Hi friendly AG folks! (again) The existing video conference system in place is similar enough (compressed video and H.323 is what I hear over and over again) that they're saying "what's different about using the Access Grid instead." I think the AG is experience is overwelmingly different but it's not as polished as the H.323 systems I've been shown. The fact that the AG doesn't utilize MCU's is another and I can "spread out" the participants over many screens for a much better experience is another. I *believe* the audio experience is different, better? I haven't participated in one of their events just yet. I'm, unfortunately, not someone familiar with the other side of this technology - just the AG technology. They "call" people on this system (point to point and multipoint) and content where they can have a presentation and people on the screen. From what they described, they can have MANY sites on at once - (MCU's and the like). They're typically with two cameras (3 if a document camera) and already have the capability of sharing presentations, etc. In the AG's case, it seems that seeing is believing because trying to describe the system to someone who uses the other system doesn't "see" there is a difference in the AG.
Now, one immediate difference is that they are not "always on" - like we would have in the AG. There is no "virtual venue" that they all surf through to "go to" someone elses room. Bandwidth utilization is higher on the AG. They tell me the video quality is the same as H261. The one audio conference I heard had drop outs, etc, but was told that was NOT typical (it was an I1 connection, not via I2). I'm bringing this up for discussion, I might have missed out on it somewhere. What I'm being asked now is if our existing node can also be used in H.323 conferencing. The few times I've collaborated with someone on H.323 via VRVS was a mixed bag. One site knew what it was doing and we didn't have a problem from them (I had local network enforcement issues, but that's been long resolved now). The others all had issues or complained they could only pull up one video at a time, etc. The audio was lousy, etc. If I were to run H.323 parallel (utilize my existing camaeras/audio/etc. for separate meetings at least) where should I look for the software involved? I would think I have already all the hardware I need. I know groups have been working on a bridge.... where are those along the way? I'm not totally sure what I would need to do to tie in. Thanks for the ears, John Q. -- John I. Quebedeaux, Jr. Louisiana State University Computer Manager / LBRN & CCT / 131 Life Sciences Bldg. & 339 Johnston Hall e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] / web: http://lbrn.lsu.edu & http://cct.lsu.edu phone: 225-578-0062 / fax: 225-578-2597
