Extron AV Technologies Help Streamline Daily Operations at As-Syafaah Mosque

Opened to the public in 2004, the striking and modern As-Syafaah mosque in Sembawang, Singapore features an architectural style that seamlessly blends Islamic symbols with contemporary design through arabesque patterns, natural ventilation, and a 33-meter steel tower. Following the closure of two mosques, this expansive four-story mosque was designed to accommodate 4,000 congregants and features prayer rooms, classrooms, an office, foyer, and a multi-purpose hall.

CHALLENGES

Recent renovations sought to significantly modernize the mosque by enhancing video distribution across its multi-level structure, including the main prayer halls on levels one and two, the women’s prayer area on level three, 17 classrooms, and the overflow area in the basement. To manage such a large facility, the mosque wanted to significantly streamline daily operations with a more intuitive and efficient control system. Additionally, they sought to upgrade streaming and recording of Friday prayers to accommodate the growing congregation and ensure a more inclusive worship experience. Adding to the challenge, the project required these improvements to be completed within a month without disrupting the mosque’s daily operations, which includes five daily prayers. This necessitated careful planning to ensure the unobtrusive integration of new technology while preserving the sanctity of worship.

There were also budget considerations. According to Shamsudin Bin Isnin of UnitedVenus Engineering Services who consulted on the project, "We had budget constraints, but with the help of Extron, we were able to design a system that met our requirements and stayed within budget.”

Extron was chosen for their established brand, fantastic support, and local repair center. Extron products have been successfully deployed at many mosques around Singapore and are well known for their reliability, ease of use, and performance.

SOLUTION

To complete renovations, the mosque engaged pro AV consultant UnitedVenus Engineering Services to design the AV system and retained Maxxmedia International to perform the AV system installation. According to Alan Hong, Sales and Product Manager at Maxxmedia International, "Extron was chosen for their established brand, fantastic support, and local repair center. Extron products have been successfully deployed at many mosques around Singapore and are well known for their reliability, ease of use, and performance.”

The team selected an Extron DXP HD 4K PLUS high-performance 4K/60 HDMI matrix switcher, DVS 605 scaler with seamless switching, DTP HD DA 4K 330 distribution amplifiers, and DTP HDMI 4K 330 transmitters and receivers to perform AV signal switching, scaling, and distribution over shielded twisted pair cable throughout the expansive mosque’s four levels.

Vivid 4K Throughout

The DXP HD 4K PLUS matrix switcher performs the bulk of AV signal routing with a mix of local HDMI and remote connections that use DTP transmitters and receivers to accommodate short and long cable runs with pristine, 4K video distribution. AV sources feeding the main switcher include PTZ cameras, PCs, mics, and audio mixers. Six DTP HD DA 4K 330 distribution amplifiers expand content from the main switcher over twisted pair cables to 24 DTP HDMI 4K 330 receivers that feed 14 displays and 10 projectors located throughout reception areas, prayer halls, classrooms, and the main auditorium.

Innovative Streaming Technology for Inclusive Worship

As-Syafaah utilized the SMP 351 H.264 Streaming Media Processor with Dual Recording LinkLicense enhancement to stream and record sermons, including Friday prayers. Streams can be distributed to monitors throughout the mosque, accommodating overflow rooms and worshipers situated on multiple floors. The Dual Recording LinkLicense enhancement facilitates the creation of independent recordings from two different video sources, giving the mosque greater flexibility with its recordings. Recorded sermons are accessible to congregants online using hosting services such as Facebook, promoting more inclusive worship. The flexible presentation of content is enhanced by picture-in-picture capabilities provided by the DVS 605 video scaler.

Comprehensive Control

Designed for intuitive operation by the mosque’s non-technical staff, TouchLink Pro touchpanels were strategically placed throughout the mosque to manage all AV components. An ample 12-inch ultra-wide Tabletop TouchLink Pro Touchpanel located in the control room features an ultra-fast, high-performance quad-core processor, 12-inch ultra-wide capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1920x720 and 24-bit color, along with the convenience of Power over Ethernet (PoE). Mosque operators find that it simplifies daily operations by managing video layouts and picture-in-picture (PiP), controlling PTZ cameras, routing video, and switching audio presets. Touchpanels are also used to manage video distribution across the many displays spread out over the mosque’s four levels, as well as managing streaming and recording during Friday prayers.

At the heart of the control system is an Extron IPCP Pro 550 xi control processor, located in the main AV control room. It commands AV system functions throughout the mosque in response to user selections at the touchpanels. The AV sub-distribution system features its own IPCP Pro 350 xi control processor and TLP Pro 525M touchpanel, and an EPB 100 6-button wall-mounted eBUS Button Panel with volume control offers additional control, including control over the main hall’s motorized blinds.

RESULTS

The new installation at As-Syafaah has been very well received. Staff appreciate the user-friendly GUI, which they find highly intuitive, and report a significant improvement in the daily flow of operations. They also value the peace of mind that comes with Extron’s renowned reliability and exceptional support. Mr. Hong of Maxxmedia International states, “Extron products have proven to be a robust solution with excellent support, ensuring they will be a durable, long-lasting choice.”

The AV system upgrade at As-Syafaah has transformed the mosque into a modern, highly functional space for religious and community activities. Through the seamless integration of Extron products, the mosque now benefits from an advanced, user-friendly AV solution that elevates its programs and services. This project showcases the capability of Extron technology to provide reliable, high-performance AV systems designed to meet the unique demands of religious centers.

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