Audio Questions

A. If we have several sites up at one time and recognize that we have an audio problem at one of the sites, how do we determine which site is causing the problem?

• Only the site that originated the conference has the capability of testing each site.
• The site that originated the conference should
  • Move the mouse to the call manager window and down to the Active Callers section. To the left of each participating school is a dot.
  • Put your cursor on the dot and do a right mouse click.
  • Select mute audio.
  • Follow this pattern of muting each site until you find the site with the audio problem.

B. When someone talks, an echo occurs at one or all other sites. What can we do? (See Biamp picture)

• The BiAmp dial at one of the sites may have been turned up. The BiAmp is an audio mixer that controls the audio level in your classroom. If you turn it up too much, it will cause feedback/echo.
• The BiAmp will be located in the teacher station on the opposite side of the VCR.
• You must first determine which site is the cause for the audio problem - Audio Problems A.
• Turn the BiAmp number 1 white dial counterclockwise.
• If that doesn't change, have other sites turn down their BiAmp.

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Login Questions

A. What should I do if when I try to bring a site and the hour glass stays on without the site coming up?

• Go to the lower right hand corner and do a right mouse click on the Powerplay Icon (icon is located just to the left of the time).
• A menu will appear with Call Manager command at the top. Select the Exit command at the bottom.
• Move your mouse to the left bottom corner and highlight Startup, select Programs, select Startup, and then select Powerplay.
• This should restart the Powerplay program and your system should be operational.

• Go to bottom left corner, turn computer off, and restart.
• When the computer restarts, the powerplay program should restart.

• If you are unable to shut down the program or the computer itself, go to the top computer which will be located inside your teacher podium on the right or left side.
• Hold in the restart button until the power light goes out (for about 10 seconds.)
• Then press the power button again to start computer again. The system will restart. This will take about a minute.

B. I would like to use the system to show a video for a class that is not shared over distance education. How do I bring up just one monitor?

• Go to the lower right hand corner and do a right mouse click on the Powerplay Icon (icon is located just to the left of the time).
• A menu will appear with Call Manager command at the top. Select the Preview Screen command at the bottom.
• This will bring up one view only.
• To select VCR, move your mouse on the video stage to the bottom third of your open site. A command control will appear. Select number 4 and this will bring up your VCR. Currently you will need to operate your VCR manually to both record and play back.

C. When a site is brought up, it only shows a blue screen at all sites. All sites can hear each other but all sites have the one site with a blue screen.

• The Extron switcher which is located below the VCR needs to be powered on at the site with the blue screen. This should bring the site up. Note - The extron switcher is supposed to come on automatically when the system is logged in. Notify John Stritt if this problem persists.

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VCR Questions

A. I would like to use the VCR to record a class. What do I do?

• Whatever is located in TV monitor 1 will be what you will be recording.
• Place your video tape in your VCR and then press Record on the VCR.

B. When I record or play back off my VCR, I only get audio.

• This is a problem with the electronic component that connects your VCR to the TV. For this one, you need to contact John Stritt.

C. I would like use the system to show a video for a class that is not shared over distance education. How do I bring up just one monitor?

• Go to the lower right hand corner and do a right mouse click on the Powerplay Icon (icon is located just to the left of the time).
• A menu will appear with Call Manager command at the top. Select the Preview Screen command at the bottom.
• This will bring up one view only.
• To select VCR, move your mouse on the video stage to the bottom third of your open site. A command control will appear. Select number 4 and this will bring up your VCR. Currently you will need to operate your VCR manually to both record and play back.

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Monitor Questions

A. All of my TVs now have parts of the screen spread over the four monitors. What is wrong.

• If you have TV monitors, the menu item view has been set to force quad split. Select the view menu and the force quad split command.

B. Two monitors do not work - snow - and the rest do. What should I do?

• The problem is that you have a bad scan converter/modulator. The scan converters and modulators are located in the teacher station on the opposite side of the 2 CPU processors. There are 4 scan converter/modulator with one numbered 65, 80, 00, and 1.5.
  • If monitor 1 in the front and back are not working, power down the scan converter/modulater 65 and power up again.
  • If monitor 2 in the front and back are not working, power down the scan converter/modulator 80 and power up again.
  • Do the same for converter modulator 00 and 1.5.
• If this does not work, you will need to call John Stritt to replace the scan converter/modulator.
• A work around is to drag the sites into other monitors that are working.

C. When a site is brought up, it only shows a blue screen at all sites. All sites can hear each other but all sites have the one site with a blue screen.

• The Extron switcher which is located below the VCR needs to be powered on at the site with the blue screen. This should bring the site up. Note - The extron switcher is supposed to come on automatically when the system is logged in. Notify John Stritt if this problem persists.

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