TRAINING AREAS
Technical Assistance
-What is a "streaming" preview?
-Are there any terms & conditions I should know about, and what about copyright issues?
-What do I need to view streaming previews?
-Will this cost me anything?
-How do I get Internet Explorer™?
-How do I get Windows Media™ Player?
-I don't use Internet Explorer - is there anything I need to know?
-Is there anything being installed on my computer my company wouldn't like?
-What does 80K, 150K, 300K mean?
-What does "firewall" mean?
-What's a "cookie" and why do you use them?
-I have the most up-to-date player, but when I view online previews I get no audio. NEW
-Why does it take a minute or two for the program to begin playing?
-Why do the programs start and stop at times once they've begun playing?
-Why is the image distorted when there is motion? Do the Coastal video tapes look like that?
What is a "streaming" preview?
Coastal has made digital copies of many of its video tapes to give you the opportunity to preview them online. These are full-length, unedited versions, just like the video tapes. A "streaming" file allows you to watch it without waiting for the program to fully download. The program is not being stored on your computer, just sent to you for viewing.Are there any terms & conditions I should know about, and what about copyright issues?
We have posted our Terms & Conditions online for viewing, and our Copyright Information can be found there as well.What do I need to view streaming previews?
To view our streaming previews you'll need Windows Media™ Player software, Internet Explorer™ (Netscape™ users see below) with Cookies enabled, and a broadband connection (cable modem, DSL or corporate network.)Will this cost me anything?
***IF YOU ARE CONNECTING VIA A DIAL-UP SERVICE [aol, juno, etc.] you will NOT be able to see Coastal's online video previews. Both programs are free and easy to install - see below.
No. The Windows Media™ Player software and Internet Explorer™ are both free, and there is no charge for viewing our previews!How do I get Internet Explorer™?
To download Internet Explorer™ click here and follow the installation instructions.How do I get Windows Media™ Player?
I don't use Internet Explorer - is there anything I need to know?To download and install the Windows Media™ Player using Internet Explorer™ click here.For Netscape users who are running version 4.x or older, please download and install the Windows Media™ Player Plug-In for Netscape:
- Click here.
- Scroll down to the option for the "Windows Media™ Player Plug-In for Netscape"
- Download and install the plug-in as directed. You may need assistance from your IT staff.
Is there anything being installed on my computer my company wouldn't like?Users of Mozilla Firefox should have no difficulty viewing the online preview from Coastal, which we recommend if you do not wish to use Internet Explorer.
What does 80K, 150K, 300K mean?The streaming previews do not install any information on your computer. The information will cache temporarily, but you will not be taking up space on your hard drive.
What does "firewall" mean?These numbers represent the file sizes of the streams, which impacts the quality of the image. The higher the number, the better the image quality, but the larger the file. Even though the previews are not being stored on your hard drive, the larger file sizes mean you'll need higher speeds of Internet access to be able to view them.
What's a "cookie" and why do you use them?If you are accessing our site from a company network, you are passing through your company firewall. A firewall is a security measure, much like a moat around a fort, designed to keep potentially damaging information away from your network. A firewall also serves to control what people inside the network are able to access on the outside.
If you are having difficulty viewing our streams, or even downloading the necessary tools, we suggest you speak with your IT department. Coastal will not be able to help you resolve such problems.
I have the most up-to-date player, but when I view online previews I get no audio"Cookies" refers to a small file that web sites routinely "install" on the computers of people who visit their sites. They do so to be able to recognize a returning visitor.
Coastal utilizes "cookies" to recognize you when you visit to avoid asking you to "login" each time you return. While you are welcome to login and not rely on cookies, you may experience difficulties (or even be unable to register) with our online streaming previews.
NOTE: This process relies on "cookies" to keep track of visitors. All we do is track your email address so that when you return to coastal.com you won't have to register again, providing you've enabled cookies. We do nothing else with your data and do not sell, rent, or give any data to anyone.If you do NOT (or WILL not) have cookies enabled, you may be unable to preview successfully. However, all other aspects of our website should function properly.
(OR VIDEO). NEW
We have been getting reports of the Windows Media™ Player version 9 (9 Series) having problems with playing the audio portion of our streams. In the vast majority of these cases the video plays, but the audio does not play. Or there is no VIDEO.Why does it take a minute or two for the program to begin playing?
This is due to the player mis-identifying or unsuccesfully downloading the codec used during the encoding process.
PLEASE REFER TO THE PROCEDURES IN COASTAL'S HELP DOCUMENTATION Requires Acrobat.
Why do the programs start and stop at times once they've begun playing?You may be familiar with "downloading" a file. If you are, you realize that it can take several minutes to a few hours to actually download. The beauty of streaming is that the file is sent to your computer much like it is being downloaded, but as soon as enough of the file is ready, it will begin playing for you. So, the minute or two it takes to begin playing is just the process of getting the file to your machine.
Why is the image distorted when there is motion? Do the Coastal video tapes look like that?On faster connections, such as a T1 line or cable modem, such stopping and starting is minimized. If a stream starts playing and then stops or sounds choppy, it simply means the stream is having difficulty getting through to your machine. Be patient and you will see the complete program. When playback seems to pause, you are not missing any content.
NO! The Coastal tapes do not look like a streaming file! Our tapes are of the highest quality and are guaranteed. The reason a stream looks grainy or jerky at times is due to the nature of the video compression technology used for streaming.