How do I use NetMeeting?
John Reekie, 26 Oct 1999
Last updated: 3 Mar 2004

NetMeeting is Microsoft's free Internet video/audio conferencing program. If you have a camera installed into your computer (see this FAQ), you can use NetMeeting to conduct brief and/or impromptu meetings with other people from your desktop.

Installing NetMeeting

By default, NetMeeting is installed in Windows 2000. " To use NetMeeting on Windows 2000, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, and click NetMeeting. Windows NetMeeting"

Or, you may download NetMeeting from the Microsoft Web site: http://microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting/download/.

Installation is straight-forward. To the question about logging into an ILS server on startup, answer No. (And in general, anytime Microsoft asks you if you want to be listed in an ILS directory, say No.)

Setting up NetMeeting for video

NetMeeting can only be used for point-to-point conferencing. (Some parts of NetMeeting, such as the shared whiteboard, and application sharing work with a multi-person meeting. The audio and video are only point-to-point -- see the multi-point video FAQ.)

To enable video, start Netmeeting (it should be in the Program Files menu), and then select Tools then Options then select the Video tab. On this screen, select the checkboxes to automatically send and receive video. Set video quality to the high end of the scale, and verify that Videum Video Capture is set for the video camera.

To check that your video is working with NetMeeting, click on the button with the triangle and two vertical bars drawn on it. If you see yourself in a little window, you're fine. If not, you have a problem.

Starting a meeting

1. Impromptu point to point meetings
2. Scheduled one to many meetings and sharing an application

Impromptu point to point meetings

If you get the machine name right and they have NetMeeting running, you will get a window that says waiting for a response from machine. (If they are not running NetMeeting, you will get a message saying that they are unable to accept NetMeeting calls. In that case, call them and ask them to start it.) When the other person answers the call, you will see their video, and as long as network bandwidth is good, hear them.

Note: if you are having problems with the audio, you may prefer to use a speakerphone than voice over IP. This is rather more reliable, but less cool.

Scheduled Meetings

We use a NetMeeting directory server currently running on vallejo.eecs.berkeley.edu as a meeting place.

To use NetMeeting, send email to your participants, stating

• The time of the meeting
• The name of the directory server, which in this case is vallejo.eecs.berkeley.edu
• The name of the machine that the host user will present from. For example:

  We will be having a NetMeeting/teleconference meeting on Month, Day, Time Time Zone

  The audio portion of the meeting will be accessible via
  XXX-XXX-XXX
  Participant Code: XXX XXX
  Host Code: XXX XXX

  We will use Microsoft NetMeeting to share applications. Our directory server is vallejo.eecs.berkeley.edu

  The hosted meeting will appear as Select a meeting name

  The password will be something short and easy to type

  NetMeeting is included in Windows 2000.

  To start NetMeeting, do Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Communications ->NetMeeting.

  We will use vallejo.eecs.berkeley.edu as the NetMeeting Directory Server.

  NetMeeting can have multiple directory servers. To use vallejo as your directory server, follow these steps:

  1. Start Netmeeting, Select Tools -> Options -> Directory Settings
  2. Overwrite the current entry with vallejo.eecs.berkeley.edu.
  3. Select Logon to directory when Netmeeting starts.
  4. Close the windows and Netmeeting should immediately log into Vallejo.
  5. Then select the Find Someone icon from the main Netmeeting console.
  6. Select vallejo.eecs.berkeley.edu as the directory server if it is not default.
  7. Then they should an entry with a with red star, which means that that machine is hosting a meeting.
  8. Double click on the appropriate host and you will be automatically connected to the meeting..

  For details about NetMeeting, see http://www.gigascale.org/gsrc/faq/75.html

  Using the whiteboard

  While the video portion of NetMeeting only works between two people;that is, it is point-to-point, NetMeeting does include a whiteboard facility that can, be used between two or more people.

  To use the whiteboard, start up NetMeeting and select Tools->Whiteboard.

  Note that the whiteboard works best if all the NetMeeting clients are version 3.01. Anyone who is running Version 2.0 should upgrade to 3.01

  Multiple Netmeeting users

  The whiteboard can support multiple users, but regular net meeting cannot.

  In January, '02, Marvin Motley said:

  Netmeeting coupled with correct software(MS ILS/Directory Server/Conference Server) can be used to host multiple meeting participants. This setup takes minimal hardware but much configuration.

  The Sony system will be able to fit within that framework but to what extent is yet unknown. Sony is about to release v 3.0 for their PCS6000 so we should get some help there. Also the PCS6000 is easily manipulated via the OS so down the line... I have only hosted point to point using the Sony camera & netmeeting and it worked ok. Performance can be improved via configuration.

  I have hosted multiple meetings participants using Netmeeting but it is something we need to develop and it is not ready "Out of the box".

  For further information about NetMeeting, see the Video workgroup NetMeeting Page