Polycom VSX Series User manual

Getting Started Guide
for the VSX Series
August 2005 Edition
3725-21286-007/A

GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE VSX SERIES
WWW.POLYCOM.COM/VIDEODOCUMENTATION
ii
Trademark Information
Polycom®, the Polycom logo design, and ViewStation® are registered trademarks of Polycom, Inc., and
ImageShare™, PathNavigator™, People+Content™, PowerCam™, SoundStation VTX 1000™,
StereoSurround™, Visual Concert™, and VSX™ are trademarks of Polycom, Inc. in the United States
and various other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Patent Information
The accompanying product is protected by one or more U.S. and foreign patents and/or pending patent
applications held by Polycom, Inc.
© 2005 Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved.
Polycom Inc.
4750 Willow Road
Pleasanton, CA 94588-2708
USA
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written
permission of Polycom, Inc. Under the law, reproducing includes translating into
another language or format.
As between the parties, Polycom, Inc. retains title to, and ownership of, all
proprietary rights with respect to the software contained within its products. The
software is protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty
provision. Therefore, you must treat the software like any other copyrighted material
(e.g. a book or sound recording).
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate.
Polycom, Inc. is not responsible for printing or clerical errors. Information in this
document is subject to change without notice.

Contents
System Basics ...................................................................................... 1
Using the Remote Control ..................................................................................................... 1
Getting More Information...................................................................................................... 3
Calling and Answering.......................................................................... 3
Answering a Video Call ......................................................................................................... 3
Placing a Video Call.............................................................................................................. 3
Ending a Video Call .............................................................................................................. 5
Types of Video Calls You Can Make......................................................................................... 6
Placing Audio-only Calls and Adding Audio-Only Sites................................................................ 7
Ending an Audio-Only Call..................................................................................................... 8
Controlling What You See..................................................................... 8
Selecting and Adjusting a Camera or Other Video Source........................................................... 8
Setting and Using Camera Presets.........................................................................................10
Switching Between Full Screen Video and the Home Screen ......................................................12
Showing, Moving, and Turning Off the PIP ..............................................................................12
Enabling Automatic Camera Tracking (PowerCam Plus Only) .....................................................13
Controlling What You Hear................................................................. 14
Adjusting Volume................................................................................................................14
Muting the Microphone ........................................................................................................14
Enjoying Stereo Audio in Video Calls......................................................................................15
Showing Content and Video Sources .................................................. 15
Showing Content from a Laptop or PC....................................................................................15
Using a Document Camera, VCR, or DVD Player ......................................................................18
Working with Directory Entries .......................................................... 19
Searching the Directory .......................................................................................................19
Adding, Editing, and Deleting Directory Entries........................................................................19
Categorizing Directory Entries...............................................................................................21
Including Multiple Sites in Calls ......................................................... 22
About Multipoint Calls..........................................................................................................22
Placing a Multipoint Call.......................................................................................................23
Supplying a Password for External MCU Calls ..........................................................................24
About Multipoint Viewing Modes............................................................................................25
Controlling How the System Answers Multipoint Calls ...............................................................26
Using Chair Control for Multipoint Calls...................................................................................26
Changing the Way Calls Are Answered............................................... 28
Temporarily Refusing Calls ...................................................................................................28
Answering Calls Automatically...............................................................................................28
Muting Automatically Answered Calls .....................................................................................29
©POLYCOM,INC. iii

GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE VSX SERIES
WWW.POLYCOM.COM/VIDEODOCUMENTATION
iv
Scheduling Calls................................................................................. 29
Using the SoundStation VTX 1000 Conference Phone in Video Calls... 30
Placing a Video Call with the SoundStation VTX 1000 Conference Phone .....................................30
Adding Sites to a Video Call Using the SoundStation VTX 1000 Conference Phone ........................31
Muting the Audio in a Call that Includes a SoundStation VTX Conference Phone ...........................31
Adding Video to a SoundStation VTX 1000 Conference Phone Audio-only Call ..............................32
Ending a Call......................................................................................................................32
Ending a Call with Audio-Only Participants..............................................................................33
Streaming a Conference to the Web................................................... 33
Starting a Stream ...............................................................................................................33
Viewing a Stream................................................................................................................34
Customizing Your Workspace............................................................. 34
Allowing the Far Site to Control Your Camera..........................................................................34
Specifying When to Display the PIP........................................................................................35
Displaying the Far Site’s Name When the Call Connects............................................................36
Hearing Audio Confirmation When You Dial.............................................................................36
Adjusting for Room Lighting .................................................................................................37
Setting Camera Brightness (VSX 3000 Only)...........................................................................37
Changing the System Color Scheme ......................................................................................38
Enabling Dual Monitor Emulation...........................................................................................38
Using Your VSX 3000 System as a PC Monitor.................................... 39
Video Conferencing Tips..................................................................... 40
Tips for Great Meetings........................................................................................................40
Tips for Great Video ............................................................................................................40
Tips for Great Audio ............................................................................................................41
Tips for Showing Content .....................................................................................................41

Getting Started Guide
for the VSX Series
When you attend a meeting using the Polycom®VSX™ system, you’ll see that
it’s very much like any other meeting you attend in a conference room. With
a VSX system, you can meet with people anywhere in the world, without any
travel required.
The VSX systems are easy to use. It’s easy to place calls, create your own
directory of numbers, change the way calls are answered, and customize
what you see on the screen. Depending on how your system is configured,
you can make video calls using ISDN or IP connections and to one site or
multiple sites at one time.
You can also share information in calls using content sharing software,
document cameras, VCRs, or DVDs.
Before you place your first call, use this guide to get some basic “how-to”
information. This guide includes overview information that you may find
helpful when you’re just starting to learn about video conferencing or when
you have experience, but you need a quick refresher.
VSX systems can be customized to show only those options used in your organization.
Therefore, there may be options covered in this guide that you cannot access on your
system. To find out more about these options, please talk to the administrator of your
VSX system.
This guide covers instructions for the following models.
VSX set-top systems: VSX 5000, VSX 6000, VSX 7000, and VSX 7000s.
VSX component systems: VSX 7000e and VSX 8000.
VSX 3000 executive desktop system.
System Basics
Using the Remote Control
You use the remote control to place calls, adjust the volume, navigate
screens, and select options.
If you need to enter text, you can press number buttons, using the text-entry
method commonly used with cell phones. For example, to enter a “b”, press
the number 2 button twice. Alternatively, you can press Keyboard and
use the on-screen keyboard to enter text.
©POLYCOM,INC. 1

GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE VSX SERIES
WWW.POLYCOM.COM/VIDEODOCUMENTATION
2
VSX Series Remote Control
Place or answer a call End a call
Adjust the camera; navigate through
menus Confirm your current selection; perform functions on highlighted items
Return to the Place a Call (home)
screen Return to the previous screen
Increase or decrease the sound you
hear from the far sites Select a far-site camera or video
source
Mute the sound you’re sending to the
far sites Select a near-site camera or video
source
Zoom the camera in or out Show, move, or hide the Picture-in-
Picture (PIP)
Turn automatic camera tracking on
or off
Store camera positions (when
followed by a number); delete all
stored camera positions
Select a camera or other video
source Enter a dot in an address
Display the onscreen keyboard so you
can enter text Delete letters or numbers
Start and stop sending content to far
sites Enter letters or numbers; move the camera to a stored position
Access the online help; see current
system status while in a call

CALLING AND ANSWERING
© Polycom, Inc. 3
Getting More Information
If you need additional information about using the VSX system, try these
resources:
To view help while you’re using the system, press Help on the remote
control.
For network questions, contact your system administrator.
For system questions, contact Polycom Technical Support at
www.polycom.com/support.
Calling and Answering
Answering a Video Call
The VSX system can answer incoming calls in one of these ways:
The system prompts you to answer the calls manually.
The system answers incoming calls automatically.
When a call comes in, you hear a ringing sound, and you may see a message
that includes the number of the person calling. If the person is listed in the
system directory, you’ll also see the person’s name.
To answer the call manually:
>> Press Call on the remote control.
If your system is set up to automatically answer calls, the call connects
automatically.
If you see Near on your screen, your microphone is muted. To unmute your
microphone, press Mute on the remote control. For VSX set-top and component
systems, you can also press on the microphone.
Placing a Video Call
You can use your system to place a video call in any of these ways:
Entering a name or number
Choosing a site from:
•The Recent Calls list
•The Contacts or Speed Dial list
•The Directory

GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE VSX SERIES
WWW.POLYCOM.COM/VIDEODOCUMENTATION
4
Calling by Entering a Name or Number
To place a call by entering a name or number:
1. In the dialing field, enter the dialing information. Depending on the
capabilities of your system and the system you are calling, the dialing
information will look like one of these samples:
10.11.12.13 (IP address)
2555 (extension)
stereo.polycom.com (DNS name)
Ascot Conference Room (system name)
19784444321 (ISDN number)
The system automatically determines the type of call to make based on
the information you enter.
2. Enter any additional information needed for the call. The available
settings depend on the type of call and your system’s configuration.
Not all calls require these settings:
Call Quality – Specify the bandwidth or call type for this call. For most
calls, choose Auto to let the system determine the best quality for the
call.
Second ISDN number – Use two numbers only when the person you
are calling instructs you to do so.
Gateway extension – If you need to dial an extension, enter the
extension in the second entry field. If your system is not configured
with a second entry field, you can enter the extension when the
gateway prompts you.
3. Press Call on the remote control to place the call.
Call progress indicators appear on the screen to show that the call is in
progress. When the indicators turn green, the call is connected.
Calling from the Recent Calls List
You may be able to choose a number to call from a list of the sites you have
called recently. The Recent Calls screen provides details of all incoming and
outgoing calls, including the time of the calls.
To place a call from the Recent Calls screen:
1. Select Recent Calls from the Place a Call screen.
2. Scroll to the entry you want to call.
3. Press Call to place the call.
To see more details about a call listed on the Recent Calls screen, highlight the call
and press Help on the remote control.

CALLING AND ANSWERING
© Polycom, Inc. 5
Calling from the Contacts or Speed Dial List
You may be able to access calling information for specific sites using the Speed
Dial or Contacts list on the Place a Call screen.
To place a call using the Speed Dial or Contacts list:
1. Select Speed Dial or Contacts from the Place a Call screen.
2. Scroll to the entry you want to call.
3. Press Call to place the call.
Calling from the Directory
The directory is a list of names and numbers that’s stored locally on the VSX
system.
If the system is registered with a global directory, the directory also includes
entries from the global directory. Global entries are marked with . For both
types of entries, the name appears with its corresponding number, IP address,
or both.
To place a call from the directory:
1. Press Directory on the remote control.
2. Find the entry to call.
3. Press Call to place the call.
For more information about using the directory, see Working with Directory Entries on
page 19.
Depending on your system configuration, when you make a call using an entry with both
ISDN and IP dialing information, the system may prompt you to choose which way to
place the call.
Ending a Video Call
To hang up from a call:
1. Press Hang Up on the remote control.
2. Confirm that you want to end the call.
If you don’t confirm that you want to hang up, the system disconnects the call
automatically after 60 seconds.

GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE VSX SERIES
WWW.POLYCOM.COM/VIDEODOCUMENTATION
6
Types of Video Calls You Can Make
Depending on your system configuration, you may be able to make calls using
ISDN, IP, SIP, or V.35. The VSX 6000 allows only IP calls.
The following table lists some possible call combinations.
From… You can call… By dialing…
ISDN Phone numberISDN
IP Phone number of the far-site gateway and
the extension (E.164 address) of the far
site.
Enter the extension after the gateway
number or wait until the gateway prompts
you for the extension.
Same LAN Alias, E.164 address, or IP address
Different LAN Access code of the near-site gateway, the
selected speed code, the ISDN number for
the far-site gateway, and the extension
(E.164 address) of the far site.
Enter the extension after the gateway
number or wait until the gateway prompts
you for the extension.
LAN
ISDN Access code of the near-site gateway, the
selected speed code, and the ISDN number
of the far site.
When you call an IP system through a gateway that requires an extension (E.164
address), enter the extension in the dialing field whenever possible. Check with your
network administrator for the extension delimiter you will need to enter into the dialing
field. For example, some networks use ## to separate the extension from the IP
address.
When you include the extension, you will be given the option of saving both the number
and the extension in the directory when the call ends. If you enter the extension after
the gateway connects, then you can save only the gateway number when the call ends.

