We have Polycom's VSX 7000e videoconferencing system set up in G005 of Academic Building A. It has two controllable cameras and echo-cancelling room microphones. The system allows the user to store up to one hundred different preset camera views, permitting the user to quickly switch to different points of interest during a conference (for example, one preset view might focus on the speaker, another on the audience, and yet another on a whiteboard in the room). The user can make calls using the H.323 or SIP protocols, and the attached ImageShare II device can be connected to laptop (thus permitting the user to share his or her desktop with other participants). The system is also capable of making Multipoint calls with up to 4 sites total. On the whole, it is a powerful tool to facilitate videoconferencing here at Binghamton University.
Below is a tutorial explaining the basics on how to use the VSX system.
- Starting the System
- The Remote Control
- Camera Controls and Video Sources
- Camera Presets
- Making and Answering Calls
- Making a Multipoint Call
- Muting the Microphone and Volume Control
- Picture-in-Picture (PIP)
- Showing your Desktop
- Adding a Call to your Directory
A downloadable version of the tutorial is available here.
Starting the System
Here are the devices that should be turned on in order to use the VSX system we have:
- Crest Audio
- ELMO
- Polycom system
- SONY projector (via remote)
The following video (hosted on our university Helix media server) shows the devices that need to be powered up in order to hold a videoconference:
(Music: Kevin MacLeod)
Note that you must switch the input source on the ELMO to "AV 2" in order to see the far side video on the projector.
The system is now ready.
The Remote Control
Camera Controls and Video Sources
Once everything is turned on, you will doubtless want to adjust one or both of the cameras. There are two cameras: one on the desk near the projector screen (the "audience" camera) and one attached to the ceiling (the "instructor" camera). To choose which camera to use, press the camera button:
This will bring up a menu allowing you to select which video input you wish to use (including input from a laptop connected to the ImageShare device - more on this later). To select a video source, either navigate to it with the arrow keys and press the enter button (in the middle of the arrow keys) or select the appropriate number button from the number pad on the remote (all sources are numbered 1 through 4).
You can pan, tilt, and zoom the selected camera using the arrows keys and the zoom buttons:
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If the controls do not adjust the camera, make sure that you are trying to adjust the "near side" camera (your camera) by the pressing the "near side" button:
In the image above, the "far side" button is on top, and the "near side" button is on the bottom. If the far side allows it, you could use the camera controls to adjust their camera by pressing the "far side" button first.
Camera Presets
The VSX system allows the user to store up to a hundred camera positions that can be switched to quickly during a conference. You can also use a preset for an alternate video source, such as a laptop.
To store a preset camera location:
- Select the camera you wish to use and tilt, pan, and zoom the camera the way you want.
- Hit the preset button.
- Press and hold the number button of the preset you wish to use. To store a double-digit preset, press the first digit quickly and hold the second number down. Any existing preset stored at the number you enter is replaced.
To switch to a preset:
- Hit the preset button.
- Enter the number of the preset you wish to switch to.
Making and Answering Calls
When you are called by a remote party, you will a ringing noise from the system. If you wish to accept the call, press the green "Call" button on the remote:
You should then see the remote side's video, and the conference has begun. To disconnect the call, press the red "Hangup" button:
To call someone yourself, you will need one of the following:
- IP address (ex: 128.129.130.131)
- E.164 extension (ex: 1234. These are used if the site you are calling requires registration to a Gatekeeper; please let us know if this is required or if you are not sure)
- H.323 name (ex: BinghamtonRoom)
- DNS name (ex: video.conference.com)
- SIP address (ex: binghamtonRoom@ekiga.net)
The first one is the most common option. Contact us if you need to dial in using any of the other options.
To call a remote site, you will have to first go to the "Place a Call" or "Home" screen. Press the "Home" button on the remote:
Then, if you are dialing by IP address, use the number pad on the remote (along with the "dot" button) to type the necessary numbers. Then, press the green "Call" button:
Making a Multipoint Call
To make a Multipoint call, simply add new sites to the current conference by pressing "Home", entering another address, and hitting the green "Call" button. You will then have a Multipoint conference with 3 sites. To add a 4th site, repeat the procedure.
Note that, when you press the red "Hangup" button, you will now have the option to hang up a specific site or to end the entire call.
Muting the Microphone and Volume Control
During a large conference, it is generally considered polite to mute your microphone when not speaking (otherwise, participants will hear background noise). To mute your microphone, press the "Mute" button on the remote:
You can also adjust the volume of the audio heard from the remote side using the volume buttons on the remote:
Picture-in-Picture (PIP)
By default, when a call starts, the far side video is shown full-screen, while the near side video (your camera) is shown in a smaller inset (Picture-in-Picture). If PIP is already enabled and you press the PIP button, it will remove the smaller insert. If the PIP window is active (you will see a yellow border around it if it is), hitting the PIP button will move the window to each corner of the screen.
If you want to see the far side video in the PIP window and the near side video fullscreen, press the PIP button, then quickly hit the near-side button twice. A menu similar to the camera menu will appear, only the selected camera will show a "swap" icon. Hit the Enter button, and the fullscreen/PIP video streams will swap. You can switch it back to the original setup by repeating the procedure.
There is another way to display the video streams. If you go to Home --> System --> Admin. Settings --> General Settings --> Monitors --> Monitors (repeats intentional), hit the next icon twice, you should see the option to enable "Dual Monitor Emulation." Once enabled, you can press the Picture-in-Picture button to cycle through the following options:
- Near and far sites, same size, side by side
- Far site big, near site small
- Near site big, far site small
- Near site, full screen
- Far site, full screen
Showing your Desktop
You will need to connect your laptop to the ImageShare II device if you wish to share your desktop with other participants. Once you have connected the machine and set your laptop to output its video (how to do this varies with each laptop model), you can show (or hide) your desktop to other participants by pressing the blue button on top of the ImageShare II device:
Alternatively, you can press the graphics button on the remote:
Adding a Call to your Directory
To add a site to your directory, hit the Home button and select the Directory option. Select "New" and choose the "One Site" option. The only necessary fields are the Name and IP address fields; the rest are optional. To type letters, use the keyboard button:
Select "Save" when you are done. You can now call this location by highlighting the entry in the directory and hitting enter.
Technical support is available by e-mail.
