Web Conferencing Equipment

Web Conferencing Equipment for Dummies

(Okay, you're not a dummy, but you do need helpful hints on teleconferencing equipment.)

Businesses are coming up with newer and better ways to increase their productivity and decrease expenses all the time.  One of the greatest business innovations of the twenty-first century is that of web conferencing. 

Instead of the old "travel-across-the-country" method of doing business, successful companies are now using the Internet to conduct their face-to-face meetings. 

And since the teleporter has not been invented yet, webcam conferencing will remain the top economical and business-wise solution to the problem of uniting distant groups of people for communication purposes.

So you, being a bright individual, would like to start using the Internet as your primary means of communication with your far-flung customers.  But where do you start?  What types of web conferencing equipment do you need to begin?

A Computer

This seems like an obvious choice as we are talking about webcam conferencing, but you might be surprised.  The best place to begin with anything is of course with the basics.  And webcam conferencing begins with a basic computer (preferably with an operating system like Microsoft Windows 2000 or newer).

A Modem

Those handy-dandy inventions that connect us to the World Wide Web, a good modem is important to good web conferencing.  In the case of web conferencing equipment, high speed is the best speed, because it allows you to view your incoming pictures at a faster, clearer clip. 

You can use dial-up, but be prepared: you may be a bit slower and choppier than the rest of your group.

A Webcam

Web conferencing hardware is important.  At the time of the list is your camera.  Trust me, if you try to search for webcams on the internet, you'll see just how complicated this can be.  Searching "webcam" on Google brings up 146,000,000 entries.  To make things easier on you, I've narrowed those millions of sites to five good ones and listed them below:

  http://www.dell.com/ - Dude, why not buy a Dell camera?
  http://www.ebay.com/ - Good deals, but make sure to use a reputable seller.
  http://www.shopzilla.com/ - Found some nifty web cameras here.
  http://www.amazon.com/ - Reasonable prices on new and used electronics.  
  http://www.voipsupply.com/ - Specializes in web conferencing equipment.

Cables and Cords

No, USB doesn't stand for the meeting room phenomena of "Unidentified Smelly Breath."  USB cables are those gadgets that allow your computer to transfer incoming images from your webcam to a format that your computer can read. 

You can find these at your local electronics supply store and the clerks there should be able to tell you what cables are best for your purposes.  Try Radio Shack or Best Buy.

A Microphone

If you decide that headset-free is the way you want to be, you may want to try Phoenix Audio's Duet Conference Speakerphone.  This piece of conferencing equipment is under $200 and promises high-quality sound for almost any setting.

The spiffy little speaker will cover anywhere from a desktop to a medium-sized conference room.

A Headset

Do you want that space-age techie look with none of the neck-straining stress of juggling a phone while typing, writing and talking?  A headset might be just the thing for you.  The new ones have excellent sound quality, with the added benefit of making you look cool.

Now that you have the webcam conferencing equipment you need, you are ready to join the leagues of businesses that have already figured out that for the next generation of business meetings, you don't even need to leave your desk. 

Web video conferencing is here now. 
     Bruce Chandler

Web Conferencing Equipment