Troubleshooting Performance

In an ideal QGE 100 system, the source displayed on the viewing device should be virtually indistinguishable from the original source. However, under certain circumstances, you may notice some reduction in performance. This section describes the problems you may encounter and provides suggestions for minimizing or avoiding them.

Performance Criteria

The performance criteria include the following:

Image Refresh Rate — how often the display content is updated. Ideally, this should match or be as close as possible to the refresh rate of the original source.

As the refresh rate decreases, you notice a loss of smooth motion on the screen. For example, a moving mouse cursor may appear to move smoothly at a fast refresh rate but jerkily at slower rates.

The QGE 100 features a variable source refresh and update rate (frame rate). To ensure smooth motion, it use the highest possible refresh rate. However, during periods of intense screen activity, the refresh rate may be temporarily reduced to compensate for the higher volume of data.

Image Latency — how long a change in the original source takes to be seen in the viewed source. Ideally, this should be instantaneous (in real time).

In practice, there is always be some delay introduced by the electronics and software that process the data between the original source and the viewing station; however, this is usually small enough to be ignored. As the latency increases, a greater time lag becomes noticeable between events happening on the original source and the same events being seen on the viewed source.

Image Quality — the sharpness and color of the viewed source in comparison to the original. When the source is viewed at the same resolution as the original, there should be no discernible differences.

If any scaling is applied to the source (so that it is displayed smaller or larger than the original) there is always some small loss of sharpness. This is an inherent side effect of image scaling.

Things that Impact Performance Criteria

Data stream bottlenecks

The QGE 100 streams only data relating to changes in the source display. Therefore, a source containing a lot of movement (such as an MPEG movie) creates more data than a source with little or no movement (such as a spreadsheet file). Changes in latency or refresh rate can arise when a bottleneck occurs at some point in the data path which restricts the flow of data. Potential bottlenecks include:

Data Encoding — Data from the source capture process is encoded into a QGE 100 data stream and sent to the network. Under normal circumstances, the QGE is capable of encoding most sources without any difficulty. However, if you are using a high resolution source containing a lot of movement, the encoder may generate more data than can be transmitted between frame captures.

In this situation the encoder can temporarily reduce the refresh rate, allowing more time for the data to be sent (see “Optimizing the Encoder Parameters” on page 55).

QGE 100 • Reference Information

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Extron electronic QGE 100 manual Troubleshooting Performance, Things that Impact Performance Criteria

QGE 100 specifications

The Extron QGE 100 is a high-performance network switch engineered specifically for AV system integration. With its advanced capabilities, this device plays a crucial role in managing AV data traffic, ensuring reliable performance and efficiency in various settings such as corporate environments, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities.

One of the key features of the QGE 100 is its support for Power over Ethernet (PoE). This allows the switch to deliver both data and power to connected devices over a single Ethernet cable, simplifying installations and reducing the need for additional power sources. This is particularly beneficial for devices like IP cameras, wireless access points, and AV devices in scenarios where accessibility to power outlets may be limited.

The QGE 100 also provides a robust Layer 2 switching functionality, which is essential for managing data flow within the network. Its capability to handle multiple VLANs ensures that AV traffic can be segregated effectively, thus improving network performance and security. The switch features IGMP Snooping, a protocol that optimizes multicast traffic management, ensuring that video streams reach the intended recipients without unnecessary bandwidth consumption.

In terms of connectivity, the Extron QGE 100 is equipped with multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports, facilitating high-speed data transmission for AV content. The switch's user-friendly management interface allows for straightforward configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting, streamlining operations across AV environments. Additionally, it supports link aggregation, enhancing bandwidth and redundancy when connecting multiple devices.

The QGE 100 is also designed with reliability in mind, featuring a fanless operation that minimizes noise and ensures a long lifespan. Its compact form factor allows for easy rack mounting in equipment racks, maintaining a clean and organized setup.

Another vital characteristic of the QGE 100 is its compatibility with Extron's comprehensive suite of AV control and management products. This integration capability provides users with a cohesive solution for managing their AV systems, further enhancing the overall user experience.

In conclusion, the Extron QGE 100 network switch is an essential tool for any AV system requiring efficient connectivity, power delivery, and data management. Its sophisticated features and technologies make it a valuable asset in modern AV installations, ensuring robust performance and ease of use.