Access Grid Node Equipment
The Department of Computer Science & Engineering Access Grid Node was funded by a grant from NSF EPSCoR through ACES. As such,
some of the latest videoconferencing equipment is available for use at the AGN. The folowing sections detail
the equipment that composes the AGN.
Computer
The AGN is controlled by a Dell Precision workstation with dual 2.6GHz Intel Xeon processors,
256MB RAM, and a gigabit ethernet link with Internet2 access that bypasses the UNR firewall. In
addition, the computer is connected to a Gyration wireless mouse and keyboard.
Display
The AGN uses three Mitsubishi XL30U projectors to create a 20-foot wide by 5-foot high display
on a custom DaLite screen. Each projector is set to a 1024x768 pixel resolution and configured
to create an extended Windows desktop suitable for presentation. Additionally, a 19-inch
Dell TFT LCD display is connected as an operator display for managing conferences and presentations.
Video Transmission
Four Canon VC-C4 CCD video cameras are configured to transmit 30fps or greater video to other
Access Grid Nodes during videoconferences. Three of the cameras are placed under the projection
screen to show conference attendees, while the fourth camera is placed in the rear corner of the
room to give a comprehensive view of the room, or to be used for other transmission purposes.
In addition to the video cameras, it is possible to connect any video source to the Access Grid
Node for transmission during a conference. In cases where high-quality video is necessary, several
of the camera feeds can be reconfigured to transmit segments of a high-quality image. Thus, a high-
quality image can be maintained by breaking it into several smaller high-quality video feeds that are
reassembled in multiple windows at other sites. In short, any video can be transmitted for research or
presentation purposes.
Microphones
Four Crown PCC 160 microphones are placed strategically on the conference tableto allow voice transmission
during conferences. The microphones are capable to picking up sounds throughout the room and, using the
Gentner 4000 echo cancellers, capable of preventing feedback and echo. In addition, a wireless microphone
is available for presenters who wish to walk about the room while presenting. This ensures that the speaker
does not fade in and out during a presentation while they are moving.