The term "videoconferencing" is often used to refer to a wide variety of video services. Some consider any conference viewed by a television as a videoconference. Others believe videoconferencing is more interactive. The Penn Video Network and its parent group, Penn Video Services, provide two types of video event delivery service in order to meet our customers’ conference viewing needs.

The Penn Video Network offers a Satellite Downlink service which broadcasts events sent as signals over a satellite. These broadcasts can be viewed on one of our cable television channels. The Penn Video Productions group offers Videoconferencing (IP and ISDN) services and facilities providing fully interactive meetings between more than one group of people.

Satellite Downlinks refer to events broadcast by satellite. Providers send a signal to a satellite in space, and PVN tunes our steerable satellite dish to receive the signal. PVN then re-broadcasts the downlinked signal over one of the channels on our cable television network, providing access to the video event to viewers across Penn's campus.

If you are interested in requesting a satellite downlink of an upcoming event, please note that PVN is able to accommodate both C- and Ku-band downlinks.

Videoconferencing (IP and ISDN) refers to a fully-interactive, "virtual meeting" between two or more groups or individuals, at two or more geographically-separated points. Using a computer and a data line, you can see, talk to, and "virtually" interact with other conference participants as though you were sitting across the table from them.

Penn Video Productions offers high-speed Videoconferencing using both IP and ISDN technology. In addition, the Penn Video Conference Room, located at 3401 Walnut Street, also supports Access Grid (for larger scale meetings) and Internet2. Contact Penn Video Services to help you determine which type of Videoconference service is right for your event.

The uses and demands of both Satellite Downlinks and Videoconferencing (IP and ISDN) vary greatly. You can help determine which service is right for your event by comparing them, using the following questions.

Questions to ask:	Satellite Downlink (Satellite-to-site)	Videoconferencing (IP and ISDN)
Are you looking to receive a nationwide broadcast, sponsored by a professional association or trade organization?
Does information about the event include words such as: "satellite," "downlink," "C- or Ku-band"?
Are you looking to set-up a fully interactive, two-way "virtual meeting" between two or more geographically separated points?
Does information about the event include words such as: "IP," "ISDN," "Access Grid," "Internet"?

If you are interested in Satellite Downlinks, go here to learn more.

If you are interested in Videoconferencing (IP and ISDN), go here to learn more. Penn Video Productions also offers a fully-equipped videoconference room, at 3401 Walnut Street, convenient to all campus locations.