CALLING AND ANSWERING
© Polycom, Inc. 7
Placing Audio-only Calls and Adding Audio-Only Sites
You may be able to use your VSX system to place an audio-only call, or you
can add an audio-only call to a video conference. This lets you:
Use your system in the same way as a telephone.
Add audio-only participants to your video calls.
Add video calls to your audio-only calls.
Other audio options are available if your conference room has a VSX video conferencing
system integrated with a SoundStation VTX 1000™ conference phone.
For more information about using the SoundStation VTX 1000 conference phone, see
Using the SoundStation VTX 1000 Conference Phone in Video Calls on page 30.
Placing an Audio-Only Call
You can place an audio-only call from VSX systems that have Analog Phone or
Voice Over ISDN enabled.
To place an audio-only call from your system:
1. On the Place a Call screen, enter the number you want to call.
To place a call within your PBX system, enter the last four digits of the
number.
To delete a digit, press Delete on the remote control.
2. Press Call to place the call.
Adding an Audio-Only Call to a Video Call
To add an audio-only call after your video call connects:
1. Press Call on the remote control.
2. Select Add Call from the Hang Up screen.
3. Use the number buttons on the remote control to enter the telephone
number of the audio participant that you want to add to your video
conference.
4. Press Call on the remote control.
5. After the audio call connects, press Near or Far to return to
the video conference.

GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE VSX SERIES
WWW.POLYCOM.COM/VIDEODOCUMENTATION
8
Adding a Video Call to an Audio-Only Call
If you are already in an audio-only call, you can add a video call to your call.
To add a video call after your audio-only call connects:
1. On the Place a Call screen, enter the number you want to call.
2. Press Call to place the call.
Ending an Audio-Only Call
To hang up from an audio-only call:
1. Press Hang Up on the remote control.
2. Select the audio-only site from the Hang Up screen to hang up the call.
If the person on the telephone hangs up first, you need to disconnect the call from the
VSX system, just as you would hang up a telephone receiver in a regular phone call.
Controlling What You See
Adjusting your cameras lets you show conference participants what you want
them to see. You can adjust cameras and other video sources before the
meeting starts and while the meeting is in progress.
Selecting and Adjusting a Camera or Other Video Source
You can use the remote control to select the main camera or any other
near-site or far-site video sources, such as document cameras, laptops, VCRs
or DVD players.
You can also use the remote control to adjust the main camera on VSX set-top
and component systems. If you have a VSX 3000 system, you must pan, tilt,
and focus the main camera manually. You can also adjust any auxiliary
camera or far-site camera that supports pan, tilt, and zoom movement.
You can adjust the far-site camera only if the camera supports electronic pan, tilt, and
zoom, and the far site system is configured to allow you to control its camera.

CONTROLLING WHAT YOU SEE
© Polycom, Inc. 9
To select a near-site or far-site camera or other video source:
1. If you are in a call, press Near or Far to select either a
near-site or far-site camera or other video source. The icon on the
screen indicates which you can select:
If you see this, you can control a
near-site camera or video source
If you see this, you can control a
far-site camera or video source
2. Press Camera on the remote control. Then press the number for
the camera or other video source you want to select at the near or far
site. For example, press 1to select the main camera.
The image from the camera or video source you selected appears on the
screen.
To adjust a camera using the remote control:
1. Press Near or Far to select either a near-site or far-site
camera.
2. Press the arrow buttons on the remote control to move the camera
up, down, to the left, or to the right.
3. Press Zoom to zoom out or in.

GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE VSX SERIES
WWW.POLYCOM.COM/VIDEODOCUMENTATION
10
To adjust the main camera on the VSX 3000 system:
1. Position the camera up, down, to the left, or to the right manually:
2. Focus the camera by turning the focus wheel:
Setting and Using Camera Presets
Camera presets are stored camera positions that you can create ahead of time
or during a call.
Presets allow you to:
Automatically point a camera at pre-defined locations in a room.
Select a video source such as a VCR or DVD player, a document camera,
or an auxiliary camera.
If your system’s main camera supports electronic pan, tilt, and zoom
movement, you can create up to 100 preset camera positions for the near site.
Each preset stores the camera number, its zoom level, and the direction it
points (if appropriate). Near-site presets are available for VSX set-top and
component systems. They remain in effect until you delete or change them.

