Basic steps to videoconferencing

Arranging for a videoconference is easy! There are just a few steps that you have to go through. First, decide how many sites are going to participate in the videoconference. If there is only your site and one other, you will have a point-to-point videoconference otherwise it will be a multipoint videoconference that requires use of the Northwestern MCU.

Point-to-point videoconference- The following steps apply:

1. Make sure the other site has H.323 compatible equipment available
2. Schedule a room at Northwestern that has H.323 videoconferencing equipment available
3. Contact the remote site to find out the address to dial to connect to that sites videoconferencing equipment
4. Schedule a test between the two sites to make sure the equipment is compatible and that you have a good network connection well before the date of the actual event.
5. If data (like PowerPoint) is to be shared during the meeting, determine how the sharing will be accomplished (send the data before the meeting or share the data during the meeting).
6. If you need help, either consult other more detailed information of these Web pages, or call one of our staff for help.
7. Have a successful videoconference.

Multipoint Videoconference- The following steps apply:

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 above.
2. Using the links on this Web site, schedule time on the Northwestern MCU. You will need to have a NetID, the date and time of the conference, the number of sites that will participate, whether you want the conference streamed or archived, and a little more administrative information such as the type of conference.
3. Once the conference is scheduled, the system will send you email (and any other participants whose email address you entered while making the reservation) containing a confirmation as well as the address of the MCU session that must be dialed by each participating site in order to attend the videoconference. You as the conference organizer should send a copy of the email to any participant whose email address was not entered at the time the reservation was made.
4. Schedule a test with the sites well in advance of the actual date of the videoconference. To do this you will have to make an additional MCU reservation for your test time.
5. Follow steps 5 through 7 above.