I can’t get into the conference! …and other problems encountered

Megan TroyerThe Ohio State University

Internet2 Site Coordinator TrainingMarch 2005Atlanta, GA

Follow Directions

Commons Dialing Directions come with a date and time (with time zone) reminder and directions like:

1. Register with a GDS Gatekeeper, if you need to borrow space go here: http://commons.internet2.edu/reggate

2. Make sure you are connecting at 384 kbps3. Dial 001189 700 1234 (no spaces)4. Call 614-292-xxxx for technical support

Timing is everything

Time zone confusion can be problematic

Don’t be surprised if your Tuesday conference is empty on Wednesday, or simply wont let you in!

Registering with a Gatekeeper

Many new users have never done thisTypically an administrative chore and requires administrative access to the endpoint’s settings

This does take a few minutes and can require some rebooting, so be prepared

If your campus is already GDS, make a note of that on the cheat sheet in VC room

How to register with the Commons Gatekeeper

1. In your videoconferencing endpoint unit, navigate to the H.323 settings menu

2. Enter your email address as your endpoint’s H.323 Name

This gives administrators some idea of who is registering and from where

How to register with the Commons Gatekeeper

3. Assign yourself an E.164 number in this format

001189 + your 10 digit phone number If your phone number is (111) 555-0000,

your GDS number would be 0011891115550000

Your endpoint's system may need to be rebooted.

How to register with the Commons Gatekeeper

4. Navigate back to the H.323/Gatekeeper setting

5. Enter the following IP address: 192.148.244.115

Again, your endpoint may need to be rebooted

6. Congratulations! You should now be registered with the Internet2 Commons Gatekeeper

Again, why should I use GDS?

Achieves a static address or number in dynamic world

• If you move your system around from room to room on DHCP network, you can always be called using the same number

Allows for “long distance” dialing without having to change Gatekeepers

Facilitates use of MCUs by people in different organizations or countries

Global Dialing Scheme

The Global Dialing Scheme (GDS) provides a structure for peering between gatekeepers, such that any endpoint associated with a ViDeNet zone may dial an endpoint in any other ViDeNet zone.

See www.vide.net

Check your speed!

Some MCUs will not let you in if you dial at an incorrect speed

Some will only give you partial connection

• Only audio• Only video• Frozen image

Faster is not always the best way to go!

Check your digits!

One added or missing number may put you in a completely different place

Some MCUs have predefined meeting “rooms” where a mistyped dial string will cause fail to connect

You do not enter the spaces in a GDS dial string, the spaces are for readability like the parenthesis and dashes in telephone numbers

Do you have a Firewall or NAT?

Firewall + H.323 = BadNAT + H.323 = BadFirewall + NAT + H.323 = Bad

Still can’t get in?

Some endpoints require you to specify for them to dial by IP or LAN

Is your endpoint ISDN or ATM?• You will need a gateway to convert your signal to IP and back

Check to make sure the Ethernet cable is plugged into the right place

• Some of the older Polycoms have an Ethernet jack AND a hub port

Okay, now I’m in but it looks terrible!

Do you have enough bandwidth?• A dedicated T1 for video might not be enough• Say you have 4 endpoints all videoconferencing at 384 kbps

• 4 * 384 kbps = 1536 kbps which is your WHOLE T1 and that doesn’t allow room for overhead

• Network congestion can cause a poor videoconferencing experience

Did you check your duplex settings• Duplex mismatch is the “silent killer” of videoconferencing

Another word on etiquette

Remember to mute your microphoneTry to stay in the frame of the video for the other end’s pleasure

• There’s nothing more distracting that looking at the top of someone’s head or out their window

Cut down on visual and audio distractions in the room

• Air conditioners, fans, and poor mic placement• Busy backgrounds and clothing

And never forget…

TestTestTEST!!!Murphy’s law: If something can go wrong it will

Questions?

Thank you

Megan TroyerTroyer.59@osu.edu

(614) 292-8443