CONTROLLING WHAT YOU SEE
© Polycom, Inc. 11
Depending on configuration capabilities, you may be able to control the
camera at the far site. If far-site camera control is allowed, you can create up
to 17 presets for the far-site camera. These presets are saved only for the
duration of the call. You may also be able to use presets that were created at
the far site to control the far-site camera.
To move the camera to a preset:
1. If a call is connected, press Near or Far to choose a near-site
or far-site camera or other video source.
2. Press a number on the remote control.
The camera moves to the preset position for the camera or other video
source.
To view your near-site presets (VSX set-top and component systems):
>> Press Preset on the remote control.
Icons for presets 0-9 are shown on the screen. The colored icons indicate
stored camera positions, and the gray icons indicate available presets.
To store a preset:
1. If you are in a call, press Near or Far to choose a near-site or
far-site camera or other video source.
2. If you selected a camera that supports electronic pan, tilt, and zoom,
you can adjust the camera’s position:
Press the arrow buttons on the remote control to move the camera up,
down, to the left, or to the right.
Press Zoom to zoom the camera out or in.
3. Press Preset on the remote control.
4. Press and hold a number to store the preset position. To store a
double-digit preset, hold the second number down. Any existing preset
stored at the number you enter is replaced.
The system uses preset 0 as the default camera position.

GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE VSX SERIES
WWW.POLYCOM.COM/VIDEODOCUMENTATION
12
To delete all presets:
1. If a call is connected, press Near to choose a near-site video
source.
2. Press Preset on the remote control.
3. Press Delete to delete all presets.
You cannot delete just one preset. Instead, override an existing preset with the new
camera position.
Switching Between Full Screen Video and the Home Screen
Before the call connects, you see the near video in a small window on the
Place a Call (home) screen. When the call connects, the system automatically
shows the video in the whole screen. You can switch back to the Place a Call
screen during a call, for example, if you need to adjust a user setting, and
your system is configured to allow you to do so.
To learn about adjusting user settings, see Customizing Your Workspace on page 34.
To see the video in the full screen:
>> Press Near on the remote control.
To see the Place a Call screen:
>> Press Home on the remote control.
Showing, Moving, and Turning Off the PIP
During a call on a single-monitor system, the Picture-in-Picture (PIP) displays
what your main camera is sending to the far site. (This lets you adjust the
camera if you need to.) If the far site shows any type of content, the content
appears in the main part of the screen, and the PIP changes to show the
people at the far site.
During a call on a dual-monitor system, what you see on each monitor and in
the PIP depends on how the VSX system has been configured.

CONTROLLING WHAT YOU SEE
© Polycom, Inc. 13
To show, move, or turn off the PIP during a call:
Press PIP on the remote control to display the PIP on screen.
While the PIP has a yellow border, press PIP repeatedly to move it to
different corners of the screen.
After a brief pause, the PIP border turns blue. Then, press PIP to
turn the PIP off.
To swap the views shown in the PIP and the main screen:
1. If the PIP is not showing, press PIP on the remote control to
display the PIP on screen.
2. Press Camera and select the Swap PIP icon.
During calls using a single monitor and the Dual Monitor Emulation feature
(split-screen viewing), without content, you can use the PIP button to scroll
through the following screen layouts:
1. Near and far sites, same size, side by side
2. Far site big, near site small
3. Near site big, far site small
4. Near site, full screen
5. Far site, full screen
Enabling Automatic Camera Tracking (PowerCam Plus Only)
If you are using a VSX 7000e or VSX 8000 with the Polycom PowerCam™ Plus
camera, you can set the camera to automatically point to the person speaking
or to move to the preset location that is closest to the speaker. When you
enable this voice tracking, you can view the people who are speaking
throughout the meeting without having to manually adjust the camera. Use
this feature if you expect the meeting participants to sit or remain somewhat
stationary during the meeting.
Automatic camera tracking is temporarily disabled when your site is muted, when the
people at the far site are speaking, and when Polycom StereoSurround™ is enabled.
To enable automatic camera tracking to the speaker:
1. Press Near or Far to choose the near-site or far-site camera.
2. Press Auto until you see “Automatic Camera Tracking.”

GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE VSX SERIES
WWW.POLYCOM.COM/VIDEODOCUMENTATION
14
To enable automatic voice tracking to camera presets:
1. Press Near or Far to choose the near-site or far-site camera.
2. Press Auto until you see “Automatic Camera Tracking to Presets.”
The near-site camera icon changes to to let you know that
automatic voice tracking to camera presets is enabled.
To disable automatic voice tracking to camera presets:
>> Press Auto until you see “Automatic Camera Tracking Off.”
You can also turn off automatic tracking by using the remote to pan, tilt,
or zoom the camera.
Controlling What You Hear
Adjusting Volume
Use the remote control to raise or lower the volume of the sound you hear.
Changing the volume affects only the sound you hear at your site.
To adjust the volume:
>> Press Volume.
When the VSX 3000 system is in use for video conferencing, use the remote control to
adjust the volume. When the VSX 3000 is in use as a monitor for your PC, use the VOL
button on the front of the system to adjust the volume.
Muting the Microphone
You can mute the microphone if you do not want the far site to hear you. For
example, you might mute the microphone if you want to speak to someone
privately.
To mute or unmute the microphone:
>> Press Mute on the remote control.
For VSX set-top and component systems that use a Polycom microphone, you
can also mute the call by pressing on the microphone.

SHOWING CONTENT AND VIDEO SOURCES
© Polycom, Inc. 15
Enjoying Stereo Audio in Video Calls
If your video conferencing room is configured to use stereo sound, the left and
right microphone inputs are configured during system setup. It is important
that you do not move the microphones as this may detract from the stereo
audio experience.
Stereo audio is only used in video calls of 256 Kbps or higher.
Showing Content and Video Sources
You may be able to show the following to the far sites:
Any information stored on a laptop or PC
A paper document or object placed on a document camera
A videotape or DVD
You can share one type of content or one video source at a time, and you can
switch to a different type of content or video source if you need to.
Participants at other sites can also share content or video sources.
Showing Content from a Laptop or PC
If you have a VSX set-top system with a Visual Concert™VSX connected to it,
or a VSX component system with an ImageShare™ II connected to it, you can
attach a laptop or PC and show content that is stored on the computer. You
can also show content with the software application called
People+Content™ IP.
If you have the Polycom People+Content IP option enabled on your VSX
system and the software application installed on your PC or laptop, you can
show content from any Windows XP or Windows 2000 PC that is connected to
the network. You don’t need cables or hardware. All you need is the IP address
of the VSX system. For more information about enabling People+Content IP on
your VSX system, talk to the administrator of your VSX system.
People+Content IP provides video-only content. No audio is shared.
If your computer is connected to the LAN, you can also share content from
network locations. When you share content from a laptop or PC, the far site
sees just what you see on the computer screen.

GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE VSX SERIES
WWW.POLYCOM.COM/VIDEODOCUMENTATION
16
Showing Content with People+Content IP
To install the People+Content IP application on a laptop or PC:
1. On a laptop or PC with Windows XP or Windows 2000, open a web
browser and go to www.polycom.com.
2. Download and install the People+Content IP application from the
Polycom Resource Center.
To start showing content:
1. On the PC, start the Polycom People+Content IP application.
2. Enter the IP address of the video conferencing system and click
Connect.
3. Open the content you want to show, and do one of the following:
Click in People+Content IP.
Press Graphics on the video conferencing system's remote
control.
If you have content sources connected to your VSX system and you press Graphics on
the remote control, you are prompted to select the content source to use.
To stop showing content:
1. If the People+Content IP toolbar is minimized, maximize it by clicking
the icon in the task bar.
2. Do one of the following:
Click in People+Content IP.
Press Graphics on the video conferencing system's remote
control.
3. If others in the conference want to send content from the same VSX
system using People+Content IP, click Disconnect to disconnect from
the VSX system so that they may connect. Only one PC at a time can
be connected.