Start With The Basics
Items of equipment shown or listed on this page is there to give an idea of what is needed and the approximate cost. It is not to be treated as a recommendation, or that it is the only suitable piece of equipment. What you may decide to purchase is for your own u3a to decide based on your own particular needs
How to Start with a Basic Setup - if you’re starting from scratch.
Here’s a Small room setup, for a Hybrid Meeting using Zoom, for 3 to 6 people in a home or small room.
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It's intended for a small room/home system with up to about 3-6 people comprising :-
A conference microphone on a table positioned midway between the participants.
Mic
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This will pick up the sound of people within about a ten foot distance, although it will be better if kept to a six to eight foot distance from the microphone.
Go to the Reference Articles/Links/Equipment page to find a typical example of a Conference Microphone
For a room with up to ten people the best option is :-
Connect the laptop to your smart television via an HDMI lead. This not only provides a larger picture than a laptop, but the sound can be played via the TV’s speakers as an HDMI connection has both sound playback and a high resolution picture.
If you have more than 4/5 people in the room you may need to use a separate camera with a wide angle lens. This can be mounted on the top of the TV screen with the usb cable connected, via a 5m usb extension cable, to the laptop usb port.
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Set up the room so that the participants are looking towards the TV with the microphone on a table in front of them.
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The laptop (with camera) should be set up in front of the Television facing the participants with a mouse to control the meeting on the host’s table.
Do not use the same table as the microphone or all you will hear is the mouse being moved!
The laptop camera should be able to pick up a group of about a maximum of five people.
The USB-A cable from a Webcam clipped to the top of the TV screen can also be plugged into a second USB port on the computer.
If the lead from the webcam is too short, a USB 5 metre Repeater Extension Cable can be used in addition.
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If your computer has insufficient USB ports for both microphone & webcam, then consider the purchase of a USB 3 Port Ethernet Adapter Splitter or 4 port USB Hub
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Links to typical equipment mentioned on this page on this page
Conference USB Omnidirectional Table Microphone
Tonor USB Conference Microphone
USB Extension Repeater Cable
USB-A 5metre Extension Repeater Cable
HD Webcam (with Microphone)
Webcam USB HD 1080p Web Camera
4 Port USB Hub
4 Port USB Hub