Direct PTZ Camera Feed for Projectors in Cultural Hall

We have a PTZ camera in our stake chapel. I’m wondering if we can get a direct camera feed to a laptop over the WiFi that will go out the projectors for the overflow area?

Prior to the PTZ, we used a digital camcorder in the overflow for Zoom that would also go to the projectors in the overflow area. Last stake conference, we just connected the laptop to the zoom meeting for the projectors, but the video was lagging the pulpit audio significantly. I am hoping we can get the camera feed without Zoom. Any ideas?

ccwillden wrote: Sat Feb 10, 2024 8:28 am I am hoping we can get the camera feed without Zoom.

If the camera feed is going directly into the laptop running Zoom, are you able to split the video signal beforehand?

Our stake center has a video distribution system. The camera goes into the video system. Then we hard wire the video feed directly to the projector in the cultural hall. The same system feeds overflow areas in the RS and Primary rooms, and a monitor on the stand for the stake presidency. And the webcast, of course.

Our camera only has a hardwired connection to a small room in the stake offices off the side of the chapel. That’s where we have the computer that runs Zoom. We have the second laptop in the overflow area that sends the video to the projectors. I would love to have ours set up like yours.

We have a PTZ camera in our stake chapel. I’m wondering if we can get a direct camera feed to a laptop over the WiFi that will go out the projectors for the overflow area?

Last stake conference, we just connected the laptop to the zoom meeting for the projectors, but the video was lagging the pulpit audio significantly. I am hoping we can get the camera feed without Zoom. Any ideas?

There are a few ways to get HD video from the camera to the projector without "excessive" lag .

1) The best way (most reliable with zero latency) is to install or repurpose a CAT5/6 cable from the AV rack to the cultural hall and put HD-BaseT TX/RX converters on each end of the cable. No laptops are needed for this. You should consider submitting a FIR request to FM to install a dedicated CAT5/6 for you.
https://www.amazon.com/Extender-Etherne ... B079M2BFKD

2) If you have a dedicated "video" coaxial connection going from the AV rack to the cultural hall you can purchase a HDMI to SDI TX converter and connect it to your HDMI signal in the AV rack. A matching SDI to HDMI RX converter is then placed at the projector. This method will get you zero latency, HD video. The distance and cable type (RG59 or RG6) may affect reliability. RG6 cable is best. You may have to buy a set of converters to try and return them if the connection is unreliable.

3) Most HDMI PTZ cameras (refer to it's manual/specs) include the ability to send a RTSP stream to a locally connected laptop running VLC or OBS. You can get latency less than 500ms with proper setup.

4) Finally, you can connect a NDI or RTSP encoder to the HDMI signal in the AV rack and send a stream over the bldg LAN to a matching decoder placed at the projector- assuming you have a LAN jack available in the cultural hall. This setup can also be done with 2 laptops (one in AV rack and another at the projector) but the latency may be more than 1-2 seconds).

5) If you want to FAIL at getting low lag video then use the bldg WIFI. It may work when you are alone in the bldg testing, but will fail at conference time when 10s - 100s of other people use the same WIFI.

Excellent advice!

That should be pinned to help others in the future as I tried several of these options and learned the hard way myself!

Keep in mind that the coax cable you find may have been intended as a RF feed. If the jack in the hall is a F-connector, it was intended for RF. Behind the wall plate is an attenuator and splitter. Both are deadly to any signal not intended for a TV tuner. Removing that may not be enough as there might be another "upstream" of the desired location.

But if the connector is an RCA or BNC, you're golden.

This is in response to this quote "4) Finally, you can connect a NDI or RTSP encoder to the HDMI signal in the AV rack and send a stream over the bldg LAN to a matching decoder placed at the projector- assuming you have a LAN jack available in the cultural hall. This setup can also be done with 2 laptops (one in AV rack and another at the projector) but the latency may be more than 1-2 seconds)."

