Wireless conference systems have gradually entered the public's field of vision, ranging from small to national summits and ordinary offices. More and more companies purchase wireless conference systems. Here are some guidelines for getting started with purchasing a wireless conference room microphone and speaker system:
The conference system should improve the clarity of the conference room to avoid hearing fatigue from the participants. To achieve this, the conferencing system should produce natural sound at a comfortable sound level. Always compare, preferably side-by-side, before making a decision. Listening to poor-quality or unnatural sound systems can annoy delegates and defeat the purpose of the system.
Obviously, no wires means running on batteries. Make sure that the battery of the conferencing system can continue to provide power during the meeting, preferably more than one meeting. Important to understand: Batteries with older technologies such as NiMH will wear down faster over time due to the "memory effect". So it's better to choose Li-ion (Li-ion): it suffers little or no "memory effect" and can be charged before being fully discharged.
There are two main technologies for wireless conferencing: radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR). Depending on how your system will be used, choose whichever one (or both) is most appropriate.
In most cases, RF-based systems offer the greatest flexibility. However, from an IT management perspective, it is important to understand how the new system will integrate with the existing (wireless) infrastructure.
Look for a system that offers a large number of channels in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency range to help you with channel planning. This is a way to keep meetings running without restricting WLAN usage.
Check which tools can be used to monitor the system without interfering with the meeting. Ask yourself the following questions:
Can I see the frequency of the system? Can I switch to another frequency during a meeting without the delegate noticing it?
Can I see the condition of each battery during the session?
Can I remotely turn off a microphone that was accidentally turned on?
A wireless conference system has at least an access point or base station, and a wireless delegate unit. However, some systems also require an additional central unit and additional software for control. Make sure you know the full configuration required. Proper complete configuration avoids unnecessary budgetary costs.
Take some time to understand the limitations of the system. Understand what the system can do to grasp the key points. But thinking the other way around, i.e. taking into account system limitations, may reveal unexpected things. Considering the limitations of your system at this point can save you from unnecessary headaches if your needs change, or if you overlook important aspects of your initial list of requirements.
Something we all like to overlook but must remember: systems are electronics, and they can fail. When things go wrong, make sure you can get solid support from your vendor.
