Video transmission from building to building...

Factual Questions
1

I’ve been asked to put together a video transmission solution for a local non-proft organization. As this is not my cup of tea*, right now I am just trying to get my feet under me and get some ideas / pricing / equipment specs I can present to them.

Here is what I know:

They want to take a video feed from one building (Building A) and transmit the video and audio (fairly real time) to another building (Building B), perhaps once a month at most.

Right now, internet connection is done, in both building, through a 56K modem.

Building A and Building B are line of sight, and are approximately 1/2 mile apart. The area between the two buildings is a residential neighborhood.

Weather might be a factor at times, but I don’t think that placing a direct line cable is really feasible, what with the private property and all. Perhaps the local cable company could allow us to tie in to their network for X number of dollars a month? Does anyone know if they do that kind of thing?

So, oh great dopers, what can you suggest? What is the least expensive but still quality video image solution here?

  • I’m a software engineer, but the powers that be figure that since I know how to program a computer, I must know all things that are electronic in nature. I guess they assume such knowledge just comes with the prize in the computer science Wheaties box! :slight_smile:
2

Look here: http://www.videotransmitters.com/?gclid=CJrgn8KrgZACFRUmawodoUVttQ for example.

3

Cool, thanks!

4

Check with the business folks at the phone company about your needs. I’ll bet they can provide a dedicated line without too much effort.

5

The local cable TV company is worth a look as well in two distinct ways:

Plan A: Depending on how their system is set up, they may be able to provide channel space for the non-profit. Back when I was in school, the school district had a handful of reserved channels on what the cable company was calling an “I-Net” (IIRC, the I was for Institutional)

Plan B: Get broadband data service from them and squirt video over on a VPN tunnel.