iPower 9800 vs VSX7400

[cgodbout]

My company is currently in the process of purchasing a polycom system as part of our video conferencing solution. One element we are looking for is the ability to digitally record the video conferences. Does it make more sense to go with the high end iPower 9800 which has this ability built in, or the VSX7400 and add on something like the Codian IP VCR. Both options end up being fairly close in price. I'm looking for input from anyone who has experience with these units.

thanks.

[trapehzoid]

The iPower's are EOL'd you know..

putting recording into the endpoint itself is so limited.

One, only that endpoint can record.. so that one must be in the call.
Two, the content will only be on that endpoint until you move it.. meaning it can't be centrally accessed or streamed, backed up, etc.

A centrally located dedicated recorder/streamer is a much better solution. Any system can use it.. can access the recording from anywhere.. can stream it.. can be managed, etc.

[cgodbout]

Thanks for the response. It makes sense to not go with the higher end iPower if the only additional functionality we need is the ability to digitally record the conferences. I don't know if you have any experience with either the Codian or the VSX7400 Polycom unit, but I'm hoping this combination will provide a high quality solution to my company's needs.

thanks.

[Glen Sykes]

The Codian IPVCR is an awesome peice of kit, highly recommended.

Recording is really simple.

Point to point, you dial a prefix (the same as if you were using a gateway), the call connects via the IPVCR which records the conference either as 2 images side by side, or with a full screen image with PIP.

A single endpoint can dial a recording number, as opposed to a prefix and this records the audio and video from the lone endpoint.

An MCU can dial the recording number and all the video and audio is recorded to the VCR.

Also, the VCR can be commanded to connect and record an endpoint/mcu from it's web interface.

All recordings can be registered to a gatekeeper, and viewed by dialling their E.164 numbers, and all recording can be streamed, multicast or unicast.

It may also be used without a gatekeeper if you don't have one.

.....and it's British :D