Stampede Introduces Neurona Line of Networking Solutions at CEDIA 2014

The new Neurona AX501 ConnectedLife Adapter with AC-Passthrough converts any power outlet in the home into an Ethernet port that can be used to create a whole-home communications network.

Following up on its worldwide debut at InfoComm 2014 in June, Stampede Presentation Products, Inc. today introduced leading network solutions provider Neurona to the custom installation industry at CEDIA 2014 in Denver in Booth #1164.  Stampede is the exclusive United States distributor of the Neurona AX501 ConnectedLife Adapter, which features Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.’s, a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, Powerline™ technology.

According to Stampede President and COO Kevin Kelly, the Neurona AX501 is the very first adapter with built-in Powerline technology.  “The Neurona AX501 leverages the reliability of power line technology to ensure that each home is equipped with high-fidelity broadband,” Kelly explained today. “Powerline solutions use a home’s existing electrical system to share broadband, essentially turning an outlet into a connection point. Powerline solutions deliver fast and reliable Internet connection between devices. By plugging a Powerline adapter into an Internet router, and a second adapter near a TV, gaming system, computer or set-top box, you easily deliver Internet connectivity to these devices.”

The Neurona AX501 enables multiple devices to connect to each other through a mutual network. By leveraging Powerline technology, the Neurona AX501 utilizes the home’s existing electronic wiring infrastructure to create a robust, whole-home communications network.

“The use of Powerline technology provides reliable coverage over considerable distances, resulting in the ideal combination of ease and efficiency,” Kelly said. “In addition, the Neurona AX501 is embedded with an advanced noise filter to offer a quick, seamless connection with no interruption.”

The Neurona AX501 enhances connectivity performance by leveraging all three of the home’s electrical wires: line, neutral and ground. This improves the overall performance by up to 50 percent when compared to the standard HomePlug adapter, which only utilizes line and neutral wires.

“The Neurona AX501 relies on the existing electrical wiring in a home so that users can share files, printers and Internet connections between multiple devices,” Kelly said. “It is so easy to set up and use. In fact, so easy that Neurona’s AX501 will connect with any HomePlug-AV compliant device right out of the box allowing the user to extend their network as needed.”

The AX501 operates on the HomePlug AV specification standard and is equipped with 128-bit AES security encryption. With a PHY rate of 500Mbps over Powerline and 10/100 Mbps over Ethernet, the AX501 is compatible with AC 100V to 240C 2-prong or 3-prong electrical outlets, depending on prong. Standing at 93mm x 56 mm x 40mm, the AX501 operates at a frequency band of 2MHz to 68MHz with an AC Wire distance of up to 300 meters.

Neurona Selects Stampede To Launch Its New Line of Products

Underscoring its ability to always ride ahead of the herd in the ProAV industry, Stampede Presentation Products, Inc. today announced that leading network solutions provider Neurona has appointed it to serve as the exclusive United States distributor of its Neurona AX501 ConnectedLife Adapter, which features Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.’s, a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, Powerline™ technology.

According to Stampede President and COO Kevin Kelly, the selection by Neurona means that Stampede will introduce the ProAV industry’s very first adapter with Powerline technology. “We are proud to take the lead in introducing a remarkable new technology that the entire ProAV industry can benefit from. Stampede was selected for this important assignment because of our demonstrated ability to quickly integrate new technologies into AV/IT systems that bring real value to end-user customers.”

The Neurona AX501 leverages the reliability of power line technology to ensure that each home is equipped with high-fidelity broadband. Powerline solutions use a home’s existing electrical system to share broadband, essentially turning an outlet into a connection point. Powerline solutions deliver fast and reliable Internet connection between devices. By plugging a Powerline adapter into an Internet router, and a second adapter near a TV, gaming system, computer or set-top box, you easily deliver Internet connectivity to these devices.

The Neurona AX501 enables multiple devices to connect to each other through a mutual network. By leveraging Powerline technology, the Neurona AX501 utilizes the home’s existing electronic wiring infrastructure to create a robust, whole-home communications network.

“The use of Powerline technology provides reliable coverage over considerable distances, resulting in the ideal combination of ease and efficiency,” Kelly said. “In addition, the Neurona AX501 is embedded with an advanced noise filter to offer a quick, seamless connection with no interruption.”

The Neurona AX501 enhances connectivity performance by leveraging all three of the home’s electrical wires: line, neutral and ground. This improves the overall performance by up to 50 percent when compared to the standard HomePlug adapter, which only utilizes line and neutral wires.

