QuickTime Conferencing H.320/ISDN NuBus Card
H.320/ISDN Software
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This interface software delivers full H.320/ISDN support to QuickTime Conferencing via a dedicated NuBus expansion bus card installed in a Power Macintosh 7100AV series or 8100AV series computer. This provides compatibility and interoperability with the worldwide ISDN network of videoconferencing centers and video-phones.
System Requirements
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Power Macintosh 7100AV series, 8100AV series computers, or 7100 series and 8100 series with AV card upgrade
System software version 7.5 or newer
16 megabytes of DRAM (memory)
PlainTalk Microphone
Network ISDN connection
Handset
IMPORTANT NOTE: Some of Apple's newest computers utilize the PCI Expansion Bus and are not compatible with NuBus Expansion Bus cards.
Installing H.320/ISDN Software and Related Software
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Install Macintosh System software, version 7.5 (or newer) or J-7.5.
Install Network Software Installer, version 1.5 or newer.
Install QuickTime Conferencing software.
Install H.320/ISDN software.
Getting Help and Information
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The Apple Media Conference program includes the Apple Media Conference Guide, an Apple Guide help system that answers common questions about setting up and using Apple Media Conference. When you first open Apple Media Conference, you can also open Apple Media Conference Guide by clicking the Guide (question mark) button in the startup dialog. You can also choose Apple Media Conference Guide from the Guide menu at any time while you are using Apple Media Conference.
For detailed troubleshooting information, and tips on improving the performance of Apple Media Conference, refer to the Troubleshooting topic in Apple Media Conference Guide.
Troubleshooting
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Local Macintosh sounds are disabled while in hands-free mode
When Hands-Free mode is selected, only audio from the remote connection is played. The Macintosh will not be able to play any local sounds or system beeps or sounds unless you switch to Handset mode or end the call.
Audio is distorted when in hands-free mode
The H.320/ISDN card is optimized to process 22 kHz audio information. Verify that the sound output rate in the sound control panel is set to 22 kHz.
Cannot hear audio when broadcasting
If other users cannot hear audio from your machine, open the Sound Settings dialog box and verify that Built-in is selected as your sound source device.
Handset sound gain will not adjust with slider control
The sound gain control slider located in the Self View Window will only adjust the volume level of the computer's internal or external speakers. It has no affect on the handset sound gain.
Making a LAN (Local Area Network) connection with PowerTalk and H.320
Although you are able to make a LAN connection through PowerTalk when the connection type selected is H.320 (for Wide Area Networks) it is highly recommended you switch your connection type from H.320 to MovieTalk Protocol before you attempt a LAN connection. Placing a LAN call when the connection type selected is H.320 may cause memory allocation problems with you computer. To change your connection type from H.320 to MovieTalk Protocol choose Preferences/Conference from the Settings menu and set "Connection type:" to MovieTalk Protocol.
Formatting a floppy disk during a conference connection
Formatting a floppy disk will disconnect you from your conference connection. Do not format floppy disks during a conference connection.
PowerTalk Catalog Browser with TCP/IP and H.320
The PowerTalk Catalog Browser does not operate in TCP/IP and H.320 environments. To place calls to TCP/IP and H.320 users through PowerTalk you must create business cards for those users. For assistance in creating PowerTalk business cards refer to the Using PowerTalk topic in Apple Media Conference Guide. Read the Getting Help and Information section of this document for information on Apple Media Conference Guide. To bypass PowerTalk hold down the option key when you choose Call from the File menu. You will then be presented with a dialog box for entering the information needed to place your TCP/IP or H.320 call.
Turning off sound during a conference connection
If you turn off the sound in the Media Setup dialog box you may get a dialog box stating there has been an unexpected error System Error: -223. Click the button located in the dialog box to continue. The error will not affect your computer or your conference connection.
Installing H.320 software and folder names
When you installed the QuickTime Conferencing software on your hard drive a folder named "QuickTime Conferencing" was created and several items were placed within it. If the name of this folder is changed before you install the H.320 software the H.320 software installer will place the Apple Media Conference Guide document in a new folder named "QuickTime Conferencing." Before you install the H.320 software make sure the name of the folder created by the QuickTime Conferencing software installer is "QuickTime Conferencing."
Sound compression and ISDN, 1 channel connections
It is not recommended to select the Best Quality (G.722) compressor if you have selected ISDN, 1 channel or ISDN, 1 channel, 56k adaptation. The reduced bandwidth capacity of ISDN, 1 channel may not have the ability to operate with Best Quality sound compression. Select the Best Efficiency (G.728) compressor if only one ISDN channel is available.
H.320 software and Macintosh computers equipped with the PCI expansion bus
Some of the newest Macintosh computers have replaced the NuBus expansion bus with a faster expansion bus named PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect). The H.320 software should not be installed on these computers. Installing the H.320 software may cause these computers to crash during boot up. Booting the computer while holding down the shift key and removing the "~H.320 Extension" file from the Extensions folder in the System Folder will allow the computer to boot properly.
Typing below the bottom of the Shared Window in Apple Media Conference
When the bottom of the Shared Window is at or below the bottom of the screen do not type text below the bottom-visible edge of the Shared Window. Text which falls below the bottom-visible edge of the Shared Window may be lost.
Record button appears in Self View window when connection type selected is H.320
Record does not operate when the connection type selected is H.320. If the sound source has been manually changed from "H.320 Card" to "Built-in" the record button will appear in the Self View window but will not operate. Changing the sound source back to "H.320 Card" will remove the record button.
Error when disconnecting video or audio cables during a connection
Avoid 'hot plugging' video and audio cables while you have an active connection. This can temporarily confuse the QuickTime software and display error messages.
Inconsistent behavior when using WindowShade product
Do not use the Windowshade option to hide windows in the Apple Media Conference application. The software may not realize that the window has been hidden and display error messages.
Increasing memory allocated for the Apple Media Conference application
The system is optimized for ISDN connections and small LAN connections. If you receive low-memory warnings in Apple Media Conferencing you should increase the amount of memory allocated for the Apple Media Conferencing application. To do this, click once on the Apple Media Conferencing icon, choose the Get Info command from the File menu, and increase the value in the Preferred Size box.
Calling TCP/IP users who use dynamic server-based addresses
If you are connecting using TCP/IP from a machine using a static IP address to a machine using MacIP (KIP) server supplied addresses, you must have a clear TCP/IP pathway between the Mac with the static address and the MacIP (KIP) server.
If you plan to use a MacIP server to allocate TCP/IP addresses, the MacIP requires a clear AppleTalk pathway from all Macs requiring an IP address to the MacIP server.
Video image is distorted
Check that the Apple Media Conference software is configured for the video format supplied by your camera (NTSC, PAL, or SECAM). To change this setting, choose Video Settings from the Settings menu, switch to the page marked Source, and select the video format from the Format pop-up menu.
Audio and Video freezes when pasting images during a 1B connection
With a 1B channel connection (56K/64K), outgoing video and audio may stop during a shared window transfer. To restart video and audio, wait for the shared window transfer to complete, open up media settings, disable video and audio, press OK, then open up media settings again and re-enable video and audio.
Pausing self-view window temporaily disables incoming video
If you pause the outgoing video and audio from your machine, your remote window may temporarily freeze. To recover from this problem, simply click anywhere inside the remote window and the video from the remote site will resume.
Article Change History:
14 Feb 1996 - Added additional troubleshooting steps.
08 Jan 1996 - Changed distribution status.
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