Jump to content - Jump to section navigation
This page is a FAQ that serves to help you in viewing Brandeis's IPTV on your computer. If you can't find the answer you are looking for, click here.
Q: Can I use my TiVo or VCR Plus to record shows?
A: No, this service is not compatible with TiVo or VCR Plus's scheduling capabilities. You can record the output from your TV card if you wish.
Q: Can I use the wireless network to connect to IPTV?
A: No. We do not support using the wireless network for IPTV today.
Q: Will you be offering HDTV service on IPTV?
A: We do not know at this time. One thing is certain: HDTV would be impossible to deliver on our old coaxial cable TV system.
Q: Will my older computer support InStream and the IPTV?
A: A computer must meet certain minimum system requirements. If your system does not meet these requirements, the service may perform less than desired or not at all. The minimum system requirements to view each service are listed below:
PC: 480x480, 4Mbps Windows 98/2000/XP: Intel Pentium III 850MHz CPU or greater. Current Java Virtual Machine or Sun JRE 1.4.1 Netscape Communicator or Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
Mac: OS X 10.1.5: Power PC G4 867 MHz or greater OpenGL-capable video card (ATI Rage 128 or Radeon, any nVidia card) Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher, or Netscape Communicator 7.0
RedHat: (Intel) Linux 7.3: Intel Pentium III 850MHz CPU or greater 24-bit graphics enabled Properly configured and enabled audio card/module Mozilla v0.9.9/v1.2a with Java Plug-in (i.e., v1.4.1)
In all cases, the client computer must have network access and a recent Java run-time environment, in most cases available at http://java.sun.com.
Q: Why do I get a message in my browser that says my platform is unsupported?
A: If you have what is determined to be an unsupported device, the portal attempts to display a helpful message to guide you in resolving the problem. This message means that your platform is unsupported by the viewer. Please review the minimum platform requirements in another part of this FAQ.
Q: Will it work on my system with multiple monitors attached?
A: InStream does not explicitly inhibit nor support multiple monitor capability. If your computer has multiple monitors attached, you may experience unexpected behavior when you attempt to place the InStream viewer on a display other than the primary display. You may not even be able to move the viewer to a non-primary display. Driver-level support varies widely among video card manufacturers.
Q: When I direct my Web browser to the portal to "Tune In", why does my browser "crash" or show an "Applet unable to initialize" or similar status message in the lower left corner?
A: Your Java run-time environment may be obsolete or corrupt. Users of Macintosh OS X platforms are advised to consider visiting apple.com and upgrading to Apple's latest MRJ. Users of Windows and Linux platforms should consider retrieving the latest Sun Java runtime environment, which at one time was at:
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.1/download.html to make sure it's the latest see: http://java.sun.com/j2se/downloads.html
You may also need to upgrade your browser to the latest version.
Q: Why do I see the message "Unable to Initialize Transport" in the browser's status area?
A: This means that one or more of the certificate authorizations was not granted. Reload the page to force the browser to ask you for authorization again. You may also need to upgrade your Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Java Runtime Environment (JRE), or Java Runtime Machine (JRM - Apple) to a newer version. Instructions on upgrading your JVM/JRE/JRM can be found in the previous question.
Q: When I try to connect to a broadcast using my Web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Netscape), I see a pop-up message, what are these messages and how should I reply to them?
A: These are security warnings that ask whether you authorize to load the signed software necessary to automatically provision your computer to view the selected content. These messages are common the first time you select a stream in a browser session. Select the "Grant" or "Yes" button to bypass each request, each time. If you do not want to see these messages again, check the "Remember this decision" or "Always trust content " or similar option before you select the "Grant" or "Yes" button or select the "Always" button depending on the type of pop-up displayed. When you inform the security manager that you always want to grant authorizations to the software, the messages will no longer appear when you request to view enabled content in the future.
Q: Nothing happens when I click on the watch TV link.
A: Please make sure you have read the instructions on the page with the watch TV link. You need to have the correct version of Java enabled on your PC to make this work. Also you must click on the accept or trust button when prompted by your browser. If you clicked no then you must restart your browser to accept the java applet.
Q: When I click on the show I want to watch, nothing happens.
A: The guide data only shows what is coming up on the channel, it does not allow you to watch a show in the future or past.
Q: All I see is the small screen in the guide viewer, how do I make it bigger.
A: Click on the TV button to view the program instead of just the preview pane in the guide or right click (on a PC) or click and hold (on a Mac) to access additional features including full screen.
