Setting up

Connect the power, network, monitor, speakers and microphone and switch the unit on using the power button on the back or on the remote control.

Connecting to a conference

The relevant instructions depend on whether you are connecting directly to another site (point-to-point) or to one or more other sites via a gatekeeper.

The settings can be changed either through the on-screen control panels using the remote control or through the web interface (vc1 in D17 or vc2 (portable)). Instructions given here are for the on-screen interface. The web interface may be easier to use if a networked computer is available, but does not offer exactly the same options.

Some settings can only be changed after entering a PIN (using the on-screen controls) or password (using the web interface). See "system details" below. Please be careful in making changes, and try to leave the system in a state such that other people can still use it!

Point-to-point meetings

• From the main menu (which you can reach by pressing the "home" button on the remote control) follow the selections: Settings -> Installation (enter PIN) -> Network Interfaces -> IP -> H.323 Settings
• Untick "Use Gatekeeper"
• Save settings: Use the back button on the screen, or the home button on the remote control, and select "yes" when asked if you want to save the data. (If you use the back button on the remote control you will not be prompted and the new settings will not be saved.)
• Go back to the main menu and select "Video call".
• Enter IP address of remote system in box at top left and select "call". Or wait for the remote system to call you.

Using a gatekeeper

To use a gatekeeper you will need to enter the gatekeeper's IP address and some registration information for the system you are using. Officially this should only be done using the system in D17, but using the other system shouldn't cause any major problems as long as two people don't use the same registration details on different systems at the same time.

• From the main menu (which you can reach by pressing the "home" button on the remote control) follow the selections: Settings -> Installation (enter PIN) -> Network Interfaces -> IP -> H.323 Settings.
• Enter H323 name and number in the boxes at the top of the screen.
• Tick "Use Gatekeeper" and enter IP address of gatekeeper.
• Save settings: Use the back button on the screen, or the home button on the remote control, and select "yes" when asked if you want to save the data. (If you use the back button on the remote control you will not be prompted and the new settings will not be saved.)
• Go back to the main menu and select "Video call".
• Enter H.323 number of remote system (or MCU - multipoint contact unit - for multiway conferences) in box at top left and select "call". Or wait for the remote system to call you.

JANET gatekeeper

Gatekeeper	IP address	H323 name	H323 number
JANET	194.80.134.34	ucl-hep	0044010401214

The JANET Videoconferencing Service (JVCS) is used for the accelerator lectures. It can also be used to have a multi-point conference with any registered JANET sites. Most HEP groups are registered now. The conference is pre-booked through the JVCS booking service. Our JANET identifier is listed as "ucl-hep@ucl.ac.uk - Room d17, Physics Building".

To use this service you should register personally so that you can book your own conferences and receive the email notification. Select ucl-hep@ucl.ac.uk as your home venue. You will receive an email notification when you've been registered.

The JVCS operates on a dial-out basis. You need to register with the gatekeeper with the correct H.323 name (ucl-hep) and ID (0044010401214). At the booked start time of the conference, the MCU (multipoint contact unit) will call you and the other participants, and you should press "OK" to accept the call.

ESNET gatekeeper

Gatekeeper	IP address	H323 name	H323 number
ESNET	198.128.3.86	Waters200245	200245

There is a list of connection numbers available. There is also an MCU (Multipoint Contact Unit) available at 8223338 for multi-point conferences within Europe or for ad-hoc conferences.

Using the Aethra Vega X3 in D.17 to join a VRVS Room Videconference:

Ensure a D.17 projector cable is connected to Aethra Vega X3, power on Aethra, let it initialise, then power on projector in D.17 which should detect and switch to an active rgb input. Alternate inputs (rgb1, rgb2) can be selected from the projector remote control.

Log onto PC85 as "hep", start web browser,  go to http://www.vrvs.org - click login button. Detection utility will check for required javascript, popups, java, cookie and i/p detection.

(If using your own laptop to join a vrvs room you may need to allow java, javascript, pop-ups and cookies from www.vrvs.org. I/P detection may not work on some firewalled i/p addresses / interfaces). If all is well you'll get green lights, then a login box will appear. Enter username and password (authorised users will have these).

Click the Enter button from left hand side menu.

Click to select the virtual room you wish to join. The virtual room (e.g. cafe) will pop up as a java window (you may get a security warning asking if you want to trust a signed applet distributed by vrvs, click yes to accept), the chat service window for the virtual room may also pop up (possibly behind the main room window which you may have to move to see it). The chat window enables participants in the room to type text that all the other participants can read. This can be a useful tool if someone's audio or video isn't working.

At the bottom of your selected virtual room java window are several tabs, labelled "main", "participants", video mode", "sharing" and "client setup".

Click on the "client setup" tab, under "use client type" ensure the H.323 box is checked, then enter the Aethra's i/p address (128.40.4.176) into the "Host IP / Alias" box. (default settings of bandwidth 384k and frame rate 12/15 seem ok, leave mcu and gatekeeper boxes unchecked)

Click on the "main" tab.

Click on the green button "connect H.323".

Have the Aethra's remote control ready as you may need to click on "accept" in a few seconds when the Aethra will receive a "call" (it is normally set to auto answer after 2 rings).

You will now be connected to the room you have chosen, audio and videoconferencing  functions being handled by the Aethra Vega X3.

    More information on H.323 settings and recommendations are available at:
http://www.vrvs.org/Documentation/Applications/h323-guide.html

System details

Unit	Hostname	PIN	Web user name	Web password
VC1 (D17)	vc1.hep.ucl.ac.uk	2108	vc1	fixed
VC2 (portable)	vc2.hep.ucl.ac.uk	7155	vc2	portable
CERN
DESY