Environmentally friendly High Definition Video Conferencing

Standards compliant Video Conferencing systems


Video Conferencing Products

There are several categories of Video Conferencing products that 21st Century Video supplies, installs, trains and supports. In order to help you select which are applicable, they are listed in various ways according to Standards Compliance (H.323, H.320, SIP & HD), Network Connectivity (IP or ISDN), Size (Personal or Group) and System Type (PC or Set-top). Furthermore, for large installations, some form a centralised management maybe considered necessary, so Network Management and Services products such as Gatekeepers, Gateways, Multipoint Control Units (MCU) and Firewall/NAT Traversal devices are included. They are all H.323 and/or H.320 standards compliant, with most also supporting SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). To complete the listing, complimentary products such as Pan, Tilt & Zoom cameras and wireless microphones have been included.

There are also technical papers available to provide more information on:


Standards Compliance (H.323, SIP, H.320 & High-Definition) and Connectivity (IP or ISDN):

H.323 compliant Systems

 

Lists H.323 standards compliant products for Video Conferencing over IP networks. Products include Emblaze-VCON vPoint HD and WebPoint, Polycom PVX and Radvision Scopia Desktop; all software clients that support H.264 video. Polycom HDX 7000 that delivers television-like video with crisp and clear audio, LifeSize Team 220 workgroup system and the Polycom HDX 4000 executive desktop that doubles as a PC monitor.

H.323 Systems
H.323 Systems

SIP compliant Systems

 

Lists SIP compliant products for Video Conferencing over IP networks. Polycom products include the Windows based PVX software client, the entry level settop V500, the VSX 5000 group system and all the HDX series systems. LifeSize products include the LifeSize Room 220 and Team 200 workgroup systems and the LifeSize Desktop SIP only PC client.

H.323 Systems
SIP Systems

H.320 compliant Systems

 

Lists H.320 standards compliant products for Video Conferencing over ISDN. Most also adhere to the H.323 standard for Video Conferencing over IP. Products include Polycom VSX 7000S and HDX 8000 as well as LifeSize Room 200 and LifeSize Team 200. All of which support mixed mode IP and ISDN Multipoint calls as well as H.239 data showing. Also included is Emblaze-VCON vPoint HD Executive, the lowest priced PC-based, H.320 compliant solution.

H.320 Systems H.320 Systems

Wireless 802.11b/g Systems

 

Lists wireless 802.11b/g compliant video systems that operate at very low bandwidths. The Frontline Communicator is a wireless and wearable solution that offers hands-free operation. Unlike conventional video conferencing were the user goes to the system, the Frontline Communicator enables the wearer to be on the Frontline, whilst in direct audio and video communications with their team. The Frontline Communicator can also link with H.323 video conferencing systems.

Wireless 802.11b/g Systems 802.11b/g

High Definition Systems

 

Lists High Definition (HD) products for Video Conferencing. Includes PC based, Personal and Group systems. HD is relatively new, requires higher bandwidth and more processing power. Some systems listed here are currently only capable of receiving 720p HD resolution whilst they transmit lower than HD resolution such as 4CIF or CIF. Included are Emblaze-VCON vPoint HD PC-based software, all Polycom HDX series systems and all LifeSize systems.

High Definition Systems HD Systems

Network Management and Services:

Network Management and Services

 

Lists Video Conferencing Network Management and Services products. These include Emblaze-VCON MXM and Radvision's ECS Gatekeepers with centralised management, configuration, conference scheduling and administrative options. Also includes Gateways between IP, ISDN and 3G networks, various Multipoint Control Units (MCU) and H.460.18 & H.460.19 Firewall/NAT Traversal solutions.

Network Management and Services Management

Size (Personal or Group):

Personal Systems

 

Lists Video Conferencing products classed as being Personal systems. They are intended to be used as single user systems. All adhere to the H.323 standard for IP conferencing and most have optional ISDN connectivity for H.320 compliance. Products include Emblaze-VCON vPoint HD and WebPoint, Polycom PVX, LifeSize Desktop and Radvision Scopia Desktop; all software clients that support H.264 video; also includes LG Executive powered by LifeSize, Polycom V700 and HDX4000, all of which double as a PC monitor.

Personal Systems Personal Systems

Room Systems

 

Lists Video Conferencing products classed as being Room (Group) systems. They are all capable of including several participants and have remote controlled Pan, Tilt and Zoom, (PTZ), cameras and table-top microphones. All adhere to the H.323 standard for IP conferencing and most have optional ISDN connectivity for H.320 compliance. Products include Emblaze-VCON xPointS, LifeSize Room 220 and Polycom High-Definition HDX 8000 series.

Group Systems Group Systems

System Type (PC or Set-top):

PC based Systems

 

Lists PC-based Video Conferencing products. They are mainly intended to be used as single user systems. Most adhere to the H.323 standard and some also support SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) for conferencing over IP Networks. Products include Polycom PVX, LifeSize Desktop, Radvision Scopia Desktop, Emblaze-VCON vPoint HD and WebPoint software-only kits as well as complete PC-based solutions such as the Emblaze-VCON xPointHD.

PC based PC based

Set-top based Systems

 

Lists Set-top based Video Conferencing products. These are non-PC systems and most are capable of including several participants in a session. All adhere to the H.323 standard for IP conferencing and most have optional ISDN connectivity for H.320 standards compliance. Products include the Polycom V500 that's suitable for the home office user, the Emblaze-VCON xPointS and LifeSize Express 220 that offers true high-definition 1080p video.

Settop based Settop based

Microphones and Cameras:

Microphones and Mixers

 

Lists a range of Microphones and Mixers suitable for use with Video Conferencing systems such as Emblaze-VCON PC based vPoint HD software, LifeSize Express 200 or Polycom VSX7000S. Products include the audio-technica® ATW-700 wireless microphone kits; U841A and U851A wired microphones for use with the AT-MX351 SmartMixer® as well as the Revolabs® xTag™, Solo™, Fusion™ and HD wireless microphone solutions.

Microphones and Mixers Microphones

Colour Cameras

 

Lists a range of PAL colour cameras from Sony, Canon and Logitech. Ideal for use with PC based Video Conferencing applications such as vPoint HD, or as a second camera input for Set-top systems such as the Polycom VSX 7000S. Most have a Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) capability and include a handheld Infrared controller. They can also be controlled from the application using a VISCA cable. Includes High-Definition cameras.

Colour Cameras Colour Cameras


Updated: 20 July 2010.