Before our building got uplifted to modern technology, NDI was our go to method for HD video distribution. ( See https://ndi.video/tools/ ) Certain versions of OBS (https://obsproject.com/) would support a third party NDI plugin. Using this plugin OBS can generate an NDI feed. OBS with appropriate HDMI video capture hardware can digitize your camera feed and then convert the signal to a NDI stream on your local network. (see also https://www.newtek.com/ndi/applications/connect/ ) (A side note, using OBS virtual camera, we also feed the camera feed to Zoom from OBS)

Now that you have NDI on your building network you need to decode it where you want to display it. NDI tools has Studio Monitor to decode an NDI stream. You just need a network connection and a computer near your display. There are other programs out there for the Apple TV. (https://apps.apple.com/bh/app/ndi-monit ... 1489088858) Is this a pain to lash together, yes it is and a building AV uplift is much easier long term.

Another critical note for those getting an AV uplift by the church. Please review the plans with the FM group. Our original design did not have an HDMI source under the stage to support a projector in the Cultural Center. (Projector pointed at a screen above the overflow) Our FMG manager was able to get this HDMI connection added to the buildout. It was a very useful addition.

Have fun.

Small update. NDI Tools 5 with the Screen Capture program can take a web camera feed to your computer and present it as an NDI stream on your building network.

One more update.... I just confirmed that OBS Studio version 30.0.2 (latest version as of today) with obs-ndi 4.13.0 will work just fine with NDI Tools version 5 on Windows.

https://obsproject.com/
https://ndi.video/tools/ndi-core-suite/
https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/ ... 28/updates

All you need is a wired network connection (contact FMG and perhaps they will run a wire), a computer in the cultural center with HDMI output, and your normal OBS/Zoom computer with a capture card at the source end.

For a stake center see: https://tech.churchofjesuschrist.org/wi ... m_Platform and at the very bottom of the list is Razer Ripsaw. We replaced our Teradek with this device and it was supplied by the FMG. (see inset after third paragraph) It is not perfect and sometimes hangs, but it works well enough. We do like that it has an audio output jack as well as a USB C connection. A couple years ago all our buildings were upgraded to 1G/Bit networking hardware which is what you need for NDI.

dave.swartz wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:29 pm This is in response to this quote "4) Finally, you can connect a NDI or RTSP encoder to the HDMI signal in the AV rack and send a stream over the bldg LAN to a matching decoder placed at the projector- assuming you have a LAN jack available in the cultural hall. This setup can also be done with 2 laptops (one in AV rack and another at the projector) but the latency may be more than 1-2 seconds)."

Before our building got uplifted to modern technology, NDI was our go to method for HD video distribution. ( See https://ndi.video/tools/ ) Certain versions of OBS (https://obsproject.com/) would support a third party NDI plugin. Using this plugin OBS can generate an NDI feed. OBS with appropriate HDMI video capture hardware can digitize your camera feed and then convert the signal to a NDI stream on your local network. (see also https://www.newtek.com/ndi/applications/connect/ ) (A side note, using OBS virtual camera, we also feed the camera feed to Zoom from OBS)

Now that you have NDI on your building network you need to decode it where you want to display it. NDI tools has Studio Monitor to decode an NDI stream. You just need a network connection and a computer near your display. There are other programs out there for the Apple TV. (https://apps.apple.com/bh/app/ndi-monit ... 1489088858) Is this a pain to lash together, yes it is and a building AV uplift is much easier long term.

Another critical note for those getting an AV uplift by the church. Please review the plans with the FM group. Our original design did not have an HDMI source under the stage to support a projector in the Cultural Center. (Projector pointed at a screen above the overflow) Our FMG manager was able to get this HDMI connection added to the buildout. It was a very useful addition.

Have fun.

NDI is a good option
Before and after our Stake Center Video Upgrade we used NDI to transmit video - I had the buildings Main network Switch upgraded to handle the internal bandwidth better at least 1.0 Gig 24 port POE switch via FM

I ran (4) apple TV with senna Software, before the HDMI cabling was installed. It was fine but could not handle much more. this uses alot of data !

Now I am planning to run only one Apple TV to a room for Nursery viewing during the meetings at Conference. All other have HDMI standard outputs. (8) TV's
2= at podium walls for people on stand
2= for cultural hall
2 more for RS and Primary rooms
1 = in Nursery room
1 projector for front. Some are done on Podium with Video splitter 4 port (1 to 3)

The last one is other side of building with no connections ? So I am adding a "Power line adaptor" to bring hard cable ethernet connection for the 1- Apple TV NDI feed much like was originally discussed

NDI is output from OBS automatically - OBS feeds the Zoom meeting and the House system via USB to Video converter.

Not sure if this is clear enough - but it seems to work.