H.320 (ISDN) video conferencing takes place over phone lines. Video Networking does NOT provide H.320 (ISDN) services. These services are not available for the following reasons:

• Alternatives to an H.320 and and H.320 gateway are available (see below).
• H.320 gateway services are very support intensive, and we do not possess the staffing to offer the services on a regular basis.
• H.320 (ISDN) video conferencing is rapidly becoming a legacy technology. It does not seem prudent to invest in H.320 gateway infrastructure.

Video Networking DOES provide a gateway to allow H.323 video conferencers to interact with telephones in point-to-point and multipoint calls. Please see 'How to Bridge a Telephone Call' for details.

While Video Networking does not provide an H.320 gateway, we do have the following suggestions for individuals at UNC who feel a need to contact H.320 users:

Problem

Someone at UNC-CH needs to participate in a video conference with one or more individuals/groups at other institutions. At least one party has H.320 (ISDN) capabilities, but does not have H.323 (IP) capabilities.

Solutions

Solution 1: Make sure that the remote endpoint does not already have H.323 capabilities. Most newer H.320 endpoints are also H.323 enabled.

Solution 2: If h.323 is not available at the remote site, suggest that the site in question migrate to H.323, if practical/appropriate.

Solution 3: Provide the H.320 site in question with an H.323 endpoint. As long as the remote party has access to adequate bandwidth, this is often the most simple and cost effective solution. Video Networking has a very limited number of Polycom Viewstations (in shippable cases) which may be occasionally checked out for this purpose. Please contact your zone administrators for details.

Solution 4: Use a facility on campus which has H.320 capabilities. There are several classrooms that are equipped for H.320 calls. Please telephone The Center for Instructional Technology at for details at: 966-5078.

Solution 5: Purchase BRI lines from UNC Telecom and enable your endpoint to make and receive H.320 calls.

• To implement this solution, please call UNC Telecom at: 919-962-0003
• Request installation of 3 BRI lines (3x128 kbps=384 kbps)
• A typical one-time installation cost is: $600 ($200 per line x 3)
• A typical monthly rate is: $180 ($60 per line x 3)
• Calculate your charges per minute my multiplying the minutely phone rate by 3.
• Use an existing or purchased H.323/H.320 endpoint (Polycom ViewStation, Tandberg 550, etc.)
• For multipoint calls, use an existing or purchased codec with embedded MCU (Polycom FX, Polycom VS4000, Tandberg 6000, etc.)