|| Access to Podium || Projector Startup || Audio || Configuration Overview || VCR/DVD Player || Overhead Projector || Whiteboards || Shutdown || Troubleshooting ||

Last revised on Nov.9, 2008. Please send corrections to lep1.

1. Access to Podium

A. Waking up the machine

• The podium Mac is always kept on. If it was not used for an extended period of time, the machine goes to sleep and the screen goes black.
• To wake up the podium Mac, simply move the mouse and wait a few seconds for the screen to appear.
• If the machine is already awake and you can see the screen, proceed to signing into the Login Window.
  

B. Signing In

• If you need or would like a login and a personal account, talk to your TA or to Peter Tripp, department tech manager (pht2110@columbia.edu).
• Most users have been given their own name and password. In the login window enter your user name and Password. When using your own name and password, you will be logging onto your own personal workspace/desktop. Anything you save to the desktop or in your user directory will be available only to you. This space is your personal workspace on the server so you will have that same workspace no matter which machine you log into in 200B or 200C.
• If you do not have an account, a TA can log you in as a guest. Be aware that the guest login is not a safe place to store files. On a nightly schedule the guest workspace is reset thereby deleting any data users may store there. In addition, the guest login is a shared workspace and anything you save to the desktop will be accessible to anyone logged in as a guest.
  
  Note: As mentioned, your files will be accessible from any of the 200B/200C computers when using your own name and password. You may also access your personal directory from outside the lab.

C. Inside the podium

• The front door of the podium provides access to the VCR/DVD player and the Receiver. This door usually remains open and the podium computer remains on.
• Opening the back door of the podium provides access to connections to the VCR, DVD player, and Receiver should you need to attach additional devices. If this door is locked, ask Peter Tripp or one of the lab TAs to open it for you.

2. Projector Startup

A. Turning on the Hitachi Projector for use with the MAC

• Turn off nearby lights and point the Hitachi remote at the Hitachi projector or screen.
• Push the standby/on green power button until a green light comes on.
• Wait about 30 seconds for the projector to start up.
• The Projector should at this point display exactly what you see on the computer monitor.
  • If the display does not show what is on the computer monitor after the projector has finished starting, press the RGB button on the projector remote repeatedly until RGB02 appears.
  • Also, make sure that Podium Computer is selected on the CablesToGo Switch Box to the right of the Computer (for more about the Switch box, see below).
• If the Projector displays only the desktop background image and nothing else, you may want to change the System Preferences to Mirror Displays mode. (see below)

B. Setting the Display to Mirror Displays mode

• Click the apple icon on the top left of the screen.
• Scroll down to System Preferences.
• Click on Displays in the second row.
• Click on the Arrangement tab and check the box next to Mirror Displays.
• see screen shots here
• You should now be able to see the same display on the projector screen as you do on the computer screen.
• To use Presenter Tools to view upcoming slides and time yourself on the podium screen, see below.

• On the Apple menu, click System Preferences.
  
• In the System Preferences dialog box, click Displays, and then click the Arrangement tab.
  
• Clear the Mirror Displays check box at the lower left of the dialog box.
  
  • If there is no Mirror Displays check box, both monitors are mirrored and that setting can't be changed. The same thing will show on both screens
    (either the presenter tools or the slide show).
  • Drag the monitor icons so that the larger icon (representing your monitor) is on the left and the smaller (representing the audience monitor/projector) is on the right, and then close the dialog box.
    The presenter tools appear on your monitor, and the audience view appears on the audience monitor.
• To Set up Presenter tools in Powerpoint, go to the "Slide Show" menu and click "View Presenter Tools". You should now see something different than what is projected.

• Click the apple icon on the top left of your screen.
• Scroll down to System Preferences.
• Click on Displays in the second row.
• Click on the Displays tab and then click the desired resolution.
• For most applications, 1680 x 1050 will produce the best (largest, most visible) projected image from the podium Mac. (see below under Troubleshooting for more info.)

