Successful Stake Conf Broadcast.

[ScottCrystal]

Yesterday we successfully broadcast Stake Conference to another building. It went so well, I felt I should share it.

Here's the equipment we used:
Logitech Webcam C930e (plus Webcam controller software)
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/support/w ... =14&bit=32

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 (plus Webcam controller software)
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/support/h ... =14&bit=32

Buddy FlamingoMic 7G
http://www.amazon.com/InSync-Buddy-90D- ... y+flamingo

IOGear 7-Port High Speed USB 2.0 Hub
http://www.microcenter.com/product/2830 ... USB_20_Hub

65ft 20M USB 2.0 A Male to A Female Active Extension / Repeater Cable (Kinect & PS3 Move Compatible Extension) (3)
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?ab3=b& ... %3D1030312

50FT 24AWG Cat6 550MHz UTP Ethernet Bare Copper Network Cable – Black
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?ab3=b& ... D50%2Bcat6

D-Link 5-Port Gigabit Switch (DGS-1005G)
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-5-Port-Gig ... ork+switch

7FT 24AWG Cat6 550MHz UTP Ethernet Bare Copper Network Cable – Black
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?ab3=b& ... %3D1023207

59 Inch Lightweight Aluminum Tripod
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?ab3=b& ... 9%2Btripod

vMix BasicHD (60 day trial) (ended up buying a license)
www.vmix.com.au


Allstar Performance ALL14253 Black 2" x 180' Gaffer's Tape
http://www.amazon.com/Allstar-Performan ... affer+tape

Meetinghouse Webcast Software
https://webcast.ldschurch.org/v3/clientdownload/

Cisco Linksys E2500 Factory Refurbished 90 Day Warranty From Cisco Advanced Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless-N Router
http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Refurbished ... ess+router


Laptop/Desktop (good processor, memory, video card)
Two monitors (laptop monitor, VGA monitor)

Hardware setup at broadcasting building:
1. Installed Meetinghouse Webcast Software on control laptop/desktop
2. Installed vMix on control laptop/desktop
3. Installed webcam control software for C930e and separate webcam control software for C920. Both are downloadable from Logitech.
4. Extra monitor(s) connected to control laptop/desktop
5. 7-port USB hub connected to control laptop/desktop
6. Set up Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 on East side of chapel on 59” tripod against the wall on 2nd pew from front. Connected C920 to 7-port USB hub on the control laptop/desktop in control room via 65’ USB extension cable.
7. Set up Logitech Webcam C930e on West side of chapel on 59” tripod on front, first pew in the handicapped space. Connected C930 to 7-port USB hub on the control laptop/desktop in control room via 65’ USB extension cable.
8. Attached the Buddy FlamingoMic 7G to the current microphone. Used gaffer tape to secure it.
9. Connected BuddyFlamingoMic to 7-port USB hub on the control laptop/desktop in control room via 65’ USB extension cable. Left enough slack near the podium to account for movement in microphone and pulpit.
10. Network switch in Clerk’s office. Cable from wall to switch. Attach Clerk computer to switch. Connect a 50’ Cat-6 Ethernet cable from Clerk’s office switch to network switch in control room.
11. Connected control laptop/desktop to network switch in control room.
12. Taped all cables down using Gaffer tape.
13. Turned off LDSAccess Wi-Fi (literally, unplugged the power cables)
14. Attached ISP modem to 100-port Network Switch (was already installed in our Stake Center). All the hard-wired connections still have internet access.
15. Connected temporary wireless router to network switch. SSID = StakeAccess. Only gave out the password to those that needed it.

Software run:
1. Started vMix
a. Added two Capture inputs, one for the C930e and one for the C920.
b. Selected a good resolution to capture and broadcast.
c. Started the External feed.
2. Started the web cam controller software for both the C930e and the C920.
a. Allows some panning and zooming.
3. Started Meetinghouse Webcast
a. Logged in
b. Selected type of broadcast
c. Added vMix Video as input
d. Added Buddy Flamingo as audio input
4. Picked a URL and started the webcast.

The vMix software allows you to stream one camera at a time. While the other camera is not in use, you can edit the position of the 2nd camera (pan or zoom). Then you can switch between the cameras as needed with a variety of transitions (fade, zoom, wipe, etc.). vMix also allows you to display Titles overlayed the video feed. These titles can be useful for names and church calling title or Ward name (eg. John R. Smith, Stake President). vMix can also feed pictures, PowerPoint presentations, DVDs, audio (mp3, etc.), other movies (AVI, MPG). The licensed copy we bought allows 4 inputs (3 of which can be video capture devices). I just closed an input that I didn’t need so I could stay within the 4-input limit.


