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The decision to pay the extra fees and move from dial-up to broadband usually involves meeting three wants: faster downloads, faster uploads and live streaming video.

The transmission of live streaming video is dependent on bandwidth, video codecs and the ability to transmit as many frames per second as possible. Let’s review how these variables effect video on dial-up and broadband.

First a little background on bandwidths and speeds. A lot of people use the terms bandwidth and speeds interchangeably, so it’s important to clarify the difference. Think of a water pipe. You can get more water through the pipe by increasing the pressure to send it through faster. This increases the “speed.” You can also get more water out the end by increasing the size of the pipe. This increases the “bandwidth”

When you go from a dial-up ISP to a broadband ISP, you increase the size of the pipe by getting more bandwidth. This way you can get more data through the pipe in the same amount of time, thus allowing faster uploads and downloads. Video is data, too, but good video requires enormous amounts of data. Because of this, video is often referred to as a bandwidth hog. When you increase the bandwidth, you allow more video through in the same amount of time.

Programmers can use creative and complicated mathematical formulas called algorithms to put the data into packets that allow more packets to go through the pipe. This is comparable to increasing the speed of the water in the pipeline. In the world of video, the algorithm is called a codec. Well known codecs include MPEG-4, MPEG-2 and JPEG.

In order to evaluate codecs, a definition of quality is necessary. The number of frames per second (fps) is usually the objective measurement of video quality. “Broadcast quality video” is an overused term that typically means 25 to 35 fps. Independent of theoretical rates, most live video streamed on the internet through broadband is in the range of 10 to 15 fps. It’s not like HDTV or like movies in the theater, but it is sufficient for the purpose.

JPEG transmits video like a movie. Each full picture frame from the “film strip” is transmitted and viewed. When the individual pictures, called frames, are accumulated together rapidly, they appear to display motion, just like a film strip.

MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and others don’t send a full frame each time. They send what’s called an I-Frame, which is a full frame, only once in a while. In between the I-Frames, they only send the video data that change. So, if the image is from a fixed camera in a room where someone is walking, the wall doesn’t change, so the image of the wall is not sent with each frame. Only the spots where the person is moving are transmitted between the I-frames. This eliminates a lot of data without changing the quality of the video. So, with the same amount of data, the end result can be more frames per second. This is why MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 are said to offer higher quality video.

What is bandwidth? Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be sent in a second, typically measured in kilobits per second (kbps). Did you ever notice how TV reporters on satellite phones sometimes look weird? They are usually transmitting at very low bandwidths of less than 5 fps. Have you asked yourself why cell phone voice plans typically can only transmit still video images, or video clips that are so slow that motion is not apparent? That’s because their maximum bandwidth is 9.6 kbps, also considered very low.

Cell phone data plans and dial-up telephone service fall in the less than 56 kbps range. Broadband is above 56 kbps. Cable companies typically offer it in 128 kbps or 256 kbps increments. However, these are maximum rates. For example, dial-up telephone usually fluctuates between 30 and 45 kbps in the real world, even though it is theoretically 56 kbps.

MPEG-4 and its many variants are pretty much the standard for sending video over broadband. Many different companies have developed their own unique twist to try to take into account variations in bandwidth that result in interruptions, pixilation and video tears. But, with a 256 kbps bandwidth, video can stream on average at 10 to 15 fps, and may even peak at 20 or 25 fps depending on the fluctuation. Unfortunately, on dial-up, the number of frames per second that these standard codecs can deliver is less than 5 frames per second, and often only 1 frame per second.

Some new video codecs are allowing frame rates of 12 fps over dial-up services, in many ways comparable to the video offered over broadband. This has expanded the ability to transmit quality video through dial-up.

To summarize the water pipe analogy, different video codecs can increase the water flow by increasing the number of frames per second at the end of the pipe without increasing the size of the pipe. Switching from dial-up to broadband is a way to increase the size of the pipe so that more frames per second can come out the end of the pipe.

Cost is always a consideration, with dial-up being less expensive. Also, many people worldwide do not have the availability of broadband, so dial-up is their only option.

Comet Video Technologies develops products and services for the low bandwidth transmission of video through satellites, cell voice plans, cell data plans, telephone dial-up and broadband. http://www.cometvt.com

Readers have permission to duplicate and distribute the above article in its entirety. We request that the final paragraph be included in each reproduction.

