Welcome to the The H.324 Overview Page
H.324 is a specification for transmitting video over the plain old telephone system (a.k.a. POTS). The main characteristic of the POTS system is that the signal delivered to both the source and destination is ANALOG, irregardless if how the public switched telephone network, (or PSTN) gets it from point A to point B. Normally copper wire is used at the source & destination.


This system includes conventional telephones using pulse & tone dialing, 300bps to 56K modems, and H.324 devices, as well as some security and special applications for the elderly and impaired.


H.324 Video Devices using this technology have been around for a long time, but are not very well known in the mainstream and media, due to the typically high cost, and limited quality available over the PSTN media, topping out at about 40K of physical available bandwidth, and 15 frames per second video, commonly with some picture distortion and freezing images.

Data rate is bidirectional, which is part of the reason why the modems that are integral to H.324 are not 56k bit. Bandwidth is fully utilized equally in both directions at the same time.


Advantages:
  • Inexpensive to operate. Operating cost is whatever you pay for a regular phone call.
  • Most portable, plug into any PSTN phone line, anywhere.
  • You have total control of your services and usage habits
  • No commitments or contracts

    Disadvantages:
  • 15 fps at best, not smooth video flow
  • Poor quality compared to IP based communications
  • Devices can be expensive up front vs. using a computer you already own.
  • Poor reliability, may include freeze-ups from interruptions or noise on the line
  • Lacks advanced features found in digital telephony



    LIST OF DEVICES:

-=-=-=-=-=- Vialta Beamer -=-=-=-=-=-

http://www.vialtastore.com/
Resolution CIF 352 x 288 pixels/QCIF 176 x 144 pixels/ SQCIF 128x96 pixels  
Max. 33.6 Kbps - Power Consumption 18Watts - See either or both parties 
From 4 to 15 fps  ITU-T Standard H.324 - No video inuts

Beamer TV - BM-TV   $99 ea  free ship if buy 2   SET-TOP FLAT UNIT - 
Only Composite Video out (RCA) to TV - Audio from telephone handset only
  	
Beamer - BM-80   	$199.00 "Picture Frame" 
Resolution CIF 352 x 288 pixels QCIF 176 x 144 pixels SQCIF128x96pixels 
3.5" LCD, 33.6 POTS  Fully ITU-T standard H.324 compliant

Beamer FX - BM-FX   $299 is Beamer 80 + add flash card capability copy/store/display 


  • 2006 BM-TV Tested incompatible with 8x8 DV324

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 8x8 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

ViaTV VC-50?

VC55 
ViaTV VC-105
VC150

ViaTV VC1050 Model Video Phone 
No imbedded Camera - composite in

DV324: All-in 1 Phone + LCD screen design, Menu system driven, caller ID.
6 RCA jacks, 2 video in + 2 audio in, 1 Audio out & 1 video out, Micless speakerphone
No video till dialtone.  PC mode for comm w/computer. 3 video sizes, Quality/Speed adjust 

  • The DV324 can also communicate with previous members of 8x8's ViaTV set top videophone product family and with H.324 videophone software running on personal computers.

  • Seetel TV-500 PSTN phone is identical to DV324 in function.  Mine is PAL output but compatible with NTSC 8x8, only difference is composite signal.  Makes my TV Roll out of VSYNC.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Leadtek -=-=-=-=-=-=-
MetaEye AVP (LCD) & TeleVyou 500: Both units are exactly the same unit, they are 
manufactured by LEADTEK but shipped under the MetaEye & TeleVyou 500 names 
- ELEXTRONICA

TeleVyou TV500 POTS Videophone all-in 1 uses 4-5" lcd handset/screen  H.324 
(8X8 chipset? - See DV324 may be a repackage?)

Teleview 500SP - Includes speakerphone (Has built-in mic) and jack for attaching medical etc. devices to send monitoring information from source to destination concurrently with voice and data.

TeleVyou TV400 POTS Videoconference System - Set top camera, plug in handset
    15fps composite H.324 std / 33.6 (8x8?) 12W, NTSC/PAL selectable
	Audio + video out


  • MetaEye TV - Set top camera

  • MetaEye TM - 

  • MetaEye AE - Remote box

MetaEye 324TM
TV (with A/V input recommended) or PC monitor
Telephone line, Telephone set (Cordless recommended)
Package Contents
Power adapter, Audio/video terminal cable, Standard telephone(RJ-11)cable
VGA terminal cable, User's Manual

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StarView 500 TravelStar Pro 
StarView 400 Pro - Looks to be equivalent of DV324.
Starview 2000

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AT&T 2500 VideoPhone - Originally over $1500
very small screen, normally expensive, one of earliest models available.

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InfoView - 8x8 compatible?  Set-top TV version, flat like beamer-TV 
but a bit more stylish...???

Spion Multi-Function Video Phone

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H.324 MODEMS:

Creative SoundBlaster Modem
SupraFax 33.6

many more, requires special software to utilize features.

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http://www.scottygroup.com/sw_eyesite?sid=c8fc6d2277b227ae2f6535f28b51d81e
eyesite for windows. - medical application appliance

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WANTED: PC Software - Please contact me if you have! Amigamax@lycos.com
		Don't offer netmeeting - no good without gateway!

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NOTICE: Information on this page is offered as-gathered, as experienced, and AS IS.
No guarantees are made, and errors may creep in - Please notify webmaster of any discrepancies you find - thanks!

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    • COMPATIBILITY OF DEVICES:

    Beamer w/ 8x8: Not compatible - different signalling to turn on modem to initiate digital video communication.
    8x8 uses 7 tone DTMF, beamer uses rapid warble tone.


    Created May 11, 2006. Last updated 12 May 2006

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