Meeting Turnkey Videoconference System

This video collaboration system configuration is a moderate cost and is of moderate capability, suited to small groups of participants. This can be considered a desktop setup!

The suggested equipment includes:

Computer Equipment

• 2 x Dell T3500 Computers
• Display and Audio Machine
• Video Capture Machine
• Both systems running Linux (Fedora Linux)
• Optional presentation machine

Display Machine - Dell Precision T3500 details

• 2.4GHz  Quad-core CPU or better
• Single 512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX580
• 4GB of Memory
• 160GB SATA (7200RPM)  Hard Disk Drive or better
• Gigabit NIC
• 16X max DVD+/-RW Drive
• 1394 Port (Firewire)
• 1 DisplayPort-to-VGA Adaptor

Capture Machine - Dell Precision T3500 details

• 2.4GHz  Quad-core CPU or better
• Single 512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX580
• 4GB of Memory
• 160GB SATA (7200RPM)  Hard Disk Drive or better
• Gigabit NIC
• 16X max DVD+/-RW Drive
• 1394 Port (Firewire)
• IVCE-8784 4-port capture card

Optional Presentation Machine - Dell Precision Optiplex 960

• MiniTower Chassis
• Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor E8600, 3.33GHz,6M,1333FSB
• 2GB of Memory
• 160GB SATA HDD or better
• 16X max DVD+/-RW Drive

Extras

• 4-port KVM Switch
• USB Hub (This is required to make to Chat 50 and or Chat 150 to work correctly)

Audio Equipment

• Audio Device – Chat150
• See http://www.accessgrid.org/test/taxonomy/term/23 for product details

Video Capture Equipment

• Video Device :  IVCE-8784 4-port capture card and 2 Sony EVID100 Cameras
• See http://www.accessgrid.org/test/taxonomy/term/15 for camera details
• See http://www.icp-australia.com.au/DataSheets/IVCE8784.html for capture card details

Video Display Equipment

• Display Device – Dual Dell 24-inch Widescreen Flat Panel Monitors
• Upgrade option to 46” NEC LCD

Description
This video collaboration system is moderate in regards to costs and has moderate capability.

Pros:

• Mid-cost installation
• Dual LCD Screens provide much larger area for screen real estate.  This means that more video streams and presentation material can be displayed.
• This means that you can connect to more AG sites and be able to seen everything clearly.
• Using two cameras allows an improved view of participants and surroundings for the external sites.

Cons:

• Due to the use of a small Audio device (speaker/microphone) this limits the number of participants.  i.e., 2-5 people who need to be near the audio device.
• Additionally this audio device doesn’t have advanced capabilities to remove room noise such as loud air-con noise, or other complex audio technologies which are useful for sound processing.