Church supported Web Broadcast Kit

I understand that the Church is putting together a kit that units can buy to do their own web broadcasts, like for Stake Conferences. Does anybody have an ETA on that? We have a Stake conference coming up on February 8th.

Grant

grantzobell wrote:I understand that the Church is putting together a kit that units can buy to do their own web broadcasts, like for Stake Conferences. Does anybody have an ETA on that? We have a Stake conference coming up on February 8th.

I don't have any specific ETA, but there is some good information in the thread: Regional Broadcasting Technology. It has posts from people who have actually used the evaluation version of the kit.

My Stake President just forwarded a notice dated February 9, 2009 from the Office of the Presiding Bishopric and ICS. The subject heading is Webcast Service.

The notice is very brief, but indicates that equipment for webcasting may now be ordered from Distribution Services. No catalog numbers are provided in the notice. It also says that more information is available at clerk.lds.org/webcast. At the moment, that address just gets you to the main clerk.lds.org page. Presumably, this will be remedied soon...

danpass wrote:My Stake President just forwarded a notice dated February 9, 2009 from the Office of the Presiding Bishopric and ICS. The subject heading is Webcast Service.

The notice is very brief, but indicates that equipment for webcasting may now be ordered from Distribution Services. No catalog numbers are provided in the notice. It also says that more information is available at clerk.lds.org/webcast. At the moment, that address just gets you to the main clerk.lds.org page. Presumably, this will be remedied soon...

Wow, your stake president is right on top of things. It does appear that the notice got sent before the clerk.lds.org site was updated. I also am unable to find the item anywhere on ldscatalog.com at this point.

I just had the Feb 9th notice forwarded to me from my Stake Presidency and had the same issue. The clerk.lds.org/webcast link is broken (redirects to the main page). And the instructions on ordering the equipment from www.ldscatalog.com seem to be bogus as well... I can't seem to find any webcast equipment there (maybe I'm missing something though).

Does anyone happen to know what this is about? Is this to enable things like remote classes and perhaps to broadcast Stake Conference to multiple buildings in a single session? That would be cool... Anyway, I'm going to assume that everyone else is in the dark since the link is not working. Please let me know if otherwise.

jamesm76 wrote:Does anyone happen to know what this is about? Is this to enable things like remote classes and perhaps to broadcast Stake Conference to multiple buildings in a single session? That would be cool... Anyway, I'm going to assume that everyone else is in the dark since the link is not working. Please let me know if otherwise.

You can review this post and others in that same thread to learn about the technology, at least as it was during the evaluation period. It may well have changed since then.

But hopefully the official links will start working soon and we'll have more accurate official information.

danpass wrote:My Stake President just forwarded a notice dated February 9, 2009 from the Office of the Presiding Bishopric and ICS. The subject heading is Webcast Service.

The notice is very brief, but indicates that equipment for webcasting may now be ordered from Distribution Services. No catalog numbers are provided in the notice. It also says that more information is available at clerk.lds.org/webcast. At the moment, that address just gets you to the main clerk.lds.org page. Presumably, this will be remedied soon...

The Meetinghouse Webcast Overview page is now available on clerk.lds.org. The hardware for the system is also available now on ldscatalog.com (if you login using your stake's unit login); instructions for ordering are on the Overview page.

The one odd thing about the Overview page is that there are a couple of references to "Meetinghouse Webcast frequently asked questions" but no link is provided and I can't find such a document by searching. I sent feedback to clerk.lds.org asking where the FAQ is.

Alan_Brown wrote:The one odd thing about the Overview page is that there are a couple of references to "Meetinghouse Webcast frequently asked questions" but no link is provided and I can't find such a document by searching. I sent feedback to clerk.lds.org asking where the FAQ is.

I got a prompt reply from the support team for clerk.lds.org regarding the absence of the referenced FAQ:

In working with the MSR Engineers, we are currently developing a list of frequently asked questions for this section of the clerk.lds.org site. If you have any suggestions that you would like to include in this document, please don't hesitate to let us know.

So it looks like it's underway but not posted yet.

Thanks for the info!

I would like to see details about the connectivity options for the "Webcast Communicator" box and it would be great if they could post a PDF manual or at least an overview with some additional details -- keeping in mind any possible security compromises.

Also, I noticed that there aren't any PTZ cameras listed for purchase and use with the communicator box on ldscatalog.com -- hopefully, something will be made available to purchase soon and maybe a list of recommended/compatible cameras.

