I've used various video conferencing for work (but not yahoo). It works and I like it when being there isn't possible. It's obviously not ideal like you say but I think it's great that they have the technology and want to use it.

I do not have any experience with the Yahoo tool, but since you are not getting many comments I thought I would chime in with the little I do know. We make heavy use of video conferencing technology to link software developers at several universities across the country. I participate in several regularly scheduled video management meetings. (We also run meetings in virtual reality, but unless all parties have geekish tendencies that is probably not a good option.)

I think that you will find that the video adds value as long as the technology does not get in the way. You donÂt want to spend most of the meeting messing with the technology. I suggest spending some time learning to use the Yahoo tool independent of your meeting time.

We have found the need to augment the video with other tools to improve communication. You can use something like Adobe Acrobat to mark up PDF copies of drawings to cut down on miss communication. If you are still in the design phase, a 3D modeling tool like Sketchup would allow you manipulate (virtual walk through) a model of you future home and get a real feel for the proposed space.

Learning to use these tools will require an investment in time, but if you like technology it can be fun, and they will significantly improve communication. Although I live 40 miles from my designer and engineer, we used Sketchup models and marked up PDFs for most of our design iterations.

Another thought - we use webcams to monitor construction activities. If there is Internet access at your site you could, for a very modest investment, have real time monitoring capabilities.

Blindstar - thanks for all the techno-info! We've talked about the possibility of installing a webcam but not sure how it would work. Wireless network access is available in the area of our building site but wouldn't the webcam need to be hooked up to a computer? I don't think the builder would be happy about leaving a laptop in one of the trees but fill me in if there's an alternative!

Might want to do a search on Network Cameras. They dont hook to a pc. Many do video and audio too.

Chiming in here on the webcam topic...I plan on having a live webcam 24/7 which will be connected to a laptop in our motorhome that we plan to have on-site (once there are valuables, of course, it's just dirt now). Some builders set up job trailers on-site, so that's an option for those that don't have an RV.

We did inquire with a company that specializes in satellite webcam systems, but they start at $1000/month just to stick the pole in the ground with a sign and camera...no monitoring, no recording, nothing else included at that price. So we'll be doing our own webcam, which can be set to record with motion and/or allow viewing of the webcam from your cell phone, if configured that way. I'm a "wanna-be geek" so although I know how to research what I want, I have no clue as to how to administer it, so I typically take advantage of a product's customer support hotline to help me install it! ;)

Regarding the OP, if your builder and architect both agreed that video-conferencing is best for them, that's great. I just think that most of the time, a simple phone call will suffice for issues that require real-time action.

My builder prefers phone calls but is comfortable with e-mail and is not in front of a computer enough to make video-conferencing convenient.

My designer, well, let's just say that he does not make or return phone calls but will e-mail a response 2-5 days after you call/e-mail him, so the idea of him video-conferencing is unthinkably absurd to me at this point!

When I was thinking of doing a webcam on our building site, someone recommended the Panasonic model linked below. It is a network camera that does not need to be hooked to a computer to upload images to a web page. You can access the web page for the camera with computers, cell phones or PDAs.

For my purposes, I found that my video camera can do interval recording and I've got it set up to take 1/2 second of video every ten minutes. I'm going to compress the entire exterior building process into about an hour of video. Since I live about 100 yards from where the new house is being built, it seemed silly to put video on the web. ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Panasonic BL-C1A Network Camera

If you want to go down the webcam route there are products such as the Panasonic KX-HCM270, which have an integrated web server built-in, you can connect to the Internet or LAN directly without devices to send images. Only required connections are a power supply and 10 Base-T Ethernet. You can pan and tile the camera from your remote site. You can get a personal web address for this Camera free from Panasonic. I am not recommending this particular camera, but just using it as an example. The cost is $500-$1000 depending where you purchase it. If you are not a techie I would recommend purchasing a camera from a vendor that will set it up for you.

Good luck.