remote hearings during covid-19 sightlink technical
TRANSCRIPT
V12 August 2021 1 | Page
Remote Hearings during Covid-19 – SightLink Technical
Guidance – Updated August 2021
The guidance below sets out the technical options that will be provided by NICTS for
remote hearings via audio and video conferencing during this period using
SightLink.
Guidance on the operation of the courts during Covid-19 can be found on the
JudiciaryNI website - https://judiciaryni.uk/coronavirus-covid-19
Additional audio and video conferencing options (such as Cisco WebEx) are also
being used and separate guidance has been issue and is available on the NICTS
website https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/publications/webex-virtual-hearings-guide-
external-participants
Telephone hearings are also being conducted via BT MeetMe.
SightLink
SightLink is a cloud based video conferencing solution that enables multiple parties
to meet using video and/or audio in a Virtual Meeting Room (VMR) from any type of
device. The solution facilitates video and telephone conferencing.
NICTS will use the following SightLink Virtual Meeting Rooms to facilitate
remote/hybrid hearings for court business and integrates with NICTS courtroom
technology:
Venue SightLink Address
Antrim SightLink 16
SightLink 17
SightLink 27
SightLink 53
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/52649305/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/48699353/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/56463742/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/10554211/
Armagh SightLink 35
SightLink 36
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/34973056/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/85546148/
Ballymena SightLink 29 https://my.sightlink.net/meet/28146914/
Banbridge SightLink 62 https://my.sightlink.net/meet/10197694/
Coleraine SightLink 28
Sightlink 55
SightLink 68
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/80937370/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/36726409/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/98611094/
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Coroners SightLink 43 https://my.sightlink.net/meet/40594957/
Craigavon SightLink 12
SightLink 22
SightLink 67
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/63078822/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/29463684/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/32148959/
Downpatrick SightLink 23
SightLink 33
SightLink 61
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/90313027/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/81157794/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/91800449/
Dungannon SightLink 3
SightLink 13
SightLink 57
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/79597546/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/68262058/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/11380519/
Enniskillen SightLink 32 https://my.sightlink.net/meet/16673087/
Laganside SightLink 1
SightLink 5
SightLink 9
SightLink 10
SightLink 11
SightLink 20
SightLink 21
SightLink 30
SightLink 31
SightLink 40
SightLink 41
SightLink 42
SightLink 58
SightLink 65
SightLink 66
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/81369702/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/93391698/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/37499202/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/29497682/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/26370282/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/79545995/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/95389553/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/55362460/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/33140400/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/57075545/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/72080713/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/59862471/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/44950218/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/30666287/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/70746552/
Legacy Inquests SightLink 19 https://my.sightlink.net/meet/93632850/
Lisburn SightLink 2
SightLink 60
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/94343518/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/63502662/
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Londonderry SightLink 4
SightLink 14
SightLink 44
SightLink 63
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/55762703/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/31457453/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/76467430/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/45166138/
Newry
SightLink 24
SightLink 34
SightLink 56
SightLink 64
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/85747296/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/52504478/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/45071451/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/33157767/
Newtownards
SightLink 15
SightLink 25
SightLink 54
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/98190409/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/16907703/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/78504904/
Nightingale Lagan SightLink 59 https://my.sightlink.net/meet/56975619/
Omagh SightLink 37
SightLink 38
SightLink 39
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/67527811/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/71961756/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/19860603/
RCJ SightLink 6
SightLink 8
SightLink18
SightLink 26
SightLink 45
SightLink 46
SightLink 47
SightLink 48
SightLink 49
SightLink 50
SightLink 51
SightLink 52
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/70067665/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/19977080/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/95710336/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/70966269/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/30022698/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/28890485/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/19667738/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/94645105/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/31565980/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/60027403/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/48255910/
https://my.sightlink.net/meet/86678658/
Tribunals SightLink 7 https://my.sightlink.net/meet/54834852/
Guidance will be updated as additional SightLink licences become available.
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The court clerk will manage the SightLink remote hearing with all parties.
Court Offices will advise participants of which SightLink is to be used for their
specific case and the scheduled time the case has been listed for. The information
on which Sightlink has been allocated to each court will be published on Court
Lists Online and Media Court Lists Online.
If a test of SightLink is required this this be arranged by the court office in advance of
the court hearing.
A test Sightlink VRM is available to test audio and video connection in advance of your
hearing - https://my.sightlink.net/meet/17113581/
How to Connect to SightLink
● Connecting From a Laptop
The easiest way to connect to SightLink from your laptop is to do so via a web browser (it is recommended that you should use Chrome if possible).
In the address bar enter one of the above web addresses, depending on what
Sightlink your case is listed into. It is important that you ensure you have
selected the correct SightLink
The link will take you to a page similar to below – in this example it is SightLink 64 that is being used. Check that you are connecting to the correct Sightlink meeting number for your venue and then click on “Join through browser” to join the
meeting.
If you use another browser, you may be prompted for a one time additional step to install a Pexip application before you can connect to the meeting. This will not happen if you use Chrome.
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You will be asked to enter your name. Once you have entered your name “Join Now”
Once you have joined the meeting, if you are the first person in the conference, you will see the following screen until the other parties connect:
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● Connecting from a Smart Phone / Tablet
You can connect to SightLink using an Android or iPhone/iPad mobile device, but first you will need to download a free app called ‘Pexip (My Meeting Video)” to your mobile device. The screen shots below demonstrate how you can download the app and connect to SightLink for both Android and Apple devices:
GOOGLE PLAY STORE (ANDROID) APPLE STORE (IPHONES)
LOCATE THE
APP
INSTALL APP Once installed ‘Open” the App from here or the by selecting the icon on your phone (see below).
