Liv Unified Comms

Now we’ve had our Christmas jumper day, Christmas brekkie and Christmas do, we’re all ready to enjoy a well earned Christmas break!

Thanks to Ryan Thompson and all the team at Forty Seven Manchester for looking after us so well on our Christmas do, and especially for the amazing food in Asha's Manchester - stunning as always!

Our technical support desk will still be open for 24/7 contracted support clients, but our offices will otherwise be closed for the bank holidays only.

Wishing all our clients, friends and families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Do you ever have the problem in meeting rooms where conversations can be heard in all the surrounding rooms too?

That’s just what the problem was at University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM).

Their main conference room where board meetings are held had a speaker system that was actually too loud! So any confidential conversations from members dialled in on Teams could be heard by all surrounding rooms too.

Being around 150 sqm, there was a challenge to make sure that everyone in the room could hear, but not everyone outside too!

That’s where this Microflex solution was the perfect balance. These devices are positioned in front of every attendee and have a built in speaker, so any virtual attendees can be heard on low level, individual speakers rather than a large broadcast system.

They also have built in touch screens, so attendees can press a button to put their hand up to talk, creating a professional complete conference system.

This was connected to the main 28k lumen projector, then two supplementary screens were connected to that by an HDANYWHERE splitter, so everyone in the room can see the display.

If you’d like help with your conference room setup, get in touch.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Our recent install on this super yacht was a busy one - removing the old, end of life Panasonic DECT phone system and replacing with a new NEC IP DECT phone system.

What’s the difference? Huge!

In fact, NEC are the only IT & communications supplier to offer DECT Dual Band, enabling yachts and cruise vessels to automatically switch to the correct frequency via GPS when sailing to different international ports, where frequency bands differ.

Here, we installed 20 access points throughout the yacht, so auto-switching of all handsets will be seamless… as it should be on a luxury yacht!

For more information, get in touch.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

We're Christmas ready here at LIV! Are you all ready for the big day?

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Back again at our favourite coffee shop chain!

As specialists in the hospitality industry, we proudly supported Black Sheep Coffee with another coffee shop opening in Chelmsford.

Here we installed 8 Elo Self-Service Kiosks, 4 iPads and a resilient Ubiquiti WiFi network with guest WiFi. We also set up 2 zones of music, meaning what’s playing upstairs can be different to downstairs - great if you need an area of your bar or restaurant that can be available for private hire functions or business meetings.

We also provide full 24/7 in-house technical support following any install as standard, plus staff training, ensuring any new restaurant or store launches go smoothly.

If you’d like us to quote for helping with your upcoming store, restaurant or coffee shop launch, get in touch.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

We love it when we can upgrade systems rather than ripping everything out and starting again.

That’s one of the many great things about HDANYWHERE products. We recently upgraded the Amps at a customer’s home with new HDANYWHERE Multi Zone Matrix Amps connected into new uControl Zone Processors, enabling full integration with the MHUB Pro 2.0 which was already installed.

In our opinion, MHUB is the best way to get rid of all those wires and set top boxes around the home. It enables them all to be hidden away in one place, but accessible from any TV in your home.

If you’d like us to conduct a free review of your home AV setup and see how much better it could be, get in touch.

But it's not just great for the home. We've installed HDANYWHERE products in many commercial settings too.

If you’d like us to review your restaurant, sports bar, hotel or home AV setup, get in touch for a free site survey.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

At LIV, our installs aren’t just UK based… in fact, this week our founder, Ben Ganley is in Istanbul installing a fully integrated NEC telephone system with DECT on this super yacht!

Probably something that most people didn’t realise we do, but we’ve worked on a few of these projects now, ensuring reliable connectivity and auto-switching between GPS frequencies, no matter where you are in the world.

For more information, get in touch. More photos next week!

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

NEC Corporation

Networking really can be so beneficial.

You might feel a bit awkward to start with, but when you start to think of it more in terms of helping others and what you can give to them, it becomes less daunting and a valuable part of life… or for our MD, Ben Ganley, part of most weeks.

Last Wednesday (and most Wednesdays!) Ben was attending his local BNI meeting, sharing his knowledge and experience with other business people, all looking to help each other out.

BNI meetings have been a great way to grow our business, but also to connect with others that have complimentary skills, sharing information and ideas to all help each other grow.

We would highly recommend it!

Ever seen one of these?

If you’ve got something like this in your workplace you probably think it’ll need ripping out and replacing sometime soon, given the copper switch off is looming ever closer.