E. Connecting Laptops to the Podium

• To connect a laptop, first make sure that the podium Mac is displayed through the Hitachi projector.
• Select the Laptop Computer cable running from input 2 on the back of the Cable ToGo switch box (see picture below) and attach it to the appropriate port on your laptop.
  • The Podium/Laptop Computer switch box is usually located to the right of the podium computer and displays a red light when it is switched on.
  • You should be able to identify the Laptop Computer cable because it will have one unattached end. You should NOT need to unplug any cables, unless you are disconnecting one laptop to connect another.
• Please do not disconnect any cables, particularly the Podium Computer cable, that runs fron input 2 on the the back of the Podium/Laptop Computer switch box to the Podium Computer monitor or other hardware.
• Next, on the front of the Podium/Laptop Computer switch box, press the Laptop Computer Select button and wake-up or restart your laptop. A green light will appear above the button, indicating that you have selected the Laptop Computer option.
  • With Macintosh laptops, often one will need to "check for displays" in the laptop's system preferences. To check for displays, click on the apple icon in the top left of your screen. Scroll down to System Preferences. Click on Displays in the second row. Click on check-for-displays (detect displays button).
• Your laptop should now display through the projector.
• When finished, make sure to push the Podium Computer button on the left front of the Podium/Laptop Computer switch box so the next user will find the Podium Computer displaying through the projector. A green light will appear above the Podium Computer button, as shown in the image below.




3. Using Audio

A. Using Audio from the Podium Mac

• If you are using a computer program that has an accompanying audio component, or if you want to play a CD from the Mac:
  • Locate the Amplifier/Tuner entitled "SONY Audio/ Video Control Center" on the first shelf of the podium.
  • Select input mode:
    • In 200B: Press Video 02.
    • In 200C: Use "Audio" toggle to select TAPE.
      • the 200c unit will soon be replaced
  • Now that the Amplifier/Tuner is set to the correct mode, adjust the volume (10 o'clock is an ideal setting)
  • *** Please note that although there are other modes in the Audio/Visual Control Center, the only way to play a CD through the classroom speakers is via the "Video 02" mode setting, or the "Tape" mode in 200C.. In addition, make sure that the speakers are set to the "A" mode on the bottom left of the front face in order for both speakers to project sound.
  • Make sure the black audio cord is plugged into the Mac in the Headphone jack! The port is on the back of the lower right corner of the machine.
  • Play CD or other audio from the computer.
  • See Troubleshooting section if sound does not play properly.

B. Using Audio from a Laptop

• Remove the black audio cable from the back of the Mac monitor that is currently plugged into far right port, which is the Headphone jack.
• Plug the cable into your laptop’s Headphones jack.
• Follow directions under 3. A. above for achieving proper sound quality.
• IMPORTANT: Don't forget to plug the cable back into to the Mac headphone jack when you are finished.

C. Configuration Overview:

Multimedia Configuration	200 B	200 C
Hitachi Projector	RGB 1	RGB 2
Amplifier- Sony A/V Control Center	Bottom Shelf	Second Shelf Note: Soon being replaced
Input Mode: From Podium	Video 2	TAPE Use "Audio" toggle to cycle through modes
Speakers	A	A+B Note: Sound only comes out of one speaker

 

4. Using the VCR or DVD Player

• Turn on the projector and press "Video" on the projector remote
• Turn on VCR (using either the VCR remote control or power switch on VCR)
• For VCR Sound select Video 1 on the SONY A/V Control Center.
• Adjust volume as needed; 9 o'clock on A/V Control Center is good for most tapes.
• Be sure the speaker selection switch is set at "A + B" on the A/V Control Center.

5. Using the Overhead Projector

• The overhead projector is located in A/V cabinet in 200b. The projector can be positioned on the seminar table for good-size images on the wall, using either whiteboards or wall-mounted screens.
• Remember that projector bulbs are very expensive and must be fan-cooled before projectors are put away. Do not unplug the overhead projector until the fan motor has stopped. Don't turn off the slide projector fan until air is cool.

