Radboud University Chooses Extron and Fidato for Flexible AV Infrastructure

Extron’s NAV System gave us the flexibility and reliability we needed for Radboud University’s present and future classroom requirements. Its straightforward setup, intuitive tools, and license-free architecture made installation efficient and future expansion easy to plan for.

Radboud University, located in Nijmegen, the Netherlands’ oldest city, is a renowned public research institution celebrated for its academic rigor and forward-thinking approach to education. Founded in 1923 and home to over 24,000 students, the university consistently ranks among the top 150 institutions worldwide.

As part of its commitment to enriching educational experiences through technology, Radboud undertook a significant AV upgrade across three instructional spaces on its Heyendaal campus. Led by Dutch integrator Fidato B.V., the project focused on improving flexibility, usability, and long-term scalability. Extron technologies formed the core of this strategic installation.

CHALLENGES

The AV systems in the three learning spaces, each approximately seven years old, were beginning to show their age. Instructors and AV staff required a more reliable and intuitive platform that could support Radboud’s evolving instructional formats. With students increasingly working in collaborative clusters, the AV design needed to enable seamless source switching between student workgroups and instructor stations.

Futureproofing was also a key concern. The university anticipates a gradual reduction in physical instructional space, making it imperative that existing rooms become more flexible in function. The ideal solution would support decentralized, local AV control while also offering the potential for central network integration to support inter-room content sharing and overflow capabilities. A platform that delivered operational efficiency, ease of use, and long-term adaptability was essential.

We have been using Extron for a very long time and are happy with the quality and reliability. NAV offers an easy- to-use platform which we are able to control and monitor ourselves. After taking the rooms into use we have seen that they are frequently used and perceived as easy to operate by the teachers.

DESIGN SOLUTION

To meet these needs, Fidato selected Extron’s NAV^® Pro AV over IP solution for distribution and switching, citing its proven reliability, efficient installation, and license-free operation. The new systems were installed across three independent classrooms, each operating on a localized AV subnet using NETGEAR AV Line switches.

Collaborative Cluster Design

Each classroom supports multiple student clusters, each with its own local input and display. AV content is transmitted using NAV E 121 1G Encoders, which deliver HDMI signals over the IP network to NAV SD 101 1G Scaling Decoders at displays throughout the space. This configuration allows students and instructors to easily switch between different content sources, fostering a dynamic and interactive learning environment.

Each cluster in at least one of the upgraded rooms is also equipped with an NBP 100 Network Button Panel, providing localized control over display power, input selection, and volume. These wall-mounted button panels allow students to manage the AV system for their own collaboration pod and can be overridden by the instructor via the TouchLink Pro touchpanel in the room.

A NAVigator System Manager, expanded with a LinkLicense^®, manages signal routing and endpoint configuration. This centralized system not only simplifies deployment and administration but also lays the foundation for future integration into the university’s broader AV infrastructure.

Streamlined Control with TouchLink^® Pro and IPCP Pro xi

Instructors control the AV systems via Extron TLP Pro 1025T 10" tabletop touchpanels. These stylish, high-resolution touchpanels feature a quad-core processor and scratch-resistant Corning^® Gorilla Glass^® for durability. Power over Ethernet streamlines connectivity, while the customizable interface offers intuitive operation for users with varying technical backgrounds.

Behind the scenes, control is handled by the IPCP Pro 255Q xi, a compact, quad-core control processor that offers secure and reliable system management. With a dedicated AV LAN port and dual Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, this processor provides secure, isolated control of local AV devices and ensures compatibility with multiple Extron control interfaces, including expansion modules for future growth.

Planned Expansion

Encouraged by the successful deployment, Radboud has scheduled a second phase to upgrade five additional classrooms with nearly identical systems. This expansion will further align the AV infrastructure with the university’s future growth plans.

RESULTS

The upgraded AV systems were installed and commissioned in just a few weeks, enabling the university to maintain academic continuity while transitioning to a more modernized teaching environment. Following deployment, faculty members quickly adapted to the new system, benefiting from its intuitive control interface and responsive switching between sources. Instructors now manage AV functions confidently using the touchscreen interface, while the underlying NAV architecture operates reliably in the background.

AV services staff noted the ease of installation and secuure, centralized system management provided by Extron’s NAV System and NAVigator System Manager. The system's flexibility and scalability make it well-suited to Radboud’s evolving needs, including the anticipated shift toward fewer, more adaptable learning spaces. With strong performance and widespread acceptance among users, the new AV systems have already become integral to daily instruction, and plans are underway to replicate the design in additional rooms across campus.

We chose Extron NAV AV over IP due to reliability, easy installation, and Extron support. Unlike competitive alternatives, NAV doesn't require any annual subscriptions, which is also a major benefit.

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