Technical Projects
The following projects represent a history of technical trial and structural changes that have been implemented across the Videolinq network since the inception of the Videolinq Taskforce in 1996.
Scroll down to view all the projects or use the QuickLinks below to jump to particular sections.
- New Videolinq Bridge Installation 2008
- Network Integrity 2008
- Site videoconferencing equipment upgrade 2007
- Videolinq Network Upgrade 2006
- IP Videoconference Network Implementation 2004
- 'To Be Announced' Booking System Upgrade: 2004
- IP Telecommunication Transmission Trials: 2002/3
- Network Restructure: 2001
- Free to Air Project: 1997/9
New Videolinq Bridge Installation 2008
The new Codian MSE8000 videoconferencing bridge was purchased in July 2008 and installed in October 2008.
In operational terms, the bridge enables the following benefits:
Default network settings- H.264 is a higher quality video & audio standard which will now be deployed for all network conferences- it replaces the existing H.263 standard and will give a sharper picture than previously
- H.239 is the ‘people and content’ dual screen transmission layout. This layout will now be used for all conferences. Participants will now see the 'people' on one monitor and the 'data' on the other monitor as part of the standard network setting in all videoconferences
- 'ClearVision' software enhancement guarantees a better frame rate and refresh schedule for Standard Definition transmission speeds
The new Codian bridge has a total of 80 ports as opposed to the past 48 port total on the older Polycom bridge. Whilst the total number of ports that can be used is still limited by available bandwidth, the increased port capacity will be able to be used as the network moves across to the WAN and increase 'core' bandwidth.
In terms of future needs, this new bridge has the hardware capacity to expand to a total of 360 ports.
Every port is hardware assisted
The new bridge has full 'continuous presence' capabilities with hardware assisted connection on every port meaning that the quality of the conferences will be better even when there is some network degradation. This feature incorporates
- Full transcoding and trans-rating on every port and means that different video formats and transmission speeds are accommodated in the one conference- no lowest common denominator default will drag the AV quality down
Enhanced Tandberg Management System (TMS) functionalities are enabled by the new bridge. This includes
- On screen warnings and notifications that "This system is in a scheduled call" if the user tries to accidentally hang up the call or tries to mistakenly dial a different call than the one that is currently booked on the bridge.
- A total of 3 onscreen notifications as the site you are at approaches the end of your videoconference.
Some of the on-screen stylisations have changed. Some things will be different and unfamiliar. Please bear with Videolinq and Integrated Vision as we implement the new bridging hardware and swap operation across to the new platform.
Once the platform is enabled, Videolinq will work with users to explore the extended possibilities of the new hardware. This Codian bridge is acknowledged as the 'Best of Breed' on an international scale.
This is the first installation of this unit in Australia and we are very fortunate to have this latest technology.
Network Integrity 2008
Deloitte Report - Review of VC & VS Services at TAFE QLD (approx 908Kb)- Videolinq Network Audit - Dec 2007
- Unify WAN IPVC Investigation of Quality Issues Phase II (approx 552Kb)
- Videolinq IP Quality Issues across ADSL Hyperconnect (approx 1Mb)
Site videoconferencing equipment upgrade 2007
Tandberg Edge 95 Rollout
At the end of September 2007 Videolinq finalised the install of 49 brand new Tandberg Edge 95 videoconferencing units at 49 sites across the Videolinq network. The installation was completed by Integrated Vision and represents a major refresh of existing Videolinq site equipment. Additionally, 11 'one year old' systems were distributed across the remainder of network sites replacing all the older videoconferencing equipment and standardizing units across the 60 Videolinq room system sites. The new equipment has the same (H.264) operating system eliminating the data presentation conflicts of the past that once existed between current and older systems. The new capability allows all systems to 'plug and play' data from laptop/PC units via a direct cable connection.
The new High Definition Tandberg cameras deliver a clearer, crisper image that is more true to life. The equipment's new 'dual streaming' functionality allows participants and students to view a simultaneous two screen environment - the first screen holds the 'people' video and the second holds the associated data / powerpoint components of the conference.
Site Coordinators at the various sites were on hand to welcome the Integrated Vision technicians and after installation participated in a 30 minute training session to familiarise themselves with the operation of the new units.
Videolinq is / has offered intensive training in the operation of the new Tandberg system through ongoing 'lunchbox' training sessions. Contact Mark Walshe or Shannon Jones at the Videolinq office for more information.
Videolinq Network Upgrade 2006
TAFE Queensland implemented a series of technical upgrades to the Videolinq videoconferencing network in the later half of 2006. These upgrades encompassed enhancements to telecommunications capability, bridging hardware and capacity, management and booking systems, site-based videoconferencing and peripheral equipment and the implementation of a significant number of new 'room system' and 'desktop' sites.
Enhancements incorporated
- Transmission upgrade of 'core' network capacity to 16 Mbps enabling the implementation of 384 Kbps transmission standard as a network conferencing default.
