Technical Q&A About The Stem Ecosystem

 

During Stem webinars, hundreds of excellent questions were asked with not enough time to give them all the answers they deserve. If you’re not a Stem expert by now…this might make you one.

 

Devices

 

I noticed that Stem Table has an Ethernet port and USB. What is the USB connector for?

Table’s USB connectivity option is to connect directly to your PC if you want to use it as a standalone device for video conferencing. All Stem devices have PoE connectivity for power and data in addition to an optional USB connection if you want to use a device for standalone video conferencing.

Does Table have a mounting plate option to secure it to the table?

No, there is no additional plate option but all Stem devices are equipped with a Kensington lock to secure them to their installed location.

How many beam options does Ceiling have? How do you change beam settings?

Ceiling has three adjustable beam options (narrow, medium, and wide). The narrow setting will also give you the option for audio fencing! You can adjust a Ceiling device's beam setting on the ecosystem platform by selecting the specific device and clicking the beam settings at the bottom.

What keeps Ceiling hanging level to the floor when it’s suspended from the ceiling? Can it be dusted?

Ceiling is connected by a suspension wire that screws directly into the center of the device. Our engineers have designed Ceiling to evenly distribute the weight of the device so that it stays level when suspended in chandelier mode. Yes, Ceiling and all other devices can be dusted with a dry cloth or duster.

Is mounting of Ceiling supported?

Yes! Ceiling can be either low profile mounted OR suspended from the ceiling in chandelier mode.

What is the recommended maximum distance from the Ceiling to the table?

For all distance coverage questions, we recommend utilizing our RoomDesign tool. When designing your room, Ceiling's coverage is estimated based on a standard 9-foot ceiling. Actual microphone pickup coverage and quality will always vary depending on the acoustical treatment of any room.

Do the devices have LED lights indicating power, mute, etc? Can they be modified or turned off?

Yes, yes, and yes! You can turn off a device’s directional lights through the device or room settings on the ecosystem platform.

Is the Stem ecosystem compatible with Dante Domain Manager?

Yes, Stem Hub has a special connectivity option to integrate with Dante. Hub is the only Dante enabled device in the ecosystem and provides a single channel for the entire room.

How well do the devices handle ambient user noise?

Most people describe their experience with Stem as, “just like being in the room.” If you want to hear it for yourself, you can listen to a demo here.

Can Wall be mounted along a side wall instead of under a screen or monitor?

Yes! We don't wall-scriminate. 

What is the recommended mounting height for Wall?

The optimal height for mounting Wall is at mouth-level of meeting participants in the room. This will depend on chair height and if the majority of participants will be standing or sitting.

Do Stem devices have AEC built-in?

Yes, all Stem devices with the exception of Control have a built in DSP which allows the devices to perform AEC, AGC, Noise Cancelling, and De-Reverberation.

Which device controls and processes the audio signals when there are multiple devices in a room?

When there are multiple Stem devices in a room, Hub will control and process all the audio signals coming from each device in the room.

Is there anything I can do to improve the performance of Stem devices in my room?

Yes, our RoomAdapt tool allows you to instantly optimize every Stem device in the room at the press of a button. When you initiate RoomAdapt, each device in the room will play a chirping sound. While chirping, the devices are analyzing the acoustics, audio pickup, and reverberance from different parts of the room and using that information to adapt and adjust themselves accordingly to work optimally for their particular placement in that room. If you want a deeper dive into RoomAdapt check out our blog on [How To] Instantly Tune Your Conference Room Audio.

When do you need Control?

Control is an optional support device which will be used whenever you want to add a dedicated meeting control device in the room. Control has full access to the ecosystem platform, giving you the ability to set-up, monitor, and manage your rooms and devices. Control also has video conferencing functionality so you can leave it in the room for users to conduct push-to-start meetings. Control is Zoom Rooms compatible. Stem’s ecosystem platform is also available as an app available on iOS, Android and via HTML. So if Control isn’t your cup of tea, you have options.

