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www.GPDN.org
"Rapid Communications For Distance Diagnostics"
 

Video Conferencing Recommendations

The GPDN sites will meet regularly via video conferencing to minimize the costs associated with travel. Video conferencing will also be used on an ad hoc basis for diagnostic collaboration between labs.

Even though the ITU H.323 standard allows many different equipment manufactures to build seemingly compatible video conferencing units there are many audio and video compression algorithms that are being used. In the pursuit of compatibility and audio/video quality we recommend that all sites within the GPDN region standardize on Polycom ViewStation128 and ViewStationFX models.

Minimum Requirements
Manufacturer:  Polycom
Model:  ViewStation128 or ViewStationFX
Protocol:  H.323 minimum H.320 optional
Connectivity:  Ethernet: 10-BaseT Half Duplex Minimum
Bandwidth:  T1 or better to Internet2

When setting up video conferencing at your site it is very important to coordinate with your IT team that provides router programming services.  Quality of Service (QOS) features if enabled on your routers and switches will prevent web and email traffic from affecting your audio and video quality.

The ViewStation128 is approximately half the cost of the ViewStationFX but ViewStation128 is still a very capable unit. The max bit rate for the ViewStation128 is 768k bps (bits per sec) while the max bit rate for the ViewStationFX is 2048k bps. The bit rate is directly proportional to the video quality. However, unless you have a ViewStationFX at BOTH ends of the conference you will be limited to 786k bps max anyway. All regional meetings will be held at 384k bps, the defacto standard.