Hardware setup at receiving building:
1. We used a Clerk’s office computer on the pulpit.
2. Ran a 50’ Cat6 Ethernet from the Clerk’s office to a wireless router on the pulpit.
3. We turned off the Wi-Fi during the broadcast.
4. Created a temporary Wi-Fi (SSID=StakeAccess (same password as the temporary Wi-Fi used at the broadcasting building)).
5. Connected the Clerk’s computer to the wireless router via 7’ Cat6 Ethernet cable.
6. Connected the VGA port from the Clerk’s computer to the Projector.
7. Connected the audio out from the Clerk’s computer to a crab box which was connected to the sound system in the building.
8. Receiving computer used Windows Media Player to receive the broadcast.

There was approximately 1 minute 15 seconds to 2 minute delay from the broadcasting building to the receiving building.

The only issues we really had was when hymns were played (choir or congregation). They came across as somewhat garbled. (Any ideas on this are welcome.) The audio and video did get out of sync toward the end. (Any ideas on this are welcome too.).

Thirty minutes prior to Conference starting, I streamed a Color Bar (courtesy vMix). This allowed the receiving building (and “shut-in” families) to start their end and make any adjustments. I ran this for 15 minutes. Then I ran a countdown timer (courtesy vMix) for the next ten minutes (“Stake Conference will begin in 15:00 minutes”). With 5 minutes to go, I streamed a picture (courtesy vMix) of the Savior. While the Color Bar, countdown, and picture were streaming, I muted the sound from the sending building. I would love to figure out how to play background, prelude music simultaneously. And when the conducting member of the Stake Presidency stood up, I switched over to the already positioned camera and unmuted the sending building’s sound.

At the end of Stake Conference, I displayed the same picture for 5 minutes and muted the sending building’s sound.

Success!

On a side note, we ran a simultaneous broadcast within the sending building to the Primary Room, Relief Society Room etc. It didn't have all the fancy features that the broadcast did, but it did the job.

If you have any questions on what we did, please let me know. I hope this helps someone.

[russellhltn]

14. Attached ISP modem to 100-port Network Switch (was already installed in our Stake Center). All the hard-wired connections still have internet access.

Did you bypass the Firewall? Was there no router between the computers and the Internet?

[ScottCrystal]

I can neither confirm nor deny that (as I nod my head :rolleyes: )

[russellhltn]

I can neither confirm nor deny that (as I nod my head :rolleyes: )

Ah, what I don't like about that is without a router, it exposes all the internal machines to the "big bad Internet". It also may not work in all situations. The ISP may not issue multiple IPs. So the first one to connect get it, all others fail.

[ScottCrystal]

That's a good point. I think we got lucky. Maybe next time, I'll throw a router on both the sending building's modem and the receiving building's modem.

[Mikerowaved]

Maybe next time, I'll throw a router on both the sending building's modem and the receiving building's modem.

I think you'll find many modems today have firewall/router capability with NAT, SPI, DHCP, etc. already built in. If you look up the specs on your model you might find you're OK without any additional equipment.

[russellhltn]

I think you'll find many modems today have firewall/router capability with NAT, SPI, DHCP, etc. already built in. If you look up the specs on your model you might find you're OK without any additional equipment.

True. But when installing the systems, I typically ask for a modem without all the extras.

[seth.wagenman]

It has been over five years since the last activity on this post. I will assume all of the technical advice is now obsolete. I came here to search for Kubernetes to see whether anyone was discussing it, and was disappointed to see the answer is no.

[russellhltn]

It has been over five years since the last activity on this post. I will assume all of the technical advice is now obsolete. I came here to search for Kubernetes to see whether anyone was discussing it, and was disappointed to see the answer is no.

Some of the equipment might be dated, but I believe the concepts are sound.

I doubt if stake technology specialists have any use for Kubernetes. That would have to come down from church headquarters. And right now, they're siding with Microsoft Azure.

[seth.wagenman]

Good feedback. I think Azure has K8S capability as an option but I could be wrong. Anyway, the reason I posted is I am sad to report that recent webcasting difficulties in my stake have resulted in proposals to rent out a stadium-style facility for thousands of people which will probably cost way more than if the Church got some solid tech.