6. Whiteboards

• Whiteboards need to be wiped off at the end of each class. Use erasers or paper towels. Once each week a custodian will wash whiteboards with mild detergent and water to prevent permanent staining.
• If you need supplies such as markers or erasers, ask your lab TA.

7. Shut Down

• If your class is immediately followed by another that will be using the equipment, you need not complete the shutdown. Otherwise:
• Turn off Hitachi projector
  • Press Standby/On green button on remote; you will be instructed to press the button a second time to complete the shutdown.
• Turn off Receiver and/or VCR-DVD player, if applicable.
• Quit all applications on the Podium Mac and remove any disks or CD-ROMs.
• Log out.
• Do not turn off or shutdown the Mac.
• Place the remote controls on top of the podium.

8. Troubleshooting

A. Unresolved Problems

• Please send an email to both Peter Tripp (pht2110) and Emily Jordan (erj2104) reporting any unresolved problems you encounter: If the problem is likely to affect other classes using the room, please leave a note alerting other users.
  

B. Problems hooking up laptops to the podium


• Try restarting your laptop after it is plugged into the A/B switch.
• Try changing the resolution and screen setup of your system display.
  

C. No sound


• Check that the SONY A/V Control Center is configured correctly (see Configuration Overview under "Using Audio). For 200B, the "Speaker" switch should be set to "A"; in 200C, it should be set to "A+B."
• Check that the volume on the receiver is turned up. Check Muting button on the receiver remote. Good volumes are 9 o'clock for the VCR and 10-11 o'clock for the Mac.
• If using CD-ROM, go to System Preferences under the Apple Menu and choose Sound to make sure that the internal Volume Control is turned up by draggng the slider next to "Output Volume."
  • You can also do this by clicking the sound icon on the Menu bar on the upper right of the screen; this will open a volume control slider. Drag the slider up to the desired volume level.
• If using the Mac sound, make sure that the correct mode is selected on the SONY A/V Control Center: "Tape" mode in 200C; "Video 02" mode in 200B .
• If using the VCR, make sure that the Hitachi Projector is set to Video Mode, the A/V Control Center is set to Video 1, and that the volume is at least in the 10 o'clock position.
  

D. Projected display is too small


• Choose a lower monitor resolution: Select System Preferences and choose Displays. Under the Displays tab, set resolution to 1680 x 1050 or smaller.
  

E. No video, distorted video, or wrong resolution on screen


• You may need to instruct the podium mac to "detect displays."
  • Select System Preferences from the Apple menu (upper left). Click on the "Displays" icon in the second row.
  • Click on "Detect Displays" button.
  • You can also get to the Display settings by clicking on the monitor icon in the upper right of the Menu bar.
• If you still do not see your projected video, try pushing the "Blank" button on the Hitachi remote control.
• Check the connections. If you are in 200c, check to see that the long VGA extension cable is plugged into the VGA 2 input jack on the projector (lower left) and check that the small white monitor cable is fully plugged into the display output jack on the back of the Mac (innermost port from the right)
  • If the projector continues to receive no signal, please contact both Peter Tripp (pht2110) and Emily Jordan (erj2104) immediately so they can address any hardware problems.
    

F. To adjust Hitachi Projector Source and computer monitor resolution consistency


• To change the Mac resolution: Select System Preferences from the Apple Menu and choose Displays. Under the displays tab, set the resolution to your choice. [See screen shots.]
• Most mortals should not attempt this: To change Hitachi resolution: Press Menu on Hitachi remote, choose Input, Select, press Enter, choose Mac the same resolution you chose for the Mac. [Page 13 of the Projector Manual describes the Input Menu, but not this particular operation. You can download the manual here.]
  

G. Projected image does not mirror the computer image


• Click the apple icon on the top left of your screen.
• Scroll down to System Preferences.
• Click on Displays in the second row.
• Click on the Arrangement tab and check the box next to Mirror Displays.
• You should now be able to see the same display on the projector screen as you do on the computer screen.




 

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updated: November 9, 2008


Other Lab Links:

• Guidelines for Using 200B/C
• PowerPoint Manual
• Giving Effective Presentations
• Using the Mac G5
• Lab Main Menu