CelticWhisper
Junior Member
Hi everyone,
First-time poster here looking for some VoIP/video advice.
Basically I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to build a videoconferencing system that's self-contained (i.e. no external company's server involved, 100% my own equipment) and free so I can set up video calls:
-From room to room in my house, a la utopian sci-fi future visions
-With family and friends over a wide geographic spread
--Bonus for working over a secure VPN
-With clients for tech troubleshooting/consulting
This system may also be duplicated at my office once tested working so we can have secure in-office or inter-office video calls with vendors or customers.
Also, I need something cross-platform with at least Win/Mac, but I'd really prefer to have Linux compatibility as well.
I know that Ekiga, iChat, NetMeeting and a few others have video support but I have no clue about which ones work with which, and what server software to use to tie it all together.
I'm sure the solutions will present themselves with enough googling, but I don't know how much is "enough" and if it's not possible I don't want to spend the time on a futile endeavour.
Thanks for any and all help you can provide - I really appreciate it. I've been wanting to put this together for a long time but I always seem to wind up lost at sea.
Oh, sincere apologies to forum staff if this isn't the right board. I wasn't sure if it should go in audio/video since it's not theater-related, Windows Software since I want cross-platform compatibility, Video Cameras since there's more than just the hardware involved, etc...
First-time poster here looking for some VoIP/video advice.
Basically I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to build a videoconferencing system that's self-contained (i.e. no external company's server involved, 100% my own equipment) and free so I can set up video calls:
-From room to room in my house, a la utopian sci-fi future visions
-With family and friends over a wide geographic spread
--Bonus for working over a secure VPN
-With clients for tech troubleshooting/consulting
This system may also be duplicated at my office once tested working so we can have secure in-office or inter-office video calls with vendors or customers.
Also, I need something cross-platform with at least Win/Mac, but I'd really prefer to have Linux compatibility as well.
I know that Ekiga, iChat, NetMeeting and a few others have video support but I have no clue about which ones work with which, and what server software to use to tie it all together.
I'm sure the solutions will present themselves with enough googling, but I don't know how much is "enough" and if it's not possible I don't want to spend the time on a futile endeavour.
Thanks for any and all help you can provide - I really appreciate it. I've been wanting to put this together for a long time but I always seem to wind up lost at sea.
Oh, sincere apologies to forum staff if this isn't the right board. I wasn't sure if it should go in audio/video since it's not theater-related, Windows Software since I want cross-platform compatibility, Video Cameras since there's more than just the hardware involved, etc...
