Bandwidth Requirements - real world

[pete.arnett]

It is a summary based on information from various church leaders, Area Seventies, and Stake Presidents for Stake Technology Specialist (STS) in the NASE area, to be sure that approval was received before doing a webcast (etc.)

[Mikerowaved]

My main confusion was that the original Meetinghouse Webcast Communicator documentation lists the upload speed used and the recommended speed based on a 2x multiplier. It lists 200, 250 and 300 Kbps upload speeds for Good, Better and Best. This means you need 400, 500 or 600 Kbps upload capacity. Yet there is this 750 Kbps number on the same document without note and other documents show a 1400 Kbps speed for Best quality.

The Webcast Communicator "box" was designed 3+ years ago using version 1.0 of the Meetinghouse Webcast software. The above numbers you quoted were based on that. The "better than best" number of 750K is available if you use their custom menu.

I currently plan to use a standard DV camera tapping into the composite video output (yellow jack) so we are talking basic SD video input for the system.

What speed do I really need to use in order to get good video of someone standing at the podium? Do I need more than 600 Kbps? Most ISPs around here max out upload at 769 Kbps or 840 Kbps.

I recommend using the highest quality your bandwidth will "comfortably" allow at all of your sites. You can test them using the following link...

http://speedtest.lds.org/speed.html

If you will be using the Meetinghouse Webcast software (currently at version 3.0.1) you will have the following "quality" settings available to you. These have the recommended "2x up" and "1.5x down" multipliers already built-in, so to find the actual streaming bandwidth, divide the Upload number by 2.

Code: Select all

Quality    Upload   Download
--------   ------   --------
Minimum     284k      213k
Low         448k      336k
Med         896k      672k
High        1.7M      1.3M
HD          3.6M      2.7M

I found that lowering the quality below Med was not as pleasant to watch on a projected image, but you can only do what your bandwidth will allow. Having a slightly pixelated image is FAR better than one that starts, stops, resets, etc. during the broadcast because of pushing your available bandwidth too hard.

[rogerscr]

Well I did our speed test and it is just over 700 Kbps as expected. So I should be able to run about 300 Kbps (Best on Communicator and ?? on the Software). Will this be pretty good quality?

[Mikerowaved]

I think the Webcast Communicator box and Meetinghouse Webcast software use different versions of the encoder, hence the slightly different bandwidth requirements. Having played with both, I would recommend the Webcast Communicator (if you can borrow one) as the simplest solution to setup and get running. It appears the upload requirements are a better match for your situation as well. The only problem I had with the one I used was it would lockup after 30-40 mins of continuous uploading (at the 750kbps rate). Removing the lid while running completely solved the apparent overheating problem. Something to watch out for.

Whatever solution you use, be sure and get it all working well ahead of time to thoroughly test it out. In your situation I think it would be appropriate to have whoever is conducting politely ask folks to turn off any wireless devices they might have, so as to not compete with your limited bandwidth.

[Aczlan]

Thanks for the reference to 21.2.10 and the exception granted in 18.3.1 for the purpose of updating the wiki. The wiki article for webcasting gives the impression there is an exception for stake conference and possibly even firesides and training meetings. I would go with the Handbook over any impression the wiki article might give unless the Church employees who authored the wiki article can provide any document that provides more authoritative and more recent guidance.
Perhaps the wiki article only needs to be rewritten to makes sure the policy is understood and complies with the Handbook.

I agree that it should be updated. I have run webcasts (under the direction of the the Stake Presidency and the Area Seventy presiding over or coordinating the meeting) for Stake and Area trainings, conferences, firesides and other meetings.
Is it "kosher" per the various (conflicting) references? I dont know for certain, but I do know that I was instructed by the Priesthood leaders who were in charge of the meeting (who hold the keys to interpret the rules for their stewardship) to run the Webcasts and the Webcasts have been a great blessing for those who were able to watch remotely rather than drive 2-5 hours (when the weather is good) to attend Stake Conference, a training meeting, a fireside, or some other event. The understanding that I have (and that the leadership here has) is that the spirit of the law mirrors what pete.arnett posted.
One example was last winter when the interstate was shut down due to snow on the evening we had several General Authorities speaking at a regional YSA fireside. We ran a webcast which allowed those who were unable to attend in person (at least 6 sites that I know of) to receive the message and feel of the spirit present.

Aaron Z