Streaming webcam options.

[forumdude]

Hey guys I help to run a site that isnt adult related but figured this would be a good place to look for help. We're trying to setup a couple of cameras that can stream video except we need to be able to broadcast this stream to several hundred people.


We will have something like a 1mbit up and down a the location of the cameras but that isn't going to cut it. So we want to "relay" the video at to our colo facility where the actual bandwidth will be needed for the rebroadcast.



Any expreiences with something similar to this?

Thanks

[zagi]

Yup use MS hahahahahahas Encoder (Free) and then install MS hahahahahahas server 200[0/3] and use the Streaming Media Server built in there for relaying

[CaroMark]

Hello Forumdude,

Hit me up and I will set up a conference where you can speak with one of our system administartors on the types of solutions that Candid Hosting.com

[forumdude]

MS? no way in hell!

[AaronM]

Originally posted by forumdude
MS? no way in hell!

Let me get this straight...You come here asking for help and then shoot down one of the best possible solutions that can be offered without you spending thousands on custom software development?

Nice.

You're right....The MS Media Encoder and Server combo is only used by some of the largest cam networks in this industry...WTF was he thinking?

[Dan]

LOL!!

[AaronM]

Originally posted by CamZ_Dan
LOL!!

Ah....Good timing Dan.

For those of you who do not know Dan...He is the Janitor over at camz.com.


Hey Dan....Care to elaborate?

[Dan]

I would be happy too.

hahahahahahas Media is a very good solution to broadcasting to the masses. We use it. It is a bit tricky when you have to get the amount of people with different PC and connection types but it is getting easier with the release of hahahahahahas media 9 services. (Meaning we can now push to the servers instead of pulling from the PC of the broadcasters.

However there restriction of 1 megabit is a bit tight to send to over 100 people as he is suggesting.

Personally I think that hahahahahahas media is still the best solution but you would need to be able to get space or a broadcast point from someone's server to rebroadcast the stream.


There are other solutions but they are all pretty pricy. The one that would be good is Flash Com servers but at 100 people you would need at least a 10 meg license and that is $4500 or again rely on buying that publishing point on someone else's server.


So My recommendation to you is this.

If you are looking to send out a quality stream to over 100 people and you do not want to spend a lot of money to do it.

Contact someone (Like us) and see if they have a way for you to purchase that time on the servers using the dreaded hahahahahahas Media. It is not that expensive. Mainly a bandwidth issue and a little setup. I do not know how often the cam will be live and for how long so there is no way to give you a price.

If you want to drop me a note [email protected] or ICQ 8972880 me I would be happy to help.

[AaronM]

And there you have it folks.

Nice seeing you in AZ Dan. Can't wait for the Atlanta show....Hope to see you there.

[forumdude]

Thanks for the reply Dan.

We wont need the 1mbit for all 100ish people. What i want to do is broadcast on the 1mbit line to a relay which will maintain the stream with all the clients. Thoe servers are running RHES and are located at theplanet.

I don't have a problem with using a MS codec like wmv but our servers are running linux. So far I have played around a bit with Darwin Streaming Server and it's neat but I haven't got any success with it yet.


I suppose we could consider using someone else to do this service but we are still hoping to find a viable solution before coming to that.

[forumdude]

missed the edit time limit:

We will be broadcasting from morning to evening for a weekend. The whole setup will be done again about 4 more times this year at least.

We are also wanting to do more than one camera (multiple angles of a paintball field) which I think opens another can of worms.