Connect with Loved Ones Using a Video Teleconference System

As we maintain social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19, it has become more challenging to connect with faraway friends and family. While seeing them in person is not an option right now, a good solution is installing a video conferencing system to video chat with them from the safety of your home.

Thankfully, setting up a virtual hangout space has never been easier. Read on to learn more about setting up a video teleconference system in your San Francisco, CA home.

SEE ALSO: The Drawbacks of DIY Video Conferencing

Repurpose Commercial Systems

The business world has perfected video telepresence systems. Many people are familiar with this equipment because they use it at work, but few know that they can use the same equipment to communicate with their loved ones through this period of social distancing. Communication with others is vital to maintain your mental health during these difficult times. Hardware commonly seen in conference rooms can be repurposed for residential family rooms and hangout spaces to accommodate video conferencing with friends and family.

What to Look For

Proper equipment that produces clear video, includes great microphones, and offers impressive flexibility can be relatively inexpensive. All that is needed to video conference from home is a USB connected camera and microphone. The best low-cost solutions package this as a soundbar, combining speakers, microphones, and a camera into one small system. Just connect one to a screen or projector to turn it into a complete, high-performance video conferencing system. They take up little space and can easily be mounted onto a wall. A soundbar will upgrade your television speakers to surround sound, as multiple speakers inside the soundbar reproduce HD ultra-wideband audio. Installing a USB soundbar is also easy. Simply plug the USB into your computer and then connect it to a monitor with an HDMI cord.

Our Recommendations

Solutions like the Logitech Meetup ($899) and Crestron UC-SB1-CAM ($2800) require only television and computer or laptop to extend your living space to the people you care about. Logitech Meetup utilizes RightSound technologies to capture speech while also suppressing unwanted noise. Similarly, RightSight computer vision automatically adjusts the camera to frame everyone in the room instead of jumping from person to person. Crestron is also a fantastic option for those who would like a luxury teleconferencing experience. The UC-SB1-CAM boasts a multicolor status bar indicating volume, mute, and operational status. A beamforming microphone array senses who is speaking and optimizes directionality to pick up their voice while also preventing echo. A Huddly IQ™ camera is built into the soundbar and captures the entire room, automatically detecting people and framing them within the shot.

Western Audio Video will be producing a video series on setting up a high-quality 'Digital Lounge' to help you through the process, so stay tuned. If you would like more help setting up a video teleconference system in your home, Western Audio Video would be happy to help you while maintaining appropriate social distancing. Give our team a call or fill out our online contact form to schedule a no-obligation consultation with us. We’d love to hear from you!