ATEN Screen Play

A 60-screen solution across three venues at the Bierkeller entertainment complex in Cardiff, Wales, demonstrates how ATEN Matrix Switches can produce stunning and easily manageable results.

Using three ATEN VM1600 modular matrix switches, the Bierkeller can provide several different distributed inputs across the screens in the three bars: the Bavarian Bar, Around the World and Shooters Sports Bar. Staff control the screens and the switching via the ATEN VK2100 control system, and can switch sources for either individual or groups of screens by pressing a single button on an iPad control app. HDMI extension from the VM1600 to the screens is set up using the ATEN VE802 and VE814R.

SIMPLE CONTROL

The three pubs incorporate the ATEN Control System and ATEN’s professional AV solutions to create centralised control of all multimedia devices via an Ethernet network.

This allows staff to:

• Instantly switch profiles for any of the three locations; and
• Remotely power on and off all displays with a single tap from an iPad using the WM1600’s broadcast feature.

The solution also prevents television control from an IR signal, which eliminates the issue the pubs were facing with patrons controlling the televisions using a phone app.

LONG DISTANCE HDMI

The VE814 and VE802 HDMI extenders respectively feature HDBaseT and HDBaseT-Lite connectivity, which is able to deliver 1080p, high-quality video transmissions up to 100m and 70m via Cat 5e/6 cables, without signal interference.

SPACE-SAVING

The solution allows the pubs to house their ATEN video matrix switches and video sources (three Skybox Satellite TV receivers, four media players, and one live video feed) in a backroom while having them seamlessly displayed in the three venues. The VE802 Extender features POH (Power over HDBaseT), which simplifies product installation and operation. The VE814 further allows two displays to be connected to the receiver unit, improving both space and cost efficiency.

FUTURE-PROOF

At Bierkeller each VM1600 requires only two input boards for the eight video sources, but the solution provides the scalability to add additional input boards in the future if needed. The WM1600 also allows the venues to replace the input boards if they upgrade their video source interface to DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort, without having to change their IT infrastructure.

HDCP-COMPLIANT

ATEN’s HDMI splitter, extender, and modular matrix switch are all HDCP-compliant. The pubs can therefore display video from the Skybox Satellite TV system without issue.