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Sherburne Wright Cable Commission <br /> Equipment and Technology Report <br /> February 1st, 2018 <br /> Sympodium Replacement Monitor Update <br /> As I mentioned at a previous meeting, the company that makes the Sympodium monitors that we <br /> have used for many years was sold last year. The new owners have decided to discontinue the <br /> sale of any new units and concentrate on the educational market by selling only SmartBoards. <br /> Even though they are not supporting our equipment anymore they have started asking existing <br /> users to pay a subscription support fee of$129 per year for the software. <br /> We have started to see these monitors wear out and fail. The majority of the monitors we own <br /> are the old style 4x3 screen size and do not support the 16x9 format commonly used in <br /> computing and display. <br /> While searching for a replacement I have tested software and monitors from many <br /> manufacturers. I have found one touch panel that not only interfaces with all our current <br /> equipment but also is very easy to use and costs significantly less than the Sympodium with No <br /> Subscription Fees! We paid an average of$3250 for each Sympodium monitor. The new touch <br /> monitor that I have found costs only$500 with software and interface. <br /> I have held demonstrations for several cities and everyone that has tried the monitor has <br /> commented that it is very easy to use. Elk River has used one for almost 2 months now and has <br /> requested that we replace all their existing Sympodium units. <br /> Wireless Microphone Changes <br /> Congress authorized the FCC to auction off spectrum in the 600 MHz band to make way for <br /> wireless broadband use. The auction resulted in frequencies from 614 to 698 MHz being sold to <br /> cell phone companies such as T-Mobile and others. These are bands that were used by low <br /> power TV stations and wireless microphones. The FCC order lists a phased in timetable to allow <br /> users until 2020 to vacate the use of these frequencies with one catch. Those bidders that win the <br /> auction can decide to use those frequencies sooner in which case any unlicensed users (most <br /> wireless microphone users are considered unlicensed)must immediately vacate use of their <br /> affected wireless microphones or face substantial fines. <br /> I was at an audio conference in California last week and this was a big topic of discussion as <br /> every wireless user sorts through the implications. It is affecting not only cities but also schools, <br /> 1 <br />