Distance Education Equipment Options
(Last revised December 15, 2004)

Steps for designing a classroom with a projector system:
CODEC Information
LCD Projector
Presentation Stations
LCD Flat Panel Monitors

CODEC Information
Additional CODEC Information

The following are estimated costs for different types of desktop conferencing options (Note - all of these options do not include a presentation viewing station. A regular tv that has RGB connections or and LCD projector will work with any of these solutions):

  • BNI software option - BNI software is a computer based solution for distance education. This software provides the same interface as the system that exists in your current classroom. The pros to purchasing this system is that it is on a computer which makes it very portable. As stated, it is also the same system as the regular classroom. If you have purchased a windows based laptop within the past year, you might be able to use that computer as the host for the software. As this portable classroom may get requested a great deal for enrichment lessons, I would recommend that you purchase or set aside a laptop for just this software. Estimated costs for this system:
    • Software - $1,100
    • Camera - $500
    • Audio - $750
    • Computer - Pentium 4 processor, 2.66 GHZ with 512 RAM- $1,477 (This is what I paid for a similar model January 2004.)
      • I recently ordered the following laptop from Dell. You do not need to purchase a Dell. I am providing this as an example when you start your purchasing.
        • Latitude 100L - Bid price $1,402 (July 2004)

          Latitude 100L

          Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.80GHz, 14.1in XGA Display

          Operating System

          Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, SP1, with media

          Memory

          512MB DDR SDRAM, 2 DIMMS

          Hard Drives

          30GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM

          Floppy Drive

          No Floppy Drive Option

          Wireless Local Area Networking Options

          Dell Wireless™ 1350 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) miniPCI Card

          Modem

          Internal 56K Modem

          Fixed Optical Drives

          8X fixed DVD with Software MPEGII

          Primary Battery

          8 Cell Primary Battery

          Carrying Cases

          Nylon Deluxe Carrying Case

          Resource CD

          Resource CD for Latitude 100L Notebook

          File System

          NTFS File System for all Operating Systems

          AC Adapters

          90W, A/C Adapter

          Hardware Support Services

          Promo 3 Yr Limited Warranty plus 3 Yr NBD On-site Service and CompleteCare
    • Estimated total cost is between $3,500 and $4,000.
  • Sony PCS-1 codec - This is an all-in-one piece. It includes the camera and microphone. $5,400 - Sony Examples
  • Polycom VSX 7000 - $5,999 - Polycom examples

Top of Page

LCD Projectors (August 21, 2004)

If you have already purchased a second desktop solution, you can use the funds in support of equipment to add to that system - I am trying to get additional information regarding equipment setup for LCD projectors - last revised August 21, 2004: (Note all prices were taken from bids that may or may not still be as listed.)

  • Document camera - Systems range from $900 to $2,000. (Site to do an LCD Projector Comparison)
    • Mitsubishi SL4U, Item # 100712 (This item was listed on the ESU Coop Purchase sheet, page 9) - 1700 Lumens, SVGA $1,100.
      • Ceiling Mount Info:
        • part # XL8CM - Est Cost $250.
        • Chief RPA-038, $ 160.00. Chief CMA-105 ceiling coupler, CMA-105 $ 35.00. (The RPA-038 and CMA-105 are connected by 1 1/2" threaded pipe.Available at your local hardware store.)
    • SONY/PLDS100, Item # 100715 (This item was listed on the ESU Coop Purchase sheet, page 9) 1200 Lumens, SVGA.
    • NEC VT-470 (800x600) 1800 ANSI Lumens, $ 1,095.00, 6Lb. 2Yr Warranty
    • NEC VT-670 (1024x768) 2100 ANSI Lumens, $ 1,580.00, 6.6Lb. 2Yr. Warranty
    • NEC LT-240K (1024x768) 2000 ANSI Lumens, 1,844.00, 6.4Lb. 2Yr. Warranty
    • NEC LT-260K (1024x768) 2400 ANSI Lumens, $ 2,108.00, 6.4Lb. 2Yr. Warranty
      • NEC prices require Smart Grant - mApply for grant at www.smarterkids.org/nec for NEC projectors. List Pratt AV & Video Corp as your vendor.
    • Dukane 8755B, (1024x768) 2000 ANSI Limens, $ 1,850.00, 6 Lb. 5 Yr. Warranty, product information at www.dukane.com
  • Projector Ceiling Mount - Universal overhead projector mount - Projector-UCM Est. Cost $199 (Check with above suppliers)

Top of Page

Presentation Stations (August 21, 2004)

Presentation stations may be an add on that is needed for portable systems. The following are possibilities: (Note all prices were taken from bids that may or may not still be as listed.)

  • AV-P720U video visual presenter, $ 1,325.00, S-video & composite video out, One yr. warranty
  • DVP303A digital presenter, XGA resolution (1024x768), $ 1,560.00, XGA output, Two yr. warranty
  • DVP505A digital presenter, XGA resolution (1024x768), $ 1,925.00, XGA, S-video & composite video out, Two yr. warranty

Microscope type presentation stations - Checking out samples and will post.

Top of Page

Flat Panel Monitors (August 21, 2004)

As your schools have or will be converted to a projector system, I would recommend you look at purchasing a better monitor for your teacher workstation.

Top of Page

*This was an increase from the originial amount based on the number of TVDEC schools who elected to participate in the synchronous part of the project.