Want to use a web cam to allow remote viewers to view a meeting?

Question

I run a small non profit organiztion. We have members all over the world and have annual meetings which man cannot attend but would like to participate remotely. Are there any recommendations for using simple web cam and mic to show the meeting live through our web site.

Answer 1

I had a nice long winded answer for you and then my browser crashed just as I finished the spell check and was about to send. Rrrrrrr. So here is the skinny version :-)

There are some questions to ask....do you need to have video? would audio suffice? how about audio and sharing a presentation? how many do you want to include? etc. Answer to these questions might help narrow down your options.

http://meetmenow.webex.com/
I use a webex service that works great for small business. It is cheaper than their larger enterprise services and allows up to 10 people (fine for my needs) and it will generate a conference call number for those 10 people as well. I used to use the larger enterprise version and do pay-per-minute meetings but I could chew through 50.00 pretty quickly as opposed to the Meet Me Now service that is 50.00 a month use it all you want.

Note: MS offers a similar service to the webex pay-per-minute service at www.livemeeting.com

https://skypecasts.skype.com/skypecasts/home
I have use Skype to do PC to Phone calls in the past and found the product great. I have used it to do a "Skype Cast" but this could be the solution if everyone has Skype installed and the max number of people is 100. Unfortunately these are voice only at this point. Skype does offer webcam video but I am not sure if multiple people can view it at once.

CAMERAS
I listen to Leo Laporte for a lot of advice. He says the best picture you'll ever get is using your camcorder if it has firewire. You get this software - http://www.orangeware.com/endusers/webcamdv.html - and you'll have the best picture possible. Here is what Leo has to say about it:

No USB camera can equal the quality of a Firewire/IEEE1394 camera, though. Because the USB bandwidth is so limited, USB cameras have to squish the picture considerably before sending it down the wire. Firewire cameras can let the PC do the work - that’s the main reason the iSight works so well. Your best picture on a PC or Mac is going to come from your DV camcorder connected via Firewire. You’ll need Orange Micro’s WebcamDV software to make the camcorder work with Messenger or other Windows-based teleconferencing software. OrangeMicro also makes a Firewire webcam that comes with appropriate drivers for Windows and Mac called the iBot. Haven’t tried it, though.


There you have it. Did not take me as long to type it this time around. Hope it helps :-)

Cheers,
HueyTheGeek

Answer 2

I've been very happy with my Logitech webcam. It has a microphone and it cost less than $40. If both sides have a cam and mic, you could hold a webcam conference with sound via Yahoo Messenger. It's technically referred to as calling the other person's computer.

Answer 3

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