Product Review

In a world where remote and hybrid work arrangements have become the norm, Zoom is one of the most frequently used collaboration platforms. Yealink’s video bar systems for Zoom allow workers to easily turn any small to medium-sized conference room into a Zoom Room. We review some of the key functions and benefits to these solutions in this article.

Video bar basics

A video bar incorporates cameras, microphones, speakers, and video output into a single compact device that is typically used for videoconferencing in small to medium-sized conference rooms. The shape of a bar is convenient because it can easily be placed discreetly above or below a video display, making it unobtrusive and simple to mount. This placement also makes participants look more natural when talking to their remote counterparts while watching the display.

Beyond their audiovisual components, video bars are essentially minicomputers with processors and memory that run an operating system and can be managed and controlled via a web interface or using a dedicated touch panel device.

Video bars are connected to the network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi and can also be paired with Bluetooth devices for remote control, as well as for adding peripherals such as microphones and speakers to extend the size of the meeting area.

One of the characteristic features of video bars is their simple and easy installation. It has been estimated that out of the box, it should take about seven minutes to get it up and running.

Yealink’s offerings

Yealink offers two video bar-based Zoom Rooms systems that deliver a wide range of features and capabilities.

MeetingBar A20 Zoom Rooms system – This solution is designed for huddle spaces and small conference rooms for up to five or six participants. The kit includes the MeetingBar A20, a video bar with a single 20-megapixel camera, an eight MEMS microphone array with beamforming capabilities enabling directed voice pickup, full-duplex communication, and speaker tracking that allows the camera to automatically zoom in on the person speaking. The package comes with the CTP18 touchscreen control panel, a tablet-like device that provides direct access to the management interface of the whole system.

MeetingBar A30 Zoom Rooms system– This solution is suitable for medium-sized conference rooms for up to about a dozen participants. Included is the MeetingBar A30, which is equipped with two cameras: one for panoramic analysis and one for image output. The captured images are processed and enhanced to transmit the best possible rendition. With both a wide field of view of 120° and the ability of electronic pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ), remote participants can get a general view of all attendees on your end but also have the benefit of zooming in on particular speakers. With the same microphone array and touchscreen control panel as the A20, the A30 delivers greater flexibility for a larger number of participants.

Key features

Here is a more detailed look at the key features of each kit:

• MeetingBar A20 Zoom Rooms system
  • MeetingBar A20
    • Single 20 MP camera
    • 8x e-PTZ
    • Diagonal field of view of 133°
    • Auto framing
    • Speaker tracking
    • One 5W high-fidelity speaker
    • Two HDMI display output ports for dual displays
    • Android 9.0 operating system
    • Built-in 8 MEMS microphone array
    • Beamforming directed voice pickup
    • Camera presets
    • Full-duplex communication
  • CTP18 touch control panel
    • 8-inch touchscreen
    • 1280 x 800 resolution
    • Connect to video conference endpoint
    • Direct sharing
    • Power over Ethernet
    • Wall mountable

• MeetingBar A30 Zoom Rooms system
  • MeetingBar A30
    • Two-camera design
    • Wide camera
      • 8 MP
      • 120° field of view
      • 4x e-PTZ
    • Telephoto camera
      • 8 MP
      • 90° field of view
      • 10x hybrid zoom (3.5x optical, 3x digital)
      • Horizontal (+/- 25°) and vertical (+/- 25°) rotation
    • Auto framing
    • Speaker tracking
    • Two 5W high-fidelity speakers
    • Two HDMI display output ports for dual displays
    • Android 9.0 operating system
    • Built-in 8 MEMS microphone array
    • Built-in dual band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
    • Beamforming directed voice pickup
    • Camera presets
    • Full-duplex communication
  • CTP18 touch control panel
    • Same characteristics as the A20 kit

Additional features and characteristics

Incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) - Both of these video bars offer cameras incorporating AI, which allows for the implementation of auto framing and speaker tracking. It can automatically recognize the number and position of attendees, framing everyone smoothly in the most appropriate view, even in small spaces. As different people speak, the camera can zoom in and pan appropriately so that the one speaking is seen clearly, making conversations even more comfortable and natural.

Zoom Rooms certified - Both of these systems are Zoom Rooms certified, which means that they are approved for use with the Zoom videoconferencing platform. This is not only a licensing issue, but it also verifies that the device, hardware, and software are all sufficient to run a Zoom conference to the high quality and standards that the company requires.

Conclusion

Yealink's Zoom Rooms-certified video bar systems deliver high-quality, easy-to-install, easy-to-use, and comparatively economical communications systems that will improve the collaboration experience of remote and hybrid teams.

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