323.tv answers the most frequently asked questions about the Polycom RealPresence Group 700.
Watch Video
Which Polycom RealPresence Group 700 is right for me?
The Polycom RealPresence Group 700 series comes in two different flavors to adapt to your environment and your needs. Based on how many participants will be in the room for meetings, we lay out below which camera option might be best for your situation.
What’s the difference between the RealPresence Group 700 and the Group 300/310/500?
The RealPresence Group 700 is designed for larger environments, classrooms, or training rooms that need additional audio and video outputs and multiple output types. The Group 700 has a significantly larger form factor than the other Group series systems. The Group 700 supports up to three monitors (HDMI, VGA, or RGB), two cameras, and three tabletop microphone arrays or ceiling microphones. The Group 700 also has two RCA outputs for using an external speaker system. The 700 also supports up to 8-site multipoint calling as an optional software upgrade, which allows for seven sites plus itself to connect in a call, which is two more than the Group 500 supports.
Why is the first software release 4.0, instead of 1.0 for Polycom RealPresence Group 700?
Because RealPresence® Group builds upon Polycom® HDX® as its foundation, and much of the code base is the same. Version 4.0 is a more accurate indicator of this than 1.0 would have been.
Is there much of an experience difference between 1080p30 and 1080p60 for Polycom RealPresence Group 00?
Yes. The smooth motion of 60 frames per second adds an additional level of realism that you will notice. It makes video calls look more natural and true to life. Customers must see it to believe it, so getting them to a Polycom Experience Center to see a live demo is critically important.
How much bandwidth is required for 1080p60 on a Polycom RealPresence Group 700?
With H.264 High Profile, 1.7 Mbps is required for 1080p60 performance. Without High Profile, 3 Mbps is required.
Is 1080p60 supported on Polycom® RMX®?
Polycom® RMX® version 7.8 will support asymmetric 1080p60 people, with content at 1080p30.
Do the bandwidth savings from H.264 High Profile apply to content sharing and multipoint calls on Polycom RealPresence Group 700 systems?
Yes. H.264 High Profile also applies to content, and to calls using the built-in multipoint on RealPresence Group.
What is the capacity of the integrated multipoint on a Polycom RealPresence Group 700?
At GA, the capacity of each model:
• Group 300: No integrated multipoint
• Group 500: Up to 6-way SD, up to 4-way HD
• Group 700: Up to 8-way SD, up to 4-way HD
The multipoint capabilities are expected to improve in future software releases, in particular for the Group 700.
Does the integrated multipoint on the Polycom RealPresence Group 700 support transcoding?
Transcoding is not supported in the current software release. Group 300 does not support multipoint.
Does the integrated multipoint support SVC?
The internal multipoint on the Group 700 supports AVC. SVC multipoint calls should be made through the Polycom RealPresence infrastructure.
What is the continuous presence capacity of the integrated multipoint for the Polycom RealPresence Group 700?
Up to 4 far-end locations can be displayed on-screen at one time during a multipoint call.
What are the benefits of using SVC on Polycom RealPresence Group?
SVC technology on RealPresence Group results in many of the same benefits as the other elements of Polycom’s SVC solution, including network resiliency and improved latency. In addition, users will get added flexibility when using dual monitors, with far-end participants on both monitors during multipoint calls. For more details, reference the product documentation on SVC support that will be available when the software update supporting SVC is released.
Does EagleEye Acoustic support 1080p60?
No. EagleEye Acoustic supports up to 1080p30 video performance. Customers who want 1080p60 video should purchase the EagleEye III camera.
EagleEye Acoustic is only offered in bundles with the Polycom RealPresence Group 300 and 500. Does it work with RealPresence Group 700?
Yes. Because EagleEye Acoustic is designed for smaller room environments, while the Group 700 model is designed for larger rooms with more complex needs, it is more typical that EagleEye Acoustic will be used with Group 300 and 500, but it works with all models.
Are brackets or other mounting accessories available for Polycom EagleEye Acoustic?
There are no mounting accessories available at launch. EagleEye Acoustic is designed to fit securely on top of most flat panel displays.
Why is the camera named Polycom EagleEye Acoustic?
Because it has microphones built into the camera, with no separate table microphone required.
What is the pickup range of the Polycom EagleEye Acoustic microphones?
2-3 meters is the maximum recommended distance.
Can the camera be used with an adaptor to connect to a PC or other device?
No. Direct connection to another device is not an option because the camera pulls power from the video codec Group 700.
Is RealPresence Group systems managed the same way Polycom HDX is managed?
Unlike HDX, RealPresence Group does not support scheduled provisioning; only dynamic provisioning is supported, on both Polycom CMA and RealPresence Resource Manager. However, RealPresence Group also features a number of enhancements to the dynamic provisioning mode that are much more full featured and robust than what was available on HDX in dynamic provisioning mode. For more details, please refer to the product documentation.
Is RealPresence Group now being used in any Polycom immersive telepresence solutions?
No, all Polycom RealPresence Immersive solutions continue to use HDX as of Q4 2012.
Which Polycom microphones can be used?
The RealPresence Group Microphone Array as well as the HDX table microphone and ceiling microphones are supported. Additional microphones could be used via the audio-in ports on certain models. In addition, Polycom® SoundStructure® can be used to provide support for additional microphones and more advanced audio configuration.
How many Polycom microphones are supported per Polycom RealPresence Group 700 system?
