Presenter Computer Suggestions
Important Information
The two most 2 important factors for a successful use of the team collaboration application for meetings are:
The Personal Computer used
The Network and Internet connection quality
Personal Computer
The PC should at a minimum follow the requirements for the desktop client, outlined in the Client Requirements Document (General Computer Requirements). However, for best results, a system on the higher end is suggested (eg. i7 processor, high-quality graphics card with dedicated memory, etc.)
The more demands there are for content to the meeting, the more benefit from the additional resources. (see Additional & Special Capabilities below)
Internet
The available upload speed is critical to the quality of the content being delivered for redistribution to the Audience. While the client is designed to work with an uplink as small as 500 Kbps, when sending rich content the demands can be much higher.
Network
The PC’s local area network connection also plays a crucial role in delivering quality content into the meeting.
Local Network
A wired connection is HIGHLY recommended.
WIFI should only be used if no other option is available. WIFI technology is ‘lossy’, and there are no assurances against contention for the WIFI bandwidth, and some protocols may be unsupported. These conditions result in variations in signal quality that often have an adverse effect on the quality of content being sent.
Firewall
Firewall policies should also be checked to confirm that traffic is allowed on the required ports. Best audio and video quality will be achieved with UDP port 36015 both IN and OUT open for the connection. TCP port 36015 should also be open, and there is also the possibility to use “general” TCP ports 80, 443, 8080, 8443 to connect to the RNode server. However, if TCP is used for meeting connectivity the quality of the meeting may be poor.
Additional Special Capabilities
A number of advanced capabilities in the desktop client may be exploited to make any meeting more compelling.
Multiple Cameras
Multiple cameras may be activated to simultaneously send ‘feeds’ of different elements of interest. Focused views of individuals, physical spaces, and physical items that need to be presented in the digital space are all candidates for this.
The process is to plug the device into an available port on the PC, and have the desktop client recognize it in the Camera Selector Panel (CSP). Before the client recognizes the new device, the “Rescan” button must be clicked as seen in the following screen shot.
Clicking a device in the Camera Selection Panel activates it. Other settings may also be changed here, including the orientation through a full 360 degrees.
If the number of feeds desired is too high the options include ‘outboard’ devices such as a Black Magic box, as well as having a second PC logged into the meeting session to deliver video from other sources.
Multiple Displays
Multiple Displays on the presenter’s PC can be helpful when screen sharing. The process is to connect the additional displays to the PC, and use the ‘extend’ function to expand the available screen real estate.
From there the various sources to be shared can be placed on that real estate.
For example, files such as documents and slide decks can be opened and ready for instant access. Sizing them equally so they fit inside the windowed Screenshare frame allows for fast and seamless switching. The desktop client’s Media Player can also be opened in advance and the content can be queued and ready for playback at the correct point of the meeting.
Media Player
Media Player is a feature unique to this video service that allows audio and video files to be played into the meeting, and controlled by the user. This is far more useful than posting a link to content, as the Presenter retains control of what is being watched (no cat videos or other distractions) as well as being able to pause for discussions, etc.
The process requires Presenter mode in a Webinar meeting or any participant in an Open meeting, then click on “Menu -> Play Audio Video file” Select the Media File by browsing to it on the system and selecting it.
You can then play the file locally, and pause at the start point desired. At the appointed time, click the Broadcast icon, then click Play.
The media will be sent to the meeting and be displayed in the client as an individual tile.