Frequently Asked Questions

If you tried to connect using Windows Media, it will not work on a Mac. But Real Video should work as long as you have downloaded the latest RealPlayer software. The only other issue is to make sure you are not behind some sort of corporate firewall which prohibits RealPlayer streaming.

It is not possible to capture the presentation from the web in its’ native file format. The archive file is for streaming only. That does NOT prohibit anyone with streaming capabilities to simply make an audio recording off of the computer as they watch the presentation. Alternatively, anyone with a scan converter can stream the presentation and record the whole thing to video tape that way if they wanted.

I have encountered problems with the RealPlayer on Windows ME and some Windows NT operating systems. If your player consistently freezes when you try to play a video or watch a webcast or if your machine locks up causing you to reboot, it may be an obscure software compatibility issue. The solution I have found is to simply remove the RealOne software from your machine and load the older, RealPlayer 8 software.

What you want is the "RealNetworks Legacy Software Archive" located at http://forms.real.com/real/player/blackjack.html

Once there, select RealPlayer 8 for your operating system. This will bring you to the list of download sites for this player. Select one, download, and install. This should solve your problems. But beware - if you were relying on the RealPlayer to do other things like play CD's and/or DVD's - that functionality will be gone.

You need to check with your local telephone company, there is nothing we can do about line current.

It is difficult to determine the nature of your webcast connection problem. If you can connect to the test site AND you are able to view any of the previous webcasts in the archive section at www.ilru.org, there is no reason why you should not be able to connect to a live event. The usual problems with connectivity fall into 2 categories: firewall issues at your institution or low speed/intermittent network problems which may or may not be local in origin. Most often, there is a particular error message that pops up that can give us a hint at the cause. I suppose there is a possibility that your institution has its firewall set to refuse live RealVideo connections, but usually that prevents viewing archived programs as well.

We are inclined to say the source is with her internet service provider. Sporadic connection droppings are usually related to excessive ISP traffic problems.

If a user experiences tinny audio and/or break-up of the caption text, do not be alarmed. This is an indication of heavy network traffic somewhere along your internet connection. You have no control over this. Two things will most likely happen: over a period of time, the connection may speed up and the audio and video will clear up; or, your RealPlayer will freeze. In either event, it may be helpful to simply hit the stop then the start buttons on the player. This will cause the player to actively seek a better connection. It may or may not find one. Since you are at the mercy of the internet, in a worst case situation, you can simply try watching the archive of the event at a latter time when there is less traffic on the net.

Try re-loading the RealPlayer Player application again. If the screen locks up but the audio continues, you probably have too slow a network connection. If the entire computer locks up (and the audio stops), then either your computer does not have a fast enough processor, you have an old version of RealPlayer, or your network connection is too slow - or all of the above.

Probably a connectivity or firewall issue having to do with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Try again.

The technical difficulties message only appears when you have made a proper connection but no webcast is currently streaming. We may be temporarily off the air due to technical problems or we may NOT be using that particular link - try the alternate webcast link. Or try hitting the play button to connect again.

The technical difficulties message only appears when you have made a proper connection but no webcast is currently streaming. We may be temporarily off the air due to technical problems or we may NOT be using that particular link - try the alternate webcast link. Or try hitting the play button to connect again.

Try re-loading the RealPlayer player application from Real.com. Also, make sure that the RealPlayer window isn't just hidden behind your browser window.

The link as typed above is not complete - so it's probably a connectivity or firewall issue having to do with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Try again or call your ISP support people.

Our suggestion for any issues having to do with firewalls is to go to the following website for answers: www.service.real.com/firewall

No, our visual IS the captioning. We are trying to make this process as accessible for as many people as possible.

You need to check. There may be a cost for a teleconference/webcast presentation, but MOST webcasts are FREE. We do not charge for the archived presentations.

All our webcasts are captioned, and when the archives are put onto the web the following day, the text is also provided as a separate document.

Yes, the operator will check to see if there are any questions from the audience, but the moderator is given all copies of emailed questions so that the presenter has an opportunity to answer them also.

Once the webcast is archived (usually the following day) a text version will be placed on the web site so that you can access it at any time that you want.

There will be a transcript of the presentation made available for you, otherwise, the only materials that are available are the materials the presenters make available.

Many Web casts do not require registration. However, we sometimes ask you to complete a brief registration form or to respond to the email notification. This gives us an approximate number to expect and a way to report to our funding agencies the number of participants. Your information is kept confidential and only number of participants and some demographics are reported.

If you can't hear any sounds, check to see if your computer is equipped for sound; does it have loudspeakers or headphones? Does it have a sound card? If sound is working on your computer, you will hear the Microsoft start-up sound when you open Windows.

If you have sound on your computer but you can't hear sounds on this site, you probably need to either update your browser or download RealPlayer.

You must download RealPlayer at their site: RealPlayer. The download could take from 20 to 90 minutes depending upon your connection speed, i.e. 56k modem, T1 connection, etc.
When the download finishes:

1. Quit all other programs.
2. Find and then double-click the RealPlayer install file you saved to your Desktop.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

For installation instructions and RealPlayer advice, go to: http://service.real.com/faq/downloadfaqs/rap00907v.html

Buffering is RealPlayer's way of receiving and storing data before it is played back. Buffering lets RealPlayer play back more of the actual file, providing for better picture and sound quality.

For example, before you are able to see a video or listen to a file on the Internet, RealPlayer downloads a portion of the file into its buffer and then starts to play it. This type of buffering is called pre-roll. This lets RealPlayer begin playing the file from data already stored in the buffer while it downloads the rest of the file.

If the file stops playing and RealPlayer displays a message saying it is buffering, RealPlayer is giving the downloading information time to catch up to the speed of the actual presentation.

When RealPlayer is installed, it is automatically set to buffer an entire clip whenever possible. This feature instructs RealPlayer to download as much of the file as possible to allow smoother playback. To shorten the initial loading time when playing files, you may want to disable this feature if you have a high-speed Internet connection.
While it is not possible to completely eliminate buffering you can greatly reduce the amount of buffering RealPlayer does by disabling this feature. To disable this feature you will need to set the RealPlayer Buffered Play settings to zero.

1. Start RealPlayer
2. Click the View (Options) menu and choose Preferences.
3. Click the Connection tab.
4. In the Buffered play dialog box, click Buffer at least..
5. Enter 0 in the Buffer at least box.
6. 6. Click OK.

RealPlayer should begin when itappears on your screen. If it does not you may need to press the "play" button.

Just under the viewing screen is a small bar with a lever that moves from left to right. This will control the volume of the presentation.Another option is to use the small symbol for a speaker that is on the bar to the right of "start." Right click on the speaker symbol and open the volume adjustment. This will adjust the volume for your computer.

Unfortunately, the archived Web casts will not play with Windows Media Player. However, you can test it with other Media files on the Internet to be sure it plays correctly on your computer. The day of the Web cast, you will be able to use Windows Media Player to view the LIVE presentation.

Please go to http://service.real.com/faq/index.html#playing for help with this question.

We need your input to continually improve our presentations. The compiled results of all of the evaluations received for a Web cast are shared with our presenters and also with those folks responsible for the design of the training and the technical aspects of the Web cast. Our funding agencies are also very interested in knowing how well our trainings are received and we include this information in our reports to them. We welcome your evalautations and appreciate very much your taking the time to complete them.

You need to be online a little early to make sure you get a "spot" on the server. There are only so many spaces available and they may filll up early for our more popular topics. We continue to expand the space available, so this is becoming less of a problem. Another possibility may be that you need to download the most current version of RealPlayer.