Frequently Asked Questions
| Q1: What hardware/software do I need to view the video stream? |
| A1: A modern Windows or Apple computer with at least 300 Kbps Internet connectivity. Your computer must have QuickTime (v. 6.0 or later) installed to ensure that you have the correct MPEG-4 plug-in. If you do not have QuickTime, you will receive a prompt to install the latest version of Quicktime automatically when you access the "Live Broadcast" page. You may also need to adjust the security settings in your browser to enable ActiveX controls to install and run QuickTime's free player. |
| Q2: How do I access the video stream? |
| A2: There are two methods to access the MPEG-4 video stream from the internet. First, you can open your QuickTime player, select File from the menu, open URL in new player, and paste the following link (rtsp://vbxcast01.powerstream.net/003/00099/livedive.sdp). Second, you can click on Live Broadcast from the menu on the left of this website. By using the QuickTime player, you will have the advantage of zooming to double size. This option works better when projecting the video in a classroom. |
| Q3: What video quality should I expect? |
| A3: The wireless network that NURC has established from the R/V Connecticut to Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, MA provides more than 25 Mbps of bandwidth over more than 25 miles distance. We are providing a DVD-quality MPEG-2 unicast into the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum. We are also accomodating a wide range of educational, government, and public users groups by providing an MPEG-4 multicast that is hosted by PowerStream. The streaming video available through this website will be 320x240 pixels in size, 15 frames per second, and approximately 300 Kbps in throughput. |
| Q4: What if I am behind a firewall? |
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A4: Due to numerous users and limited bandwidth, it is common for educational and corporate facilities to have firewalls blocking RTSP and /or UDP traffic from the Internet. If you have a DSL router with a NAT firewall, the MPEG-4 stream will automatically be tunneled through port 80. If you cannot access the video, make sure QuickTime is set for HTTP streaming to allow the video to pass through your firewall. To do this, right-click on the video window, select "Plug-in Settings" and navigate to "Streaming Transport". Select "HTTP" on port 80 and reload the page. This setting, while less efficient, will allow the video to pass through firewalls. |
Last Updated: April 28, 2006