colly72 Posted February 13, 2019 Posted February 13, 2019 Hi all, I've been set a task to look into video conferencing systems for when our Governors meet, as well as other potential uses. On the software side, I've looked at MS Teams but this requires Exchange in the cloud and we are on premise. Also looked at Google Hangouts but I'm not sure this is exactly what we are looking for either. Both systems require users to have MS or Google accounts, so for external people, I don't think they would work. I'm currently looking at solutions like Goto Meeting or Zoom, as they seem to be very easy and provide most of what we need. Any others I should be looking at? On the hardware side, we want something professional that will provide good quality audio and video, without breaking the bank. The Logitech Rally system looks good but quite expensive - does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks in advance for any help or advice.
DalekSec Posted February 13, 2019 Posted February 13, 2019 Are you O365 or Google? Or other? We are using Skype for business as we use O365 here along with the Logitech Group Video Conferencing kit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BL9JAQ8/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Hj.yCbJBXXBYX
colly72 Posted February 13, 2019 Author Posted February 13, 2019 We're neither, although looking into Google for Chromebooks at the moment. It's my understanding Skype for Business is being phased out and moved into Teams but as far as I know, if we are on premise for Exchange, the meetings side won't work for us anyway?
3s-gtech Posted February 13, 2019 Posted February 13, 2019 We use a local install of Skype for Business 2015 (2019 is out) alongside our local Exchange, with a couple of Logitech Group units, and some BCC950 Conference Cams dotted around site. It has been excellent, and the ability to broadcast a Powerpoint (via Office Online Server) with remote control alongside the video feed has been heavily used. In O365, SfB is now part of teams.
bossman Posted February 13, 2019 Posted February 13, 2019 @colly72 We use Hangouts or Meet in GSuite... Hangouts for one to one and Meet for one to more people or more to more ratio... Works exceptionally well....Staff just love it... 1
colly72 Posted February 13, 2019 Author Posted February 13, 2019 I've looked at Meet, which seems great as you don't need to be a Gsuite user to use it (which would be great for external callers) but it doesn't work on a mobile unless you are a user (unless I've missed something)...... @colly72 We use Hangouts or Meet in GSuite... Hangouts for one to one and Meet for one to more people or more to more ratio... Works exceptionally well....Staff just love it... 1
JATSO Posted February 13, 2019 Posted February 13, 2019 Hi all, I've been set a task to look into video conferencing systems for when our Governors meet, as well as other potential uses. On the software side, I've looked at MS Teams but this requires Exchange in the cloud and we are on premise. Also looked at Google Hangouts but I'm not sure this is exactly what we are looking for either. Both systems require users to have MS or Google accounts, so for external people, I don't think they would work. I'm currently looking at solutions like Goto Meeting or Zoom, as they seem to be very easy and provide most of what we need. Any others I should be looking at? On the hardware side, we want something professional that will provide good quality audio and video, without breaking the bank. The Logitech Rally system looks good but quite expensive - does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks in advance for any help or advice. Some of my schools purchased Lifesize Kits a few years back, still have them but they don't get used anymore. They are now sat in a box somewhere in the school. https://www.lifesize.com/ Expensive folly at the time.
SamanthaD Posted February 14, 2019 Posted February 14, 2019 Our goto to S4B - IMO don't bother. People see Skype then try and connect to personal Skype accounts, which doesn't work! Major flaw in the Surface Hub business model (which is basically a S4B interface with a little more functionality built in). Zoom looks promising, though we also use BlueJeans here. Hardware we either have Surface Hubs (don't bother - not even SH2) or Logitech Meetup. The Meetup is pricey but for an all in one unit (speaker, microphone and camera) gives the best quality in our testing and is easy to use, and just works without awkward installs. Also has the option for a neat mounting arm which attaches to a VESA bracket, so if you want to mount it below a screen it's dead easy!
mavhc Posted February 14, 2019 Posted February 14, 2019 Could use SIP of course, then people can phone in too, and if they phone using a SIP app they get video (assuming everyone decides to use h264) I'd spend more time moving off internal Exchange though, it's deader than Office 2019 and Windows Server
bossman Posted February 14, 2019 Posted February 14, 2019 @colly72 https://gsuite.google.co.uk/intl/en_uk/products/meet/ Hope this is of some use to you... 2
lewisVeryPC Posted February 14, 2019 Posted February 14, 2019 You could also use the Google Jamboard that can be accessed via Chrome and share the link for collaboration via the Meet chat function. 2
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