Howard Becker is CEO of Comet Video Technologies. For the past 20 years, Becker has been CEO of consumer product and video technology companies as large as $25 million in sales, as well as a consultant for start-up technology companies. He has an MBA is from the University of Chicago and a BS from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a former CPA with Big Four Experience. He developed the first published integration of the Fama-Miller efficient market model and the Black-Scholes Option pricing model, thus creating a theoretical justification for the trading of derivitives on index funds. He is author of a number of published papers on semiconductor based heating elements, as well as a paper on the objective measurement of job placement for individuals with disabilities.

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Mobile phone websites who are trying to offer items like wrist watch touch screen mobile phones are so eager to beat their rivals that online prices have never been cheaper, if you are wise enough to shop around then purchasing a mobile item may not actually turn out to be that bad and also you will secure yourself a more favorable price.

Any user of a internet company will claim that their internet speed is in all probability the greatest piece of the provision. Yet some internet suppliers will not provide users with instruments to trial your speed. But there are many another websites online that will grant you to verify your internet speed. When trying your internet speed it’s all-important to find a application that is custom-made to your nation, there is little point performing a trial employing a checker placed in France when you are trying to do a internet speed test in India.. A trial will hand your upload speed and your download speed. Upload means speed between your PC and the Net, so if you transmit a lot of files then upload is crucial to you. Download speed is how fast you can take data files from the net to your PC. Download speed is normally a lot swifter than upload speed and this is normal. Most people are a great deal more interested in their download speed rather than their upload speed as they usually expend a great deal more time on getting files. When you have found out the speed of your internet connection what do you do if you are less than satisfied? The most evident thing is to notify your service provider and let them know that you have seen that your speed is slower than it should be. You should also do things locally to ensure that your connection is operating as best it can. Constantly ensure that all domestic telephone wiring is in quality condition and don’t utilise low quality cables. Ascertain your PC anti-virus software package is working. When performing a broadband speed trial forever check that you are not performing any other actions that may be causing the service to be in use like torrent software or streaming video.

If you thought previously that price of Wi-Fi mobile phones is a bit high, then that is understandable,especially if you are not completely familiar with what they can do for you. Although the prices continue to go down, you can actually save quite a lot of money by buying a mobile phone which is enabled for regular wireless Internet access. As you can probably imagine, this does afford quite a few great advantages.

Anyhow, the mobile phone with wireless Internet access is not just a useless trinket or an advertising gimmick. In many ways, it is just like having a portable computer in your pocket. With wireless Internet access, being the same type as it is on a conventional computer, you will be able to access the Internet and send emails on the move.

This means that in certain areas, and the coverage continues to expand, you will be able to use the Internet on your telephone in exactly the same way as you would with any conventional computer.

Wifi Mobile phones also support dual sim cards that allow two numbers and calling with texting at the same time. That would be texting from two different numbers and that would be for those that like multitasking

The size of the screen is a little smaller, but that means it provides better displays and is not as distorted as the bigger ones. The screen is small because the touch pad has to fit on the phone. Are you a person that likes easy touch buttons? Well, for this phone the buttons are very easy for anyone to use, no matter what.

While telephones with wireless Internet of this type of technology are still expensive, they continue to come down in price as the technology becomes better established and aims to attract a wider consumer market. However, the advantages offered by this device make it well worth the money, even as things currently stand.

Video conferencing actually encompasses a range of technologies used in a wide range of situations, often it is not just video and audio that is transmitted, but also data, allowing collaborative working though shared applications. All of this means having sufficient bandwidth supporting your network is the critical performance factor.

Video conferencing may be……

* One-to-one meetings, also known as point to point communications, usually involving full two-way audio and video.

* One-to-many involving full audio and video broadcast from the main site, where other sites may be able to send audio. For example in a lecture situation, students could ask questions.

* Many-to-many, known as multi-point communication, provides audio and video between more than two sites. With most multi-point systems only one site in a conference can be seen at time, with switching between sites either controlled manually or voice activated (i.e., the loudest site is on screen).

Physically, the most common scenarios of video conferencing are:

* desktop video conferencing - usually a small camera is located on top of the PC or workstation monitor. The actual video is usually displayed in a small window, and shared applications, such as a shared whiteboard are often used.

* studio-based systems - a studio is specially equipped for video conferencing. This will normally include one or more cameras, microphones, one or more large monitors, and possibly other equipment such as an overhead camera for document viewing. Usually used for more formal meetings

In practice a ’studio’ may not be a dedicated room, but a standard seminar room with portable equipment that can be set up when required.

