Starting to think about videoconferencing in Fedora

[Tom Poe]

Mike C wrote:
> Having recently started to play with webcams and videoconferencing applications
> in order to stay in touch with distant relatives, I wondered what other users'
> experiences have been like?
>
> I have played with several applications that work in some but not all situations
> and wonder what the best approach is that make getting going quick easy and
> simple in  Fedora-based Linux system.
>
> Of course the first obstacle to be overcome is to find a supported camera.
> I chose a camera that needs the pwc module which is already in the kernel,
> which means the camera is plugged in an immediately recognised by the system.
>
> Then any v4l app will use it straight away.
>
> I wanted to be able to talk to family members across the miles, so which
> application is best.
>
> 1) ekiga - it works nicely but only if you have "cone NAT" detected otherwise
> there are not very nice firewall issues to contend with. If both parties have
> asymmetric NAT it works well. 
>
> 2) wengo - still in development but it does work - though sound can be iffy 
> and there is minimal access to video control
>
> 3) mebeam - (www.mebeam.com) a very nice web based flash application being 
> developed by Ashod Apakian, and his company, in Australia. Works very well and
> does not need any messing with firewalls, or indeed installing software! But are
> there any security implications?
>
> I have come across other applications (that I have not tried!) such as:
> Marratech which is linked to Google.
> http://www.marratech.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2122
> http://www.marratech.com/
>
> vmukti
> http://www.vmukti.com/meeting-place/vmukti-meeting-place.html
>
> vic
> http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/vic-15140.shtml#
>
> ray
> http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Internet/HTTP-WWW-/Ray-30707.shtml
>
> qnext
> http://www.qnext.com/video_conferencing.shtml
> http://help.qnext.com/topics/personalizing/setting_picture/
>
> Which of these, if any, actually work and work easily and well in an up to date
> F7 system?
>
> There seems to be little discussion about video conferencing or chat in 
> Fedora list but would be worth finding out if there are users who have
> working systems but are staying quiet in the forums.
>
>   
You mentioned Wengo.  Do you mean the openwengo software?
Tom