mikewund
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What is the best Entry Level Video Conferencing Solution?
I work as an IT specialist in a small firm and some of the executives have asked me to set up some cheap video conferencing between head office and the remote locations. The idea is that this is a test to see if it will be used enough to justify a larger expenditure. I figured I would just set up some web cams and use MSN Messenger as a client, but after a little research I am skeptical that this will give me decent results. The main head office location is behind a sonicwall soho 3 firewall that does not support uPnP. NAT is enabled on the firewall. All workstations run Win XP or 2000. I don't mind spending a small amount to get started but I don't want to try anything expensive or overlly time consuming for a single person to implement. What you you recommend for our "test run"?
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You could also look at https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20964295/Free-Software.html
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I have to agree with Jaime, The Tandberg 1000 is a nice unit. Polycom is the workhorse of the industry, and Tandberg is the BMW :) But beware of cost, since you are just getting into the vidconf game.
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hi mikewund, any feedback please? :)
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Hi guys,
Sorry for the delay, but the push for this slowed as we waited for a remote office to be constructed. I have purchased some test gear - Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000's and headsets and am trying various free / inexpensive software solutions.
I agree with everyone that Messenger is useless due to security considerations. The best so far is SightSpeed Video Messenger which only costs $5 per month per user and works seemlessly with our SonicWall firewall without opening any additional incoming ports. I suspect I will go with this or a similar software product to test the users to see if this is something they really want to do or not. If it seems like a keeper I may consider upgrading hardware, etc...
Thanks everyone!
Sorry for the delay, but the push for this slowed as we waited for a remote office to be constructed. I have purchased some test gear - Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000's and headsets and am trying various free / inexpensive software solutions.
I agree with everyone that Messenger is useless due to security considerations. The best so far is SightSpeed Video Messenger which only costs $5 per month per user and works seemlessly with our SonicWall firewall without opening any additional incoming ports. I suspect I will go with this or a similar software product to test the users to see if this is something they really want to do or not. If it seems like a keeper I may consider upgrading hardware, etc...
Thanks everyone!
Periodically check www.skype.com for updates. They are supposedly adding a video feature to their peer to peer voice program. The voice is incredible. Hopefully they're incorporate video soon. This is not an answer to your question. Just a heads up.
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Agreed, bbao, a VPN helps with some of the firewall issues, assuming that yiu can get around he firewall to establish the VPN in ther first place (needs some specific port and protocol support) but I don't think the relative burden of a VPN is very much in terms of bandwidth, more in processing power.
In my opinion, a VPN is almost always a preferred option for any network connections.
In my opinion, a VPN is almost always a preferred option for any network connections.
> but I don't think the relative burden of a VPN is very much in terms of bandwidth, more in processing power.
you mean VPN is CPU sensitive? yes, it is. but, personally, nowadays, with current hardware technologies, that should not be a key problem, especially for server-side or router/gateway(hardware)-b
anway, we have almost same opinions at here, hehe :)
you mean VPN is CPU sensitive? yes, it is. but, personally, nowadays, with current hardware technologies, that should not be a key problem, especially for server-side or router/gateway(hardware)-b
anway, we have almost same opinions at here, hehe :)
Great minds think alike.
Fools seldom differ.
;-)
Fools seldom differ.
;-)
haha ;-)
btw, the latest gold of athens 2004 olympic games just found its owner... :)
Hello.
I have studied the same thing some time ago, because I am trying to develop a web video conference (chat) app and I found out that the guys from Macromedia offer a great way of audio/video communication - Flash Communication Server.
I even encountered on the net a few sites that use that technology and the quality of the video streaming seemed OK.
I read about using it and the code is pretty simple and wasy to use.
I cannt tell you about the price, but I can tell you that this is a GREAT SOLUTION.
I wish you good luck on your search...
I have studied the same thing some time ago, because I am trying to develop a web video conference (chat) app and I found out that the guys from Macromedia offer a great way of audio/video communication - Flash Communication Server.
I even encountered on the net a few sites that use that technology and the quality of the video streaming seemed OK.
I read about using it and the code is pretty simple and wasy to use.
I cannt tell you about the price, but I can tell you that this is a GREAT SOLUTION.
I wish you good luck on your search...