Video Confrencing

[TMoo]

I need some help. We just had a new baby girl and I want to be able to send live video to her grandmother. I have a JVC Digital Cyber Video Cam that has a digital video out connection. I also have a cable modem. I have an unknown Pyro video capture card w/ firewire that lets me capture but not confrence. My questions are;

1. What is the best video capture/confrencing card to buy?

2. What is the best/easiest program to use to video confrence with grandma?

 

[mcgi6ah2]

You'll be restricted by the software for the quality of output, not the camera and probably not your connection. Try microsoft netmeeting, and use ICQ to connect to the right person. A basic webcam will exceed the bandwidth allowed by your connection anyway so you may be better just buying a cheap webcam to save hassle. It can be set up in Microsoft netmeeting easily enough.

 

[TMoo]

So the video quality between my DV Cam and a net cam will be about the same because of the software? If I just get a net cam, does it connect USB or do I still need to get A capture card? Also, What is a the best net cam to get?

 

[mcgi6ah2]

More a combo of bandwidth, software and processing. Get yourself a basic webcam like the creative webcam plus or a decent logitech one. A good one'll go to 640x480 @ 15fps or 320x240 @ 30fps. You'll need to be sure the person receiving the signal has as much bandwidth as you, otherwise you'll be restricted by that. I'm sure a better setup is possible but the extra hassle for what will probably be a marginal improvement may not be worth it. I use a basic webcam and use ICQ to connect, then netmeeting to actually conference.

 

[Slugbait]

NetMeeting has built-in support for Messenger to connect, and vice-versa.

The video quality between your DV cam and a regular net cam will NOT be the same because of the software...they will be the same because they have the same specs, are made by the same manufacturer, etc. You will find that picture quality depends exclusively upon hardware quality. I've tested literally dozens of different cameras with NetMeeting. Some are great, some are mediocre, and some are worth the price of "free". My favorites were VideoLabs and Sony goosenecks (which require a capture card) followed by Intel USB (all-white...not blue/white) and 3Com HomeConnect USB.

Both parties do NOT have to have the same bandwidth. That is a myth. Plus, NetMeeting has a setup wizard which allows the user to specify his/her bandwidth settings, and it is also located in the Options menu. NetMeeting handles the bandwidth...it doesn't matter if you're T1 and the other person is 14.4. It will adjust. But it will have its best results with the fatest pipe you can give it.

The best capture cards for your cam would probably be an ATI Radeon AIW or Matrox Marvel. I personally use a Marvel. But I would also suggest you try using your current setup again, see if you can't get it to work (some people can). Head on up to ms.com, or got to www.netmeet.net and look around for pointers. Good luck.

 

[TMoo]

Thx for all the info on this subject. I bought an Intel Deluxe PC Camera and it rocks. When I checked into the video capture cards, they were too expensive for what I was attempting to do. I am using NetMeeting with a cable modem and the video quality is great. If I connect to a person with a dial-up connection, the quality and speed really drops but it will do for now. Thanks again for all the posts.