That’s where you could be wrong!

There’s a lot of scaremongering going on surrounding the copper switch off, implying that absolutely every copper wire in your place has to go or nothing will work!

Let LIV come and do a free site survey of your telecoms infrastructure and we’ll tell you the truth about migrating you to full fibre.

A lot of our engineers have vast experience with traditional copper frames, like this one, so we’re perfectly placed to transition you away from your copper infrastructure, but also still making use of existing wiring where we can, such as within your internal phone system.

Sounds interesting? Give us a call!

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Today, we’re proud to share that LIV have been appointed to install a 10GB backbone fibre network for Discovery Park in Workington, Cumbria.

This is a massive project where we’ll install approximately 2km of fibre cabling across the 42 acre park, ensuring that all units have high speed connectivity, which will be a great advantage to any tenants, effectively future-proofing the industrial park.

We can’t wait to get cracking!

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Have you seen our new website yet?

If you’d like to find out more about LIV, head over to https://livuc.co.uk/ now to read about all our different services, the sectors we work in and our Industry Accreditations.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

With the big copper switch off looming ever closer, and the lack of fibre broadband in some locations, we’re seeing increased demand (and need) for Starlink.

Relying on satellites rather than needing a nearby ground-based infrastructure, it’s the perfect solution for when fibre just isn’t an option.

That’s exactly the problem this customer faced, so we were happy to help find a solution!

If you’d like us to review your internet setup, get in touch for a site survey.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

starlink

A couple of work in progress photos from Dear Sailor - the latest cocktail bar to join the Spinningfields scene, due to open very soon!

Here you can see the comms cabinet we’ve installed, plus elements of the Ajax wireless alarm system.

If you’re planning on opening a bar or restaurant soon, get in touch to see how we can support you.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Getting ready for a Ubiquiti WiFi and Hikvision CCTV install this week.

More coming soon!

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Ubiquiti UK

Black Sheep Coffee have been busy opening new coffee shops lately, which means we have too!

Here, Lewis is installing the EPOS and Samsung tablet ordering systems at their Market Street branch, which is due to open towards the end of November.

More to come next week!

If you’d like us to conduct a free review of the tech in your restaurant or coffee shop, or to help with a new store launch, please get in touch.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Samsung Electronics

Last week was a busy one as we undertook a telecoms audit across five Care Villages within a large UK care home group.

The large phone systems are mainly based on massive copper frame that has evolved over the years. Some of the sites had newer VOIP systems but most were pretty out of date and not working well.

Ahead of the big copper switch off, it’s important to review all phone and intercom systems, plus other integrated systems that rely on the phone network, like the fire alarm and nurse call systems.

With so many elements mainly reliant on an old copper frame network, it was really important to conduct a detailed audit to properly plan the most efficient way of bringing their unified communications up to date for the future.

If your telecoms system has been updated a bit here and there (or not at all!) but you know it could benefit from a thorough audit, why not give us a call?

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Anyone fancy a trip back in time to 1930s Tokyo?

It was a decade synonymous with art deco styling and glamorous decadence, coming soon to Spinningfields, Manchester!

Dear Sailor will be the latest cocktail bar to join the Spinningfields scene, and LIV are proud to fully support their launch from a tech perspective.

We’re installing their CCTV and till network throughout, underpinned with a resilient WiFi setup, ensuring the “engaging and impossible to forget experiences” they have vowed to provide guests, don’t get interrupted by any internet issues.

They will also of course be fully supported after launch by our 24/7 UK based technical support desk - essential when you’re serving Japanese-inspired cocktails late into the night!

If you’re planning on opening a bar or restaurant soon, get in touch to see how we can support you.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Everyone’s switching to fibre… but what if you can’t? What if you’re somewhere remote? Or what if you want a next level resilient internet backup?

We recently installed this starlink High Performance setup for a company who wanted a faster backup to their lease line.

It’s also a great option if you’re somewhere remote, as it relies on satellites rather than needing a nearby ground-based infrastructure.

Far quicker than traditional satellite internet connections, it can even be used on the move or if you’re out on-site.

If you’d like us to review your internet setup, get in touch for a site survey.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Day two of the Independent Hotel Show London with Quadriga Systems Ltd, NEC Enterprise Solutions (UK & Ireland) and Cambium Networks

Working in partnership to provide exceptional guest experiences, like we did for Virgin Hotels

Visit us at stand 2344 in The Tech Quarter to find out more or get in touch.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Hotel tech has to work hard - busy reception desks checking guests in whilst also fielding calls need to be efficient. They can’t be complicated or unreliable.