Alan_Brown wrote:I got a prompt reply from the support team for clerk.lds.org regarding the absence of the referenced FAQ:

So it looks like it's underway but not posted yet.

Thanks for the update Alan. Would you please post an update if you receive something from the support team? I will check back periodically on my own as well to see when the FAQ goes up. There was also a "Meetinghouse Webcast Guide" referenced which was also not a link. Sounds like this is still a "work in progress".

As for the webcasting, there is a manual up about how to use the communicator and receiver, and as for the equipment as stated you have to log in via the stake login, which I will do today. But from what I have read on this is that you really don't need the receiver, you just need an broadband internet connection for this to work, and then you connect via a computer and watch it from a computer or if you have a projector you can hook the computer up the to projector.

The other thing that I came across is some web conferencing links that the church approves of. What you do as it seems is send and email to webcasting support with a information and they will setup the account for you. The web conferencing could be used as in bishop training (which as of tonight they are doing a teleconference) or such.

I think it is great that we are able to use this technology, and it will make it easier for those that normally have to travel. I.E. Our Stake President lives an hour from the Stake Center, one of his Councilors and Stake Clerk live 30 miles from the Stake Center. And for Stake Conference we have people traveling at least 3 hours.

This is a great blessing and I am glad to be apart of it. I am glad that they have a simple little unit to do this. It looks as though it is a micro computer designed just for this purpose, no need to edit the feed, or send it through a decoder, it is just simple as plug in the wires choose your connection speed and you are ready.

Good luck all, and I will keep you posted on how we get it all set up.

You may want to check out this thread if you have not already.
Meetinghouse Webcast
Thanks,
Troy

Our radio based building to building intranet was installed Monday the 9th. QWest DSL was installed the 9th as well (to provide protected internet access for all the buildings). Our Webcaster and Firewall came Thursday. Wireless router testing indicates that we can set up a Notebook computer in the chapel to deliver the video via projector and the audio via the sound system. Stake conference is Mar 22.

I will post more as it becomes available.

Ken

junkman1989 wrote:Our radio based building to building intranet was installed Monday the 9th. QWest DSL was installed the 9th as well (to provide protected internet access for all the buildings). Our Webcaster and Firewall came Thursday. Wireless router testing indicates that we can set up a Notebook computer in the chapel to deliver the video via projector and the audio via the sound system. Stake conference is Mar 22.

Radio based? I don't understand what radio has to do with the Church's webcasting solution. I thought it was purely Internet based. Could you please clarify?

He's probably using a wireless bridge to provide IP connectivity between two buildings. Hence the use of "Intranet" instead of "Internet".

Although how that works with a Church solution could be interesting since I don't know if it can be configured point-to-point. Having to go to the Internet for a Intranet connection seems silly.

Alan_Brown wrote:Radio based? I don't understand what radio has to do with the Church's webcasting solution. I thought it was purely Internet based. Could you please clarify?

The radio based reference earlier is a wireless broadband connection provided by DIGIS. 2mbps up and 4mbps down. As mentioned in the quote above, the Church webcast solution does NOT support point to point. The DIGIS internet connection will be a true internet connection from each building to DIGIS as the ISP. Each building will have the Church provided Cisco firewall between the building network and the ISP. The intranet idea among buildings with a single ISP connection didn't pan out.

The Webcast device (an IOCorp Thin Client) will be installed at the stake center and the media stream directed to the Church resources downtown via the internet. Each of the other buildings will have a notebook computer at the podium that will receive the media broadcast from downtown (via the internet) with the video run to a projector and the audio into the building audio distribution.

We are planning to finish everything tomorrow (Sat Mar 14th) and I will report back.

Ken

We are operational, hooray!! Stake conference is tomorrow.

Each building (3 total) has its own wireless broadband connection provided by DIGIS. Each building has its own firewall (Cisco from the Church) and Linksys 802.11n wireless router. These routers will also provide internet connections to the clerks' offices where computers will have wireless USB adapters.

Stake Center:
We have a Sony remote controlled camera with the camera controller in the library. Two cat 5 wires run from the chapel where the camera is mounted to the library. One cable provides injected DC power and control signals, the other the video data.

The Church Webcaster is in the library where we have a cat 5 wire coming down from the firewall (in the maintenance area upstairs) to provide the internet connection. We pull the audio from the distribution amp in the library and inject the video into the building video distribution amp (to go to the rest of the building where we have projectors and TVs. We give the Webcaster an ID control number and tell it to connect. It immediately establishes a connection over the internet to the Church's web-streaming hardware in downtown SLC.

