Video Conference advice

[bishopsgarthstockton]

Hi

 

We need to set-up VC at the school and we I am a little new to it in an educational environment. I have been in touch with Video Nations and global-leap. Does any one have experience with VC or any of the 2 companies I have just mentioned?

 

I have been told by our local CLC to stay clear of global leap, but they didn’t give me any firm reason not too.

 

Any advice would be great

 

Cheers

 

Kev

[bishopsgarthstockton]

well this sucks

[webman]

Does your ISP not provide any support for VC?

[eduabncs]

bishopsgarthstockton - Talk to your RBC or LEA IT support as they may already be doing VC in your area & will be able to advise you. Your local RBC will almost certianly either have plans or already have a VC solution on place with a gateway to the Janet VC network and it's resources. Suggest you have a look at this page from the janet schools VC project site as a place to start http://www.jvcs.ja.net/schools/

 

Getting VC to work well and to a good call quality is not a trivial matter *mutters things about QOS, MCU's, firewall transversal, Gateways (IP & ISDN), E164, Streaming & stream recording.........!*

 

 

[SteveT]

 

Getting VC to work well and to a good call quality is not a trivial matter *mutters things about QOS, MCU's, firewall transversal, Gateways (IP & ISDN), E164, Streaming & stream recording.........!*

 

 

 

......... then have a look at the time involved in setting up and supporting it, staff training, the cost of the hardware required etc ............ then compare this to the educational outcomes ......... and think ............ "Is it bloody worth it???!!!"

 

[GrumbleDook]

Or consider an ISDN line just for this, don't have to worry about RBCs, just plug it in, dial up the other person and away you go ...

 

You can have a teacher who isn't even at the school ... and if they have a problem then it is *their* problem ... not your :-)

[steve]

I have been told by our local CLC to stay clear of global leap, but they didn’t give me any firm reason not too.

 

Global Leap don't sell VC kit.

 

They just provide access to VC resources. We've worked with them a few times and they're great.

 

If you do go down the VC route, try and avoid PC based systems. From my experiences they just trouble.

[eduabncs]

This site is also worth a look http://www.wmnet.org.uk/vc/

 

Yours truely is in one or two of the videos! :oops:

[bishopsgarthstockton]

sweet

 

thank you for the help. think im gona tackl;e this with a clear head on monday. done 3 CCNA tests this week and my head is not doing so great.

 

@Steve

 

what problems have you had with pc based VC?

 

Thanks

[webman]

Yours truely is in one or two of the videos! :oops:

 

The Owl and the Pussycat?

[eduabncs]

One of the reasons the PC software based VC is not too good is that of network traffic congestion. To get VC working properly over IP you need to use QOS and other traffic shaping techniques to prioritise VC traffic over other network traffic. Really VC needs to have dedicated ports etc on the network to make it work well.

 

Also the camera and encoding systems in dedicated VC systems are better then most PC based software solutions. That said the Polycom PVX software isn't too bad.

[bishopsgarthstockton]

hehehe

 

im sure i just seen eduabncs in long blond hair in a flash movie...

 

eduabncs whats going on??

[Sylv3r]

global leap is a meeting place for schools to form partnerships and links via Video Conferencing. It used to be a free service but 6 or so months ago they started charging for the facility due to running costs. Haven't ever used them but I was registered when they were free.

 

We have 2 Polycom conferencing kits and are very pleaed with both especially the VSX7000. One thing I will point out is that it may be a good idea to find links and have serious ideas on how you are going to use the equipment as a lot of people do feel that their VC kit has become a bit of a white elephant.

[eduabncs]

hehehe

 

im sure i just seen eduabncs in long blond hair in a flash movie...

 

eduabncs whats going on??

 

Nope not me! Try again! That's a work mate who also occasionally posts on here. One is wearing the 2003 Rugby World Cup t-shirt!

 

Must of been a friday!!

[webman]

You must be the lady in the teacher section then

[eduabncs]

You must be the lady in the teacher section then

 

Nope....Not since the last time I looked. I'm definately a man!

 

Ask one of the guys who were at the Leicester meet up. They should be able to identify me!! LOL

[drngrid]

Kev,

 

Northern Grid for Learning, your regional broadband consortium provides free VC services and advice for all partner LEAs in the region including Stockton.

This includes equipment advice, registration with our gatekeeper and registration with JVCS.

If you want further info then visit our website

 

 

http://www.northerngrid.org

 

best wishes

 

David

[drngrid]

Kev,

 

Northern Grid for Learning, your regional broadband consortium provides free VC services and advice for all partner LEAs in the region including Stockton.

This includes equipment advice, registration with our gatekeeper and registration with JVCS.

If you want further info then visit our website

 

 

http://www.northerngrid.org

 

best wishes

 

David

[russdev]

You must be the lady in the teacher section then

 

Nope....Not since the last time I looked. I'm definately a man!

 

Ask one of the guys who were at the Leicester meet up. They should be able to identify me!! LOL

 

We did wonder with the dress and all unless you sent your brother along as you

 

Russ

[krisd32]

i've had experience of pc based conferencing with a product from vcon (i think it was a vigo but can't be 100% sure) we have a standalone unit in our school though works through our rbc (cleo) this all seems to work well with the vigo kit you also need a pan and zoom camera to get the best out of it.

 

i'd reccomend the stand alone units over all though due to stability.

 

Kris