Set up Classroom on Cisco Webex Room Devices

The Classroom set-up has the following predefined room modes that accommodate different scenarios.

Local Presenter mode:
- The presenter is in the room. This mode also covers the case when someone in the local audience asks a question (Q&A).
- If automatic switching is enabled (default), the room device switches to this mode when the Presenter Camera detects a presenter in the room.
- Sends video from the Presenter Camera to the far end. In the Q&A case: Sends split-screen video from the Presenter Camera and the person asking the question (Audience Camera) to the far end.
Remote Presenter mode:
- The presenter is calling in.
- If automatic switching is enabled (default), the room device switches to this mode when the Presenter Camera doesn't detect a presenter in the room.
- Sends video from the Audience Camera to the far end.
Discussion mode:
- For discussions between different sites with a local presenter in the room.
- Always use the Touch 10 controller to activate this mode.
- Sends video from the Audience Camera to the far end.

The Classroom set-up is available as a room type template. When you set up a room using a template, a set of configurations is pushed automatically to the room device. It is important that the room is set up correctly, and that the cameras are connected exactly as specified. Otherwise the configurations will not match the room.

Classroom versus Briefing Room Set-Up

The Classroom set-up is more flexible than the Briefing room set-up in the number of screens and how the layout is distributed on the screens. Also, more products support Classroom.

Classroom

Supported products: Codec Plus, Codec Pro, SX80, Room 55 Dual, Room 70, Room 70 G2, MX700, MX800, and MX800 Dual
You can use any number of screens that the room device supports, typically two or three. Use the video monitor settings to configure the distribution of layouts on the screens, if the default behavior does not fulfill your requirements.

Briefing room

Supported products: Codec Pro, SX80, Room 70 G2, MX700, MX800, and MX800 Dual
The set-up requires three screens, and the layouts on the screens are preconfigured (and fixed) to match that particular scenario.

Required Equipment

One of the following room devices

Codecs:
- Codec Plus, Codec Pro, SX80
Integrated devices:
- Room 55 Dual
- Room 70 Single, Room 70 Dual
- Room 70 Single G2, Room 70 Dual G2
- MX700, MX800, MX800 Dual

Screens

You can use one or more screens (the maximum number of screens depends on your type of room device).
For most set-ups, we recommend that you use two screens or more. Place the main screen at the front of the room. Place a second screen on the side or at the back, so that the local presenter can see the remote audience.

Two cameras

Audience Camera: Use the integrated camera for devices that have that. For other devices, we recommend the Cisco Quad Camera or Cisco TelePresence SpeakerTrack 60 camera. We recommend a camera with speaker tracking, but it is also possible to use a camera without speaker tracking capabilities.
Presenter Camera: Cisco TelePresence Precision 60 Camera with presenter tracking enabled.

Microphones

We recommend the Cisco TelePresence Ceiling Microphone for good coverage of the room. Also other microphone solutions can be used.

Speakers

Use the integrated speakers for devices that have that. For other devices, we recommend good quality stereo speakers placed next to the main screen at the front of the room.

Cisco Touch 10 controller

Classroom Setup Limitations

Not supported functionality when using Classroom:

Directional audio
Snap to Whiteboard

Classroom Setup

Connect the cameras to the room device as shown in the diagrams. Following the diagram ensures that the configurations that are automatically pushed to the device, match your actual set-up.

Codec Plus: Connect Cables

Connecting the cables for Codec Plus

Codec Pro: Connect Cables

Connecting the cables for Codec Pro

If the Audience Camera is a Cisco TelePresence SpeakerTrack 60 camera, then it uses two HDMI inputs.

Connecting the cables for Codec Pro with SpeakerTrack 60 camera

SX80: Connect Cables

Connecting the cables for SX80

Since this set-up has more than two peripherals that need an Ethernet connection to the room device, you need an Ethernet switch. Do not connect the switch to Network port 1, which is reserved for the LAN connection. If the Ethernet switch doesn't provide Power over Ethernet (PoE), you need a midspan PoE injector for Touch 10.

If the Audience Camera is a Cisco TelePresence SpeakerTrack 60 camera, then it uses two HDMI inputs.

Connecting the cables for SX80 with SpeakerTrack 60 camera

Room 55 Dual, Room 70 Single, and Room 70 Dual: Connect Cables

Connecting the cables for Room 55 Dual, Room 70 Single, and Room 70 Dual

Keep all preconnected cables, including the cables for the integrated camera and screens, as delivered from the factory. You only have to connect the external screens and cameras.

Room 70 Single:

HDMI output 1 is for the integrated screen of the room device. An external screen may be connected to HDMI output 2.
The Audience Camera on HDMI input 1 is the integrated camera of the room device.

Room 55 Dual, Room 70 Dual:

HDMI outputs 1 and 2 are for the integrated screens of the room device. External screens are not supported.
The Audience Camera on HDMI input 1 is the integrated camera of the room device.

Room 70 Single G2 and Room 70 Dual G2: Connect Cables

Connecting the cables for Room 70 Single G2 and Room 70 Dual G2

Keep all preconnected cables, including the cables for the integrated camera and screens, as delivered from the factory. You only have to connect the external screens and cameras.

