You are responsible for making sure that you can meet the technical requirements before you register to attend one of our online seminars.

If you're still having troubles after trying the suggestions below, please Contact Us with any questions you have.

• AOL Instant Messenger (AIM):

  • If you're attending a session and IM is not working for you for any reason:
  • Other application to use, instead of the AIM software:
• Quicktime:

  • Did a different media player open?
  • Did you receive an RTSP error?
  • Is the test movie still not playing?
  • Is the feed starting and stopping, or stuttering?
  • Is the sound too low?

You should just use email to let me know there is a problem and to send in questions and comments on the session. Simply reply to the last email you received from us.

Later, you can try a different software option (see below), but in the middle of a session you simply won't have time for it.

1. AIM Express - which is used via your browser. We have had reports of folks using this, saying they weren't able to actually chat us. They saw us online, and appeared to be able to send to us, but were receiving no reply. In these cases, we did not see them online and didn't receive any of their chats either. We don't recommend this option.
2. Meebo - another browser based option that doesn't involve downloading software. We've heard good things about it, but don't have any experience with it here yet.
3. AdiumX (Mac OSX) - free software for Mac users. We have a lot of good experience with this one.
4. Trillian (Windows) - This is the most highly recommended option for the PC that we have heard of.
5. If you are using a free AIM compatible application, that works well for you, please let us know what it is.

Almost all the help we've been asked for by attendees in the past has been related to Quicktime.

1. You need the latest version of the free Quicktime Player. (Download Here)
   (It is also possible to use the free VLC Media Player, which you can download: For Mac. Or For Windows)
2. You should be able to access this test movie, located on our server, with Quicktime.

If you click on the test movie link and another media player opens, it's probably because that player has been set as the default player on your machine. What you will need to do is open Quicktime, go to the File Menu, and select "Open URL..." (in older versions of Quicktime it said: "Open URL In New Player"). Then copy and paste this URL into the field:

rtsp://74.94.69.218/GilbertCtrIntro.mov

If you receive an error that says something along the lines of "RTSP is Blocked" then try using HTTP instead. Click on this link, to open it in your browser, or copy and paste it into Quicktime to try it there:

http://74.94.69.218/GilbertCtrIntro.mov

There is a Quicktime Preference that you can check. This has been the key for many people.

In Quicktime:
QuickTime Player menu
-- Quicktime Preferences (this opens the preference window)
--- Advanced tab
---- For Transport Setup select "Custom" from the dropdown menu.
----- Use this Transport Protocol and Port ID:
------ Transport Protocol: HTTP
------ Port ID: 80

Further information from searching Quicktime Help:

"Viewing Streamed Files Behind a Firewall"

QuickTime streaming chooses the best protocol (a method of communicating via the Internet) for your needs. Typically, QuickTime streaming uses Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) to ensure the best performance. If your network connection is protected by a firewall, you may want to use the HTTP protocol instead.

To use HTTP streaming:

• In QuickTime Player, choose QuickTime Player > QuickTime Preferences (or open System Preferences and click QuickTime).
• Click Advanced.
• Choose Custom from the Transport Setup pop-up menu.
• Choose HTTP from the Transport Protocol pop-up menu.

If QuickTime can configure itself for your firewall, you can now watch streaming QuickTime movies. If you still experience problems, contact your network administrator or see the information on the Apple QuickTime website (www.apple.com/quicktime/)."

Another Quicktime Preference that you can check, and adjust.

In Quicktime (On a Mac):
QuickTime Player menu
- Quicktime Preferences
-- Click on the tab/button for "Streaming"
--- Check the box for: Enable Instant-On
---- Play: (slider)
----- Move Slider to far right: "Short Delay", for best performance.

There doesn't seem to be any equivalent preference item for the PC, as yet.

Also, remember that the better your internet connection is, the better the presentation will appear to you.

• If the streaming feed pauses itself, unpause it as quickly as you notice. We won't ever be pausing the feed during the live session.
• If it happens repeatedly, or doesn't come back when you try to unpause it, then you may need to restart Quicktime.
• You may also want to close other applications that use bandwidth on their own. For example, your email client, news reader, browser, etc...

If the sound seems too low to you, there are a couple things you can check.

1. Find the main volume control on your computer and try turning it up all the way.

   On a PC:
   In the lower right corner of your screen you should see a little speaker icon (See Image)
   - Double-click on that icon to open the sound panel (See Image)
   -- Turn up the main volume
   -- and Make sure the mute box next to it is NOT checked
   -- You might also have to turn up the WAV volume
   

   On a Mac:
   System Preferences
   - Sound
   -- Output tab
   --- make sure it's all the way up
   --- and that the Mute button is NOT checked
   

2. Then, make sure that the volume control for the Quicktime window itself is turned all the way up. (lower left corner)
3. Headphones can be helpful as well. Or possibly external speakers that add amplification.
4. Some attendees find that quitting and restarting Quicktime solved their problem.
5. Others find that they need to restart their computer before we begin so that it is performing at it's best, as well as quitting all applications that will not be needed during the session.