Then there’s the in-room tech. Guests want a relaxed experience and ordering room service or making restaurant bookings to be as simple as possible.

At the Four Points by Sheraton in Edinburgh, we recently installed an NEC SV9100 phone system, working in conjunction with Quadriga Systems. NEC's MyCalls Operator Console makes it really simple to manage multiple calls via a visual interface.

We then fully integrated the phone system with their SuitePad in-room tablet platform, enabling guests to order room service, make restaurant bookings, and access any important information about the hotel, all from one tablet.

With all comms completely unified, staff can be more efficient and guests can relax!

Full training and hand over was provided to ensure everyone was completely comfortable with the new systems.

If you’d like us to review your hotel’s communications network, get in touch or visit our stand at the Independent Hotel Show London this Monday or Tuesday - we’re on stand 2344 in the Tech Quarter, with Quadriga Systems and NEC Enterprise Solutions UK & Ireland.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

See if you can spot the cameras!

As we've shown before at one of our other installs at Firefly Mcr, CCTV can blend in well... if done properly and carefully planned.

These photos taken at the newly opened Hotel Forty Seven Manchester show how subtle and unobtrusive CCTV can be, which is particularly important in a boutique hotel such as Forty-Seven, where their beautifully designed, intelligent luxury style has impeccable attention to detail throughout.

If you have a commercial setting and are thinking of CCTV, get in touch and we can carefully plan the best options for you.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Hikvision UK & Ireland

These days, everyone’s AV setup is getting more complicated with more TVs, more wires and more set top boxes getting added, meaning the area around your TVs can soon become a messy bundle of wires!

At LIV we’re proud to be HDANYWHERE accredited installers, which means we can professionally transform your commercial or home AV setup, simplifying it all into one system, one app delivering unified room-to-room entertainment (with no more visible wires).

At this home we installed an HDAnywhere MHUB 8x8, relocating their Sky dish and all the supporting structural cabling throughout, plus new WiFi.

We’re also going to be installing CCTV and external speakers soon.

If you’d like us to review your restaurant, sports bar, hotel or home AV setup, get in touch for a free site survey.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Fancy a coffee? Black Sheep Coffee are now open in Spinningfields, Manchester, and we were there to make sure everything flowed smoothly!

When we install any new technology or comms networks, whatever that may be, we won’t just install and leave you to it. We provide full staff training and a detailed handover on any new systems and can also be there for your store opening, just in case there are any technical glitches or questions from the newly trained staff. That’s the LIV way.

If you’d like us to help with your next store launch, office move or systems upgrade, backed up with full staff training, get in touch.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

This week we’ve been helping The Couture Club relocate to their new, popup store in The Trafford Centre Manchester, which opens on Wednesday 27th September.

We removed all the network equipment from their old store and reinstalled it in the new one. The new network is built on a resilient internet setup, so if the WiFi goes down, there’s a backup data network to ensure all the POS and telecoms equipment still works seamlessly throughout the store.

If you need help with the technical side of a retail store relocation, or are opening a brand new store, get in touch.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Are you going to the Independent Hotel Show London in October? If so, we’ll see you there!

We’re exhibiting there in the Tech Quarter, in partnership with Quadriga Systems Ltd and NEC Corporation

We always work closely with Quadriga and NEC on any hotel installations, so we can ensure all your hotel WiFi, phone system, CCTV, Hotel TV and any other tech requirements are sorted through one point of contact - nice and simple.

Let us know if you’re visiting the show or would like to, and we’ll arrange a chat to discuss how we can help you.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Another job started this week for our friends at Black Sheep Coffee, who will be opening a new coffee shop in Spinningfields, Manchester soon.

Continuing our installation partnership with Cranborne Technology for the Black Sheep Coffee chain, we’re installing all the technology required behind the scenes - whether it’s the Samsung tablets you order at, or the speakers playing music while you enjoy your coffee, we’ve installed it.

If you’d like us to conduct a free review of the tech in your restaurant or coffee shop to see how we can make it more efficient, please get in touch.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

What do you think of your broadband provider’s customer service?

With such a large number of providers out there and little spare time to spend sifting through them, it can be tempting to just default to one of the bigger, more well known names.

Unfortunately, they can often be the worst for customer service.

At LIV, we only install business broadband by Internet who have not only won multiple awards, but were recently rated top for broadband customer service in a poll by . Of those providers with over 100 responses, they were number one with 84% of its customers rating their customer service as “great”.