Do the devices support audio output or do I need to install speakers?

Stem Table and Wall both have built-in speakers so, if you mix and match Ceiling with Table and or Wall you won’t need to install any additional speakers. However, if you only want to install Ceiling devices in the room, you will need to connect external speakers to the Hub in the room for sound.

Is there a limit to the number of devices that can be used with one hub?

Yes, Hub can be used with up to three audio devices (Table, Ceiling, Wall) for SIP conferencing. There is no limit to the number of Controls you can use in one room. For video conferencing, Hub can be used with up to five audio devices and unlimited Controls. In future firmware updates we will be increasing the number of audio devices that can be used in a single room.
So, for SIP: 1 Hub + 3 audio devices + unlimited Control devices
For video conferencing: 1 Hub + 5 audio devices + unlimited Control devices

How can you set-up a combination of different Stem devices in a room?

Our devices allow you to mix and match them into any room for customized coverage. When you are installing your combination of Stem devices in a room, you will plug them in, find them on the network through the ecosystem platform, and assign them to a room so they all know to work together as one ecosystem in that room. You can always reference our blog on [How To] Setup Your First Stem Room in Minutes to learn more.

 

Conferencing

 

Can Stem devices connect to phone systems for SIP conferencing? How do you dial?

Absolutely. You can SIP-enable an individual device or a room via the Hub as long as your SIP provider allows basic 3rd party SIP devices. You can dial SIP calls directly on Control or the ecosystem platform which is available in the app store for Android, iOS, and via HTML.

Can the speakers be used in other capacities beyond conferencing?

Of course! The speakers in each device will play whatever you want them to based on what your Hub is connected to.

 

Network & Connectivity

 

Is PoE or PoE+ required? Is there a certain type of switch to use?

A network that supports PoE+, a PoE+ injector, or a PoE+ enabled switch will be needed to support Stem devices with power, data, IoT, and SIP capabilities. Make sure you refrain from using an EEE switch, also known as Green Ethernet or IEEE 802.3az switch unless this feature can be disabled in a managed switch. Many EEE switches do not perform the negotiation properly and can result in poor synchronization and dropouts.

If your network gets disconnected will you also lose audio in the room?

Since the devices are connected to your network (just like your video conferencing), if your network disconnects then yes, you will lose audio in the room. Once your network connection is re-established the devices will automatically find the network and reconnect.

Are Stem devices USB 2.0 or 3.0?

Stem Devices are USB 2.0 and will work with USB 3.0.

Are Stem devices compatible with or able to be monitored by SNMP?

Not at this time. SNMP compatibility is currently in development and will be available in future updates.

Do your devices support static IP assignment?

Static IP addresses should be assigned on the network/router side. It is not possible to assign Static IP addresses on a Stem Audio device itself.

Are the devices MAC addresses visible on the device itself prior to powering the unit up for network reservations?

Yes, the MAC address is visible on the bottom or back side of each device.

Can Stem devices be daisy-chained?

No, Stem devices can not be daisy-chained. It’s better than that! They are networkable and will work together through the Hub.

 

Control and the Ecosystem Platform

 

How do you update firmware on the devices?

When an update is available, we will send out the update to all devices. The devices will then search the network for any available updates and automatically update themselves at a time when they are not currently in use.

What security measures are taken on a network and device level?

When plugging in your first Stem device, you will be prompted to choose a security setting by either setting up a password-protected organization or default settings. If you create an organization, only devices within your password-protected organization can communicate and control one another.

Can you reset your organization password on the ecosystem platform?

For security purposes, you cannot reset your organization password on the ecosystem platform. If you forget or want to change your organization password you can contact our customer success team and they can help you change your password.

Hopefully we were able to address all of your burning questions. If there’s one we may have missed, feel free to reach out and our customer success team is always standing by to answer any additional questions you may have.

Email: customerservice@stemaudio.com｜ Phone: (949) 877-STEM (7836)

In the meantime, you can get started with Stem!

 

Design A Room

 

Hear the Ecosystem in Action