- Bridging upgrades include 1. the addition of a further 8 'Continuous Presence' ports bringing current capacity to 24 CP ports and 2. an 8 port 'Public IP' card powered by 2 Mb bandwidth. 4 ports are currently enabled allowing up to 4 sites to conference to external sites across the public internet. There are no user transmission costs associated with this capability.
- Network management software has been expanded to incorporate a 100 site capacity and the online booking application TBA has been refurbished allowing easier and more efficient conference booking processes.
- Re-organisation of the Videolinq website incorporates new 'Network', 'Training' and 'User Guide' menus that make the site more intuitive and improve user experience.
- Peripheral site equipment upgrades include 1. purchase of 88 new 32" LCD Hi Def monitors and their deployment across the network particularly at the older established sites where the existing CRT screens were beginning to fail 2. replacement of a number of document cameras and 3. the provision of DVD Recorders across the majority of sites.
- New sites; 8 x 'room system' and 7 'desktop' units across the network during 2006 with a current trial of 2 x Sony TLC50 desktop units.
Click here to view Videolinq Network Upgrade July 2006 PDF. This document provides a visual summary of the major upgrade components
The Videolinq office conducted an internal 
Videolinq promotional campaign from August 2006 onwards to accompany the technical upgrades and inform member institutes and personnel of the new potentials and capabilities of the refurbished network. A series of promotional emails were sent to stake holders through the later half of the year. Additionally, 1,000 A2 colour posters were developed and distributed across member institutes and Videolinq sites.
Click on the various topic links to view the promotional emails in pdf format
- Transmission upgrade
- New sites
- Web site upgrade
- Public IP card and new management tools
- Booking procedure for Public IP calls
Click here to view the new look network promotional poster PDF.
IP Videoconference Network Implementation: 2004
Videolinq is implementing a new ADSL videoconferencing network across 45 of its current sites. The new Telstra 'Hyperconnect' 512:512 KB network will replace the existing ISDN infrastructure. Implementation is scheduled to begin at the end of September 2004 with the centralised IP bridge install at CSQ Williams Street Brisbane. The implementation will rollout in geographical phases across the breadth of the network with the final sites in Far North Queensland scheduled for install by the end of the year.
Click here to view the 'Bridging the Gap' Powerpoint presentation (file size: 800kb) presented at Learning Technologies 2004 conference
Click here to access the Project Implementation Plan (View as HTML)
Click
here to access details
on the scope of the network; new ADSL sites and continuing ISDN sites.
Click here to view the Videolinq Network site telecommunication format as of the end of June 2005.
The IP network will enable dramatic savings on existing ISDN transmission
costs as well as allow a significant increase in network audio and visual
quality as a result of increased bandwidth. The 128 KB of existing ISDN will
be doubled to 256 KB IP based transmission.
Additional benefits include increased productivities gained through centralised management of the larger 48 port IP Accord bridge and the potential to harness 'virtual' ports to create a secondary videoconferencing network that employs new portable videoconferencing desktop equipment connected by wireless routers and laptop cards with a range of up to 500 meters.
The new IP based network promises a new era of videoconferencing experience for TAFE Queensland.
'To Be Announced' Booking System Upgrade: 2004
A major application upgrade to the existing web based To Be Announced Bookings System was implemeted in April 2004 enabling dramatically improved service delivery.
View
TBA
Web Server Installation and Performance Testing (View as HTML) to review benchmarked
information regarding average time to access various booking system services
and gain details of the improved Bookings System server.
IP Telecommunication Transmission Trials: 2002/3
1. (Telstra) ADSL Hyperconnect Trial: 2003
Proof
of Concept (View as HTML); of the IP Bridging Trial ADSL (View as HTML):
overview of characteristics of ADSL and potential cost saving aspects Formal
Report (View as HTML) on ADSL Hyperconnect IP videoconferencing trial across four Videolinq
network sites; as provided by independent technical consultant, Ray Hand2. Summary of CQIT IP Trials: November/December 2002
CQIT
IP Trial (View as HTML).Network Restructure: 2001
The following documents detail the major network upgrade carried out in 2001. Network upgrade involved the replacement of the network's original PictureTel 4000 equipment with the new Polycom 128 View Station units and supplementary bridging enhancements.
Network
Evaluation 2001 (View as HTML)
Polycom
Implementation Survey (View as HTML)
Free to Air Project: 1997/9
The following documents detail a description of the 'Free to Air' project (1997 - 99). This project was largely responsible for the substantial increase in overall videoconferencing usage across the Videolinq network and the subsequent validation of the use of videoconferencing usage across the Videolinq network and the subsequent validation of the user of videoconferencing media to deliver educational productivity to the host organisation.
Overview Free-to-Air Project; Videolinq-ing
the Learning Future (View as HTML)
Implementation; Free
to Air Project Phase 1 (1997) (View as HTML)
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