Videoconferencing at UGA

Videoconferencing (VC) is a way for students, faculty, and staff at the University of Georgia campuses to create a same-place experience for people in different locations. Using interactive telecommunication technologies, videoconferencing allows people at two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously.

This Web site provides information on Internet-based (or IP-based) videoconferencing services.

Anyone interested in either installing or using a VC system should first review the advertised UGA Videoconferencing Systems as a PDF or Excel spreadsheet. The list also includes the EITS Polycom VC system, which can be used as a test point for departmental VC systems when it is not being used by EITS staff for videoconferencing sessions.

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The quality of the videoconferencing experience depends on whether the VC systems involved are hardware- or software-based. It also depends on the available end-to-end network bandwidth and quality of service capabilities. The following resources are designed to assist those interested in setting up a video conference system to assure the best experience for their audiences.

Videoconferencing Cookbook
The Videoconferencing Cookbook was written in response to the interest and demand for balanced reference material on the implementation of IP videoconferencing. This cookbook covers all aspects of videoconferencing, including system selection guidelines, optimal room characteristics, troubleshooting techniques, etc.

Network Concerns for Videoconferencing
This document provides a summary of the networking issues surrounding videoconferencing. As stated above, the success of any videoconferencing solution depends on the end-to-end bandwidth available and the quality of service (QoS) characteristics of all network components along the way. These components include the hardware and software of the sending device, all of the communications devices between that device and the building connection to the campus network, the campus network itself, all of the wide-area connections (when applicable), and all of the above components back to the receiving device.

Technical Recommendations, Instructions, and Registration
This document was developed by a UGA videoconferencing QoS task force and contains valuable information regarding how to set up videoconferencing for UGA enterprise videoconferencing. Included in these instructions is a section on required registration. The videoconferencing unit(s) must be registered before a QoS evaluation can be performed.

Assistance and Support Process

The Videoconferencing Support Process page provides instructions and a detailed flowchart for troubleshooting and repairing a videoconferencing link.

If you would like to join the UGA Videoconferencing User's Group discussion list, make your request as follows:

1. Go to: http://listserv.uga.edu.
2. Select "Browse, Subscribe, Post, Search ..."
3. For "List name" type: VC-USER-GROUP and click on "Go!"
4. Follow the instructions on the next screen to join the discussion list.

Related Assistance Links:

• Georgia Video Network Services
• Video Conferencing Equipment Purchases through the Georgia Technology Authority

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