Videoconferencing question

[MovingIn07]

Can you connect a pc-style video conference (like Skype or GoToMeeting) with a fancy "proper" video conference setup?

I have the former; client has the latter; trying to figure out how to connect!

[PDLM]

Yes in principle if the client's system can do "connect over IP" rather than just "connect over ISDN" (which it almost certainly can). But you're going to need a techie to help out at both ends I'd have thought.

[MovingIn07]

Yes in principle if the client's system can do "connect over IP" rather than just "connect over ISDN" (which it almost certainly can). But you're going to need a techie to help out at both ends I'd have thought.

Well this end just has me. With all of you guys out there for advice

[jgl]

I'm pretty sure that Skype uses it's own proprietary protocols and doesn't work with industry standard VC setups (H.232, I believe)

I have no idea about Netmeeting, though it's Wiki page mentions H.232 support. I'm not an AV guy so I have nothing further to add, sorry.

[PDLM]

My gut feeling would be to try to go with NetMeeting on your end. What I would try is to get someone at the client's end to fire up their system to accept an IP (H232) connection and for them to tell you their IP address (which must be a public IP address, not one in the 10.x.x.x or 192.168.x.x spaces). You can then try to initiate a call from your NetMeeting client to that IP address.

But if that doesn't work then really you're going to need some specialist support.

[bdw]

My gut feeling would be to stop flaffing around and tell your client to open his laptop and start a skype to skype call. Its not worth the hassle.

[PDLM]

@bdw I imagine the problem is that there is a room full of people at the client end who need to be able to see a big screen, use multiple microphones and perhaps have multiple cameras (or fancy sound detecting ones that focus on the person who's speaking). It's hard to make them work with Skype on a laptop!

[amrit.bharadwaj]

If either of you have Skype then there is no way you can connect to a Proper networking system of theirs as they would have to let you in on their Firewalls and stuff. It gets even complex when you are not in the same country.

[PDLM]

Big videoconferencing systems designed for calls with external parties normally sit on a separate dedicated internet connection outside the corporate network in my experience.

[MovingIn07]

@bdw I imagine the problem is that there is a room full of people at the client end who need to be able to see a big screen, use multiple microphones and perhaps have multiple cameras (or fancy sound detecting ones that focus on the person who's speaking). It's hard to make them work with Skype on a laptop!

Exactly. Worse, its a bunch of senior civil servants in one of our neighbouring third world countries who probably don't have a laptop (that's for juniors).!