Is this solution easy to operate for people without a technical background?

Absolutely! If someone can click on a website with their smartphone, they can use this solution as well.

How can I start sending a stream to the internet?

For some portals, it is as easy as clicking “Start transmission” on the web interface. Other portals may need an additional one-time setup.

Can I build this device myself?

Sure! The parts are readily available, and it’s as simple as plugging in USB and HDMI and operating a screwdriver if you want a case. You need a microSD card reader to write the software to a microSD card.

Can I repair this device myself?

Sure! Disassembling and reassembling can be done in less than 5 minutes.

Is there a parts list of what I should buy?

Contact us for concrete recommendations

  • The bare minimum for receiving video streams is a
    • Raspberry Pi 4B 2GB (better 4GB model)
    • an 8GB microSD card (better 16GB)
    • 5V 3A USB-C power supply.
    • Special Micro HDMI Cable (starting at USD 3)
    • For better heat management, we recommend metallic cases (starting at USD 10) with metallic pillars contacting the hot chips on the Pi mainboard.
  • For transmitting, an extra video grabber is required. Currently, we support:
    • Macrosilicon MS2109 HDMI starting at 12 USD
    • Elgato Camlink 4K HDMI starting at 140 USD
    • Blackmagic Atem Mini / Atem Mini Pro starting at 500 USD
    • Various analog video grabbers starting at 15 USD
    • Raspberry Pi HD camera

Will this device survive dust/dirt/humidity?

Sure, but we recommend a sealed case for that. A standard metallic case (available for as low as USD 10 from online sellers) with some glue in the seams is the most affordable option. The design is entirely fanless and has no moving parts to make sure it survives a rough environment.

Can I power this from a USB power bank?

Sure! Please make sure it can deliver 5V at 3A.

How big is it?

90x65x35 mm, slightly larger than a cigarette pack. Plus a USB video grabber or soundcard if necessary. Furthermore, a 19’’ 1HE rack version is planned (see [link:Roadmap]).

Is the software really free?

Sure! It’s not only free of charge. It’s also free to distribute and free to modify.

Can I modify the software to my liking?

Sure! It’s free and open-source, so you get the source code and the right to modify it and distribute the modified version subject to the license agreement.

Why are you releasing the software for free?

Because we believe in empowering people and our local communities during covid, we believe in open-source.

Can I contribute changes/features/improvements?

Absolutely! We would love to see you merge requests or if you join our team

Can I join your team?

Sure! Write us a message and join our slack or just pick some feature on our to-do list, write code for it, add a translation, report or fix bugs, and suggest your needed features.

Can I use this for my school/congregation/business?

Sure!

My language is not supported yet. Can I help?

Sure! Send us an email, and we’ll give you a list of strings to translate. We’ll integrate your translation in the next version.

Why didn’t you release this sooner?

Because we believe in releasing a reliable and well-tested solution. It took us a few months to handle all the fun stuff, as encountered in the real world, like unreliable networks, broken video sources, rough environments, and power outages.

Is this a finished product?

It’s reliable and usable, but there are still quite some features people want, and we hope to tackle them in due course.

Can I directly attach more than one camera?

Not yet. You can either use an external video mixer or contribute that feature to the next version.