Capital University, Columbus, Ohio


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
John H. Steitz  
View profile  
 More options Feb 10, 12:52 pm
From: "John H. Steitz" <stei...@georgetown.edu>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:52:35 -0500
Local: Fri, Feb 10 2012 12:52 pm
Subject: Re: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms
We also have wired or wireless control systems in most rooms (AMX,
Crestron, Extron).

In the few departmental rooms without them (usually, at the request of
the department paying for the system), the batteries in the projector
remotes are the responsibility of the department.

For lecture capture (Echo 360 on classroom PCs), we view batteries as a
necessary evil for wireless lavaliere mics, which in turn, are required
for faculty used to roaming about the room when they teach.

We had looked at Revolabs, but the lack of frequency diversification was
a real issue.   When one has 10, 15, 20 wireless mics in one building,
there has to be some frequency diversification, or recordings will get
corrupted with cross-talk.

The result is Audio-Technica 3100 systems in 35 of the largest rooms.
We use generic, unlabeled re-chargeable AA batteries for the AT 3100
transmitters, and so far (knock on wood), no great loss from pilferage.
   Our Zone personnel (35-40 rooms per person) check and replace them
either daily or weekly, depending on usage.

[With constant usage, you're lucky if the transmitter batteries last
more than 8 hours.  But with 3-4 classes recording in a week, they will
usually last a week.  So it really depends on the rate of usage.]

For any room except the 35 largest, we're going to be advising faculty
  to obtain wired USB mics that they can plug right into the PCs.  We're
going to procure and lend out a few of these, ourselves.

We figure, that most of the faculty using LC in classrooms, will be
trying out recording at home or in their campus office beforehand.  So,
in most cases, they could just take the wired USB mic they use for those
locations, and bring it with them to the classroom.

JHS

John H. Steitz, CTS
Assistant Director
Classroom Educational Technology Services
121 ICC
Georgetown University
37th & O Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20057
(w) (202) 687-2509
(c) (202) 569-3119
(f) (202) 687-5879
stei...@georgetown.edu
http://cets.georgetown.edu


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
David C. Althoff  
View profile  
 More options Feb 10, 1:57 pm
From: "David C. Althoff" <dalth...@capital.edu>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:57:18 +0000
Local: Fri, Feb 10 2012 1:57 pm
Subject: Re: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms

On Feb 10, 2012, at 12:52 PM, John H. Steitz wrote:

> We had looked at Revolabs, but the lack of frequency diversification was a real issue.   When one has 10, 15, 20 wireless mics in one building, there has to be some frequency diversification, or recordings will get corrupted with cross-talk.

Have you REALLY looked CLOSELY at Revolabs?

We have three of their 8-channel systems in a single *room*, with no problems with interference.  Of course, having all 24 channels coordinated with a single system is helpful.  But the Revolabs microphones are digital spread spectrum and even if you've got separate systems that aren't coordinating with each other, the mics do still perform some coordination to make for more efficient use of a relatively narrow frequency band.  

I assume you've considered this, but I want to make sure I put that out there; the way Revolabs products operate is fundamentally different from most other wireless microphones, so while interference is still an issue, it's an issue in a very different way than it is for most other products...and a lot of that is a matter of making it possible to have more microphones available even in the relatively narrow available bandwidth.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
Paul Materazzo  
View profile  
 More options Feb 10, 6:52 pm
From: Paul Materazzo <paul.matera...@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:52:51 +1100
Local: Fri, Feb 10 2012 6:52 pm
Subject: Re: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms

There are simple inexpensive control touch pads which can be attached to
the wall at the front of the room to operate the projector activation and
input selection, There are the obvious AMX and Crestron Panels, some of the
basic button panels in their ranges are not too expensive, there is a
company in Australia called JED microprocessors, who make a very basic low
cost control panel as well.

I would put a project plan for systems upgrade in rooms with projectors for
the next two years, listing all locations, the issues  and related growing
costs associated to Batteries and staff resources which are growing and ask
for a budget to install the controls panels over the two years, which will
be a one off investment onto the classrooms and show the saving which will
be made over the next 5 years, they would be nuts to reject it.

regards
Paul Materazz
Monash Uni, Australia

--
Regards

Paul Materazzo


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
Stephen Harland  
View profile  
 More options Feb 12, 4:47 pm
From: Stephen Harland <stephen.harl...@adelaide.edu.au>
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:47:28 +0000
Local: Sun, Feb 12 2012 4:47 pm
Subject: RE: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms
We use radio microphones with recharging docking stations.
This way you do not have to keep replacing batteries, the batteries are a battery pack type so not much use to anyone so none go missing.
We use mipro / beyerdynamic units and have had the docking station modified so it can be monitored via the amx control system.
The touch panel display shows a green sign with message "microphone docked" and red sign with message "microphone not docked".
This has proven to be a success with lecturers re-docking units in most cases.
Also with monitoring we can see which mics have not been docked at the beginning of the day.
We are looking at mics with a higher spec, but a few things to look out for are:
A single mic docking station
Battery packs and charging contacts that cannot re-charge if standard batteries mistakenly are inserted
A means of remote monitoring
regards
Stephen Harland        
Audio Visual Services
ITS
Adelaide University, AUSTRALIA 5005
Ph    : +61 8 8303 5979
Fax   : +61 8 8303 4340
Mobile :0410 647 092
e-mail: stephen.harl...@adelaide.edu.au

-----------------------------------------------------------
This email message is intended only for the addressee(s)
and contains information which may be confidential and/or
copyright.  If you are not the intended recipient please
do not read, save, forward, disclose, or copy the contents
of this email. If this email has been sent to you in error,
please notify the sender by reply email and delete this
email and any copies or links to this email completely and
immediately from your system.  No representation is made
that this email is free of viruses.  Virus scanning is
recommended and is the responsibility of the recipient.


