Bishops / Ward Specialists want permanent camera solution - what do I do?

Hello all! I'm a Stake Technology Specialist. I've had a few bishops (and / or ward technology specialists) approach me about the ability to purchase and install a more permanent camera solution for Zoom broadcasting in their respective meetinghouses. As far as I'm aware, most, if not all, of the meetinghouses are utilizing a web cam and microphone solution (as documented on these forums) and have success with it. I can see where they're coming from and understand how it can be a pain to setup this "temporary" solution and how it's not the prettiest setup in the world. However, we have older buildings and hard mounting a camera and running the necessary lines (power / audio / video) is possible but it might be challenging, logistically. Should I entertain this thought? If so, should I get facilities involved? Or should I apologize and say it's best to keep using their existing setups?

Sorry for the long winded and potentially dumb question - I'm overwhelmed with this calling (internet and networking issues have been plauging me from the beginning) and it's not getting any better.

Here's our "semi-permanent" solution:
We fabricated a webcam mount that clamps to the base of the microphone boom. There is a rubber liner to prevent scuffing the boom, and a setscrew to lock the camera boom. USB camera cable is routed into the pulpit under the mic mount and out the bottom through a small hole. Keeps the camera at eye level and minimally intrusive. It's barely noticeable when sitting in the congregation. By attaching to the mic boom, the speaker stays in frame as the mic is raised or lowered for taller/shorter folks. A bishopric members provides a laptop and starts the Zoom Webinar, pauses for sacrament ordinance and ends the webinar at the meeting conclusion. With the laptop next to the podium, the bishopric member can always monitor the view and adjust the framing if needed by moving the microphone. It's working well in all our buildings. Here are some pics of the setup:

swigginton wrote: Sat Aug 28, 2021 8:45 pm Here's our "semi-permanent" solution:
We fabricated a webcam mount that clamps to the base of the microphone boom. There is a rubber liner to prevent scuffing the boom, and a setscrew to lock the camera boom. USB camera cable is routed into the pulpit under the mic mount and out the bottom through a small hole. Keeps the camera at eye level and minimally intrusive. It's barely noticeable when sitting in the congregation. By attaching to the mic boom, the speaker stays in frame as the mic is raised or lowered for taller/shorter folks. A bishopric members provides a laptop and starts the Zoom Webinar, pauses for sacrament ordinance and ends the webinar at the meeting conclusion. With the laptop next to the podium, the bishopric member can always monitor the view and adjust the framing if needed by moving the microphone. It's working well in all our buildings. Here are some pics of the setup:

Wow, that is such a perfect solution. That's something that I'll have to see if I can figure out how to replicate. That's genius. Thank you for sharing!

skyrocket wrote: Sat Aug 28, 2021 5:24 pm However, we have older buildings and hard mounting a camera and running the necessary lines (power / audio / video) is possible but it might be challenging, logistically. Should I entertain this thought? If so, should I get facilities involved?

If you are altering the building in any way, do get facilities involved. The building belongs to them, not the ward or stake.

russellhltn wrote: Sat Aug 28, 2021 10:09 pm

skyrocket wrote: Sat Aug 28, 2021 5:24 pm However, we have older buildings and hard mounting a camera and running the necessary lines (power / audio / video) is possible but it might be challenging, logistically. Should I entertain this thought? If so, should I get facilities involved?

If you are altering the building in any way, do get facilities involved. The building belongs to them, not the ward or stake.

Noted, thank you very much. I guess my next move is to contact facilities and ask them about it.

I'd also suggest contacting your Stake President for input on the possible "timetable" for weekly virtual sacrament meetings. In some areas the virtual broadcasts have already ended, and for us locally we've been alerted that "the time is coming" when we will return to a normal in-person-only sacrament meeting experience. Obviously things can and will change fifteen times before then, but the point is to try and balance the current pain (which is real), with the possible duration for your Stake's congregations.

I've found that Stake Presidents are generally quite plugged in at the Area level to what's going on in their Area and where things might be going, but of course this tentative info isn't shared with the general membership. But you may get good input that can help guide any decision-making.

BrianEdwards wrote: Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:43 am I'd also suggest contacting your Stake President for input on the possible "timetable" for weekly virtual sacrament meetings. In some areas the virtual broadcasts have already ended, and for us locally we've been alerted that "the time is coming" when we will return to a normal in-person-only sacrament meeting experience.

I would point out General Handbook 29.7. The bishop may decide to continue a streaming service for those in need (not want). Assuming this ward has a number of shut-ins, it's reasonable to look into a simple system for long-term use.

We are streaming for a small group of people (mostly shut-ins or those on quarantine with COVID). But we have a camera mounted on the wall near the back of the chapel (zoomed in on the podium) that serves well so we don't have to attach anything to the podium or place a stand in one of the front pews. It was mounted by the FM group.

davesudweeks wrote: Mon Aug 30, 2021 7:37 pm But we have a camera mounted on the wall near the back of the chapel (zoomed in on the podium) that serves well so we don't have to attach anything to the podium or place a stand in one of the front pews. It was mounted by the FM group.

Is this a stake center? I know they will do it for that, but I'm not so sure about "regular" buildings.

russellhltn wrote: Mon Aug 30, 2021 7:49 pmIs this a stake center? I know they will do it for that, but I'm not so sure about "regular" buildings.

