Click here to request a remote demonstration where you can drive a VGo from your home or office. If you would like to see a VGo in person, please call (617) 864-0636 or contact us.
VGo is available in the US and Canada. Contact us if you have a requirement for international deployments.
Yes, please contact us.
Due to increased demand please call us for availability (617) 864-0636.
You can try a VGo by requesting a remote test drive here. If you need to try VGo in your facility please contact us.
No. VGo is similar to a cell phone – it requires access to VGoNet. In addition, the software updates, hardware warranty and personal support are important elements of the VGo solution.
VGo Robot as a Service offers an option for flexible, multi-month subscription contracts, contact us for more information.
VGo can be in use for up to 12 hours before needing a charge depending on battery size. For cellular options we recommend using a hotspot that can run off the USB power from the VGo.
Getting started is easy. You might do each step yourself or your IT department may do some of them for you.
No, but there’s a reason for that. VGo is a solution that effectually transports a single person to a remote location. It’s not a videoconferencing solution where two or more people in separate locations sit in front of cameras and converse. It’s a single user system – the VGo is a person – and that person can move around as they wish, as if they were there. To move around in a remote location, the distant person must be able to “drive” the VGo and today’s videoconferencing room and desktop systems don’t support any driving capabilities. Driving/moving is why people select VGo. We do expect in the future that third parties will support driving as it is now a discussion topic in standards organizations. Today, VGo is controlled by a simple application that utilizes standard audio/video peripherals and enables driving with a pointing device, the keyboard or touch.
VGo access is tightly controlled by you or your system administrator. VGos can be shared by a set of people or dedicated to a single person using standard web accounts and permission settings maintained by you, by someone in your organization, or by your reseller. It’s managed just like other common applications such as shared printing, email, and instant messaging.
VGo is designed for indoor use – similar to other office equipment.
VGo will easily traverse floor variations such as mats, rugs and thresholds, and changes in floor materials. VGo recognizes and warns the remote user of larger objects and will not let the user drive over sudden drops such as steps.
VGo can move down a hallway with a walking person or just inch around a sensitive experiment in the lab.
VGo does not offer a case for purchase but we recommend a case made by Pelican. Contact us for a quote. The standard case does not have wheels but they can be added if you specify them. Pelican does not sell direct but they will refer you to a local rep. The standard case is just a shell. Use the foam that is in the original cardboard box that contained your VGo – it fits perfectly. Note that there is about 8 inches of extra space at the end that you can use to pack other supplies – if you don’t, you should put some bubble pack filler in there. A soft side padded carry bag is also available direct from VGo – see the FAQ.
The VGos all have integrated WiFi and there is a height extension accessory available that can be added to any VGo.
The box measures 42”x16”x16” and weighs 35 lbs.
Everything you need arrives in one box. The VGo is in two pieces – an upper half and a lower half that latch together with no tools. The battery needs to be connected and then it’s ready to be setup on the network.
VGo weighs about 19 lbs with the 6 hour battery and about 23 pounds with the extended life battery (12 hours). VGo weighs about 26 pounds when using the height extension accessory and the extended life battery.
No. The VGo represents one person and is controlled by one person at a time.
Yes. When the VGo faces a dock it can detect it up to about 30 feet away (we recommend that you drive within 10 feet) and the dock button on your PC APP UI will light up green. Just click and VGo takes care of the rest. Users locate most docks against a wall to let VGo back into the dock so that the next visitor is looking out into the room when they arrive.
VGo is designed to always stay upright. The lead battery low in the base makes the center of gravity very low so it’s very stable. VGo can tip to about 45 degrees. We’ve never heard of one falling over in use.
Not much – VGo’s base is about a foot square – 13” wide by 15” deep.
Yes. It only weighs 19 lbs. You can grab it under the display with one hand or using one or two hands – lift it by the stalks (the vertical legs). Some people grab it by the stalk, find the balance point and carry it horizontally – like a guitar case.
A VGo with the optional height extension is 7 lbs heavier so we’ve integrated a carry handle into the accessory.
