Kuali Video Conferencing from the Desktop

Every notice that Berkeley is usually the only KS campus to telephone in to the video conference calls? I guess we just hate to walk across campus to the video conference rooms in Dwinelle, not to mention navigating the room availability and paying the room rental.

But times, they are a changing. I've successful used a couple of Windows based H323 options to enable desktop access to the Kuali video conference bridges. Here is what seems to work:

Polycom's PVX software $150 + delivery Windows only
http://www.polycom.com/usa/en/products/video/desktop/pvx.html
v8.0.4 Jun 2008 (http://www.polycom.com/usa/en/support/video/pvx/pvx_804_4035.html)
The most frustrating thing with this software is that they insist on delivering it via snail mail. It appears the demo version they offer as a download is the actual software they send on the CD but they will not send the activation code electronically. (Don't pay for expedited delivery, the cheapest option got here in about 2 days I think.) Make sure your computer has the following incoming ports coming through your firewall: 1720 (TCP) and 3230-3235 (TCP/UDP)

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Note: the following desktop options are not recommended because of performance issues.

Ekiga (formely known as GnomeMeeting) Free Windows & Linux
http://www.ekiga.org/
Use "h323:156.56.240.9" in the address window, then hit 'Call' to connect. The picture quality is much worse than Polycom but it seems to work OK and it's free.


Note: If you seem to connect but don't get the Codian welcome screen from the IU auto attendant then you probably need to adjust your firewall or router settings. Google search "Polycom PVX firewall ports" for a place to start.

XMeeting Free Mac OS X
http://xmeeting.sourceforge.net/
I have no first hand experience but Scott from MIT says it seems to work fine.


Note: I tried Windows NetMeeting but was never able to get beyond punching in the room number or pin. The numeric pad in NetMeeting just didn't work.