Remote Buildings:
We mount a projector on the podium and connect a notebook computer (cheap Acer) using the VGA connector to the projector to display the video on a screen in the chapel. We use the Ivie adapter kit to connect the audio out from the notebook to the building audio. A standard browser points to http://stream.lds.org/unitnum-streamid where unitnum is the stake unit number and streamid is the 6 digit code that we provided to the Webcaster device in the stake center when we started the stream. It takes about 60 seconds for it to fill the buffer and provide the conference feed in the remote building. It has a 60 second delay from the source. The URL could be used by anyone with a network connection so the streamid will not be given out except by bishops to shut-ins. The stake president reviewed our simulated broadcast from work while we were testing.

A professional media installer says the video is a bit noisy and the audio is a bit distorted, but I can't tell it from the hardwired signals on TVs in the building.

During testing, we had four notebooks watching the webcast in the stake center - so five streams were sharing the same internet connection with no disruption to any of the streams. It was interesting to note that the notebooks all had a different timing of the webcast.

Could somebody please advise on the cost of the webcast communicator device?

lionelwalters wrote:Could somebody please advise on the cost of the webcast communicator device?

That information is available in the LDS catalog. There are other pieces of hardware available to meet the varying needs of units. This catalog is available in hard copy or available online by appropriate ward and stake leaders (username and password required). For the US it is $1,141.00 USD.

junkman1989 wrote:We are operational, hooray!! Stake conference is tomorrow.

So can we have a report of how it went? Any mistakes, problems, tips, etc.?

I would be interested in hearing how it goes for any other stakes. We will likely jump on the bandwagon in a month or two.

Update and Post Script:
It worked wonderfully well, including the Stake Pres inviting his family in Arizona to join us for his talk. The only complaint I heard was "When are they going to put in HD and flat panel screens?" Oh, well.

We had problems with the audio level in the webcast and had to put a 10K variable resistor in the cable providing the audio feed to the Webcaster to prevent it being over-modulated. We didn't want to turn down the audio distribution coming through the building because it was OK for everything else.

Future:
We are going to build a panel that fits into the media cabinet in the library at the stake center so that we don't have to open the cabinet and mess with wires. Since we plan to webcast the regional conferences to the other buildings, we will have a selector on the front to choose between local and satellite and will have 6 outputs for monitors and recording devices. It will also have a variable resister in the panel to control the volume level going to the Webcaster and a head phone jack so we can monitor it. This report has been given to the Church for their consideration.

We have two retirement homes in our stake that have branches where they watch it on DVD later in the day so we need a means to burn the video and audio to DVD on the fly.

junkman1989 wrote:We had problems with the audio level in the webcast and had to put a 10K variable resistor in the cable providing the audio feed to the Webcaster to prevent it being over-modulated.

I wonder if it's the old bugaboo about different line levels. I call them "home" and "pro". Professional grade sound systems frequently run a hotter line level. Typically it's a 600 ohm balanced or floating line (3 wire). But if simply adapted to unbalanced it is too hot for the "home" level. That what you find on the back of a stereo - 10K ohm unbalanced. The levels are close enough that at first try they seem to work, but will distort on higher peaks.

In the past I've built my own attenuator cables to solve that problem. I took two 1/4W resistors and built them into a short RCA extension cable. I did this when I had problems with the satellite system distorting the sound on the VCR. Next time I'm at the stake center I'll look and see what values I used as I'm too lazy to re-calculate them.

I say this because I think it would be better to adapt the levels and not require an adjustment. Every adjustment is an opportunity to mess things up.

Am I missing something or couldn't the CRAB unit out of the library make this adjustment for you?

tsheffield wrote:Am I missing something or couldn't the CRAB unit out of the library make this adjustment for you?

Yes ... it could have but it was already employed elsewhere.

Ken

junkman1989 wrote:We didn't want to turn down the audio distribution coming through the building because it was OK for everything else.

This isn't specifically related to line levels, but it's a question I have. How was the organ through the audio distribution? The reason I ask, is due to our stake's first attempt at webcasting. Our stake center is from the 60's and has had more than one audio/video refresh, but the organ has always had its own sound system.

