Las Vegas Fire Department Uses Extron TouchLink ^™ Technology in the Country’s First Public Teaching Fire Station

In 2008, the College of Southern Nevada gave the Las Vegas Fire Department a corner of its campus on which to build a new fire station. In return, the Fire Department agreed to build three classrooms inside the new station for students in the CSN fire science and emergency medical services programs. The new classrooms feature glass walls looking into the station, giving students a close-up view of a working fire station, adding to a hands-on learning experience taught by retired firefighters. Each classroom includes an Extron TouchLink ^™ touchpanel along with other Extron products for signal routing and volume control. Sources in each classroom include an interactive whiteboard and projector, DVD/VCR player, desktop PC, laptop, document camera, two microphones, and an auxiliary composite video source.

The TouchLink and IP Link technologies work perfectly together and are easy to install, customize and maintain.

Brian Waite, Director of Sales, CCS

Choosing Extron Products

"CSN began using Extron control systems in 2001," says CSN Multimedia Manager Andrew McJimson, and the College selected Extron products to scale and route source AV signals, and to control both Extron and third-party AV equipment from a centralized location in each room. CCS Director of Sales Brian Waite added, "CSN chose Extron products because of the company’s reputation for support and quality of their products."

Scaling the Signals

CCS used an Extron IN1508 scaling presentation switcher to scale incoming video signals to a single RGBHV output rate and route them to the projector. The IN1508 enables seamless switching between sources, Picture in Picture, on-screen display, auto switching with input gain and attenuation control, and selectable output rates all the way up to 1080p. An Extron P/2 DA2xi distribution amplifier strengthens and splits the PC’s RGB signal, sending half to the local monitor and the other half, along with audio, to the IN1508.

Mixing Audio

CCS chose an Extron MVC 121 microphone volume control and line level mixer (now replaced by the MVC 121 Plus ) to mix audio signals routed from the IN1508 and from two microphones plugged into the MVC 121. The audio travels as line level signals to an Extron MPA 401 power amplifier which drives the room’s speakers. The MPA 401 uses Extron’s patented Ripple Suppression technology, creating smooth, clean signals and quiet, fanless operation even with little or no ventilation.

Control

CCS chose the Extron TLP 350CV furniture-mountable TouchLink touchpanel and IPL 250 Ethernet control processor to control the AV equipment in each room. The easy-to-use, configurable TLP 350CV features a tilt-up, full-color touchscreen. Ten customizable backlit buttons provide expanded control capabilities to ensure that critical functions are easily accessible. The elegant, Cable Cubby enclosure offers cable management and easy access to AV connectivity and power. The IPL 250 Ethernet controller can interface with a wide variety of products including displays, sources, screen control, and lighting systems.

State of the Art

Two years after the project was approved, city, state, education, and fire department officials marked the opening of the $7 million Fire Station 6 on the CSN campus. As Waite states: "The client was happy with the Extron products and so, of course, were we. The TouchLink and IP Link technologies work perfectly together and are easy to install, customize and maintain," achieving quiet operation and sharp output for fire science and EMT students, and user-friendly control for teachers.