Thread: DOLPHIN's Ray A/V Chat . Any reviews ???

For those of you wanting to know what Boonex Ray Chat Server is - this is it:

http://www.osflash.org/red5

Smoge

I looked into Red5 today, and installed it on a server, to try it out. It is not yet production quality - as stated by the developers. It may develop into a good, budget solution for Flash MultiMedia server in the future - it's worth watching.

In anycase, if you want to get the updates and/or information right from the developers mouth, go to the RED5 site instead of Boonex.

Smoge

Thanks for your wealth of information. This is my delimma. Even though I have hardly anyone on my site right now. I am promoting as a "CHAT" site. I'm putting ads on the radio the promote it. I'm not sure if that makes a difference and I totally agree with your member to chat ratio. My next question is this.

I havee a theory, I think it's EASIER to find chatters than it is DATERS. This is my theory and please shoot holes in it! LOL The reason I am thinking this way is this:

1. It is easier to join a chat only site
2. It's less pressure. You may be online just to chat and entertain one self
3. No strings attached, you don't feel that "no body loves me" feeling because you did not receive any desireable emails.

This is my situation- My membership is low, but my budget is pretty cool. I have a windows version of flashcomm 1.5 I purchased from some guy who had an extra copy. I do understand I will need to tunnel in since I cannot mix that version in on my Linux server.

Another option I have is that my hosting service is up for renewal in a week. I have a dedicated server which has gotten little or no use. I was thinking about doing one of the below options.

1. Changing to a windows server (if AE will run on it), but keeping a dedicated hosting service to handle the hopefully future membership.

2. Down grade to a virtual dedicated service for 35.00 (instead of 160.00) When business increases, tunnel in with another virtual dedicated windows flashcomm server or get a dedication server for flashcomm.

I recently asked Boonex alot of questions about "RAY pro". They make it sound like it's just as good!! I really wish I could find someone who has it and could give me the low down! If this is the case, I would not mind going with it. But, I do not want to waste 378.00 (after they get done with you) if it sux.

I guess what I'm saying is this. Will my consumers know the difference in quality between RAY(if it works) and FCSchat or will they look at ray after coming from a userplane/FCS based site and say "look a this cheap S**t!

James

Thanks for the info, I just want to define your points.

1. If I can afford enterprise level chat...go for it.
2. Go with a Virtual Dedicated Server for the dating scripts
3. Don't bother installing flashcomms, use influxis(at least for now)
4. A windows box is ok. But you prefer for the flashcom server to have it's own bandwith. Flashcomm should not share the dating script's bandwith.

Thanks for info. I'm looking in the box now for flashcomm. I'm not sure which one is the reg code. There is a serial number and a sku#. That's on the registration card. I guess I have the reg code! LOL . I believe that I will do is go with influxis until things get funky. When the math tells to upgrade, I will.

Another option is that I may try to sell flashcomm bandwith to a few other fokes while business is slow. This may help pay for the server. LOL... it would have to be about 10 accounts @ 150 each! LOL

HEY AFROGEEK! I just wanted to add my small two sense in here. i have spent the last 3-4 week developing my network community with the Dolphin and ray package along with a RMS server on the same box. it works well but is difficult to get use to. the options are all there to expand and do many diff things as the community grows with your site. the ray chat needs serious WORK compared to the userplane style of A/V chat. the admin of the Ray chat is LACKING IN A BIG WAY. You are given the ability to set a few admin actions in place from the site admin but are required to do all chat room administration from within the chat room, almost no reasonable interaction mods, absolutely no logging and most functions need to be downloaded and installed after you get the site up and running. chat and chat servers up and running. take for example the ability to keep the same fonts and color settings every time you log back in, that had to be found downloaded and installed. smiles have to be purchased and installed, skins have to be hand made or purchased and installed, and again no way to administrate things like client limits on how many cams they can "dock" and that can cause lag on the users end with to many connections using up their home bandwidth, word filtering, settings to allow a newly logged in member to see the chat that was going on BEFORE they logged in.

so in short here, ray needs mad work. but i will say that it is a great product in the end just be educated on what your community needs are before using ray. i also will give dolphin a thumbs up but be prepare to spend a a few dollars if u want all the options for your members. it will nickel and dime u to death in the end.

i hope this helps out.

Afrogeek's post was from 06-01-2006, and your response was just recently, but it is all the same more or less.... we usually remove RAY when we can, and use something else in its place. Same is true for ORCA. We prefer to use the base code (Dolphin) - it is a great start for a site - and add in other applications for the "ray like functions" and forum.

Smoge

i hear that, i do like the Dolphin software.for sure. needs less options to have pay a coder for stuff but ill give it a thumbs up .

i did see that dates of the post but i had to post. i feel that even if the post was from 06 and i just got into the software this year and people are still having the same questions that it would be good to add an update to the questions. i have also replaced the orca forums with phpbb and the ray chat i am thinking of changing to a diff A/V chat platform. To be honest im not sure what to say about how much time investment we have spent on the ray side of our project's. in hind sight now that i am somewhat educated in the available A/V chat software out there i would not have used ray. it can support Large community's but only in moderation. thanks for your reply smoge and i have become a permanent user of your forums now.

Originally Posted by beergutt

changing to a diff A/V chat platform

Yea - we have a A/V Group Chat, A/V Instant Messenger now to replace it - and soon to be released, a cool replacement for the media upload (music / sound) coming soon.

But we don't push it much - as we are pretty busy - but will be promoting it more in the near future.

Smoge