RealPresence Group 700 has two ConferenceLink2 connectors, which supports a total of three microphones.
What’s the difference between the Group 700 and the Group 300/310/500?
The RealPresence Group 700 is designed for larger environments, classrooms, or training rooms that need additional audio and video outputs and multiple output types. The Group 700 has a significantly larger form factor than the other Group series systems. The Group 700 supports up to three monitors (HDMI, VGA, or RGB), two cameras, and three tabletop microphone arrays or ceiling microphones. The Group 700 also has two RCA outputs for using an external speaker system. The 700 also supports up to 8-site multipoint calling as an optional software upgrade, which allows for seven sites plus itself to connect in a call, which is two more sites than the Group 500 supports for multipoint calling.
Why is the first software release 4.0, instead of 1.0 for Polycom RealPresence Group 700?
Because RealPresence® Group builds upon Polycom® HDX® as its foundation, and much of the code base is the same. Version 4.0 is a more accurate indicator of this than 1.0 would have been.
Is there much of an experience difference between 1080p30 and 1080p60 for Polycom RealPresence Group 700?
Yes. The smooth motion of 60 frames per second adds an additional level of realism that you will notice. It makes video calls look more natural and true to life. Customers must see it to believe it, so getting them to a Polycom Experience Center to see a live demo is critically important.
How much bandwidth is required for 1080p60 on a Polycom RealPresence Group 700?
With H.264 High Profile, 1.7 Mbps is required for 1080p60 performance. Without High Profile, 3 Mbps is required.
Is 1080p60 supported on Polycom® RMX®?
Polycom® RMX® version 7.8 will support asymmetric 1080p60 people, with content at 1080p30.
Do the bandwidth savings from H.264 High Profile apply to content sharing and multipoint calls on Polycom RealPresence Group 700 systems?
Yes. H.264 High Profile also applies to content, and to calls using the built-in multipoint on RealPresence Group.
What is the capacity of the integrated multipoint on a Polycom RealPresence Group 700?
At GA, the capacity of each model:
• Group 300: No integrated multipoint
• Group 500: Up to 6-way SD, up to 4-way HD
• Group 700: Up to 8-way SD, up to 4-way HD
The multipoint capabilities are expected to improve in future software releases, in particular for the Group 700.
Does the integrated multipoint on the Polycom RealPresence Group 700 support transcoding?
Transcoding is not supported in the current software release.
Does the integrated multipoint support SVC?
The internal multipoint on the Group 500 supports AVC. SVC multipoint calls should be made through the Polycom RealPresence infrastructure.
What is the continuous presence capacity of the integrated multipoint for the Polycom RealPresence Group 700?
Up to 4 far-end locations can be displayed on-screen at one time during a multipoint call.
What are the benefits of using SVC on Polycom RealPresence Group?
SVC technology on RealPresence Group results in many of the same benefits as the other elements of Polycom’s SVC solution, including network resiliency and improved latency. In addition, users will get added flexibility when using dual monitors, with far-end participants on both monitors during multipoint calls. For more details, reference the product documentation on SVC support that will be available when the software update supporting SVC is released.
Does EagleEye Acoustic support 1080p60?
No. EagleEye Acoustic supports up to 1080p30 video performance. Customers who want 1080p60 video should purchase the EagleEye III camera.
EagleEye Acoustic is only offered in bundles with the Polycom RealPresence Group 300 and 500. Does it work with RealPresence Group 700?
Yes. Because EagleEye Acoustic is designed for smaller room environments, while the Group 700 model is designed for larger rooms with more complex needs, it is more typical that EagleEye Acoustic will be used with Group 300 and 500, but it works with all models.
Are brackets or other mounting accessories available for Polycom EagleEye Acoustic?
There are no mounting accessories available at launch. EagleEye Acoustic is designed to fit securely on top of most flat panel displays.
Why is the camera named Polycom EagleEye Acoustic?
Because it has microphones built into the camera, with no separate table microphone required.
What is the pickup range of the Polycom EagleEye Acoustic microphones?
2-3 meters is the maximum recommended distance.
Can the camera be used with an adaptor to connect to a PC or other device?
No. Direct connection to another device is not an option because the camera pulls power from the video codec Group 500.
Is RealPresence Group systems managed the same way Polycom HDX is managed?
Unlike HDX, RealPresence Group 700 does not support scheduled provisioning; only dynamic provisioning is supported, on both Polycom CMA and RealPresence Resource Manager. However, RealPresence Group also features a number of enhancements to the dynamic provisioning mode that are much more full featured and robust than what was available on HDX in dynamic provisioning mode. For more details, please refer to the product documentation.
Is RealPresence Group now being used in any Polycom immersive telepresence solutions?
No, all Polycom RealPresence Immersive solutions continue to use HDX as of Q4 2012.
Which Polycom microphones can be used?
The RealPresence Group Microphone Array as well as the HDX table microphone and ceiling microphones are supported. Additional microphones could be used via the audio-in ports on certain models. In addition, Polycom® SoundStructure® can be used to provide support for additional microphones and more advanced audio configuration.
How many Polycom microphones are supported per Polycom RealPresence Group 700 system?
RealPresence Group 700 has two ConferenceLink2 connectors, which supports a total of three microphones. The Polycom RealPresence Tabletop Microphone Arrays and Polycom Ceiling Microphone Arrays can be daisy chained off of each other and only need one direct connection to the Group 700 system.