Frequently Asked Question
The ExWi lecture halls B5, B6 and B7 are equipped with a wireless presenter microphone that also works as Zoom microphone. An additional throwable wireless microphone, the Catchbox Cube, can be connected as well. This second microphone can be used for the introduction and during the round of questions to hear the questions of the local attendees also in Zoom. The Catchbox receiver is by default connected and ready in B5, but can also be connected in B6 or B7. If properly configured, the Zoom participants can also be heard via the speakers of the lecture hall.
As always, the setup turned out to be more complex than expected. This is also caused by some limitations of the equipment that was initially installed without hybrid meetings in mind. To avoid problems, please follow the checklists below.
Known Issues
- Apple silicon based MacBooks with an M series CPU need a fully updated macOS, otherwise they are incompatible with the video inputs of B5 to B7. Also other computers might be incompatible. The fallback solution in such cases is to use a HDMI cable directly connected to the projector (no more computer audio or Zoom audio will be played via speakers of the lecture hall).
- In rare cases a computer might be incompatible with the audio device US-1x2, preventing to use the wireless presenter microphone of the lecture hall as Zoom microphone. The fallback solution is to connect the Catchbox reveicer via USB directly with the computer and to select the Catchbox as Zoom microphone. Use the additional Catchbox Clip microphone as replacement for the wireless presenter microphone of the lecture hall (the presenter will no more be heard via speakers of the lecture hall).
Preparation Checklist
Check | Task |
☐ | Prepare a Zoom meeting with these settings:
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| ☐ | Configure Zoom:
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☐ | Check the availability of the Catchbox Cube throwable microphone with SPACE-IT. |
☐ | If possible, perform a presentation test in the lecture hall at least one day in advance! Check the room availability via http://rooms.lhep.unibe.ch/day.php |
Presentation Checklist
Check | Task | Image |
| ☐ | Pick up the Catchbox at SPACE-IT. | |
| ☐ | For presentations in lecture hall B6 or B7, pick up the Catchbox receiver in lecture hall B5 and connect it with mains power and the microphone cable on the rack. | |
| ☐ | Power on the audio video equipment in the lecture hall. | |
| ☐ | Connect the Catchbox charger to mains and place the Catchbox on the charger to end the microphone sleep mode, but also to mute the microphone. | |
| ☐ | Start your laptop and connect it to the wired network of the “perle” box using the provided network cable and the optional USB-to-Ethernet adapter (the wireless network might not deliver enough bandwidth for video tranmissions to Zoom, it is less reliable, and it is complicated for guests to connect). | |
| ☐ | Connect the USB cable of the audio video equipment in the lecture hall to your laptop. | |
| ☐ | Connect the video cable of the audio video equipment in the lecture hall to your laptop. | |
| ☐ | Extend your desktop using the projector as a second screen (the small monitor of the audio video equipment will mirror the projectors display). | |
| ☐ | Start the Zoom meeting and select these devices: Microphone: US-1x2 Speaker: Extron HDMI or Extron ScalerD Camera: Lumens VC-830 | |
| ☐ | Move and zoom the camera as required using its IR remote control. | |
| ☐ | Share the second screen via Zoom. | |
| ☐ | Move the floating Zoom Meeting Controls from the second to the first screen by grabbing it at the green area. | |
| ☐ | Use a second laptop with headphones or a smart phone to join the Zoom meeting as participant. To prevent acoustic feedback, mute the microphone. On a phone also ensure to switch the speaker mode off (see image). | |
| ☐ | Remove the wireless presenter microphone of the lecture hall from the charger and wait until the wireless connection has been established and it starts to only blink in red color. | |
| ☐ | Unmute the presenter microphone and check the audio quality in Zoom with the other Zoom participant. This microphone is also heard via speakers of the lecture hall and changing the system volume also changes the volume in Zoom. Do not change the default system volume! | |
| ☐ | Mute the presenter microphone, remove the Catchbox from the charger and check the audio quality and volume in Zoom with the other Zoom participant. This microphone is not heard via speakers of the lecture hall, only the other Zoom participants can hear it! The volume is independent of the system volume and the volume can’t be changed. | |
| ☐ | Put the Catchbox back on the charger to mute it during the presentation. | |
| ☐ | Unmute the other Zoom participant and check if it can be heard in via speakers of the lecture hall. Mute the participant again. | |
| ☐ | Assign an assistant responsible for throwing the Catchbox during the round of questions. | |
| ☐ | Ensure at least one co-host is online to check the Zoom audio during the presentation. If the co-host’s device is located in the lecture hall, ensure to use headphones or a smartphone to prevent acoustic feedback. | |
| ☐ | Use the Catchbox for the introduction. | |
| ☐ | Put the Catchbox back on the charger to mute it during the presentation. | |
| ☐ | Start your presentation on the second screen. | |
| ☐ | At the end of the presentation, inform the Zoom participants that they also can ask questions via Zoom audio. | |
| ☐ | Throw the Catchbox to on-site participants that want to ask questions | |
| ☐ | Power off the audio video equipment in the lecture hall. | |
| ☐ | After the presentation, reinstall the Catchbox receiver in B5 if required. |