Video Conference Setup

• The basic equipment includes a computer with a network card, camera, microphone and external speakers. You also need the CODEC (Coder/Decoder). This device compresses the audio and video signals to be transmitted to the other person or the group. You could either get a standalone unit or a video board CODEC that can be plugged in to your computer. It is advisable to get an expert to do the installation. Once the CODEC is installed, software like the SightSpeed and Access Grid should be installed to further improve the transmission. This software removes unimportant information when the images are transmitted and helps with efficient transmission.
  Get the video conferencing service set up. Megameeting, Webex and Mivnet are some of the popular video conferencing services available. There are also free video conference services available through Skype and PalBee.
  
  

Connection

• Just like instant messaging or a web conference, you must connect to the people on the other end and bring everyone together. Satellite transmission is the best for high-speed and quality. It is often used by the multinational companies, and it is expensive.
  Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) uses a telephone line to transmit multimedia over a network. It uses a T1 line that transmits a formatted digital signal at 1.54 megabits per second, and it is offered by most of the phone companies.
  The Internet Protocol (IP) is used by a majority of people and companies, as they have access to the Internet. It is less expensive and simple to use. The drawback of IP connection is the limited bandwidth that could result in transmission delays.
  
  

Video Conference Etiquette

• Test the system before you start the conference. Make sure you have enough lighting. Use the mute button when you are not talking to avoid an echo. Have another monitor connected so that the conference participants can see themselves on the monitor. It helps them look into the camera directly. Always pause before each sentence and talk slowly for better communication. These are some basic points of etiquette to make video conferencing lively and interactive.