IOS Install the app by selecting “Get”, then open the app
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LOCATE APP ON
YOUR PHONE
LAUNCH APP Select the “Join as a Guest” via the 3 dots on the top right of screen and Enter the relevant Sightlink Conference ID XXXXXXXX. then “Join Room” _________ IOS Select “Join room”
On the Next screen select “Video Call”
IOS Enter your name i.e “John Smith, Smith & Co Solicitors” (to identify to other conference users who you are), then enter the relevant Sightlink Conference ID XXXXXXXX. then “Join Room”
Enter your name i.e “John
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Smith, Smith & Co Solicitors” (to identify to other conference users who you are), then select “Join”
IOS Select “Video Call”
Once you have joined the conference, you will see a screen similar to this. If required you can turn your screen to landscape and you will see a larger image. In this example, there were no other callers in the Conference. To hang-up, simply touch the screen and then press the red telephone symbol
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● Connecting from a Standard Telephone
SightLink also allows for voice only telephone connections. From any standard phone dial the telephone number: 020 39174600, then enter the 8 digit conference ID (details listed below depending on which SightLink you are connecting to) followed by the #. It is important that you enter the correct code for the SightLink conference you are wishing to join.
If you are having issues connecting to SightLink via the web address the telephone
can be used as a good contingency option.
Venue SightLink Telephone Conference ID
Antrim SightLink 16
SightLink 17
SightLink 27
SightLink 53
52649305 #
48699353 #
56463742 #
10554211 #
Armagh SightLink 35
SightLink 36
34973056 #
85546148 #
Ballymena SightLink 29 28146914 #
Banbridge SightLink 62 10197694 #
Coleraine SightLink 28
SightLink 55
SightLink 68
80937370 #
36726409 #
98611094 #
Coroners SightLink 43 40594957 #
Craigavon SightLink 12
SightLink 22
SightLink 67
63078822 #
29463684 #
32148959 #
Downpatrick SightLink 23
SightLink 33
SightLink 61
90313027 #
81157794 #
91800449 #
Dungannon SightLink 3
SightLink 13
SightLink 57
79597546 #
68262058 #
11380519 #
Enniskillen SightLink 32 16673087 #
Laganside SightLink 1
SightLink 5
81369702 #
93391698 #
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SightLink 9
SightLink 10
SightLink 11
SightLink 20
SightLink 21
SightLink 30
SightLink 31
SightLink 40
SightLink 41
SightLink 42
SightLink 58
SightLink 65
SightLink 66
37499202 #
29497682 #
26370282 #
79545995 #
95389553 #
55362460 #
33140400 #
57075545 #
72080713 #
59862471 #
44950218 #
30666287 #
70746552 #
Legacy Inquests SightLink 19 93632850 #
Lisburn SightLink 2
SightLink 60
94343518 #
63502662 #
Londonderry SightLink 4
SightLink 14
SightLink 44
SightLink 63
55762703 #
31457453 #
76467430 #
45166138 #
Newry
SightLink 24
SightLink 34
SightLink 56
SightLink 64
85747296 #
52504478 #
45071451 #
33157767 #
Newtownards SightLink 15
SightLink 25
SightLink 54
98190409 #
16907703 #
78504904 #
Nightingale Lagan SightLink 59 56975619 #
Omagh SightLink 37
SightLink 38
SightLink 39
67527811 #
71961756 #
19860603 #
RCJ SightLink 6
SightLink 8
SightLink18
SightLink 26
SightLink 45
70067665 #
19977080 #
95710336 #
70966269 #
30022698 #
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SightLink 46
SightLink 47
SightLink 48
SightLink 49
SightLink 50
SightLink 51
SightLink 52
28890485 #
19667738 #
94645105 #
31565980 #
60027403 #
48255910 #
86678658 #
Tribunals SightLink 7 54834852 #
USING SIGHTLINK When you hover your mouse or cursor in the centre of the bottom part of the screen,
you will see the following three icons.
● Clicking on the microphone icon allows you to disable your microphone. No
other participant will be able to hear you. Use this icon to re-enable your mic
when you are required to speak.
● Clicking on the phone icon will end your participation in the hearing.
● Clicking on the camera icon allows you to disable you camera. No other
participant will be able to see you. Use this icon to re-enable your camera,
Other Sightlink Functions
When you hover your mouse or cursor to the top left of the screen, you will see the
following four icons.
This launches the Chat feature. Chat allows participants to send text
messages to other participants. However, unlike some other video
conference platforms this Chat function can only send global messages
viewable by all participants (i.e. there is no private chat facility)
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Selecting this icon will launch the Presentation feature. This allow a video
conference participant to share content on their device with other
participants and the court – for example sharing a photo, video, document
or powerpoint presentation. After this icon is selected, the user is shown
active Windows on their device. Simply select the active window that you
wish to share with the other participants. It is recommended that if you
intend sharing content with others that before you launch Sightlink,
that you have the content that you intend sharing already open and
the Window minimised.
This icon is called “Enter full screen”. This option will allow you to
maximise the size of the conference call to the full screen of your device.
The remaining icon is the DTMF pad. This is not used by NICTS.
ADVICE TO PARTICIPANTS USING REMOTE HEARINGS
● Select a space that is quiet and private with no distractions
● Sit with light in front of you so your face is not in shadow
● Have device fully charged or plugged in so you are not cut off during the
hearing
● Microphone should be muted unless speaking
● It is advisable for participants to wear headsets as this will improve the
sound quality.
● It is an offence under the Coronavirus Act 2020 to record or transmit the proceedings.
SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE
If you are having any issues with SightLink or have any queries please contact
NICTS Digital Services Team - [email protected]
NICTS Digital Services Team
August 2021