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STEP 1: Test your computer's ability to participate in our webcasts by clicking on the demo buttons below...

STEP 2: If the DEMO came in clearly, you are ready to go for any of the free webcasts we offer on our main site!
If you are wanting to subscribe to Weigh Down Online, just contact one of our phone representatives to order the service and receive Weigh Down classes, WDWB Web Radio and other media in your own home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

If there were problems with the test, check out our FAQs below by clicking on the button that represents your question...

If these FAQs below do not solve your problem, please feel free to e-mail us at webcast@wdworkshop.com.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What is Webcasting
What are the minimum requirements?
What is my Connection Speed?
Where do I get the latest version of Windows MediaPlayer?

What is Webcasting?
Webcasting provides the opportunity to view video and audio over the Internet. The term "streaming media" is the real time or on demand distribution of audio, video and multimedia on the Internet. Streaming media can start displaying video or playing back audio as soon as enough data has been received and stored in the receiving station’s buffer. A streamed file is simultaneously downloaded and viewed, but leaves behind no physical file on the viewer's machine. Webcasting is no longer that complicated. So don't be intimidated by the new terms or think this technology is not for you. Anybody with a standard PC and a connection to the internet can participate in our webcasts.

What are the Minimum Requirements?

Although the below are minimum recommendations, we have found PC's having Windows 98 Second Edition, ME, 2000 or XP with Media Player Version 9 generate the best results.

MINIMUM PC SPECIFICATION
Speed: 233 MHz CPU
RAM: 64MB
Soundcard and speakers
Microsoft® MediaPlayer 7.0+
Microsoft® Windows 98SE or equivalent
MINIMUM Macintosh SPECIFICATION
Mac OS 7.6.1 or later
Power Macintosh with a 603 Processor
100 MHz or faster (G3 or G4 recommended)
Internet Explorer 4.5, Netscape 4.5.1 or higher
CONNECTION TYPE FOR WEBCAST
AUDIO ONLY: 33.3K Dial-up or higher
VIDEO & AUDIO: Cable, DSL or equivalent

What is my Connection Speed?
A connection speed, simply put is the speed at which your computer and our computer can connect and transmit data. The speed is measured in bits per second (bps). For example, a 56K dial-up connection is capable of receiving information near 56,000 bps. ISDN connections can connect at up to 128Kbps while most cable, satellite and DSL connections can connect at 300Kbps or faster in most environments. Many other factors contribute to connection speeds from phone cables and other electrical devices to firewalls and proxy servers.

We broadcast our audio-only signal at 20kbps. So any standard connection should be sufficient. Our Video & Audio signals are broadcast at approximately 100kbps and 40kbps. So a higher speed connection like Cable or DSL is recommended for the 100K stream, but most connections can receive the 40K stream.
Unsure of your connection speed? ... CLICK HERE

Where do I get the latest version of
Windows Media Player?
Microsoft has improved Windows Media Player over the years to better support a number of media options. Version 9 can improve the quality of the audio & video of our webcast in many situations.
To find out what version of Media Player you have, click on Start-->Programs-->Accessories-->Entertainment --> Windows Media Player. Then click on Help-->About Windows Media Player. The version will be listed there.
In order to download the latest version of Windows Media Player, click on the button below.

VIDEO QUESTIONS

What if the Webcast Stops or Pauses?
Why is the Video Slow or Choppy?
What is Buffering?
What is Video Acceleration?
What do I do when there is no video?

What if the Webcast Stops or Pauses?
This could be caused by a lot of traffic on your Internet Service Provider's (ISP) network. Webstreaming technology starts transmitting video almost as soon as it is requested, rather than waiting for the complete video file to download. If the video stream pauses, it is probably due to general Internet traffic congestion, a slow modem connection, or insufficient computer hardware or memory. Wait for a minute or two and see if the signal restarts.
If a pause persists, try resetting the buffering to 15-60 seconds (see "What is buffering" for more help) or modifying the video acceleration (see "What is Video Acceleration" for more help). You can also try closing all other programs you may have open and restart the video. You may need to restart your computer to free up memory and other resources so video can stream properly.

