Phone Home The ViaTV is slightly bigger than a thick paperback novel, comes with its own built-in video camera, and rests on top of your television on an adjustable stand. Besides connecting with other televisions equipped with the device, the ViaTV Set-Top Videophone uses the H.324 videoconferencing standard to communicate with other video-telephone systems.

To use the ViaTV, simply phone the other party and press the pound sign to initiate the video call. After approximately 30 seconds the other party appears on your television screen and you on theirs, and you're ready to talk to each other. You can set the device to display your image and your colleague's image simultaneously on the screen.

ViaTV produces a pleasing and fairly clear video image. You can change the size of the image and its clarity. At its sharpest setting the device displays images at 352 by 288 pixels but updates them at a meager 1 frame every 4 seconds. At its fastest the ViaTV updates at 20 fps but displays images at a rather poor 128 by 96 pixels. We settled on an intermediate setting that provided decent updating and image quality. Unfortunately, the system comes with only a 33.6Kbps modem and no simple way to upgrade. Models with ISDN or 56Kbps support would up the video quality substantially.

During video calls, ViaTV offers slick viewing options. You can pan your view of the other person to the fight or left or up and down (changing the camera angle), and even zoom in or out (assuming they're also using a ViaTV product). The device uses your telephone's keypad as its interface to make calls, initiate video, and access onscreen menus. While this method is somewhat clumsy when you're working with menus, it's generally usable. Make the Call Before you make your video-phone-call debut, the device lets you preview how you'll look. In our testing we used the preview to help us adjust the lighting in the room. If we hadn't added a lamp the camera would've portrayed our setting in a harsh red (indicating that the lights were too low). Once we increased the lighting we found the color saturation to be acceptable.

Installation is straightforward. If you can hook up a VCR---or better yet, program one---you'll have no problems installing the ViaTV. The brief documentation provides adequate instructions, and the device comes with all the cables you need. We found that the ViaTV installation didn't interfere with our existing cable and VCR connections. Once you purchase and set up a ViaTV, there are no expenses beyond telephone calls.

At press time, 8x8 was developing a higher-end 115 model that lets users browse the Web as well as make video calls. However, the system doesn't support Internet-based video calls--only point-to- point. Also, 8x8 offers lower-end devices for making video cabs, the 50 and the 55,which lack video cameras and make you connect your own camcorder.

There are few competing products at this price that turn your television into a two-way videoconferencing system. For example, the C-Phone Home supports more than two callers but costs $150 more than the ViaTV. Other products, like 3Com's $299 Bigpicture Video Kit, require a PentiNto-class desktop---the ViaTV needs only a TV, a telephone, and a phone line.

In all, the ViaTV Set-Top Videophone 105 offers an easy video teleconferencing solution for the home. You won't keep up with the Jet-sons, but you will make the connection.