Q: How do I get out of full screen mode?
A: Right click (on a PC) or click and hold (on a Mac) to access the InStream menu and select small.
Q: What does the search button do?
A: The search button allows you to search for a program in the guide data.
Q: When I make the viewer full size the picture quality is bad.
A: A regular TV signal is very low resolution, by contrast your PC is very high resolution. When you enlarge the image on your computer screen it will not look good up close. Try sitting farther away from your monitor when watching in full screen mode.
Q: Why does the viewer application display "Retrieving guide data", "Waiting for Broadcast," "Tuning In," or "Connecting," and then do nothing - or worse, tells me I'm unauthorized?
A: The stream may not be available on the network or your computer system may not be receiving multicast data through or from your network connection or may be blocked by a personal firewall. Multicast is a standard network-based data distribution technology used to broadcast services on the network. If you encounter one of these messages but never receive OnGuide' data or video, you may have a firewall or other configuration issue that prevents multicast data from reaching the application on your system.
User Not Authorized: If you get a "User not authorized" error after seeing the message "Retrieving guide data," try disabling unnecessary network adapters and connections (i.e. network bridges, wireless network adapters), and try again.
Multiple Network Interfaces: You may encounter problems if your computer is configured to use several different connections to the network such as a wired 802.3 and a wireless 802.11x adapters. Disable settings for wireless adapters and try again.
Firewalls: If your computer has a personal firewall such as Zone Alarm or Black Ice installed and configured to "Block Internet Servers", you will not receive multicast services even if your network connection is multicast enabled, because an improperly configured firewall will block multicast. To enable multicast on a system with a firewall you can either disable or remove the firewall software by going to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs (Windows), or reconfigure the firewall program to "Allow Internet Servers" in an option menu. Your firewall must be configured to allow the IP addresses carrying the multicast traffic on your network (e.g., 233.0.103.x). Also, be sure to allow the following two ports: 7000 and 7070. Keep in mind that some network services client applications may install firewall software on your client device without your knowledge (e.g., Cisco - IPSec VPN). If you suspect this to be the case, consider opening that application, finding the firewall option and disabling it, closing the application then try accessing the video services again. If it now works, consider appropriate configuration of the firewall as mentioned earlier.
Note: Windows XP provides a built-in personal firewall that is disabled by default. If you have not enabled this feature and have no additional firewall software, multicast should not be blocked.
NAT Routers: If your computer is behind a NAT (Network Address Translation) router, you will probably not be able to receive multicast traffic. Check with your support organization if you believe this to be the case.
Linux Users: Verify that your kernel is enabled for IP multicast.
Q: Why does it take so long to connect to the transmission when using Internet Explorer?
This is caused by a bug in the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The bad versions are:
Upgrade to the latest version of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It is a free upgrade from www.microsoft.com . Or consider upgrading to Sun's JRE 1.4.1 or later at http://java.sun.com.
Also - At times, on the World Wide Web, "helper applications" are loaded to your computer or are attached to your browser without your knowledge. These applications are intended to mine data and provide helpful capabilities. Some of these applications may interrupt or slow down your browser performance. Be certain that any such application is not interfering with your browser's capability or performance.
Q: What purpose do the controls serve on the viewer?
A: Toward the top left corner of InStream', the OnGuide' /TV button is found. Clicking on this button toggles between "TV" mode and the OnGuide' program guide mode. In OnGuide' mode, the viewer window displays the list of "channels" currently playing and up to two weeks of detailed event information. When the OnGuide' view is off, InStream' is in TV mode, video appears in full-window mode and the button reads On Guide.
Channel controls are next with functions listed from top to bottom: "channel up", "flashback" to last tuned channel, and "channel down". Clicking the "CH" button, the middle of these three, changes the current channel to the previously viewed channel.
The station logo shows the icon associated with the currently tuned channel, if available, and is currently located in the middle of the "dash board" controls.
Volume controls are immediately to the right of the station logo with functions listed from top to bottom: "Increase Volume", "Mute Toggle", and "Decrease Volume". The volume slider, currently located to the right of the volume buttons, increases or attenuates the volume by sliding the slider control up or down. The slider to the right of the volume buttons adjusts the volume directly, allowing for faster adjustments to the sound level.
Play/Stop and Information buttons: On the far right of the dashboard are the Play/Stop (triangle/square) and Information (lowercase 'i') buttons. Clicking the Play or Stop button starts and stops the video. Clicking the Information button displays various status messages. Right-clicking (Windows/Linux) or control-clicking (Macintosh) on the Viewer, shows a menu with various features and viewer size selections.