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
Barney Brough  
View profile  
 More options Feb 12, 4:54 pm
From: Barney Brough <Barney.Bro...@utas.edu.au>
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:54:03 +0000
Local: Sun, Feb 12 2012 4:54 pm
Subject: RE: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms
Hello one and all ,
                   here at UTas we have 9 V Alkaline batteries for lapel mics . After trying rechargeables and later transmitters that dropped back into a recharging cradle we found users often just left them lying around the place and so now we leave half a dozen or so good batteries besides the lapel mic . Lecturers can replace used batteries if they're able to , otherwise they give us a call and we'll come and replace them . Not surprising most seem to be able to replace the battery themselves as they probably feel a bit embarrassed to ring us and ask to get the battery changed . We check battery supplies every couple of days . If some go missing I imagine it's gone to fit someone's smoke detector at home . With more lecture recording going on we're also installing boundary mic's on the lectern as a back up to the lapel mic .

Cheers ,
        Barney .

Barney Brough
Audio Visual Technician

Web and Learning Services , Information Technology Resources
University of Tasmania
Locked Bag 1365 Launceston  Tasmania  7250
T (03) 6324 3626      F (03) 6324 3630      M 0438 243645


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
Keven Williamson  
View profile  
 More options Feb 13, 12:55 pm
From: Keven Williamson <Keven_William...@byu.edu>
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:55:47 +0000
Local: Mon, Feb 13 2012 12:55 pm
Subject: RE: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms
Here at Brigham Young University we have given each faculty member their own wireless microphone.  They are responsible for the batteries.  We have labeled all the rooms with sound systems as to the channel and provided instruction to the faculty on how to select the channel.  In some cases the departments didn't want each faculty to have one but elected to check them out to the faculty that needed them, that works for us too.  It was fun getting it up and running but we have had very few problems.

Keven Williamson
Sr. Product Line Mgr., Strategist, Architect
Office of I.T. / Campus Multimedia
Brigham Young University
3220A IT Building
Provo, UT 84602
801-422-7301


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
Mark Baird  
View profile  
 More options Feb 13, 4:30 pm
From: Mark Baird <bai...@uga.edu>
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:30:34 +0000
Local: Mon, Feb 13 2012 4:30 pm
Subject: RE: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms

We supply alkaline batteries for wireless mics and what few remotes we have; support staff fill boxes and pick up old for recycling each week. We beta tested rechargeable batteries for the mics and it didn't go well.

We now are at about 90% penetration with control systems, some fifteen years in the making and a conscious effort to make our systems simpler to operate and reduce battery budgets. But with control systems comes a different type of support as most are aware. That said, there are affordable control options out there that can justify a change. One of these might already be in your arsenal - the projectors' network control software options.

MB

From: av-1@googlegroups.com<mailto:av-1@googlegroups.com> [mailto:av-1@googlegroups.com]<mailto:[mailto:av-1@googlegroups.com]> On Behalf Of Paul Materazzo
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 6:53 PM
To: av-1@googlegroups.com<mailto:av-1@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [av-1] Approach to rechargeable batteries in classrooms

There are simple inexpensive control touch pads which can be attached to the wall at the front of the room to operate the projector activation and input selection, There are the obvious AMX and Crestron Panels, some of the basic button panels in their ranges are not too expensive, there is a company in Australia called JED microprocessors, who make a very basic low cost control panel as well.

I would put a project plan for systems upgrade in rooms with projectors for the next two years, listing all locations, the issues  and related growing costs associated to Batteries and staff resources which are growing and ask for a budget to install the controls panels over the two years, which will be a one off investment onto the classrooms and show the saving which will be made over the next 5 years, they would be nuts to reject it.

regards
Paul Materazz
Monash Uni, Australia

On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 3:16 AM, Derek Madge <dma...@uwaterloo.ca<mailto:dma...@uwaterloo.ca>> wrote:

Hello-
This is a low tech but frustrating issue. We have over 100 classrooms
with rechargeable batteries, AA Nimh, and running around campus
replacing batteries that don't last long (or get stolen) takes up a
lot of time and the costs do add up. I've also found that as the price
of battery chargers seems to go up, the longevity of them seems to go
down. (I will not get on my usual soapbox about perceived quality
issues from manufacturing plants.)

Other problems with them: The alkalines from projector remotes end up
in the chargers, sometimes ruining both. Batteries are installed
upside down or simply left out to be scooped up by students (who sell
the on the used battery black market ?)

So, all in all, providing rechargeable batteries is a pain, financial
and logistically.

Do other institutions handle this differently? Has anyone tried
supplying alkalines to 100+ rooms and if so, how do you recover the
spent ones for proper disposal? has anyone done a cost comparison of
alkalines vs rechargebles (which never get nearly the theoretical re-
use).

thanks,
Derek

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the AV-1 List
To post to this list, send email to l...@av-1.org<mailto:l...@av-1.org>

To unsubscribe send email to AV-1+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com<mailto:AV-1%2Bunsubscribe@googlegroups.co m>
Need help fast? Send email to ad...@av-1.org<mailto:ad...@av-1.org>

For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/AV-1?hl=en?hl=en

--
Regards

Paul Materazzo

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the AV-1 List
To post to this list, send email to l...@av-1.org<mailto:l...@av-1.org>

To unsubscribe send email to AV-1+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com<mailto:AV-1+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>
Need help fast? Send email to ad...@av-1.org<mailto:ad...@av-1.org>

For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/AV-1?hl=en?hl=en


 
You must Sign in before you can post messages.
To post a message you must first join this group.
Please update your nickname on the subscription settings page before posting.
You do not have the permission required to post.
End of messages
« Back to Discussions « Newer topic     Older topic »