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Bandwidth Requirements - real world

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:16 pm
by rogerscr
I am looking to do my first webcast in April. Our stake is not large geographically so we have not needed it but the local Temple wants to do a fireside for all the workers. We are going to try to get a Webcast Communicator from a neighboring Stake but I may just setup the software on the Stake Clerk computer.

I am a bit confused as to bandwidth requirements. As far as upload goes, some pages list 400-600Kbps for the speed while others say 400-1400Kbps. Which is it? Is the 1400 only for HD cameras feeding the computer with HDMI cables? The number of receivers doesn't multiply the bandwidth required at the upload site correct?

The other question is about testing the receiving ends before the fireside, the test feeds @ http://stream.lds.org/webcast and http://stream.lds.org/webcast2 both seem to be the same bandwidth, am I correct? They both seem to be running around 300Kbps, is this correct? Since the webcast is set to servers are in SLC and then routed to the sites the test connection should function the same as a live feed if our upload is good. Is there any need for the techs at these other sites to do anything other than use the test feeds?

Thanks for this great resource and your feedback:)

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:39 am
by harddrive
rogerscr wrote:I am looking to do my first webcast in April. Our stake is not large geographically so we have not needed it but the local Temple wants to do a fireside for all the workers. We are going to try to get a Webcast Communicator from a neighboring Stake but I may just setup the software on the Stake Clerk computer.

I am a bit confused as to bandwidth requirements. As far as upload goes, some pages list 400-600Kbps for the speed while others say 400-1400Kbps. Which is it? Is the 1400 only for HD cameras feeding the computer with HDMI cables? The number of receivers doesn't multiply the bandwidth required at the upload site correct?

The other question is about testing the receiving ends before the fireside, the test feeds @ http://stream.lds.org/webcast and http://stream.lds.org/webcast2 both seem to be the same bandwidth, am I correct? They both seem to be running around 300Kbps, is this correct? Since the webcast is set to servers are in SLC and then routed to the sites the test connection should function the same as a live feed if our upload is good. Is there any need for the techs at these other sites to do anything other than use the test feeds?

Thanks for this great resource and your feedback:)
First of all, to make sure that I'm clear on this. You want to do the webcasting from your stake center or do you just want to receive it?

If it is the first then the upload speed at the location needs to be high, because you don't want to run a stream that is "filling" the bandwidth. For instance, you don't want to push 600 KBits/sec when you only have 782 Kbits/sec up. Now the higher the resolution the higher the bandwidth that will be needed. I haven't done one in a while myself, but you also want to know what the lowest download bandwidth that you have and use that as your maximum speed on the webcast software.

On the receiving end, you don't need to worry about the upload speed because it is only receiving the broadcast.

One other thing to keep in mind is the fact that only stake conference is authorized to be broadcast from the chapel of a meeting house. If this fireside is to be held in a meeting house, it will need to be done in another room. This is in the handbook of the church.

Hope this helps.

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:07 am
by Mikerowaved
rogerscr wrote:The number of receivers doesn't multiply the bandwidth required at the upload site correct?
This is correct. The A/V stream is uploaded at the source to church servers, from there it can be downloaded by several receivers at once without impacting the upload bandwidth.

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 9:38 pm
by jdlessley
harddrive wrote:One other thing to keep in mind is the fact that only stake conference is authorized to be broadcast from the chapel of a meeting house. If this fireside is to be held in a meeting house, it will need to be done in another room. This is in the handbook of the church.
Can you give the specific reference? There is a policy on photography and video recording in chapels (Handbook 1, Stake Presidents and Bishops) that does not apply to streaming events, such as stake conference, firesides, and training meetings. The caveat is that the streamed events must not be recorded.

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 6:43 am
by harddrive
jdlessley wrote:Can you give the specific reference? There is a policy on photography and video recording in chapels (Handbook 1, Stake Presidents and Bishops) that does not apply to streaming events, such as stake conference, firesides, and training meetings. The caveat is that the streamed events must not be recorded.

I will give you the reference that I'm talking about, but won't quote it here. The reference comes from Handbook 2 section 21.2.10.

Hope this helps
Terry

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:35 am
by rbeede
Looks like the wiki page referenced (https://tech.lds.org/wiki/Meetinghouse_ ... #Recording) needs updated since the new handbook supersedes the 2009 letter from the Office of the Presiding Bishopric.

I tried doing a search for any policy documents since the Handbook came out in 2010, but the tool at https://www.lds.org/letters/document/in ... &clang=eng seems broken. It just always returns No docuemnts were found.

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 8:40 am
by Biggles
rbeede wrote:I tried doing a search for any policy documents since the Handbook came out in 2010, but the tool at https://www.lds.org/letters/document/in ... &clang=eng seems broken. It just always returns No docuemnts were found.

The link works OK for me.

The 'No documents found' message usually happens, if you don't have the right calling. As an Assistant Ward Clerk, no access. As a Ward Clerk I have access.

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:00 am
by russellhltn
harddrive wrote:I will give you the reference that I'm talking about, but won't quote it here. The reference comes from Handbook 2 section 21.2.10.

21.2.10:
Photographs, Video Recordings, and Broadcasts in Chapels

Taking photographs or making video recordings in chapels is not permitted. Meetings and other events that are held in the chapel may not be broadcast over the Internet or by any other means (see 18.3.1 for an exception).
Section 18.3.1 is titled "Stake Conference"

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:40 pm
by jdlessley
harddrive wrote: The reference comes from Handbook 2 section 21.2.10.
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.

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:49 pm
by russellhltn
jdlessley wrote:Perhaps the wiki article only needs to be rewritten to makes sure the policy is understood and complies with the Handbook.
Have you tried contributing to the Wiki? No time like the present. ;)