Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Flat Panel TV Camera Shelf

Finally! Gone (or disappearing)  are the days of the big TV/Monitor cabinets that weigh a ton, consume lots of power, take up a lot of space and are difficult to mount up high. But, along with the good comes a little problem. What problem? Also gone are the days when you could easily mount your videoconference unit on top of a television that has a large, flat surface that encloses the internal CRT picture tube. With the migration to plasma and LCD flat panel televisions and monitors, the convenient mounting space disappeared. The panels are so thin there is not enough surface space on top to safely mount the camera system.

When confronted with finding a way to securely mount the various set-top Polycom units or the various cameras, solutions are not widely available. Only a few different platforms have been found for securely mounting a device on the top of a flat panel TV.

The first unit found is made of a composite material. It has adjustable legs that allow it to conform to the top of most flat panel TV sets. A Velcro Type material is provided to secure the device to the top of the set. It is available in two widths. The wide model (13") is intended for the set-top Polycom systems (i.e., Viewstation, VSX 7000s) while the smaller width platforms (7") are intended for an individual camera that is not attached to the codec (i.e., VSX 7000e, VSX 8xxx).

After finding and successfully using the above shelf, a less expensive and metal shelf is now available from Polycom. There are two different models available. The first one is intended to hold the Viewstation and VSX models that combine the camera with the codec base unit (i.e., SP, FX, VSX 7000s). The second platform is intended for the Eagle-Eye high-def camera.

Both models are made of metal. The shelf design is different for each device but the wall and set-top mounting brackets are identical for each kit.

Combination mounts are also available that support the flat panel TV, Polycom unit and the sub-woofer. Because of their design they are less flexible in their mounting options and more expensive but provide a compact installation.

In all cases, the use of a strap, double-sided tape or preferably a Velcro type product is highly recommended when mounting the selected shelf to the video display and when mounting the videoconference unit on the shelf. Even if you are still using a CRT monitor or TV, use some form of temporary adhesive to secure the devices. Getting a unit fixed after it has been "flight tested" (slips off the top and drops to the floor) is an expensive alternative to a couple pieces of tape.

The web link for the PicturePhone models is given above since it is the only source for this product.  The other mounting devices list only the part number without a link. Since they can be purchased from many sources, including Polycom dealers, it is best to do a Google search of the web looking for the specific model number desired at the cheapest price. Search for the product using the serial number both with and without the enclosed dashes in the number. Prices vary considerably.

Other platforms are becoming available and can be found at various sites:

     http://picturephone.com/products/mounts/index.html

     http://www.1pcn.com/catalog/accessories/camera_mounts/info.htm

From the notebook of Thomas Hintz
the AgriGator