Video Conferencing

[Xsorovan]

I was just asked if the place I work could host a video conference for a couple of people we know whose son had died and they can't make it to the funeral in person.

I am capable on my end of doing such a thing, but I am not sure if someone with the skills and abilities I need on the other end is going to be there.

Does anyone happen to know of a company (I'm in Seattle and the other end is Portland) that does video conferencing? If I can avoid having to be here on a weekend to set this up and trouble shoot the issue that would be WONDERFUL.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ViviTheMage]

first off, WHERE would they want the video conferencing?

secondly, will it have an internet connection?

 

[Queasy]

my company uses webex for video conferencing. I believe they have individual plans.

 

[Xsorovan]

I'm assuming the place the service will be held, a church somewhere, and I assume they have the internet. And then the other location would be where I am at, and I KNOW we have the internet.

Queasy: Have you used WebEx personally? What's your take? I am guessing that I am going to tbe the only IT person involved in this process and I am not planning on making a trip to Portland to make this happen.

 

[RightIsWrong]

The company I am working for is using something like this (different model same manufacturer) for video conferencing.

It works great if we are doing site to site. However, if we try to do two US sites and then a European site added as a third, bandwidth issues across the ocean become a pretty serious issue.

 

[wwswimming]

all you need is MSN Messenger and a good webcam. or Skype, though i
have better luck with MSN.

also, DSL or faster for an Internet connection.

all you need is people who are already set up with MSN or Skype, one
in Seattle one in Portland. which you can find using Craigslist.

i was set up on MSN by a friend in North Carolina. she just told me
what to do over the phone, i did the download and the install, took
maybe 15 minutes.

plus you need a computer that is fast enough. you don't want
the thing crashing during the funeral.

i swear, there's probably a thousand couples/families that are
probably set up exactly like you need because they have people
in both places.

 

[Xsorovan]

Thanks... I'll be in contact with some people and see how much "tech know-how" is on the other end.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Xsorovan
Queasy: Have you used WebEx personally? What's your take? I am guessing that I am going to tbe the only IT person involved in this process and I am not planning on making a trip to Portland to make this happen.

Yep. It is pretty easy to use. Just need their software, a webcam, and a good internet connection.

 

[kranky]

I would be concerned about how to get decent sound quality.

 

[Xsorovan]

Originally posted by: kranky
I would be concerned about how to get decent sound quality.

Yeah... that was half my concern as well. Which is why I was originally thinking a 3rd party company that might have equipment to handle stuff that ties into a sound system. I don't want to go making a big production of this and if hiring a company to do everything would mean I didn't have to do something and/or worry about it working (or taking the blame for it NOT working) then I would like to get on that train.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
The company I am working for is using something like this (different model same manufacturer) for video conferencing.

It works great if we are doing site to site. However, if we try to do two US sites and then a European site added as a third, bandwidth issues across the ocean become a pretty serious issue.

We use the same, we have only used it in North America without problems.

 

[anxi80]

perhaps look into contacting local colleges/education centers. you may be able to rent out a room from them that will accomodate their needs. around here we have centers that have large meeting rooms and conference rooms with sony/polycom/tandberg video conferencing units.

 

[wwswimming]

Originally posted by: kranky
I would be concerned about how to get decent sound quality.

you just need a headset with a microphone.

if you use speakers, they sometimes interact wierd with the
microphone.

since you have 2 people, i don't know how you would do.
you don't want some screeching audio feedback during a
funeral. maybe have 2 computers on a network where the
people are watching there son's funeral.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: wwswimming

Originally posted by: kranky
I would be concerned about how to get decent sound quality.

you just need a headset with a microphone.

if you use speakers, they sometimes interact wierd with the
microphone.

since you have 2 people, i don't know how you would do.
you don't want some screeching audio feedback during a
funeral. maybe have 2 computers on a network where the
people are watching there son's funeral.

I don't see how that would work. I thought the goal was to webcast the funeral to a remote location where the other couple is. How is the PC going to get quality sound of the service?