It depends on the FM group. Some will offer to do the install in ward buildings *IF* the local unit has already acquired the equipment. This way they know it will be done up to local codes and in a way that has a minimal impact on the aesthetics of the building. They also have specific guidelines that we're not always privy to. For example, there are guidelines as to how high a wall-mounted camera can be located so as to not compromise the purpose of the "modesty panel" in front of those sitting on the stand. I'm sure there's a host of other guidelines as well.

One of the meeting houses in our stake (Not the stake centre), has just put in a request to the FM group for a camera etc., to be mounted in the chapel. It will be interesting to see what the outcome is!

Last Fall, our STS asked the FM to install PTZ cameras in all meetinghouses in our stake. The FM replied that they were only allowed to install permanent cameras in stake centers, not other meetinghouses. The stake president replied, "Hold my Diet Coke." He got the FM to install a camera in a multi-ward meetinghouse, but we really don't need one in our single-ward meetinghouse.

russellhltn wrote: Mon Aug 30, 2021 7:49 pm

davesudweeks wrote: Mon Aug 30, 2021 7:37 pm But we have a camera mounted on the wall near the back of the chapel (zoomed in on the podium) that serves well so we don't have to attach anything to the podium or place a stand in one of the front pews. It was mounted by the FM group.

Is this a stake center? I know they will do it for that, but I'm not so sure about "regular" buildings.

We are not a stake center, but our stake center is a regular building with stake offices added. I don't know how the camera was installed as I am out of that loop now, I just noticed it about the time the COVID pandemic began in early 2020 and we used it all last year.

Thanks for all of the further responses, everyone! I'm going to approach the stake president and ask him what the time frame for virtual sacrament meetings is. I'll go from there based on what he says! Thank you!

The camera mount looks great. Would you have plans or blueprints on the camera mount to the pulpit?

Thanks
Jeff Worthington

I'd say that whatever you use for a permanent solution, it should be: 1) nearly cordless, and 2) requires minimal setup, and 3) has great audio.

We're currently stuck trying to get PTZ cameras mounted. FM said that the church denied their request to install a PTZ camera even in our stake center through 2025. We can mount our own for about $800 per chapel. Our FM is insistent that church HQ won't allow that. My stake president desperately wants them and is trying to work something out. So we're currently stuck here in a holding pattern.

What our FM did say is that they would be happy to install ethernet, power over ethernet, and possibly even 3.5mm jacks almost anywhere so long as there is cord access to the wall behind. That helps. But without a mounted camera, it's going to require a significant setup and teardown every meeting, which isn't very "permanent".

Based on the comments here, I'm curious if others have received permission to have a camera installed permanently. If so, what cameras are you using (make and model)?

The reason I ask is possibly outside the scope of the existing conversation, so I apologize if it is.

The mounted camera in our Stake Center is an old analog camera. The video quality is poor, at sub 720p. We just had Stake Conference and streamed via the soon to be discontinued Webcast system, and feedback from some was similar regarding the video quality. I don't think Webcast had anything to do with the quality, since we directly connect to the camera (hanging cords/wires) and the quality is poor when viewing directly on the laptop using OBS. I submitted a FIR regarding the video quality and was told the system is working as expected and won't be replaced for another 10 years. I guess I have a hard time believing the FM would allow a second mounted camera, because I doubt they'd replace the existing one based on previous comments. So I'm investigating the option of having another mounted (not likely) or buying another and setting it on a tripod placed under the mounted cam in the back of the chapel for use during Stake Conferences. Or perhaps since we don't use ANY of the video equipment in the closet and the camera isn't using that system at all, I could see if the Stake President is willing to put some pressure on the FM group to upgrade our camera anyway to a networked PTZ 1080p HDMI camera. Thoughts?

davidengel84 wrote: Fri Oct 22, 2021 11:44 am I could see if the Stake President is willing to put some pressure on the FM group to upgrade our camera anyway

I would start there.

davidengel84 wrote: The mounted camera in our Stake Center is an old analog camera. The video quality is poor, at sub 720p.

Since it is the stake center, I believe that when the camera breaks the FM Group will replace it, hopefully with a more capable one. And I would expect that to happen in sooner than 10 years with lots of extra use for sacrament meetings in addition to the normal stake conferences.

davidengel84 wrote: Fri Oct 22, 2021 11:44 am Based on the comments here, I'm curious if others have received permission to have a camera installed permanently. If so, what cameras are you using (make and model)?

See this thread. viewtopic.php?t=39696

Some of us either aren't or can't mount cameras. So we need the best low footprint portable mount we can make.

I'll likely be putting a PTZ camera on an 8 foot mic stand

The post by CalS201 has some attachments showing some great ideas as well.

Here is the camera setup that we have been using at one of the ward buildings. A laptop is setup at the clerk's desk at the side of the chapel, which has to sound system output right there.

I use this to clamp to the podium and mount a Logitech USB camera a few feet away: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y2W4Q5Z/

Not the prettiest, but I connect that camera and a Fifine mic (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XCKGLTP/) to a laptop which I set on the stand-side of the modesty wall and use the OBS setup as has been documented elsewhere in these forums. It's a few minutes to set up and take down each week, but it was really cheap to set up. The main reason we started doing that was actually to stream to YouTube to allow closed captioning into the video stream. At the time (maybe still?) we weren't able to find a way to do live closed captions with the "regular" in-building system.

I can take pictures Sunday if anyone is interested.