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How to Choose a Video Conferencing System
Selecting the right system can be very confusing. In order to simplify the selection process we have put together the following Polycom Videoconferencing Selection Guide. By answering the following questions you will be able to determine which Polycom video conferencing system will best meet your needs.
What type of connectivity and transmission are needed and how fast do you want the connection to be? Transmission and connectivity are important because they impact audio and video quality. Connection speeds range from 128 Kbps to 2 Mbps depending upon the type of connection used. Issues include examining what kind of network you have and how much capacity is available. Is there enough bandwidth to handle videoconferencing that uses a tremendous amount of bandwidth and demands prioritization because it must run real time?
Video Conferencing Equipment Components
Codec
This device compresses and decompresses the video and audio signals. In a conference room system the codec is the core device. In a PC based system it is usually software running on the PC.
Monitors
Conference room systems have one or two large video monitors, one displays the remote parties, and a second may be used to show the local participants. PC based systems use the computer’s monitor.
Cameras
Conference room systems may come with a high quality camera built into the main unit and be able to zoom, pan and tilt and allow the camera to follow the speaker’s voice or follow pre-designated instructions. The other party can also control the camera remotely. In some applications a document camera may be used to transmit other informationIn PC desktop systems the camera is usually very small and sits on top of the computer monitor.
Microphone
Most videoconferencing systems come with a high quality microphone that can be place on the conference table. Additional microphones can also be connected.In PC desktop systems the microphone is usually very small and sits on the desktop.
NT-1
These devices are used with ISDN systems to convert the ISDN into a format for your videoconferencing system. Each ISDN requires its own NT-1; there is also an NT-3 and an NT-4, which handle 3 and four ISDN lines respectively.
Equipment Stands and Carts
Conference Room systems often use stands and carts to keep and store equipment. Usually the monitor, codec and camera sit on top of the cart and the other equipment is stored below.
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