Polycom Vsx 7000 - TechRepublic

By Bill Detwiler, MCP
Polycom VSX 7000 offers excellent set-top
video conferencing solution
Polycom's VSX 7000 provides superb video and sound quality, IP
and ISDN connectivity, and remote administration. The unit is a
great H.264-compliant video conferencing solution for mediumsized
conference rooms and should be at the top of your product
list.
Biz Tech Rating
9 (out of 10)
Biz Tech Uses
• Video conferencing system for medium-size conference
rooms
Kudos
• Superb picture and sound quality
• Supports several video and audio input/output configurations
• Web-based, remote administration
Caveats
• Lacks integrated collaborative tools (You can share content
with Polycom's Visual Concert VSX or People+Content IP
software.)
Editor Commentary
We tested an IP-only Polycom VSX 7000 for more than 30 days
and were impressed by its overall performance. Optional ISDN
QBRI, ISDN PRI and Serial modules are also available.
We placed the VSX 7000 in a 17' X 15' rectangular conference
room. The VSX base unit, two televisions and speakers fit nicely
along one of the room's short walls, which left plenty of space
around the room's 8' oblong table. For the main monitor, we used
a 24" RCA television. We used a 19" Toshiba television for the
secondary monitor.
The VSX 7000 provided superb video and sound performance
during our video conferencing (VC) tests, although quality
depended on the other devices in the VC call, and network
connection speed. Video was clear and fluid and wellsynchronized
with the audio. The unit's satellite microphone,
integrated speaker, and subwoofer provided good sound quality.
The optional Polycom StereoSurround system supplied even
better sound, but the extra speakers and subwoofer needed a
larger space to really shine. The VSX 7000 offered the best echo
cancellation of any VC system we've tested to date, but again
performance depended on the remote device. Echo cancellation
was excellent when we connected to another Polycom VC deivce.
When we connected to a PC/Webcam setup, echo was a problem
and we routinely used our existing telephone system for audio.
Product Specs
Version 1.0
June 29, 2005
Video inputs Integrated main camera
1 x S-Video
1 x Composite RCA/Phono
Fame rates 30 fps at 56 kbps up to 2 Mbps
60 fps up to 2 MBPS
Video outputs 2 x S-Video
2 x Composite RCA/Phono
1 x VGA
Audio inputs 1 x Conference Link (for
Polycom microphone or VTX
1000 conference phone)
2 x RCA stereo
Audio outputs 2 x RCA stereo
Integrated speaker and
detached subwoofer
Network
features
IP or ISDN
Integration with Cisco Call
Manager V.40
Dimensions Video unit: 11.82" X 5.83" X
9.63" (W/H/D); 6.0 lbs.
Subwoofer: 6.9" X 10.72" X
8.67" (W/H/D); 9.0 lbs.
Warranty 1-year returns to factory parts
and labor
1-year software updates and
upgrades
List price $6,999 (IP only)
$1,499 (ISDN module)
Polycom VSX 7000
Initial setup was simple and took only minutes. When connected to a LAN, our test unit quickly picked up an IP address
via DHCP and was ready to place a call. Using the unit's remote control we placed and received several calls to other VC
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Polycom VSX 7000 offers excellent set-top video conferencing solution
devices on the LAN. Optional licenses allowed the unit to support multipoint calls and Polycom's People+Content IP
software application. Any PC running the People+Content IP software that has access to the VSX 7000's IP address can
share their screen with the unit. You can also share content with Polycom's Visual Concert VSX table-top device. We
tested both sharing mechanisms with an IBM ThinkPad T40 set at 1280 x 1024 screen resolution. The sharing processes
worked without incident, but the image quality was disappointing. The shared image was comprehensible but blurry when
viewed on the 27" RCA television. If you plan to routinely share content, I suggest using a true, large-screen monitor or
flat-panel display.
Like Polycom's VSX 3000, configuring and managing the VSX 7000 isn't difficult, but navigating the system's numerous
on-screen menus via the remote control can be frustrating. The system's built-in Web interface offers a much faster
approach and also lets you remotely manage and troubleshoot the unit. The VSX 7000's administration settings (network
configuration, security settings, and the like) are all protected behind a single password--required to access the on-screen
menus and Web interface. The unit also supports remote management through SNMP and Telnet.
As I noted in my VSX 3000 review, anyone with the unit's administration password can access the unit's camera via the
Web interface's Web Director feature or have the unit place a call. If the monitors are turned off, those persons in front of
the camera may or may not notice the administrator's actions. This is a handy feature when the IT department is routinely
asked to setup VC calls, but a slightly unsettling feature for someone concerned about security and privacy. Luckily you
can disable any or all of the remote access features through the device's on-screen menus.
The VSX 7000 delivers the excellent video and sound quality you expect from a conference room VC system and offers
several nice features, including remote administration and management, multipoint call handling, and the ability to
integrate with Polycom's SoundStation VTX 1000 telephone. The IP-only unit we tested retails $6,999. An optional ISDN
module will set you back $1,499.
Yet the unit isn't without a minor fault and our tests weren't without hiccups. The VSX 7000 lacks integrated collaborative
tools. You can't connect a laptop and begin sharing content, without purchasing optional software or equipment. During
our tests the system also tried to grab the IP address of another computer on the LAN. Someone had disconnected the
VSX 7000's network cable several days before and left the unit powered on. When I reconnected the cable, the unit tried
to use the IP address it already had, which by that time had been assigned to a new PC. When powered off and on again,
the VSX 7000 quickly grabbed a new IP address and returned to normal operation.
Bill Detwiler is a Section Editor for CNET Networks where he works on the TechRepublic.com team.
Previously he worked as a Technical Support Associate and Information Technology Manager in the social
research and energy industries. Bill is a Microsoft Certified Professional with experience in Windows
administration, data management, and desktop support. He has bachelor's and master's degrees in the
Administration of Justice from the University of Louisville, where he lectures on high-tech and computer
crime.
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Polycom VSX 7000 offers excellent set-top video conferencing solution
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Version history
Version: 1.0
Published: June 29, 2005
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