Snoofa Live Set Up

In order to make Snoofa Live bidding system work to its optimal capacity, the hardware needs to be set up correctly to ensure an efficient process. This page aims to outline how to set up an auction room to clerk a live auction.

Terminology

Online bidding clerk is the term used for the person responsible for the set up of the auction live broadcast stream and online clerking on the day. This person may be different to the staff member who is responsible for the room set up.

Rostrum is the raised platform from which the auctioneer conducts the sale.

Gavel is a small hammer the auctioneer uses to announce that the item has sold. The sale contract is formed at the fall of the gavel.

Equipment Required

Displays

• Monitors to use as Room Screens to display information to bidders onsite. These will usually already be in place if selling at their regular venue.

  • VGA / HDMI cables as appropriate to monitors. These should be long enough to reach the desk where the clerk will be sitting.

  • Optional: VGA / HDMI splitters as appropriate

  • Optional: VGA / HDMI extension cables as appropriate

• Optional: Monitor to use for the Auctioneer’s Screen

A/V Feed

• USB web camera to provide video feed. Ideally this should be mounted for the best vantage point.

  • Optional: USB extension cables as required

• USB microphone to provide audio feed. Securely affixed to the rostrum is preferable as loose USB microphones tend to get knocked over.

  • Optional: USB extension cables as required

Hardware / Peripherals

• Laptop 1: To clerk and to run the Room Screen.

  • This laptop should have either an integrated numeric keypad or a separate USB numeric keypad for speedy data entry

  • Wired mouse for accurate clerking at speed. Bluetooth mice are not recommenced due to lag / connectivity issues.

• Laptop 2: To broadcast a/v and to run the Auctioneer’s Screen if monitor being used. This should have either a VGA or HDMI port if this is the case.

• Optional: Laptop 3 or Tablet to display the Auctioneer’s Screen

• Network switch to split internet connection between devices

• Ethernet cables for each laptop to be hardwired to the network

• Mifi device (mobile broadband router) back up internet connection

Suggested Saleroom Set Up

Prior to Auction Day

Displays

1. Ensure monitors are in place for displaying Room Screen

2. Run monitor cabling back to area where online bidding clerk will be situated

3. If a monitor is being used for the Auctioneer’s Screen set this up and run cabling back to where online bidding clerk will be situated

A/V Feed

1. Mount USB web camera to give best view of the rostrum

2. Attach USB microphone securely to the rostrum

3. Download any relevant drivers to Laptop 1 and Laptop 2 for the web camera and microphone. These will be created by the manufacturer of the devices and can be found by searching for drivers along with the device brand and model number

Connectivity ️

Network

1. Set up a network switch to split the internet connection from an existing port to provide hardwired connections for devices

2. Ensure each laptop to be used has it’s own connection and run cabling back to where online bidding clerk will be situated

4G Mobile Internet

1. Suggest always having at least one fallback option for each online bidding platform for continuity.

2. Personal hotspot on a mobile would do in an emergency but a Mifi device (mobile broadband router) is better.

Laptop 1, 2 and 3 (or tablet)

1. Ensure any pending Windows / Mac updates are done

2. Download / update Google Chrome

   1. To update Chrome: Launch Chrome > click menu (three dots) > Help > About Google Chrome.

Auction Day

1. Ensure laptops are connected to a power source

2. Connect to the internet using ethernet cables for best performance

   1. Turn wifi off

3. Ensure automatic Windows updates are turned off. See guidance.

4. Connect VGA / HDMI cables as appropriate for display monitors to Laptop 1 and Laptop 2

5. Connect USB web camera and microphone to Laptop 2

6. Connect USB mouse and numerical keypad (if needed) to Laptop 1

Set up A/V Stream

1. On Laptop 2 using Google Chrome as your browser log in to your Snoofa instance

2. Click Auctions on the main navigation menu

3. Click the sale you wish to clerk

4. Click on the Launch DAR button

5. Click Stream Control

6. Select camera and audio input from the drop down options

7. Press Stream to broadcast once you are satisfied with the preview

8. You will see a confirmation saying You are Currently Streaming

9. To mute audio or pause video streaming press Mute Audio or Pause Video

10. To stop streaming completely click the Stop button

Launch Room Screen

1. Using Laptop 1 check correct display monitor is connected

2. Using Google Chrome as your browser log in to your Snoofa instance

3. Click Auctions on the main navigation menu

4. Click the sale you wish to clerk

5. Click Launch DAR button

6. Click Room Screen

7. Room Screen will load in a new tab

To display on monitor:

1. Click on Windows Start Button

2. Click on the Settings cog

3. Go to System

4. Then Display

5. Under Multiple Displays

6. Extend these displays

7. Then drag the tab with the Room Screen on it over to the extended display

8. Once there to make full screen in Chrome > click menu (three dots) > expanded square

Launch Clerking Screen

1. On Laptop 1 log into Snoofa instance

2. Click Auctions on the main navigation menu

3. Click the sale you wish to clerk

4. Click on the Launch DAR button

5. Click Clerk Screen to launch

6. Click Start Auction to begin clerking when the sale is about to begin

7. Add any additional messages into the clerking console that may be required. Suggest:

   1. Bid early, bid often

   2. Bid quickly the auctioneer will not wait

   3. Bid quickly!

Set up Auctioneer’s Screen

This can be done by connecting Laptop 2 to a monitor on the rostrum or by running on a laptop / tablet directly in front of the auctioneer

If using Laptop 3 or Tablet

1. Log into Snoofa instance

2. Click Auctions on the main navigation menu

3. Click the sale you wish to clerk

4. Click Launch DAR button

5. Click Auctioneer Screen button

6. Auctioneer’s screen will launch in a separate tab

7. Position Laptop / tablet on rostrum

If Laptop 2

1. Return to the Auction tab in Snoofa instance

2. Click Launch DAR button

3. Click Auctioneer Screen button

4. Auctioneer’s screen will launch in a separate tab

5. Make this tab full screen in Chrome > click menu (three dots) > expanded square

To display on monitor:

1. Click on Windows Start Button

2. Click on the Settings cog

3. Go to System

4. Then Display

5. Under Multiple Displays

6. Extend these displays

7. Then drag the tab with the Auctioneer’s Screen on it over to the extended display

   1. Once there to make full screen in Chrome > click menu (three dots) > expanded square

Client Documentation for Set Up