Sure – provided there is someone to open the door. Note however, your IT department probably hasn’t provided for reliable wireless connectivity inside the elevator during your trip up or down. It’s highly likely that the connection will be lost once the doors close. Remote users who need to go to different floors typically connect to a VGo on one floor then connect to a different VGo located on a different floor. (It’s faster than the elevator too!)
Yes VGo is accessible through the iPhone.
Yes. The beta version of the VGO App for Mac® is now available and can be downloaded from our website. Click on My Account at the top of this page to login.
1.2 amps (when connected to 100 – 240 Volt AC power).
Yes the VGo Carry Bag ($190) is an accessory available to purchase that is fully padded to protect the VGo as you transfer it between buildings or to a home or to an event. The VGo is zipped inside in one piece (full size). It has a balanced handle and shoulder strap – you carry it horizontally like you would a guitar. The battery can be left in the VGo or removed to make it lighter – it’s up to you as to how much weight you want to carry.
You can also get a hard shipping case. Please contact us for more information on these additional items.
The current VGo App (version 2.0) is about 40MB.
Snapshots are automatically copied to a folder in your PC (the folder created by default is named VGo Files and Snapshots and is located in your Documents folder). You can immediately open the folder after taking a snapshot. You can change the destination folder by clicking on the Settings button on your VGo PC App – see the General tab.
Yes, provided the tablet runs either Windows or Apple Mac OSX or is an iPad and it has enough processing power. Tablets with Intel i5 or i7 work well. The newer Atom based processors are borderline – you should try those first. Recommended tablets include the Samsung Series 7 and Microsoft Surface Pro (the Surface RT will not run the VGo App). Note that the usability of a tablet can be awkward as the VGo driver will need to hold or position the tablet at just the right angle to aim the camera at themselves (this is easier said than done).
You can download the VGo App for iPad from the Apple App Store.
VGo App updates are available from VGoNet Manager as soon as they are released. An email is sent to all users to let them know that an update is available.
Most users learn to drive in about 5 minutes. Some are experts immediately, some will take about an hour of continuous driving to get used to the controls that combine speed and direction with the movement of the mouse pointer.
Not today. Driving with the mouse pointer is sort of like using a joystick.
No, those applications do not have driving controls.
It can be a single person (dedicated) or everyone in an organization (shared). Access permissions are assigned by the administrator.
Yes – by using a third party application that records video coming into the computer and captures the audio spoken by the user and the audio heard by the VGo (eg. both sides).
For PC users we recommend Fraps – real-time video capture software.
For Mac users there is a recording utility that comes free with the Mac, but in our testing we found that there is not enough processing power to run both the VGo App and the recording utility.
Yes. Here is a link to the VGO App End User License Agreement.
A VCode is required to be entered as part of the profile information for the administrator (or owner) when a VGo is first configured. This is part of the process of defining your VGo Community. The VCode is found inside the VGo box.
Only people who have been given permission by an organization’s administrator can get access to VGo’s within that organization.
Contact the person who administers the VGos in your organization. They will first set you up with an account so that you are an authorized user. They can then grant you access to one or more VGos depending on your role. For example, the CEO may have a VGo that only they use so they are the only one with access. Another VGo could be owned by the sales team and only sales personnel are granted access. Another could be located in a remote facility and every employee has access.
A VGo Community is a collection of VGos and users. An admin creates a community when a VGo is first used inside an organization. Users must be part of the same community in which a particular VGo is registered, in order to be able to access it. The community can grow as more VGos and users are added or additional communities can be created. Admins manage their VGos and users with the VGoNet Manager online tool.
A VGo can be added by anyone with a use role of adminstrator or manager. The VGo must be powered on and connected to WiFi with internet access or Verizon 4G LTE to the point where an Activation Key is displayed on the VGo’s screen.
Wireless networks are challenging environments for a real-time high bandwidth solution like VGo. Therefore it is recommended that only the VGo be connected wirelessly. VGo has special software to help eliminate issues such as latency and packet loss found on wireless networks. Some users have connected their computers using WiFi and the performance is fine but others have found that having two wireless segments (the VGo and the computer) that are not error free can degrade performance to the point where it doesn’t work well. VGo does not recommend that a user’s computer be connected using a cellular service.
