AVoverIP is the holy grail for AV signal distribution – except when it isn’t. After overseeing the roll out of hundreds of thousands of AVoverIP end points, James Meredith, Technical Sales Manager at WyreStorm, discusses the route to success.
For years sending AV signals over category cable has been the standard, but over the last five years we’ve seen a shift towards TCP/IP and it’s easy to see why. The modular, low-cost and frequently shared infrastructure is simple to integrate into any project and clients have reaped the benefits of AVoverIP compared to traditional dedicated AV solutions.
Having worked on many AVoverIP installations I’ve found that clients’ needs are often different, but the design and implementation process is the same. I’ve noticed several common mistakes first time users make and want to share them so you can avoid doing the same.
There are many AVoverIP solutions on the market, three within WyreStorm's own portfolio, and each have their own strengths. First, identify the system’s key requirements as early as possible. If the system is used in presentation environments, such as conference rooms, or if the display interacts with a software program through KVM or touch interfaces, then Latency is key. Any delay will lead to the user’s distraction and frustration.
Once the customer’s core requirements are understood, the correct technology can be selected and network design started, problems can begin to arise. A common question: “Should I integrate the AVoverIP network or install a dedicated architecture?”
The answer? The installation dictates the requirement.
I usually suggest a dedicated architecture because it puts the AV in charge. Oftentimes this is more costly and not possible, so I recommend achieving this virtually by separating the AV devices into their own VLAN. Both options prevent interreference with other devices and maximize security. 
If the building’s IT network infrastructure is shared, design your install with 100% bandwidth overhead of the worst-case scenario—this being every decoder shows a different encoder. Ensure there’s ample bandwidth headroom above this level and you’ll never suffer slowdown or AV glitches.
It’s important the power requirements are designed into the bill of materials, ensuring the switches can handle the load. POE+ doesn’t enable a switch to handle more devices—what does is the size of the switch’s power supply. Although larger power supplies can be more expensive, they are necessary to handle multiple POE devices.
Many more considerations exist—WyreStorm has documented them in their NetworkHD Technical Reference Guide.
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