[IMC-Video] wireless solution for independent journalists to live stream labor day march?

[Sasha Costanza-Chock]

Hi Joanna,

Thanks for getting back so quickly. So did you go with the directional 
wifi antenna? We would really appreciate it if you described your setup 
in detail: miniDV cam, to firewire to laptop, then out to wifi to a 
nearby connection that was what speed, did you have firewall problems, 
etc? and what software did you use to stream?

Also: if you looked into the satellite and microwave link options, could 
you tell us what companies have working service and how much it would 
have cost?

Thanks so much for the info,

sasha



Johanna Blakley wrote:
> Hi --
> 
> We had a helluva time figuring out how to stream live video from the middle
> of downtown, which is absolutely ridiculous! The main problem is that the
> cell phone companies put an artificial cap on the upload rate -- we offered
> to pay any fee they liked to temporarily fatten the bandwidth, but they
> refused. I talked to tech people about lots of alternatives, some of which
> won't work for you if you need to be mobile. Here's the main list:
> 
> Directional wifi antenna: someone in a window aims their broadband
> connection at you. Works but mobility and equipment is an issue. 
> 
> LAN line to network connection: works but mobility is an issue
> 
> Satellite uplink: works but expensive
> 
> Microwave link: works but expensive
> 
> Inverse multiplexing: works but complicated. You'd need a very skilled IT
> person on hand. 2 cards may not be enough.
> 
> Please keep me posted and best of luck!
> 
> Johanna
> 
> Johanna Blakley, Ph.D.
> Deputy Director
> The Norman Lear Center
> Annenberg School for Communication
> University of Southern California
> Los Angeles, CA  90089-0281
> Voice >> 213.821.1344
> Fax >> 213.821.1580
> Web >> www.learcenter.org
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sasha Costanza-Chock [mailto:costanza at usc.edu] 
> Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 12:03 AM
> To: mo at wifi-toys.com; blakley at usc.edu
> Subject: wireless solution for independent journalists to live stream labor
> day march?
> 
> 
> Hello,
> 
> My name is Sasha Costanza-Chock, I'm a graduate student working with 
> Francois Bar at USC Annenberg and he suggested I contact you with the 
> following question:
> 
> There is going to be a big march for immigrant rights in LA on Labor Day,
> and there is a conversation happening on an email list for 
> independent media makers about different options for doing a live stream 
> of the event. I wanted to pick your brains about this...
> 
> Francois suggests: "a backpack w/ a wifi AP hooked to a cell data card
> (GPRS/EDGE, I think, which works in dwntn LA.  HSPDA is not here yet.)
> That's probably not enough bw, but you could imux 2 or more cards
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_multiplexing.)"
> 
> This was in response to my following query:
> 
> Option 1: camera->laptop->wifi card->[with (c)antenna]->locate and  >
> connect to a free access point.  >  > Benefits: cheap.  >  > Drawbacks: Lots
> of stuff to carry around. not guaranteed connection at  > all, let alone
> connection strong enough to stream video.  >  >  > Option 2:
> camera->laptop->wibro card & service  >  > Benefits: guaranteed (well, much
> more likely) access fast enough to  > stream video.  >  > Drawbacks: still
> carrying laptop around. and expensive access. Do you  > know what the best
> service available is?  >  >  > Option 3: mobile phone w/camera & connection
> fast enough to stream video  >  > Benefits: simplest  > Drawbacks: Is there
> such service existing in LA? Who offers it and how  > much does it cost?
> Need to purchase expensive phone and probably  > expensive year long
> connection contract.  >  >  > Is there an Option 4? Some other new mobile
> media device and service?  > Some interesting hack for phones?  >  >  >
> 
> Any info much appreciated.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Sasha
> 
>