The next closest came in at 60%, quite a way behind!

They've also have great ratings on Trustpilot, are the only ? Recommended broadband provider, plus they have a 100% UK-based support team.

That’s why they’re the only business broadband provider we work with. If you’d like us to review your broadband, get in touch.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

We’re pleased to announce that our Apprentice Engineer, Lewis, has recently completed his NEC Univerge Blue certification!

At LIV, we are in the privileged position to be an NEC Accredited Installer and their Univerge Blue platform is one of the most widely used unified communications and video conferencing solutions that we install, utilised in businesses of all sizes.

We ensure all LIV Unified Comms Engineers are given expert training and industry accreditation through the LIV Engineering Academy.

Well done Lewis!

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

NEC Corporation #

If you’ve ever tried drilling into tile, you’ll know it’s a tricky process. Now try drilling into tiles like these to recess mount an LG TV!

We’ve installed quite a few like this and thankfully the team have a lot of patience and skill when it comes to this kind of delicate task!

If you’re thinking of a new AV system or tricky TV installation, get in touch. The team can also help with ideas for where to install TVs and audio equipment throughout your space to get the most out of your AV system.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Big job on for the LIV team in Bristol… yes, we cover projects all over the U.K.

Plus, we don’t just install and leave you to it - we offer full technical support on an ongoing basis too.

We're looking forward to bringing you more on this one soon!

We’ve all heard the saying, “You get what you pay for” but when it comes to Microsoft 365, do you actually know what you get when you pay for it?!

Many companies will have paid for Microsoft licences so they can use the usual programs such as Word, Excel and Teams, but what about all the rest that come as part of the subscription, particularly if it’s the Business Premium level?

You might think your business is OK as it is, but wouldn’t it be interesting to see how much better and more efficient it could be?

That’s where LIV can help.

This diagram shows all possible ways that Microsoft 365 could help your workplace become more productive, by creating more seamless communication and collaboration across locations and platforms, underpinned by fully integrated security and compliance software.

Why not give us a call and speak with one of our fully trained engineers about Microsoft 365 solutions for your workplace, or getting the most out of what you already pay for?

We also offer full product training for all staff, and an in-house technical support desk.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

Microsoft Microsoft 365

Do you outsource your business IT support?

Over a third of UK companies do according to a recent YouGov survey including a surprising number of our competitors.

There are many reasons why but almost half of businesses (48%) said they do this because they don’t have qualified/relevant staff.

That’s where LIV is different. When you call our technical support helpline, you will get through to one of the LIV team who are all experts in what they do. They will most likely have been a part of the project that we installed and be able to help there and then.

If that sounds like a refreshing change, get in touch today to see how we can help.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

For more details, view the full article here: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/economy/articles-reports/2019/10/24/seven-ten-british-businesses-outsource-third-parti

Last week, we celebrated Lewis’ 21st birthday! Donna arranged some delicious cakes and decorated his desk, much to his surprise when he walked in!

Lewis started with LIV about 4 months ago as an Apprentice Engineer and has quickly become an essential part of the team.

We have employed a few Apprentice Engineers over the years, and see apprenticeships as a really valuable staring point in an engineering career, coupled with the expert training and industry accreditation that we also offer through the LIV Engineering Academy.

Want to learn more? Get in touch!

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

We hope you had a brilliant 21st birthday Lewis, and an even better birthday weekend!

When conducting site surveys of business telecom needs, we’re seeing more and more examples of where NEC’s Univerge Blue fully hosted system is the perfect solution.

We recently installed this fully scalable, versatile cloud-based platform for a London based company that required 129 users setting up with desk phones, mobile apps, desktop apps and Plantronics headsets.

This has enabled far more efficient, unified communications for all users, whether in the office or working remotely.

If you’d like us to conduct a free review of your office phone setup, get in touch today to see how much better we could make it.

T: 0161 395 70 20
E: [email protected]

“Networking” is one of those things that lots of us talk about in the business world, but not so many of us actually do… or do regularly.

Wednesday mornings for our MD, Ben Ganley, are all about networking.

As a member of BNI, Ben likes to attend as many Wednesday meetings as possible, chatting to around 30 other businesses about what LIV does, and how we could help them.

But it’s not just about presenting our business to others; it’s also about giving advice and the benefit of experience to others who may be just starting out. I think there’s plenty of us that wish we had that when starting our own businesses!

BNI meetings have been a great way to grow our business, but also to connect with others that have complimentary skills and to help give back to those just starting out.

We would highly recommend it!