Video Conferencing Facilities of
Lancaster University High Energy Physics Group
If you already know what you're doing just click on one of the items in the list below to see a description of how to join a particular
style of conference.
Introduction
This page is intended to help the uninitiated use our Video Conference
facilities, hopefully without too many problems. In B37 we have a PC set up
for video conferences, and a separate conference phone. Before you can use the kit you
need to know something about the conference you are going to
join. This might be the name of an "EVO virtual room", or something similar for
"Vidyo", or some strange numbers which look a bit like phone numbers.
With some systems the other site will want to call us, and you may be asked about our kit. Its IP address
should be 148.88.190.34 provided ISS don't change it. We run Emblaze vPoint HD software which is an H323 client.
In addition to the fixed unit in B37 we have a
separate phone suitable for phone conferences. It is also possible to run video conference
using your own laptop and borrowing the second Speakerphone. At present the latter is not in the booking system.
Another alternative is to borrow the department's Logitech combined camera/phone system. Consult
John Windsor for more information.
The Video Conference hardware
The heart of the kit is a Mesh PC running Windows 7 to which is attached a
medium sized display, a large display and a very large TV. The TV usually needs
turning on using the LG remote control. If the PC is sleeping just type
something on the keyboard to wake it up. If it is turned off or logged out then
turn it on and log into the conference account, the password is written down on the front
of the PC. The three screens act as one large display so you can move windows
between them at will. A typical arrangement is to have the speaker's talk up on
the TV, and other things like video conference windows open on the larger
computer display, with the smaller display reserved for controlling what is
going on. The central display is set to be the default window. All audio goes
via the Phoenix speakerphone(s) sitting on the table. There are two cameras
available, a high definition Logitech one and our old standard definition SONY
one. The latter is referred to as "USB 2.0 Grabber" and is connected via its
composite video line. Certain applications can control it via the COM3 serial
connection. The room is meant to be arranged so that the Logitech camera
presents an overview of the meeting room to the outside world, with most seated
participants visible.
Booking
To avoid conflict with other users, please reserve the room using
the web based booking system. .
Find the day you want to book and click on the time and date you want
to book.
This will take you to the booking page.
Fill in the form , including your name so we know who made the booking.
Then click "save".
When prompted for a user-name and password use "conference" and "zydacron".
You can book repeating meetings. To book something every other week
choose n-Weekly, and put a "2" in the box for Number of Weeks. You
can also book out the
portable conference telephone with the same system. Please remember to delete repeating
meetings when they are no longer required.
Joining a conference
If you need to join a conference using the H323 protocol then you need to use
the Emblaze vPoint HD software. For other conferences you can join directly. I have prepared
four recipes for the most common conferencing methods which people from our group regularly use. If you
are going to join a conference by some other method I suggest you contact me in advance.
Click on one of the items in the list below to see a description of how to join that style of confefence.
Alex Finch