Portable videoconferencing, webconferencing kit for hire and consultancy service
We offer a wide range of portable kit and consultancy services for your video/webconferencing needs.
Lifesize Team 220, Tandberg 990 MXP and Tandberg 6000 IP/ISDN codec
Hire any of these to connect at your own site (College, department or lecture theatre) to your display device (projector or screen), sound system (lecture theatre audio system, computer speakers) and IP connection to facilitate worldwide IP and ISDN videoconferences. (ISDN via the UK's academic bridge service, JVCS). The hire cost is typically £40 per hour of conference use using your staff (we provide basic training free of charge including testing beforehand). For UCS staff support on the day, there is an additional staff charge to pay which is set at the standard UCS Consultancy rate.
Polycom Roundtable camera
The Polycom camera is ideal for your local computer–based web conferences where your audience are too many to fit around a computer and therefore one set of headphones, as common with webconferencing setups, would be insufficient.The Polycom sits in the middle of your table and allows everyone to sit in circumference around it, as if in a face–to–face meeting, with your computer (or projected image from your computer) of remote participants at one end of your table. The beauty of the Polycom is its six built–in cameras and microphones will automatically transmit seamlessly from whichever person is talking. No need to press buttons to swap between local speakers. It is suitable for use with any webconferencing solutions which would normally require a webcam and headset, so Skype, iChat, Webex, etc. The hire cost is £25 per hour of conference use (we provide basic training free of charge including testing beforehand) with negotiable rates for longer hire periods.
Headsets and microphones
We have a wide and frequently–updated range of headsets and microphones which may be hired.
Webconferencing solutions on– and off–site
Our studio offers the latest Mac and Windows webconferencing setups including Skype, iChat, Webex, etc. These setups may be used by one person with webcam and headset, or may be connected via our projector or Polycom for a larger local audience in our studio. The cost is £40 per hour of hire (same as studio as you are in the studio).
In addition we offer advice and consultancy to anyone wishing to set up their own local webconferencing solutions. We run a showcase of currently available products which you are welcome to come and see.
Recording service
Offsite recording of your videoconference via the JVCS videoconferencing bridge is available at your venue by prior arrangement which involves your venue and staff having to arrange and carry out a quality assurance test with the JVCS first, using the videoconferencing equipment you will be using for the real conference. The recording can then be made in a number of formats (Quicktime, mpeg, etc) and is made available for a period of one week on the JVCS streaming server at Edinburgh for local download to required media (usb pen, dvd, electronic file, etc). We charge £2 for downloading a recording.
Consultancy service
Our experienced staff are happy to help and advise you with your own videoconferencing set-up, whether you want a small webconferencing solution or a prestigious studio with high end hardware. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Are there any hidden costs or conditions of hire for these items?
For off–site hire, the hirer is responsible for the kit for the duration of the hire and must sign a Computing Service document agreeing to indemnify the Computing Service if the kit is damaged, lost or stolen in any part.
For Babbage hire, the equipment is covered by the Computing Service's insurance policy.
Our usual conditions of hire also apply. See our Code of Practice.
How can I find out more?
For further information:
Please telephone (01223 3)35477 or email videoconf@ucs.cam.ac.uk