Yes. After VGo has scanned for available networks, press the Add Hidden button to enter the hidden SSID and then the other settings for that network. Consult your user guide for details.
Yes. Consult your user manual for details.
VGo operates from about 200kbps up to 850kbps (up and down). We recommend at least 1.5Mb (up and down) be allocated for best performance.
You must have the VGo model (V-1000-VZ1) which has a special embedded 4G modem. A Verizon 4G LTE SIM card is pre-installed in the VGo – your Verizon rep enables the service. Plug in USB cellular modems (of any type) are not supported.
Without a network connection some functions of the VGo can be demonstrated using the handheld remote control and the blue button touchpad on the front of the VGo. Available is:
All VGo’s can be connected using WiFi. A VGo model with an embedded 4G modem can also be connected to the internet using Verizon 4G LTE service.
The Activation Key is used to associate a new VGo that has been powered on and connected to the network with the person who has purchased the VGo or who is assigned to administer the VGo. When the VGo first connects to the network the activation code is display on the VGo screen. The owner or administer then must enter that code into a field on a web page in VGoNet Manager. This is described in detail in the user guide under “Add a VGo.”
VGo has no way of displaying a web page of a public site and providing the ability to enter characters into fields. In most environments this page can be bypassed or the MAC address of the VGo can be programmed into the networking equipment to authenticate the VGo and allow access. Contact the IT department who manage that equipment.
On the VGo, go to Settings, then System Information and you’ll find the Mac® address. For VGo’s that are fresh out of the box and have not yet been activated (activation requires network access), the Mac address is displayed on the first screen after the VGo is powered on.
The VGo must have a wireless connection to connect. In addition to WiFi, you can now connect VGo using Verizon 4G LTE service. You must have the VGo model with the embedded 4G hardware. You must get a 4G LTE SIM card (that is inserted into the VGo) from your Verizon rep. Plug in USB cellular modems (of any type) are not supported.
Yes. Only users who have been granted access by an administrator can connect to a VGo. Communications between the VGoNet servers in the cloud and VGo and remote users are SSL encrypted.
Yes. All VGo’s support WiFi connecivity. If your VGo supports both WiFi and 4G. You must choose the network type that you want to use (in the Settings menus). When you switch between network types, you’ll need to re-start your VGo.
VGo uses Verizon’s Mini SIM card. It measures 15 x 25 mm and usually comes in a credit card sized package and you pop out the Mini SIM card. The Verizon Part# for this type of packaging is DIRECTSIM4G-D.
The Settings Password is 345.
This password is here so that an untrained person cannot explore settings options and inadvertently change options that have been set by an administrator. Some settings can prevent VGo from operating in certain environments. There is no secure information that can be obtained when viewing / changing any of the settings. The settings Password cannot be changed.
Contact VGo customer support
Call (617) 864-0636
or
Email support@vecna.com
If inside the firewall, the following outbound firewall ports must be open:
A port tester is included in the VGo App which can be run at any time to check the status of the ports.
Firewalls can be configured to allow information through specific ports that are to/from a specific MAC address (VGo). Ports can be configured to be open only for traffic that is to/from the VGoNet server, and closed for everything else by configuring the specific IP addresses of VGoNet servers. Contact VGo Support for details.
Hangup. Click on Settings at the bottom of the VGo PC App menu. Select the Video tab. Select the camera name that you will use to capture your video. Click on preview and you should see yourself. Note: some applications that use a webcam do not release the camera resource (the VGo PC App can’t access it) until after that application is closed. Try closing all applications that use the camera before opening the VGo PC App (make sure the VGo PC App is not running as a background task).
Hangup. Click on Settings at the bottom of the VGo PC App menu. Select the Audio tab. Select the microphone name that you will use to capture your audio. Re-launch the VGo PC App and try again.
Make sure the volume is turned up on your computer and that your audio is not muted. Can you hear audio from another application? If yes, disconnect from the VGo. Click on Settings at the bottom of the VGo PC App menu. Select the Audio tab. Make sure that the speakers that you use are selected. Re-launch the VGo PC App and try again.
You’ll need to add your VGo back to your community. See How to Add a VGo above in the Managing VGos section in the FAQs.