Room 70 Single G2:

HDMI output 1 is for the integrated screen of the room device. External screens may be connected to HDMI output 2 and 3.
The Audience Camera on HDMI input 1 is the integrated camera of the room device.

Room 70 Dual G2:

HDMI outputs 1 and 2 are for the integrated screens of the room device. An external screen may be connected to HDMI output 3.
The Audience Camera on HDMI input 1 is the integrated camera of the room device.

MX700, MX800, and MX800 Dual: Connect Cables

Connecting the cables for MX700, MX800, and MX800 Dual with a dual camera

Keep all preconnected cables, including the cables for the integrated camera and screens, as delivered from the factory. You only have to connect the external screens and cameras.

MX800:

Output 1 (HDMI) is for the integrated screen of the room device. External screens may be connected to output 2 (HDMI) and output 3 (DVI).
The Audience Camera on HDMI input 1 and 2 is the integrated camera of the room device.

MX700 and MX800 Dual:

Output 1 (HDMI) and output 2 (HDMI) are for the integrated screens of the room device. An external screen may be connected to output 3 (DVI).
The Audience Camera on HDMI input 1 and 2 is the integrated camera of the room device.

If the room device has a single camera, then the integrated camera (which is the Audience Camera) uses only one HDMI input.

Connecting the cables for MX700 and MX800 with a single camera

Room Arrangement Examples

These diagrams show examples of how to arrange screens, cameras and microphones, and where to place people for the best experience.

Classroom layout style

Configure the Room Device

We recommend you to be in the same room when setting up the Classroom. Otherwise you will not be able to set up PresenterTrack properly.

Use the touch controller to stop sharing the video from the Presenter Camera. It is important that video from the Presenter Camera is not displayed on any screen while setting up Classroom.
From the customer view in https://admin.webex.com, go to the Devices page, and select your device in the list. Go to Support and click Web Portal.
On the Advanced Settings page, navigate to Setup > Configurations. Go to the Video > Input > Connector n section and set the following (note that n is the number of the Connector where the Presenter Camera is connected):
Navigate to Setup > Presenter Tracking and click Configure.... Then follow the instructions on the web page to set up the PresenterTrack feature for the Presenter Camera. This feature enables the camera to follow a presenter that is moving about on stage.
Navigate to Setup > Configurations. Go to the Cameras > PresenterTrack > PresenterDetectedStatus and choose whether to enable (default) or disable automatic switching between Local Presenter and Remote Presenter modes. Regardless of this setting, the room mode will not change automatically when in Discussion mode.
If the default screen and layout behavior does not suit your set-up, you must configure the screens and layouts using the following settings:
Navigate to Setup > Room Types, and click the Classroom thumbnail to push the corresponding configuration to the room device.

1	Use the touch controller to stop sharing the video from the Presenter Camera. It is important that video from the Presenter Camera is not displayed on any screen while setting up Classroom.
2	From the customer view in https://admin.webex.com, go to the Devices page, and select your device in the list. Go to Support and click Web Portal. If you have set up an Admin user for the device, you can access Advanced Settings directly. Just open a web browser and type in http(s)://<endpoint ip or hostname>.
3	On the Advanced Settings page, navigate to Setup > Configurations. Go to the Video > Input > Connector n section and set the following (note that n is the number of the Connector where the Presenter Camera is connected): InputSourceType: camera PresentationSelection: Manual Quality: Motion Visibility: Never CameraControlMode: On Click Save for the changes to take effect.
4	Navigate to Setup > Presenter Tracking and click Configure.... Then follow the instructions on the web page to set up the PresenterTrack feature for the Presenter Camera. This feature enables the camera to follow a presenter that is moving about on stage.
5	Navigate to Setup > Configurations. Go to the Cameras > PresenterTrack > PresenterDetectedStatus and choose whether to enable (default) or disable automatic switching between Local Presenter and Remote Presenter modes. Regardless of this setting, the room mode will not change automatically when in Discussion mode. Click Save for the changes to take effect.
6	If the default screen and layout behavior does not suit your set-up, you must configure the screens and layouts using the following settings: Video > Monitors: Defines the number of different layouts in your room set-up. Video > Output > Connector n > MonitorRole: Defines which layout each screen gets. Screens with different monitor roles get different layouts.
7	Navigate to Setup > Room Types, and click the Classroom thumbnail to push the corresponding configuration to the room device.

Switching Between Room Modes

Switching between room modes (Local Presenter, Remote Presenter, Discussion) can be done in two ways:

Manually, using the buttons on the Touch 10 controller.
Automatically, based on who is speaking and whether a local presenter is present on stage. Automatic switching is only between the Local Presenter and Remote Presenter modes. The room mode doesn't change automatically if the current mode is Discussion.

Automatic swtiching is supported only when the PresenterTrack feature is enabled (Cameras PresenterTrack Enabled set to True).

Automatic switching implies:

The device switches to the Local Presenter mode when a person is detected in the PresenterTrack trigger zone.
The device switches to the Remote Presenter mode when the local presenter, who is tracked, leaves the stage.
If someone in the local audience asks a question when the device is in Local Presenter mode, the device sends split-screen video showing both the presenter and the person asking the question. This behavior requires a SpeakerTrack 60 or Quad Camera as Audience Camera, and that speaker tracking is switched on.