FAQs
What
do I do if the clips don't play?
What do I need to have on my computer to watch streaming
video?
Why are videos buffering or freezing?
How do I configure Windows Media Player on my Computer?
How do I configure QuickTime on my Computer?
What do I do if the clips don't play?
We're now encoding our clips in Windows Media Player 9 or QuickTime
format. You may need to upgrade your version of Windows Media Player
or QuickTime to view them. Please check the links below for upgrade
information.
Click here to
download Windows Media Player 9 or Higher
Click
here to download QuickTime
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What do I need to have on my computer to watch streaming video?
System Requirements:
Windows 98SE and higher
Mac OS X and higher
Browsers:
Internet Explorer 6 and higher
Mozilla 1.7 and higher
Mac Safari
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Players:
If a video clip is only available in one format and you do not have the
required Player, you can download it:
Click here to
download Windows Media Player 9 or Higher
Click
here to download QuickTime
Why are videos buffering or freezing?
There are a few reasons why videos may not be streaming correctly to
your computer:
1) Net Congestion: You will get various speeds at different times of
the day, depending on overall Internet traffic. You experience slower
speeds during the weekdays, but faster speeds late at night when fewer
people are using the web. If your connection is slow, please close the
media player window and try and watch the clip a second time, or try
again later.
2) Firewalls: Many businesses and schools are behind firewalls. Some
of these firewalls are configured to prevent users from watching streaming
media. If you're behind a firewall, check with your system administrator
to find out your institution's policies.
3) Your Windows Media Player or QuickTime Player is not configured properly
on your computer. Sometimes the preferences within your player have to
be adjusted to fit your particular machine and network conditions. Usually
these adjustments are made under preferences in the connection and transport
areas. Read on for more details in the following section.
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How do I configure Windows Media Player on my Computer?
Connection Preferences:
The Connection tab in the Preferences window contains information about
the speed of your connection. Check that your network connection speed
is accurate.
Network Settings:
If you're experiencing buffering when watching clips, try and reconfigure
your buffering settings:
Use default buffering
Select this option if you want to use the default buffering settings.
Buffer x seconds of data
In the box, type the number of seconds you want the Player to buffer
data. Ultimately, this is your personal preference. If you set the number
of seconds to a higher figure (like 30 or 60), you'll have to wait longer
for the clip to begin playing, but it will play more smoothly once it
starts. If you set this number to a lower figure, the clip will play
sooner, but may buffer during playback.
Firewall Issues
If you have problems receiving Windows Media streams and you are behind
a firewall, verify that the Player and your proxy server are set up correctly.
In the Player, verify that the HTTP protocol is enabled and that either
the Use browser proxy settings or Use proxy option is selected. If you
are on a Mac, make sure your Player is set to only use the proxy, and
disable TCP or UDP checking as this will cause timeouts.
If you choose the Use proxy option and do not know the proxy server name
or port number you should use, contact your Internet service provider
or network administrator.
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How do I configure QuickTime on my Computer?
Connection Preferences:
The Streaming tab in the Preferences window contains the speed of your
connection. Check that your network connection speed is accurate.
Network Settings:
If you're experiencing buffering when watching clips, try and changing
your Instant-On settings under the streaming tab
If these settings are not present, you will need to download the most
recent version of QuickTime
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