I'm not sure whether our issue is common though, because the organ was also somewhat recently replaced. Our Stake Executive Secretary at the time was an engineer for the Church's organ supplier (whose headquarters is less than a mile from our stake center) and used our refresh as "field testing". Let's just say our organ will do a few things that your average stake center organ won't.

oregonmatt wrote:This isn't specifically related to line levels, but it's a question I have. How was the organ through the audio distribution? The reason I ask, is due to our stake's first attempt at webcasting. Our stake center is from the 60's and has had more than one audio/video refresh, but the organ has always had its own sound system.

I'm not sure whether our issue is common though, because the organ was also somewhat recently replaced. Our Stake Executive Secretary at the time was an engineer for the Church's organ supplier (whose headquarters is less than a mile from our stake center) and used our refresh as "field testing". Let's just say our organ will do a few things that your average stake center organ won't.

The organ level seemed fine ... but I think that ours feeds into the main audio amp in the chapel. We had some difficulty balancing in a mixer with microphones that someone set up for the choir (that's where the Ivie adapter kit was). They were trying to run line level from the mixer into the mic input in the chapel and it was driving the auto-mixer in the chapel crazy.

Ken

While on the topic of organ music, I have a question...

When we did our first stake conference webcast last December our remote location lost the organ postlude music following the meeting because those on the stake center stand turned off the microphone. We still had a video feed, but no audio. So immediately the reverence level in the remote building was lost.

Our organ is on a separate sound system, so there is no easy way to patch it directly in to our webcast.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to resolve this issue? Or should I not worry about it?

I have three ideas, but I don't know if any is better than the others:

1) If using a laptop at the remote building the operator could stop the webcast receive and switch to a video with church music and a photo slideshow. For our next broadcast we will be using the church receiver, so this isn't an option for us.

2) We typically use a video mixer with two video cameras (one set for wide angle and one zoomed in on the speaker). We could switch in a DVD player with church music & slide show.

3) Assuming the video mixer would support this, switch in church music from a CD player but continue to feed the stake center video.

I am curious to know what, if anything, other stakes are doing in this regard.

DeeGardiner wrote:While on the topic of organ music, I have a question...

When we did our first stake conference webcast last December our remote location lost the organ postlude music following the meeting because those on the stake center stand turned off the microphone. We still had a video feed, but no audio. So immediately the reverence level in the remote building was lost.

Our organ is on a separate sound system, so there is no easy way to patch it directly in to our webcast.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to resolve this issue? Or should I not worry about it?

I have three ideas, but I don't know if any is better than the others:

1) If using a laptop at the remote building the operator could stop the webcast receive and switch to a video with church music and a photo slideshow. For our next broadcast we will be using the church receiver, so this isn't an option for us.

2) We typically use a video mixer with two video cameras (one set for wide angle and one zoomed in on the speaker). We could switch in a DVD player with church music & slide show.

3) Assuming the video mixer would support this, switch in church music from a CD player but continue to feed the stake center video.

I am curious to know what, if anything, other stakes are doing in this regard.

A low tech suggestion. Before the meeting ask anyone on the stand that might be likely to turn off the microphone at the end of the meeting to not do so. You might also post a note next to or over the switch to remind them.

Maybe I'm dumb but I can't find the manual for the webcast communicator online so far. Can someone point me to it? I'd like to see just what this device does before we purchase it. I assume it's the video and audio encoder? I'm hoping the manual will provide details as well as a list of port connections it has.

Here is the link to the page where the guidelines are and then you need to click the link and download the PDF for the guidelines.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=b7498868fc1aa110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=9ae914cce116f110VgnVCM100000176f620a____

Troy

tsheffield wrote:Here is the link to the page where the guidelines are and then you need to click the link and download the PDF for the guidelines.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=b7498868fc1aa110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=9ae914cce116f110VgnVCM100000176f620a____

Troy

The title of that PDF link on the page is "Meetinghouse Webcast Guide". It is a 31-page PDF that's pretty detailed.

lionelwalters wrote:Could somebody please advise on the cost of the webcast communicator device?

The equipment is currently not available to purchase in Australia, when it is a letter will be sent to Stake Presidencies outlining the costs.

denleyan wrote:The equipment is currently not available to purchase in Australia, when it is a letter will be sent to Stake Presidencies outlining the costs.

Thanks Andrew. Since my earlier post we received an Area Newsletter containing a "coming soon" announcement about the Webcast kit, but I was just wanting to get a ballpark idea of cost to compare the Webcast kit with other options. -L