Things You'll Need:
- Computer
- DSL Connection
- Internet Service Provider
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Step 1
Modern technology has made it possible for you to start your own Internet broadcasting system. The following information will provide you with the knowledge of the equipment and services that must be put together to allow anyone in the world with access to the Internet to enjoy broadcast from your organization.
Before we discuss services and equipment, let’s get a basic understanding of how Internet broadcasting works. We can understand Internet broadcasting by taking a closer look at how a telephone call works. Over the years, telephone companies have built a network of wires that connect every telephone in the world. Their hard work has made it possible for you to pick up a phone, dial a few numbers, connect and begin carrying on a conversation with someone who could be next door or thousands of miles away. These phone lines were originally designed to carry enough information for simple data and voice. With the birth of the Internet, features such as file transfer, email, news, and eventually Web pages were added as this phone technology gained popularity all over the world.
More advanced capabilities were built into this world wide communications network and made it possible and affordable for the average consumer to send voice, data, audio and video to any recipient where there is telephone and Internet access. -
Step 2
Special Equipment and Services
As a telephone enables two people to talk to each other over this wonderful world-wide communications network, there is special equipment that allows two people to share audio and video with each other. The special piece of equipment that turns your audio and video signal into data that can be sent over special high-speed phone lines is called an encoder. The special piece of equipment that turns that audio and video signal back into a language that your computer or television can understand is called a decoder
But what happens if you want many people to get your audio and video information at the same time? What if you wanted to share your special live event, such as a wedding, a graduation ceremony, a Sunday sermon or a conference from one location to many locations around the world? To meet that need, special companies have come into existence called Media Internet Service providers. These companies take a signal that you send to them and they allow many others to connect to your signal through their facility. These companies have made the investment in the equipment to allow your one signal to be distributed to many places at the same time. -
Step 3
Putting it all together
The steps to broadcasting your special Internet event are as follows:
Get an audio and video signal from your event
Put that audio and video signal into an encoder
Connect your encoder to a special high-speed phone line (DSL or Higher)
Send that encoded signal to your Media Internet Service Provider
Notify your special listeners and viewers when your broadcast will be available.
Equipment and Costs
When determining the cost of building your Internet broadcasting system, you must determine if you intend to broadcast only once, occasionally, every day or all day and night.
Here is a minimum list of equipment that is needed for a system that will be used to broadcast all day and night.
Media Server – This piece of equipment is actually a computer that stores audio or video files that may be scheduled to play every minute or hour of the day. This special computer can store hundreds of hours of material that can be played as often as it may be scheduled. The price for this piece of equipment ranges from $1, 000 to $50,000 or higher.
Encoder – The encoder takes the signal from your media server and turns that signal into data that can be transmitted over your special high-speed line to your Media Internet Service Provider. Prices range from $300.00 and up.
High-Speed Line – This service can be provided by your local phone company and can be decided upon by the quality of the signal you wish to send to your Media Internet Service Provider. Usually, for a signal that may be viewed by someone on a computer, a premium quality DSL line is sufficient. This service may be referred to by other names depending on the company offering the service and can cost from $100.00 monthly. Higher quality service is available and can be explained to you by special representatives from your phone company and other companies that offer the same service.
Media Internet Service Provider – This is the company that is responsible for distributing your signal to the general public. They set their fees based on the number of simultaneous listeners or viewers you want to serve. Prices for this kind of service can range from $400.00 monthly and higher.
The other pieces of equipment involved in establishing your broadcast system is the furniture, shelving and other pieces of equipment you might use to gather your audio and video material. The broadcasting equipment listed does not include video cameras, microphones and computer editing -
Step 4
The Bottom Line – If you already have equipment that can be used to gather and edit audio and video material, you can get your broadcasting empire started with $3,000.00 to purchase a server and an encoder and estimate spending $500.00 monthly for a simple high-speed line and fees for your Media Internet service provider.
Comments
excellence12 said
on 9/6/2009 Michaelis, This is one of the best articles that I've read. It is extremely articulate, thorough and presented in an interesting manner, whether it is information that you are inclined to pursue or not. Welcome to EHow! I look forward to getting to know one another through our articles. It is a *5* and a Rec. with an invitation to be 'Friends.'
gotchacovered said
on 9/5/2009 I was happy to come across this article, my daughter and her senior class are working on developing a broadcast station for there school, she will appreciate this.
rcryder said
on 9/4/2009 very interesting article. well done. 5*****/rec.