“The Neurona AX501 relies on the existing electrical wiring in a home so that users can share files, printers and Internet connections between multiple devices,” Kelly said. “It is so easy to set up and use. In fact, so easy that Neurona’s AX501 will connect with any HomePlug-AV compliant device right out of the box allowing the user to extend their network as needed.”

The AX501 operates on the HomePlug AV specification standard and is equipped with 128-bit AES security encryption. With a PHY rate of 500Mbps over Powerline and 10/100 Mbps over Ethernet, the AX501 is compatible with AC 100V to 240C 2-prong or 3-prong electrical outlets, depending on prong. Standing at 93mm x 56 mm x 40mm, the AX501 operates at a frequency band of 2MHz to 68MHz with an AC Wire distance of up to 300 meters.

Stampede to Celebrate Year of Record-Breaking Growth at InfoComm 2014

New lines, new dealers, and new market opportunities fuel growth for the industry-leading distributor of ProAV solutions. 

Paced by the addition of a number of new manufacturers to its vendor portfolio, along with a substantial growth in the number of dealers in its network, Stampede Presentation Products, Inc. plans to celebrate a record-setting year of growth next month at INFOCOMM 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The new manufacturers who have appointed Stampede to serve as a distribution partner include Samsung-Techwin, Parametric, ASK Proxima, Cenique, Circle Technology, We Present, Demo Pad, DISE, Samsung Galaxy Professional Tablets, SAPPHIRE media players, Surf Communications, Videotel, Whoosh! Screen Shine, and NTW among many others.  According to Kelly, these manufacturers are electing to work with Stampede because of the depth of its market knowledge and the strength of its dealer network, which has grown 25 percent in the last year to 11,500 dealers.

A rapidly changing industry is also playing to Stampede’s strengths, according to Kelly.  “The Age of Interactivity is now giving way to a new Age of Hyperactivity characterized by an always-fast, always-on Internet and, as a result, a new era of unprecedented opportunity is now unfolding — creating sales opportunities for dealers that were unimaginable a few short years ago.

“At a time when the traditional AV industry is maturing, a new personalized industry is rising up to take its place, one that is built upon the ideas of connecting, integrating, and sharing devices in entirely new eco-systems built around highly customized software applications,” Kelly explained.  “This shift is challenging our industry to stop using the terms ‘audio and video’ and start using the terms ‘see, hear and control’ in order to understand the business opportunities that this shift is creating.”

Stampede has taken a number of strategic steps to empower its 11,000 dealers to take advantage of this seismic shift by consumers and professionals to connect, integrate and share devices at work, school, government and home.  “Since last year’s InfoComm Show we added 20 new product lines and several new core platforms that traditional AV products can attach to,” Kelly said. 

Even more encouraging for dealers and integrators, Stampede’s sales are growing in all three of its primary product categories — displays, projectors, and unified communications, which is by far the fastest growing segment of the company’s business.

Kelly reaffirmed Stampede’s commitment to constantly add value to every system installation it is involved with.  “Value adds margin for our dealers,” Kelly told Vendor Summit attendees.  “And, thus far in 2014, Stampede is adding value at an unprecedented level that cannot be matched by any other distributor in the business today.  We can add this value on a consistent basis because we are focused exclusively on meeting the needs of the ProAV dealer community.  We are not distracted by other industries and market segments.  We devote 100 percent of our time and considerable resources to helping dealers grow their business.”  

Meeting the demands of growth, however, requires an expanding commitment to maintain face-to-face training, online learning, and readily available credit facilities to qualified dealers, “all of which Stampede is committed to providing,” Kelly added.  “Last year we increased our available monthly credit line by 28 percent, enabling us to serve as a bank to our dealer partners.  This year we are opening a new southwest regional office and adding to our field sales team network to increase the number of contacts we can have with dealers and their customers.”

Commercial Integrators Stand To Benefit From Renewed Investment In Technology By K12 and Higher Education Buyers

 It may require a suspension of disbelief, but a new Golden Era in K12 and higher education technology investment is now underway, and it’s about to snowball into one of the major industry stories of the year, today predicted Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly.
 
According to Kelly, two forces that seem to be unstoppable are driving this trend. “First, according to the Wall Street Journal more than 40 states had higher property tax revenue in 2013 than they did in 2012. Obviously, this increase is a direct manifestation of an ever improving national economy and, as everyone in our industry knows, property tax revenue is what determines a school district’s budget.”
 
