Success with video conference tools

We have been trying a variety of video conference options to decrease travel for leaders. Of the freeware available, we've found Oovoo and Skype both seem to work fairly well. I could not get any of the others to work through the church firewalls. I would love to understand what tools you have tried and what success you have had with those tools. We have some video conferencing hardware units that stakes may purchase available soon but are looking for other options to recommend. What have you tried that is working-and what does not work?
thanks

sgerrard wrote:We have been trying a variety of video conference options to decrease travel for leaders. Of the freeware available, we've found Oovoo and Skype both seem to work fairly well. I could not get any of the others to work through the church firewalls. I would love to understand what tools you have tried and what success you have had with those tools. We have some video conferencing hardware units that stakes may purchase available soon but are looking for other options to recommend. What have you tried that is working-and what does not work?
thanks

(I posted this in the other thread you responded too, but since you made a new thread out of it here, I'll just repost here too...)

Actually, you may want to look into what the Church is offering. In the online Tech Talk a week ago presented by the Church's CIO, Joel Dehlin. he mentioned that the Church is already offering audio conferencing solutions to the local units. He also mentioned that a video conferencing solution would be hopefully by the end of the year.

The recording of the online Tech Talk is slated to be released late next week or the beginning of the following week, with an announcement posted on the main homepage of the LDS Tech website.

mkmurray wrote:(I posted this in the other thread you responded too, but since you made a new thread out of it here, I'll just repost here too...)

Actually, you may want to look into what the Church is offering. In the online Tech Talk a week ago presented by the Church's CIO, Joel Dehlin. he mentioned that the Church is already offering audio conferencing solutions to the local units. He also mentioned that a video conferencing solution would be hopefully by the end of the year.

The recording of the online Tech Talk is slated to be released late next week or the beginning of the following week, with an announcement posted on the main homepage of the LDS Tech website.

As I mentioned in the other thread, sgerrard (apparently a Church employee) is well aware of what the Church is offering, but seeking feedback on how those offerings or other similar technologies are working for stakes and wards.

I distinctly remember Joel discussing the possibility of using the building's internet to hold "remote PPI's" with other members during the tech talk, so my guess is, if you can hold on for a while, the church is working on a solution.

I think sgerrard is a church employee and is aware of what's being offered but is soliciting experiences from the community.

I saw links to some video conferencing sites mentioned on another thread.

This one is free for up to 20 attendees:
http://www.dimdim.com/

Here is a link to download the Open Source code for dimdim to create your own program:
http://www.dimdim.com/opensource/dimdim ... ition.html

This is the other one:
http://www.yugma.com/

I have not tried either but it might be worth looking into.

But these are for web conferencing, not video conferencing. I'm really looking for true video tools.

We have tried GoogleTalk also as a tool to use for "video" conferencing, but it was not helpful to use the microphone from the laptop because you can hear the typing while listening to the discussion.

I have also found that you need to have a good microphone and speaker system for the room so that all can hear loud an clear on all ends of the conversation.

What was the name of that ancient app that was first used? Microsoft Messaging? I think it was bundled with most web cams. Since it involved you contacting a server, I'd think it should get though a firewall OK.

From the dream big department: http://www.hp.com/halo (No, it has nothing to do with the game. :rolleyes:)

RussellHltn wrote:From the dream big department: www.hp.com/halo (No, it has nothing to do with the game. :rolleyes:)

Or this: http://www.microsoft.com/UC/products/roundtable.mspx

mkmurray wrote:Or this: http://www.microsoft.com/UC/products/roundtable.mspx

OK, you guys started it...
or this: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/ns ... 46cd3.html

If you've seen episodes of the TV series 24, Cisco got this product placed there in more than one episode.

One of the Wards in the stake were I reside is located on an island over 100 miles away from the mainland. In the past we have had permission to send recordings of stake conference for the members to view the following week.

In April of this year we were issued with Polycom V500 units for the stake president to use to regularly interview the bishop face to face.

At the weekend these same units were use to provide a live link between the stake centre and the remote meetinghouse. The image broadcast was a static view, but we were able to show the speaker in profile and a portion of the congregation.

Initial feedback has been positive, even given the fact that no direct audio/video feed is able to be connected to this type of unit. The sound broadcasted was whatever the microphone picked up from the chapel (including coughs and cries), but the members were grateful to receive the conference message live and direct, and the hope is that this will help them feel a greater belonging with the rest of the stake.

The Army used to use Polycom, I guess some units still may. We have moved to Tanbergs. I just recently set up a desktop suite for my commander. Until then, Skype is one of the biggies out there and you could try the good old Microsoft Netmeeting. It has a little bit of a frustrating learning curve and you have to find a reliable server, but it works.

Thanks for the input. We're making those Polycom units available for stakes to order through ldscatalog.com. They should be there in about a week to 10 days (there is a freeze due to conference on IT stuff). Glad to hear these were working for you.

On the consumer ones, yes, you need a headset so you don't hear the typing. It improves your listening ability too.

Shanna

sgerrard wrote:Thanks for the input. We're making those Polycom units available for stakes to order through ldscatalog.com.

Has any investigation been done into whether the Polycom PVX software would be suitable for connecting local units into the Polycom VC units? It seems to have all the functionality described for the hardware units and would be a low cost, scalable option with a variety of useful applications.

cottrells wrote:Initial feedback has been positive, even given the fact that no direct audio/video feed is able to be connected to this type of unit. The sound broadcasted was whatever the microphone picked up from the chapel (including coughs and cries), but the members were grateful to receive the conference message live and direct, and the hope is that this will help them feel a greater belonging with the rest of the stake.

The software solution would open up the option of connecting a direct audio feed for broadcast events.

Until the officially supported personal video conference software is released, ooVoo has been suggested as a possible alternative. I have obtained some developer privileges from ooVoo that allow me to host up to six simultaneous six-way conferences from my subscription. I have created a basic webpage to allow general access to these rooms for Church use and invite any interested parties to use it. I hope this is of some benefit to stakes that need it.

The page is located at:
http://vsc.lswalters.com

If you have any questions, feel free to private message me.