Google Hangout meetings

The Wikimedia Foundation uses Google Hangout to help facilitate participation of remote staff. This guide acts as a quick start for anyone wanting to host their meeting in the WMF San Francisco office with remote participants. These steps may be useful for other locations and software but the guide does not mean to cover them.

Their are two conference rooms on the third floor that are equipped for Google Hangout: R31 & R37. Inside each room you will find the following equipment


 * Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920
 * Logitech x140 Speakers
 * Yeti microphone
 * USB Hub

= Getting started =

All three devices should already be placed in their ideal location but feel free to adjust if someone has moved them or if your meeting requires a different layout. The webcam, speakers, and microphone are all connected to one usb hub. Connect this USB hub to your laptop and start hangout. If this is the first time that your using hangout then you'll have to configure your laptop to use these external devices. To do so click on the gear icon. Select the Camera pull down and choose the 'Logitech HD Pro'. Select the microphone and choose 'Yeti'. Select the speaker icon and choose 'Logitech Speakers'. Select ok.

= Potential Issues =

It doesn't sound right
The Yeti mic is exceptionally good at audio pickup but occasionally it needs to be tweaked. You will find two nobs on the mic. One is for audio gain (generally not needed) and the other is the type of room the device is in (very useful). Make sure the mic is set to "omnidirectional" ... the giant 'O' For a complete description of what each mode means check out the manual.

Video is choppy
Make sure your on a wired connection. Wireless is not reliable enough to run hangout. Always used a wired connection. If your laptop doesn't have an ethernet port then use the provided USB -> Ethernet dongle.

I don't know how to start hangout
The best way to solve this is to always have a hangout pre-configured for your meeting. You never know when someone will be remote so its best to just have it set. To do this ... Now that you have it set you can simply pull up your calendar before the meeting. Navigate to the meeting and select 'Join hangout'

If you don't have a pre set hangout then you'll have to create one adhoc. To do that log into your gmail account. Select '+'. In the left column select hangout. and then 'Start a hangout'.