Build a Windows Videoconferencing System

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It’s a shrewd system builder who can augment their income by getting into specialty services like video and desktop teleconferencing. This business is still a cottage industry, open to all with a pioneering spirit. Although video over the Internet was supposed to take off five years ago, that miracle has yet to happen. Meanwhile, customer demand is huge. Both small and mid-size companies have enough budget for old-style telephone conferencing, and both are now in a position to augment that with high-quality video.

So in this TechBuilder Recipe, I'll show you how to build an online video broadcasting system using Windows Media Services and Macromedia Breeze. It's a breeze!

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to get started. Please note, all are required:

• A Webcam: Any model is fine, as long as it has a USB or Firewire connection to the PC. A Digital Video Camera (DVcam) also may act as a Webcam, as long as it ships with Windows XP drivers (check with the manufacturer’s website to confirm). In general, the more expensive the Webcam or DVcam, the better the video quality. For this reason, a $300 DVcam is a great choice; it delivers a near-TV-quality picture.

• Encoding PC: Hard-wired to the camera, it sends the video to the distribution server via the internet. Note: These two PCs do not have any proximity requirements. A PC running Microsoft Windows XP and connected to the Internet. This system must also run Windows Media Encoder, which can be downloaded from Microsoft here. Media Encoder is a tool for content producers that supports high-definition video, among other media; the most recent version is Media Encoder 9 Series. The PC's Internet connection can be modest: a DSL or cable upstream connection and DHCP/NAT IP addressing are both adequate.

• Distribution Server: This receives the single video stream from the encoder and broadcasts it to the audience. At least one more PC running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, with a routable public IP address if the system will be broadcasting beyond its LAN. I also recommend that this server be co-located in some sort of ISP facility with at least 80 GB of allocated bandwidth (both upstream and downstream). This much bandwidth should allow high-quality video for at least 50 viewers for two hours per month at a monthly cost of about $300. But DHCP is not supported for the application in this box. You can download a demo of Windows Server 2003 (good for six months) from this Microsoft trial software page.

• A free demo subscription to Macromedia Breeze, which you can get from Macromedia here. The demo is good for 15 days and can be renewed at any time. It supports up to five concurrent users. Generally, the price for Breeze comes out to $75 per month per user on an unlimited basis. This is strictly a subscription-based application (hosted by Macromedia) and cannot be customized in any way. A purchased copy, hosted by the box builder, costs around $10,000 a year for the license; this application may be customized by the box builder. For a less expensive solution, take a look at Megameeting. It's a great system that costs $225 a month for up to 25 users, plus a $795 one-time setup fee. A real bargain!