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I need to stream high quality live video! Any suggestions??

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  • 18-04-2008 3:38pm
    #1
    killervisual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭


    I'm trying to set up a live two way video stream between Dublin and Belgium. Here's the boxes I need to tick.
    • Video from Dublin will be viewed in Belgium and video from Belgium will be viewed in Dublin.
    • The video being streamed has to be good enough quality to put on a screen big enough to be viewed by an audience of about 100 people on each side.
    • The two videos have to run with minimal lag so the two audiences can interact in real time.
    I have been told my biggest problem will be internet connection but finding a fast upload connection in Dublin has been pretty tough so far on a budget.

    I think I've found some ways of setting things up but nothing definitive.
    Does anyone have any suggestions of ways this could be done?
    If I built two pcs with video capturing software would that help? If so any suggestions?


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    #2
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,313 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    killervisual wrote: »
    I'm trying to set up a live two way video stream between Dublin and Belgium. Here's the boxes I need to tick.
    • Video from Dublin will be viewed in Belgium and video from Belgium will be viewed in Dublin.
    • The video being streamed has to be good enough quality to put on a screen big enough to be viewed by an audience of about 100 people on each side.
    • The two videos have to run with minimal lag so the two audiences can interact in real time.
    I have been told my biggest problem will be internet connection but finding a fast upload connection in Dublin has been pretty tough so far on a budget.

    I think I've found some ways of setting things up but nothing definitive.
    Does anyone have any suggestions of ways this could be done?
    If I built two pcs with video capturing software would that help? If so any suggestions?

    What format for the video (Real WMV etc)? How much outgoing bandwidth is there?


    /disclaimer: I work for a company that does this.


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    #3
    killervisual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭killervisual


    The idea would be to hook up a mini dv camera directly to a pc using firewire and then encode the video into whichever format works best.

    At the moment there is a standard eircom connection. Last time I checked the speed it had an upload of 400kb/s. Might be able to bump it up to the new 12mb service which offers 1mb upload speed.


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    #4
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,313 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    killervisual wrote: »
    The idea would be to hook up a mini dv camera directly to a pc using firewire and then encode the video into whichever format works best.

    At the moment there is a standard eircom connection. Last time I checked the speed it had an upload of 400kb/s. Might be able to bump it up to the new 12mb service which offers 1mb upload speed.


    You could aim to encode something to a stream at about 300kbps. It'll be small and ugly and prone to lag and packet loss since Eircom is a contended service. With 1 meg upload you could go for something about 600 to 750kbps. It'll still be fairly blurry if someone's watching it fullscreen.

    You really need something with a lot more bandwidth. Is ADSL2 the best connection you can get access to?


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    #5
    killervisual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭killervisual


    I've considered trying to get another service provider or another faster connection to the building but this is a short term project and and most service providers want a year long contract (which makes it unaffordable).
    The Bandwidth issue really is stumping me


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    #6
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,313 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    killervisual wrote: »
    I've considered trying to get another service provider or another faster connection to the building but this is a short term project and and most service providers want a year long contract (which makes it unaffordable).
    The Bandwidth issue really is stumping me

    Unless you can get a lot more bandwidth, then you may need to go to a third party who can provide the capacity.


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    #7
    killervisual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭killervisual


    A third party for the Bandwith or the whole broadcast?


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    #8
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,313 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    killervisual wrote: »
    A third party for the Bandwith or the whole broadcast?

    Both, since those would do the broadcast would also provide the network capacity/uplink.


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    #9
    kaizersoze1980
    Closed Accounts Posts: 732 ✭✭✭kaizersoze1980


    sounds like someone is setting up a porn site!!


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    #10
    killervisual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭killervisual


    Spear wrote: »
    Both, since those would do the broadcast would also provide the network capacity/uplink.

    I think this just drives the cost up to much as the project runs for 5 days with a 1hr broadcast every day.

    I've approached a few but they want to do the entire set up with all their people and equipment which again drives the cost up.

    If there was a service provider which just cover the transmission of the feed that could work.


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    #11
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,313 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    killervisual wrote: »
    I think this just drives the cost up to much as the project runs for 5 days with a 1hr broadcast every day.

    I've approached a few but they want to do the entire set up with all their people and equipment which again drives the cost up.

    If there was a service provider which just cover the transmission of the feed that could work.

    ADSL2+ maxes out it's upload at 1 meg. You'd need to look into altering your current ADSL line into SDSL or getting a much heavier connection (fibre etc). Either way this will cost.

    In my companies case we do take in feeds from customers who do their own encoding and we distribute it using our capacity. But even in this scenario you're still constricted by your too low upload.


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    #12
    killervisual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭killervisual


    Looks like I'm still stuck on the bandwidth problem. Right so!
    If I can get that sorted I may be back to find out what your company can offer.
    Thanks for your help


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    #13
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,313 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    killervisual wrote: »
    Looks like I'm still stuck on the bandwidth problem. Right so!
    If I can get that sorted I may be back to find out what your company can offer.
    Thanks for your help

    I was giving my lot as an example, other companies can do the same I'm sure, I don't want people to think I'm shilling.


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