Why is the video slow or choppy?
Much like complete video halts, this could be caused by a lot of traffic on your Internet Service Provider's (ISP) network. Webstreaming technology starts transmitting video almost as soon as it is requested, rather than waiting for the complete video file to download. If the video stream is slow or choppy, it is probably due to general Internet traffic congestion, a slow modem connection, or insufficient computer hardware or memory. Wait for a minute or two and see if the signal clears.
If choppiness persists, try resetting the buffering to 15-60 seconds (see "What is buffering" for more help). You can also try closing all other programs you may have open and restart the video. You may need to restart your computer to free up memory and other resources so video can stream properly.

What is Buffering?
Buffering means the streaming data is being stored on your PC up to 60 seconds in advance in an attempt to keep the data stream from becoming choppy or halting altogether.
Poor quality reception (lots of "buffering") is usually caused by a poor or slow Internet connection on your end. Try stopping the broadcast, then starting it again. Perhaps logging off and reconnecting will help. Also try reducing the number of other programs running at the same time. Often, the fewer the better.
If the problem persists, try manually setting your buffer to 15, 30 or 60 seconds (Tools-->Options-->Performance tab in 7.0+), try again when the network is less congested, or select the audio stream only.

For more help with buffering, click HERE

What is Video Acceleration?
The video acceleration settings take advantage of the video acceleration capabilities of the video hardware on your computer. Dragging the slider to Full uses all available video acceleration. Dragging the slider to None uses basic video acceleration settings that work with most video hardware. If you have an older system, modifying these settings can somtimes clear up choppiness or halts in video streaming (webcasting).

For more help with video acceleration, click HERE

What do I do When there is No Video?
If you are on the correct page for the web cast, the problem is most likely one of four things:

(1) Your connection is not fast enough to receive the video portion of the webcast
(2) The audio-only webcast has been selected by accident,
(3) Your version of Media Player needs to be updated (see General Questions) or...
(4) The proper codecs (codes and decodes data for your computer) are not installed. To ensure that your Windows Media Player has the proper codecs, bring up the Player in it's own window and click on Tools/Options on the menu at the top of the window. Within the options window be sure that "Enable automatic codec download" or "Download codecs automatically" is checked, and click on "OK".

AUDIO QUESTIONS

Why do I hear Only Audio?
What do I do When the Sound is too low?
What do I do When the Sound Quality is Poor?
What do I do When there is No Sound?
What is Buffering?

Why do I hear Only Audio?
If you are on the correct page for the web cast, the problem is most likely one of four things:

(1) Your connection is not fast enough to receive the video portion of the webcast
(2) The audio-only webcast has been selected by accident,
(3) Your version of Media Player needs to be updated (see General Questions) or...
(4) The proper codecs (codes and decodes data for your computer) are not installed. To ensure that your Windows Media Player has the proper codecs, bring up the Player in it's own window and click on Tools/Options on the menu at the top of the window. Within the options window be sure that "Enable automatic codec download" or "Download codecs automatically" is checked, and click on "OK".

What do I do When the Sound is too low?
* Check the sound settings on your computer's control panel or click on the volume speaker on the bottom right of your screen and adjust the volume there.
* Check the sound settings on your Media Player volume control.
* Check the volume control on your external speakers.

What do I do When the Sound Quality is Poor?
If you experience static or echoing, close and restart windows media player or the window the audio is playing through and try reopening it.
If that does not resolve the issue, check the sound settings on your computer's control panel icon. Ensure the sound quality is good in another application or audio file.
If the problem persists, check your speaker connections and volume settings on your speakers.

What do I do When there is No Sound?
If you have registered for the webcast and are on the correct page for the web cast, the problem is most likely one of three things:
1) The sound settings on your computer's
control panel may not be set properly.
2) The sound settings on the Windows Media
Player are set too low.
3) The volume control on your external
speakers is set too low.
If the above three checks do not fix the problem, ensure you do not have an Internet firewall which may be blocking reception of our audio signals. If you are in a larger work environment, this could be the issue and you would need to contact your system administrator.

For more help with buffering, click HERE