[AG-USERS] Truly small sites

[Bob Riddle]

I agree - Our "loaner" AG node is a Dell 520 workstation, an ASPI echo 
cancellation device ($85 on eBay!) , supports 3 camera's and 3 
projectors.   You can do the math - far less than $50K of equipment!  
Granted we don't have multiple celing mics, 4 cameras - but it does suit 
most "space" & does enable folks to easily participate in AG "meetings".

This is simply the AG-PIG with a slightly altered configuration file, an 
inexpensive echo cancellation unit, and a Matrox Parhelia VGA board.   
Our in-house AG is exactly the same - except we're using a Gentner echo 
cancellation unit that was recycled from a previous AG node.

Frank Sweetser wrote:

>On Fri, Sep 05, 2003 at 12:02:34PM -0600, Orion Poplawski wrote:
>  
>
>>Is there any way for truly small sites to partially tap into AccessGrid 
>>presentations?  The minimal requirements listed in the docs (specifying 
>>about $50K of equip, fat pipes, etc) are pretty steep for a small 
>>research company like ours.  However, there are plenty of presentations 
>>we'd like to participate in some minimal way.  Any thoughts, suggestions?
>>    
>>
>
>It's quite possible.  I've participated in AG meetings with nothing more than
>my P3 600Mhz laptop, a USB video camera, and headset to prevent echo.  That is,
>of course, for a single person at a time.  You can use pretty much any
>recentish hardware, and it should work, at some sacrifice to quality.  Multi
>person rooms will inevitably have a higher price tag, mostly due to neeting
>projectors (or some comparably large display) and real room echo cancellation.
>
>The only thing it's not really practical to skimp on is bandwidth, and (of
>course) multicast capability.  
>
>  
>

-- 
Bob Riddle (bdr at internet2.edu)    Technologist,Internet2
3025 Boardwalk, Suite 100         Ann Arbor, Michigan  48108
Business Phone: 734.913.4257      Fax Number:  734.913.4255

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work" Thomas Edison