Q: Why is my viewer so small?
A: To view video in full-window mode, click the "TV" button in the upper left corner of the "OnGuide" window or under the video preview thumbnail. To increase the size of the viewer window, right-click (Windows/Linux) or control-click (Macintosh) on the viewer to show a menu with pre-defined viewer sizes. Select the preferred size (small, medium, large, or full screen) from the menu. To toggle between "OnGuide" mode and "TV" mode, press Ctrl-G (Windows/Linux) or Cmd-G (Macintosh).
Q: Why does it sometimes take a while for the video and audio to restart when I click Stop, then Play?
A: Your computer has to leave and rejoin the multicast group for that service, then reacquire the stream. This may result in a delay.
Q: How long should it take for video to start playing after I select a channel?
A: It should take only a few seconds after selecting an enabled channel. A brief delay of a few seconds is normal. If the video hasn't appeared in 30 seconds, there is a problem either with your platform, it's ability to receive the network transmission, or other problems. It could also mean that your system's resources are being used by other applications. Close all unnecessary programs and try to restart InStream.
Q: Why is the viewer showing a "black" screen, green bars or an otherwise snowy display?
A: If you see nothing in the InStream' viewer window, when in TV mode, and the information message in the InStream' status window shows: "Now Playing: …", then the analog input signal to the video encoder may have been interrupted. Click here for technical support.
Q: Why do the OnGuide event times appear to be inaccurate by an hour or two for the programs showing?
A: The time zone and clock/system time of your computer (PC/Mac/Linux) might be incorrect. Be certain that you set time the zone and your date and time to the appropriate local zone and time and select the daylight savings time "check box" if appropriate.
Q: Why do I get the message "Ready" or "Waiting for Broadcast" in the InStream' information window?
A: This message implies that the expected stream is no longer available or the transmission has completed. If you know this to be unexpected, click here for technical support.
Q: Why is my video not smooth like TV?
A: The streams are placed on the network at a "full motion video" rate (30 frames per second). Your version of Microsoft DirectX may not support monitors that are set above a scan rate of 75Hz or your CPU is taxed by other applications and not enough CPU bandwidth is available for InStream™ to display full frame-rate video. The following suggestions may help: check your CPU load with the CPU monitoring tool provided by your Operating System. If you have surplus CPU cycles available, try to change the scan rate on your monitor to 75Hz. If not, consider closing some of your other opened applications. Also consider upgrading your system software (e.g., Microsoft Update, Direct/X (if used), Apple Macintosh OSX update, or try a faster computer).
Q: Why does my Windows PC "lock-up" when video starts to play?
A: Your current graphics card drivers may not handle overlays properly. Upgrade to latest video drivers for your graphics hardware.
Q: Why does my cursor flash when the video is running?
A: Your drivers may not handle graphics overlays properly. Consider changing the properties of your mouse pointer in the control panel to normal pointer and turn off the "enable pointer shadow" option.
Q: Why does my browser crash instead of loading InStream, or the Java applet will load but nothing happens?
A: Be sure to install all Critical Updates at http://update.microsoft.com. The Critical Update package may include an up-to-date Java Virtual Machine (JVM) from Microsoft, which may fix this problem. More information in recommended Java plugins can be found elsewhere in this FAQ.
Q: Does it work on Macs?
A: Yes. Currently InStream supports OS X as described elsewhere in this FAQ regarding minimum platform requirements.
Q: Does it work on Linux platforms?
A: Yes, InStream supports RH Linux 7.3 and 8.0 in X/Windows with OpenGL. See platform requirements in another part of this FAQ. With Linux, the first request to watch IP video may ask that you accept and install the appropriate Java plugin. This may show a series popup messages to guide you through installation of the appropriate Java run-time environment.
Q: How do I upgrade my Linux Java Runtime Environment?
A: If you're having problems that might be related to Java, consider upgrading your Java Runtime Environment to "j2re-1.4.1" from Sun (http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.1/download.html as of 11.1.02). To do so:
Note: (For information purposes only): Mozilla installs by default to: /usr/lib/mozilla-x.x.x/plugins/ Netscape 7.0: in /usr/local/netscape/plugins by default Phoenix 0.4: go to the Phoenix plugins subdirectory.
Note (Also shown to Work): Mandrake Linux (v9.0, w/ Mozilla 1.2b under KDE 3.0)
