Video conf. for the cheap guy

[Perota]

I need to travel a lot but I like to stay in touch with the office.

On my laptop there is this camera on top of the display, it should be ok, just need an additional microphone.
What I would like to do is install a big screen in our office meeting room, some panoramic cameras and a couple of microphone so I can have a meeting with a couple of colleagues through Skype for example.

Does anybody has any idea how I can do it on the cheap ?

[Marmite the Dog]

just need an additional microphone

Isn't there a built in mic as well?

[Butterfly]

Skype is OK if your CPU can take it,

[Norton]

Skype is OK if your CPU can take it

The current free Skype package only allows one to one "video" conference. They have a new package claiming to allow up to 9 participants on video.
https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA1...irstPage=false

If your office internet speed supports multiple participants then you really don't need cameras and large screen in a central conference room. Assuming each participant has computer with mic and speaker just have each participant get on Skype separately then add them to conference call.

[Perota]

just need an additional microphone

Isn't there a built in mic as well?

Maybe, but can't find it. I should probably read the manual

Skype is OK if your CPU can take it,

What the relation with my CPU ? I thought the main problem would be the speed of the internet connection.

Skype is OK if your CPU can take it

The current free Skype package only allows one to one "video" conference. They have a new package claiming to allow up to 9 participants on video.
https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA1...irstPage=false

If your office internet speed supports multiple participants then you really don't need cameras and large screen in a central conference room. Assuming each participant has computer with mic and speaker just have each participant get on Skype separately then add them to conference call.

Actually we have a sales meeting every week that I would like to be able to attend even when I'm not here. Also we need sometime to show some products to some prospective oversea customer.

I understand the multiple participant idea but if the people in the room have to talk to each other through their computer, it won't be really convenient ....The problem is mainly to have a camera and microphone(s) able to capture the meeting room and all the participants and able to zoom when we make a product presentation.

[Butterfly]

What the relation with my CPU ? I thought the main problem would be the speed of the internet connection.

both, Skype is quite CPU and RAM hungry,

even when it's idle, it takes something like 256MB and 60% of your CPU

[Butterfly]

^^ you need professional system for that, they might be not be that expensive, less than 2000 USD you could find something good

[Perota]

^
Agree with you, it should exist a number of cheap solution. And our main office is in Shenzhen where everything is made, so we should be able to get some cheap hardware directly from the factory ... if we know what we need.

The problem is people always try to sell you the most expensive solution, so it's better to have some idea of what we need (and what's available) first.

[Butterfly]

check the solutions in the US, they are always cheap and "optimized" for each need

[Norton]

Agree with you, it should exist a number of cheap solution. And our main office is in Shenzhen where everything is made, so we should be able to get some cheap hardware directly from the factory ... if we know what we need.

Best if you purchase an integrated system specifically tailored to your needs. If you attempt to buy all the components as a do it yourself project, you'll run into all sorts of problems.

A Thai company I worked with had a system supplied by Tandberg. From what you describe would be just what you need. Price was around $13,000. You should able to find equivalent solution in China a lot cheaper. I believe it was the Tandberg, Profile 42 system.

Team Collaboration Video Conferencing Systems l TANDBERG Profile

[Marmite the Dog]

What the relation with my CPU ? I thought the main problem would be the speed of the internet connection.

both, Skype is quite CPU and RAM hungry,

even when it's idle, it takes something like 256MB and 60% of your CPU

Absolute bollocks.

I have 2 instances of Skype running on my PC and one is using 0% CPU & 41k RAM and the other is using 0% CPU and 53k RAM.

In comparison, Firefox is using about 1% CPU & 250,000k RAM.

[georgecasmpbell]

In addition to Skype, I would recommend using a RHUB web conferencing server for all your web video conferencing needs.