What’s interesting about this economic recovery, Kelly explained, is that most of the money being invested in education is being spent on technology, and not on facilities or even personnel. Across the board, school districts now understand that an educational investment in technology is the best long-term way to improve the overall teaching and learning environment. The same understanding is taking hold at higher education state colleges and universities.
 
“And this leads directly to the second important trend to understand. The desire to connect and collaborate is rapidly becoming the imperative to connect and collaborate — and this is creating an enormous new business opportunity for commercial integrators. Tablets are the leading beneficiaries of this imperative. Millions of tablets are being purchased by K12 districts and colleges and, once purchased, they are being actively used to promote collaboration within the classroom.”
 
Kelly emphasized that the concept of “one to many” is also driving the imperative to connect and collaborate. Teachers need to be able to show their presentations and images on students’ laptops and solutions like KenAVision’s EduCam Software are enabling them to do just that. At the same time, students need to be able to show their work to one another and to the teacher! This “many to one” concept is resulting in significant new sales of innovation solutions like WePresent WIPG1500 wireless interactive presentation gateway and, of course, Apple TV.
 
“These trends are, in turn, generating the next generation of innovation in traditional product categories. For example, in the very near future one manufacturer will announce that it has created a special spot within the mold of the projector body to fit an Apple TV. How cool is that? Think of the sales this innovation will generate!”
 
Indeed, there isn’t a single area of the learning environment not being revolutionized by new technology. The industry is experiencing a surge in sales of short throw projectors because school districts have learned the hard way that an 80” touch-based display can’t really be seen all that clearly by students who are sitting five rows away from it.
 
As a result, schools are returning to ultra short throw projectors because they’re the only solution able to project a larger display image. In specific, the industry is seeing a surge in WXGA models to K12 schools and WUXGA models to higher education institutions. And projector manufacturers are weighing in on the whole Total Cost of Ownership issue by lowering the lamp cost of short throw projectors by up to 50%!
 
“The question is no longer is there a new Golden Era is education investment. The question is are you ready, equipped, and trained to profit from it?” Kelly asked.

Sales Of Unified Communications Products Grew 94% In 2013, Stampede Reports

With more than a month still left to go in the current sales year, Stampede Presentation Products, Inc. today announced that sales of its Unified Communications products grew by 94% in 2013 — a record-shattering rate of growth that will only continue to explode in 2014 and 2015. Indeed, according to Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly, Stampede is committing itself to building an entire 21st century mix of products that are built around the concept of ‘The Internet of Things.’
 
“In order to remain the industry’s largest supplier of high value added ProAV solutions, we must take the steps required to build out our future product lines in ways that meet the needs of an increasingly Internet based, web centric ProAV customer,” Kelly emphasized today. “We have created a specialist team that is focused on meeting this goal. And we’ve formed a Tech Support team with AV, PC, Network and VC expertise to support the sales efforts of the specialist team. I believe this is a first for our industry.”
 
Currently, according to Kelly, Stampede is offering a first generation of ‘Internet of Things’ product portfolio centered around audio solutions from Phoenix Audio and Clear One; visual solutions from Sony, MediaPointe, and Vaddio; and software from Vidyo, Bluejeans, and ChorusCall. “In highly customized and integrated offerings these audio, visual, and software solutions are delivering high value added Unified Communications capabilities to a growing number of end user customers,” Kelly explained. “But it is just the beginning of where we as an industry are headed.”
 
Kelly emphasized that the ProAV industry is being challenged daily to stop using the terms ‘audio and video’ and start using the terms ‘see, hear and control’ in order to understand the business opportunities that this shift to ‘The Internet of Things’ era is creating. “The traditional AV industry is maturing and a new personalized industry is rising up to take its place, one that is built upon the ideas of connecting, integrating, and sharing devices in entirely new eco-systems built around highly customized software applications.”
 
Beginning in 2014, Stampede will be adding greater emphasis to a host of product categories, including video surveillance and security; IP video, cameras, and control; wireless audio; wearable devices; power line devices, and, of course, tablets and tablet accessories.
 
“Make no mistake about it. These categories are already established and they are only going to become huge in the years to come,” Kelly asserted. “Lest anyone doubt this, consider this fact: in 2013 Stampede sold 20,000 pairs of smart video glasses! If any one thing points the way to the future it is this remarkable sales achievement.”