Vcon and Streaming Field Notes

These are field notes by the DILC-Tau Rho Xi Vcon Group. The group is currently testing for best cheap but high-quality one-to-one vcon setup involving computers and commodity cameras (see DVTS and Midfield below). A hybrid setup involving an appliance (Polycom) and a computer plus commodity camera (see Xmeeting below) will also be attempted.

A one-to-many setup will be tried in the future.

I. Digital Video Transport System

• DVTS 1.0.0.1 download for Windows XP • The Unathorized DVTS Guide • more DVTS notes from USF
• compatible with Sony DV Cam (firewire interface); perhaps NOT compatible with iSight?

Computers used for testing

Desktop Computer DVTS alpha (DILC-DVTSa)

• Operating System: Windows XP Professional 5.1 Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234 (Service Pack 3)
  
• Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) Processor ~1.3GHz
• Memory (RAM): 768 MB
• Direct X: version 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
• Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB (approx.)

Laptop Computrer DVTS experimental (DILC-DVTSx)

• Computer Model: Lenovo SL 400
• Operating System: Windows XP Professional 5.1 Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234 (Service Pack 3)
  
• Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo P8400 @2.26GHz (2 CPU)
• Memory (RAM): 3038MB (4096MB actual, but will not register on 32-bit OS)
• Direct X: version 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
• Video Card: (still processing)

Special Notes for installing Windows XP: Lenovo SL 400 is packaged with Windows Vista. The laptop will not readily accept a Windows XP installation. To do so, enter the bios setup at the start of boot by pressing F1. Go to config tab and enter Serial ATA. Under SATA Controller Mode Option, use Compatibility mode.

Laptop Computrer DVTS modern (DILC-DVTSm)

• Computer Model: Lenovo T 400
• Operating System: Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 3

2)

• Processor: (to be posted)
• Memory (RAM): (to be posted)
• Direct X: (to be posted)
• Video Card: ATI Mobility Radeon (to be updated)

DVTS Tests on UPDILC-DVTSx

• Video Camera: Sony DRC-TRV33
• Network: Loopback only (local IP to 127.0.0.1)

How to run a loopback test using DVTS and Sandboxie

• Sandboxie
• Plug a VCR into the computer into a firewire port. The Windows XP should recognize the device.
• Run DVTS
• spawn a second DVTS window in a sandbox.
• On the first window, go Menu > Send > Start Sending. Set UDP destination to 127.0.0.1, port 8000, frame discard 1, press OK. The Destination IP should show on the Status Bar below. Go Menu > Send > Preview to see a copy of the stream. WARNING: Set the computer speaker to "MUTE" or use a headset. Otherwise, the signal will escalate into a feedback if the camera's microphone will pick-up audio from the speakers.
• On the sandboxed window go Menu > Receive > Start Receiving. The window should go black. Set the UDP port to 8000, go Menu > Receive > Set UDP Port.

iSight on WinXP

"I just got my iSight working with Windows XP AND fixed the image quality problem many are having.

To install the iSight, just plug it in, and cancel out of the "New Hardware Wizard." The camera will show up in My Computer, but will be VERY overexposed.

Next, download some program that will allow you to fiddle with the incoming video properties. I googled and found:

http://www.1394imaging.com/products/software/iccapture/ But I'm sure there's more out there. Use this program to turn down the brightness, and voila, your iSight will remember the new settings and you get great video even with AIM. Now if only the microphone worked..."

• original post: http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/user/view/cs_msg/20537

II. MidField System

• MidField System V2 download. Alternative download 1
• Download Required Apps for MidField System

III. XMeeting

XMeeting is the first H.323 compatible video conferencing client for Mac OS X. It allows us to dial our Polycom.

• website: http://xmeeting.sourceforge.net/pages/index.php

IV. Other Systems to Try Out

• Ekiga
• OpenH323
• OpenH323 Gatekeeper
• PacPhone