Global Public Health Preparedness: Is it Possible?
Live Webcast: Trouble-Shooting
The audio and video in a webcast is viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer which utilizes Microsoft Media Player. Often problems in viewing a presentation are resolved with updates to Windows Media Player, drivers or codecs.
Streaming video and audio generally take 15 to 30 seconds to prepare to run if you have a fast Internet connection. Please be patient as Windows Media Player starts the video stream from our server to your computer. Audio sometimes begins 5 to 10 seconds before the video. Check that your headphones are plugged in or that your speakers are connected and turned on and adjust the volume as needed.
Some sites may experience difficulties viewing webcasts due to technical issues regarding:
Bandwidth. If two or more persons need to view the webcast at one site, they should view it from a single PC or a conference room with projection and audio capabilities.
Firewalls. Firewalls may block video and/or audio. Ask your firewall administrator to ensure that these ports TCP/80 (http) and TCP/554 (rtsp) are open to mediasite1.sph.umich.edu.
Live Webcast: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
WHAT DO I DO WHEN THERE IS NO SOUND?
WHY IS THE VIDEO SO SLOW AND CHOPPY?
WHY DOESN'T THE PRESENTATION APPEAR?
WHAT IF I CAN HEAR THE AUDIO, BUT CANNOT SEE THE VIDEO?
DO I NEED SPECIAL SOFTWARE TO VIEW A MEDIA SITE LIVE PRESENTATION?
WHAT ARE THE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR VIEWING A MEDIA SITE LIVE PRESENTATION?
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN INTERNET CONNECTION?
WHAT ARE THE VIEWING REQUIREMENTS?
HOW DO I DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL A STREAMING PLAYER?
HOW CAN I TEST MY SYSTEM AND SOUND?
WHAT DO I DO WHEN THERE IS NO SOUND?
- Check to see that your speakers are:
- Connected to the correct port on the back of your computer.
- Plugged into a power outlet.
- Turned on and turned up to an audible level.
- Adjust your system volume settings:
- Click Start->Settings->Control Panel.
- Select Multimedia (Sounds and Audio Devices)
- Select the audio icon from the audio tab and turn up the volume. Verify that the Mute boxes are not checked. (If the playback audio area is inaccessible it is likely that your system is not configured for sound.)
- Turn up the volume on the media player:
- Open your media player from your Start menu.
- Look for the speaker icon and adjust the volume using the slide bar adjacent to the icon.
WHY IS THE VIDEO SO SLOW AND CHOPPY?
- If you are using a modem (56 kbps or less), you may experience a slow transmission rate, and the image may be choppy at times of high traffic on the Internet. Try closing all other applications.
- Keep in mind that this is not a television signal, and that the video and audio transmission put a tremendous load on current Internet technologies.
WHY DOESN'T THE PRESENTATION APPEAR?
If you're using pop-up blocker, configure it to allow site pop-ups. Go to your Microsoft Internet Explorer, go to Tools->Pop-up Blocker->Turn off Pop-up Blocker.
WHAT IF I CAN HEAR THE AUDIO, BUT CANNOT SEE THE VIDEO?
- Your version of Windows Media Player may not have the newest video decoding components. If this is the problem, Media Player should try to automatically download the required components from Microsoft’s site.
- Your Internet connection may not be able to maintain a steady 56 kbps stream. You need a 33 kbps actual connection to see video. If your actual connection drops below 33 kbps, the media player will provide only the audio part of the broadcast.
DO I NEED SPECIAL SOFTWARE TO VIEW A MEDIASITE LIVE PRESENTATION?
A Mediasite Live presentation requires no special software to be loaded on the viewer's PC. Internet Explorer (5.5 or higher) along with the Windows Media Player (6.4 or higher) is all that is required to view Mediasite Live presentations. Windows Media Player 9 is preferred, if a version older then 9 is used, the Windows Media Codecs should be installed. These codecs can be found at Microsoft’s Web Site. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp
WHAT ARE THE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR VIEWING A MEDIASITE LIVE PRESENTATION?
A computer with 16+ MB RAM and a sound card with speakers or headphones. You will also need streaming player software such as Windows Media Player 9.0 and a web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN INTERNET CONNECTION?
If you have DSL or cable (broadband) connections, then you should have no problem receiving the audio and video stream. Dial-up modems need to be a minimum of 56 kbps.
WHAT ARE THE VIEWING REQUIREMENTS?
You can watch the video on your computer monitor, or, for groups, you can project the webcast onto a larger screen or wall. You will need a LCD projector (found in many conference rooms) and a laptop computer. Connect the laptop to the Internet and to the LCD projector. Just add a set of speakers, and a large crowd can hear and watch the presentation.
HOW DO I DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL A STREAMING PLAYER?
- Check to see if you have Windows Media Player installed on your computer. The latest version is free and available for downloading from Microsoft’s website: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp
HOW CAN I TEST MY SYSTEM AND SOUND?
Run a test to make sure that your Internet connection and streaming player work. Click here to play a video archive from a Public Health Grand Rounds event held by the Office of Public Health Practice at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Streaming video and audio generally take 15 to 30 seconds to prepare to run if you are using a cable modem or DSL connection. It can take up to 5 minutes to buffer if you have a 56 kbps dial-up modem. Please be patient as Windows Media Players starts the video stream from our server to your computer. Audio may sometimes begins 5 to 10 seconds before the video.
This is a good time to make sure that your speakers are connected and turned on. Adjust their volume and both the system and media player’s volume.
Our thanks to the State of Wisconsin Mediasite Services and their FAQ list, which can be found at http://webcast.wi.gov/faq_que_list.asp?fid=25&locid=51.
Disclaimer
Please be advised that this trouble-shooting guide and FAQ's are provided for your information and assistance only. They represent the best practices and troubleshooting steps that staff have found to be useful and practical. Your particular computer issue(s) may or may not be resolved by following these steps.
