--- Forwarded Message from Judy Shoaf <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 15:44:17 -0500
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum    <[log in to unmask]>
>From: Judy Shoaf <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #6364 teleste divace, Sony symphony systems
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>

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I didn't even realize lights could interfere with electronics until last 
week, when I was told that the fluorescent lights were interfering with a 
fairly minor function (I think remote control of a VCR from the ICM teacher 
software on our Tandberg system).

However, when we installed the new Tandberg system last summer there was a 
lot of discussion about potential interference between the power cords and 
the computer networking wires, to which of course we were adding the audio 
communication lines from the instructor computer. I'm not really sure there 
is enough distance between types of wires where they run parallel in the 
walls, but once they hit the booths there is more than 8" between sets of 
wires, which I believe is recommended. I believe that having one group of 
wires run perpendicular to the other is bad, too.

We have 30 stations in 4 rows and the sound is generally excellent, whether 
the student is accessing the internet or a local file. Teachers are pleased 
with the quality of recordings on speaking tests, too.  The only real sound 
problem we had seemed to be due to a loose connection in the Tandberg 
network, and it was easily fixed by our rep.

Judy Shoaf
University of Florida



>This question is geared more towards those people who have been using
>the Divace or the Sony Symphony systems.  We are still trying to get
>funding and determine plans for a new lab system.  Our current system is
>not very good.  We run the regular Windows recorder on our system, and
>we have dreadfully poor quality audio from it.  Mostly due to a large
>amount of feedback in the room.  This we expect is partly due to the
>type of lighting that we have in the room, but also due to the power
>cords that run throughout the room.
>
>What I am wondering about is if anyone has had any experience with
>similar problems when running the new Sony or Divace systems.  Or,
>whether they were ever advised that a particular configuration of
>machines helped to reduce these problems.
>
>I am also wondering how many stations are being run in a lab with the
>system and what size the lab is.
>
>Thanks so much!
>Deanne Cobb
>University of Regina