Bandwidth and Compression……

The bandwidth, or baud rate, is the amount of information which can be transmitted every second. The higher the bandwidth, the better quality the signal that can be transmitted. For a video conference audio and video signals must be transmitted in real time, i.e., a lot of information has to be sent every second, requiring a very high bandwidth. For example a ‘true colour’ image will need 24 bits (3 bytes) per pixel. A full screen image might be 640×480 pixels, over 7 million bits. For full motion video, the image is refreshed 25 times per second. This adds to over 184 million bits per second. It is not realistically possible to transmit this amount of information, and your PC certainly could not receive it at this rate. Therefore for digital video some form of compression is required. The type and degree of compression used varies from system to system. It is interesting to note that for most uses, we are more tolerant of poor video than poor audio, and so some systems concentrate on providing consistently good audio.

How To Get The Right Bandwidth To Meet Your Needs…….

Don’t take a chance at guessing what bandwidth you’ll need…..or in selecting the provider for that bandwidth. You may need a fractional, full, integrated, or bonded T1, DS3, or OC3 network depending on many factors. Solutions offered by providers will vary by cost, Quality of Service (QoS), and Service Level Agreement (SLA). I strongly recommend you use the services of an independant Telecommunications Consultant to help you assess your needs and find the provider who best meets your requirements. For unbiased free advice….as well as real time rate quotes from multiple providers, indepth research, and negotiations with providers on your behalf….I recommend you use FreedomFire Communications.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire
Communications….including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you’re always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

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A hectic schedule makes it tricky to get around to reading all the titles you would like to. Often we do not see how lengthy commutes and various other tasks take up sizable chunks of our time. Your favorite pastimes get set aside for other more pressing tasks. You could simply utilize the hours spent commuting to catch up on books you can’t get around to reading. Thanks to downloads, you can relish Last Voyage Of Columbus by Martin Dugard by Download Audio Book Online, or audio-books brought to life by Robin Jarvis without turning a single page. Multi-tasking is becoming inevitable these days. Audible books like Rich Dad’s Advisors: Protecting Your #1 Asset by Michael A. Lechter for sale from Download Audio Book Online fill the wasted time in our lives, whether it is waiting in a dentist’s surgery or possibly buying groceries. Many audiobooks are available to download as mp3 files including Pimsleur Spanish I Part 3 by Dr. Paul Pimsleur, so if you have an iPod or other mp3 player and connect it to to your car’s audio system and get ready to hear a best seller or a great novel, like audio-books by John Le Carre without dragging cumbersome books around.

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The world is changing. Years ago, people watched black and white images of the moon landing. As TV proliferated itself into our lives, everyone was satisfied with the fuzzy black-and-white pictures on their screens.Picture quality has evolved over the ages for the better. An finally, just when you thought that televisions couldnt get any better, HDTV has stepped up to the plate. Gone are the days when you could be happy with washed-out colors and a low resolution. Now you want a clearer picture and sharper colors, and you want it all for an affordable price.

HDTV is the TV to aspire for.A standard television gives you a clear color picture. HDTV gives you an even sharper picture. Picture it this way, watching a standard TV is like viewing the world through a dirty windowpane. With HDTV, there is no window. The images on the television screen are as close to lifelike as you can get, that is, without actually getting off the couch and watching real-life images. An HDTV can accomplish this feat with its high resolution; a million pixels, often more, combine to create a brilliant picture that will wow any viewer.

But whats the cost? Fortunately, prices are falling every year. Five years ago, most people were priced out of the HDTV market.

Unfortunately, technology is never easy. You are not quaranteed crystal clarity straight out of the box.First, you will need a high-definition cable or satellite box. This sends the HD channels to your television; without one, you can only watch standard programming. Second, you will need high-def channels. Your cable or satellite provider offers a line-up of HD channels, though the number of available HD channels is nowhere close the number of available standard channels. Third, you will need an HD show or movie. Not all shows broadcast on an HD station are necessarily high-definition; news programs are often broadcast in standard-definition, as are most daytime programs. If you are watching a standard-def show, you may see a black bar on either side of the screen. Also, since you are watching a standard-def show on a high-def screen, the picture will not be nearly as clear or as sharp as with an HD program. Only when you have all three elements - an HD box, channel and show - can you experience television like never before.

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