FAQs about Polycom Viewstation FX and VS 4000

Click here for Polycom Viewstation FX product page

Click here for Polycom VS 4000 product page

Question #1 What are the main differences between the Polycom Viewstation FX and the Polycom VS 4000?
Answer: The Polycom VS 4000 is a camera less 19” 2U high rack mountable codec.  It supports the same features and the Polycom Viewstation FX, and has additional audio/video inputs and outputs for additional devices. The Polycom VS 4000 supports two external PTZ Sony cameras and contains RS-323 data control port and two camera control ports.

Like the Polycom Viewstation FX, the Polycom VS 4000 supports XGA out for high-resolution graphics. The Polycom VS 4000 also has an echo canceller on/off option for external audio mixers and has an external IR extender to control the Polycom VS 4000 with the remote controller.

Question #2 What requirements need to be met to use the Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000? 
Answer: The Polycom Viewstation 128/H.323/512/MP all require a basic TV/Display, Broadband internet IP connection, or ISDN BRI lines.

Question #3 What does FX stand for? 
Answer: Expanded Functionality

Question #4 Where does the Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000 fall in the product line-up? 
Answer: The Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000 are higher-end entry models in the Polycom Viewstation series.

Question #5 Who is the targeted market for the Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000?
Answer: Medium and large corporations, government and educational institutions that require stellar video performance and extensive conferencing capabilities for high-end applications such as distance learning, boardroom conferencing and high performance multi-site conferencing.

Question #6 What is NearTV quality (60 fields) video?
Answer: Polycom’s Near TV video provides a crisp life-like full motion image, which is very muck like watching a television. Before Polycom’s Near TV enhanced video, the most common form of high performance video for videoconferencing applications has been 30 per second with each frame consisting of 352x288 pixels.

Near TV encodes and transmits two interlaced fields for each frame of video, and at 30 frames per second, this provides 60 fields per second. In addition, Polycom has increased the resolution above the normal 352x288 pixels.  

Question #7 What is the minimum data rate at which 60 fields is enabled?
Answer: 768Kbps. Sixty fields is only enabled in a point-to-point call between Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000. If a Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000 is connected to another end point or systems from another vendors, it will connect with the highest video algorithm supported on the other system. 

Question #8 How does the Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000 support streaming?
Answer: The Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000 can be used to conduct live Webcasts of meeting or events using using streaming audio and video over multi-enabled networks supporting Cisco IP TV viewer. The Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000 can be used in conjunction wit the Streamstation to stream stored material to participants or to stream content to users using the RealNetworks G2 Player.  The Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000 streams audio and video at conference rates.

Question #8 What interfaces and data rates are supported by the Polycom Viewstaton FX and Polycom VS 4000? 
Answer: The Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000 supports V.35, PRI or Ethernet up to 2 Mbps.

Question #9 How many sites can I have in a multi point call with my Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000 and at what speed?
Answer: Up to three sites plus yourself at 384 Kbps via IP or  PRI.

Question #10 Where can I find out more about the Polycom Viewstation FX and Polycom VS 4000?
Answer: Click here for the Polycom Viewstation FX product page

               Click here for Polycom VS 4000 product page