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Video teleconferencing is nothing new to mainstream technology.
The ability to share a video feed along with audio has helped corporations
and businesses alike close the gap between great distances. Anyone that
has experienced a conference call knows that being able to associate a
name with a face allows the “conference” to be a lot more
productive. Unfortunately for just about everyone, video teleconferencing
is a very expensive luxury that usually has only been available to companies
willing to pay the five figure investment required. Now D-Link, the company
that seems to consistently wow us with their ability for innovative products
and affordable prices, has given the public, and not just private sector,
the ability to enjoy teleconferencing for our homes or small businesses
at a price we can actually afford.
 The
i2eye DVC-1000 VideoPhone is a broadband appliance that delivers IP based
videoconferencing that connects into your broadband connection (Cable,
DSL, etc) and into a television set with RCA inputs. The i2eye VideoPhone
allows you to talk to anyone in the entire world via videoconferencing
at a very smooth 30 frames per second. The audio and video quality are
amazing considering the price tag – each i2eye unit retails for
$299, a bargain compared to the five-figured solutions currently on the
market.
Installation of the i2eye was extremely easy. Those of you using firewalls
or routers with built in firewall protection will need to configure the
firewall to allow the i2eye for access, which won’t be a problem
for those of you with extensive IP configuration experience. For you neophytes
out there, it isn’t simple, but you won’t be banging your
head against the wall, and again, if you aren’t using a firewall
you won’t have any problems setting the puppy up. All aspects of
the i2eye are configured using the included remote control unit, and does
not require a PC to setup. Standard RCA type audio/video cables connect
the i2eye unit into your television and a standard Ethernet cable plugs
the unit into your router or straight into your broadband device.
 The
technology behind the i2eye unit is the latest in ITU standards for video
conferencing. Using the H.323 protocol for video streaming over the internet
allows the i2eye to connect to other devices (not necessarily another
i2eye, so you’re not “forced” to buy another unit) that
use this standard protocol for video conferencing. This includes the very
popular Microsoft NetMeeting for web-based video conferencing. The memory
inside the i2eye also allows you to store 10 “numbers” (IP
addresses) as a type of phone book.
The DVC-1000 i2eye is a complete solution onto itself. All you really
need is two of these things and you and anybody else in the world can
see and talk to each other. The practical use of this product is quite
obvious – families wishing to remain in contact but aren’t
satisfied with poor PC-web-based videoconferencing, business wanting to
consistently hold video teleconferences without blowing a huge budget,
or anyone wanting to get involved with video conferencing would do well
with this product.
SPECS:
Specifications
Internal Processor ARM-9 ASIC Communication Processor
Standards
• H.323 (IP communications)
• H.263 (Video)
• G.711 (Audio)
• G.723 (Audio)
Frame Rates • 96 Kbps-512 Kbps
• Up to 30fps
Video CIF (352 x 288 pixels)
QCIF (176 x 144)
Audio
• Telephone Interface
• Echo Cancellation
• Voice Only to / from Voice over IP Endpoints
• Half-duplex Speakerphone
Input/Output • Power
• Audio Out
• Video Out
• Ethernet RJ-45
• External Microphone
Camera Manual Tilt
Manual Focus
User Interface
• Dialing
• Diagnostics
• Quality of Service Measurement
• Manual or Auto Answer
• Incoming Caller ID
• Privacy Via Video/Audio Mute and Do Not Disturb Mode
• Answer with Infrared Remote Control or Telephone
LED Indicators
• Power
• Status
• Video Monitor
• Ethernet Link &Transmit
Dialing Capabilities
• Speed Dial List (10 Entries)
• Dial VideoPhone Number Using Built-in i2eye Directory Service
• Dialing Using Direct IP Address Entry
Remote Software Update Software Update, Automatic or Manual
Dimensions
• D=6.08"
• W=8.07"
• H=1.50"
Weight 14 oz. (.398kg)
Warranty 1 Year
We were lucky enough to try out the product with
D-Link themselves, and held a videoconference with their people in Irvine
(our offices are in San Diego, about 80 miles away). The videoconference
was very impressive and the quality of the video and audio was consistent
with the six-figure teleconferencing equipment I used when I was employed
with CompUSA corporate a few years ago. The audio is “one-way”
(i.e. half-duplex) but if you attach any phone into the i2eye unit, it
supports the full-duplex mode. The warranty associated with the i2eye
is a 1 year warranty with free 24/7 technical support (and their tech
support has won awards from us for their helpfulness in the past).
Overall, the i2eye DVC-1000 product is amongst the most innovative and
useful products we’ve seen in years. If you or your organization,
or family, or best friend who lives in Winnipeg wants to video-conference,
this unit is the first place you should look for a solution. Considering
the price tag against the competition, the quality of the video, the easy
set-up and installation, there’s no questioning the value associated
with this product. This is a hands down superior product, winner of an
editor’s choice award.
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10 / 10 |
OVERALL SCORE
98%
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10 / 10 |
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9 / 10 |
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10 / 10 |
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10 / 10 |
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9.8 / 10 |
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