Tips...directly from thenightwatch.com.
The following information comes directly from TheNightWatch.com:
As you know by now, we recently came back online with LIVE streaming of
Worship and Prayer on the Internet. We thank you for your
prayers in this matter. Immediately within the first 24
hours we received 2,229 web hits with just under ten percent
of those going to the LIVE worship and prayer. Wow! That
definitely shattered single-day records. We have been
receiving around one thousand hits a day ever since with
about ten percent praying LIVE with us through our audio
streaming. But this great success has also created some
technical problems as we are now using a Shoutcast Server.
That is the reason for this particular newsletter. We
want to help you get us on your computer in the right
ways, so we can be more of a blessing to you, and so you
can stand with us as we worship and pray LIVE over the
nations and people. Please read this thru if you are having
any problems with us from a technical standpoint. If not,
this would be good to file somewhere for future reference.
Prayer requests are at the bottom.
The Technical Problems Defined....
When we recently came back online we sent out a newsletter
asking people to let us know how we sounded and how everything
worked from a technical standpoint at their given location.
Out of almost 1000 people, we have had less than 20 complaints.
But we have consistently had two complaints that we will
address here today. One is that people cannot actually
get online with us when they try. The other is that when
they do get online they either get static, cutouts, or
constant rebuffering. Let's address those issues and try
to solve them here so you can Worship with us and join
us in LIVE prayer 24/7.
Complaint #1 - "I CANNOT GET NIGHT WATCH LIVE ON MY
COMPUTER!"
Maybe you have received an error box that says "invalid file,"
or "cannot find server," or other such language when you
try either speed on our "Listen Live" Page.
We have found an interesting common denominator for this issue.
It seems to happen most of the time when people have more
than one Media Player on their computer - or an unsupported
Media Player on their computer. We have dealt with this
several times.It seems that having more than one Player
in your system can confuse computers in certain instances.
The reason this occasionally happens is that as you install
additional players, they can "steal" file associations
from each other. In other words, you may have installed
WinAmp on your computer for playing .mp3 files -- then
you installed Windows Media Player later. Using the default
settings, Windows Media Player may have "hijacked" WinAmp
as the player of choice for playing .mp3 files.
If you choose to keep more than one Media Player in your system,
you can usually use the "custom" installation type rather
than the "typical" installation to add new Media Players,
and carefully choose which file types are played by which
Players.
You can contact us at info@thenightwatch.com, and we can give
you more information on this.
Another way to resolve this issue is to FULLY delete all Media
Players and then pick THE ONE that you wish to use. Be
sure that you uninstall them using your Control Panel
and don't just delete your desktop icon(s) -- they need
to be COMPLETELY REMOVED from your computer. Then when
you decide which one you want to use, it's very important
to get the player that is compatible with your operating
system and the types of audio/visual media you use. Also
be sure to get the very LATEST VERSION of that player.
Our system plays in Winamp, so Winamp is going to work
best with it. We can also recommend Windows Media Player,
which is installed by default on most Windows computers
today. We use it, and it works well for us. These are
both free downloads linked from our web site and "Listen
Live" Page. I occasionally get “invalid file” or “file
cannot be initialized” errors, but I have found that if
I try three or four times, I can listen to The Nightwatch
for hours with no problems.
Complaint #2 - "YOU ARE CUTTING OUT AND REBUFFERING
ALL THE TIME!"
Although we may not be able to completely resolve this
issue, we can most likely at least improve it. In most
cases, not all, this is a buffering problem. You should
go inside your player and find your options and properties
connections. On Windows Media Player you can find these
by beginning under "tools". You need to work your way
to a page that will let you adjust your buffering times/settings.
Most computers are never reset and come from the factory
set for about five seconds. This is way too short for
Internet streaming. It should be 20 to 45 seconds. This
is how long it will take your computer to load us. It
is storing files and data to play back at those time intervals.
In other words, if you set for 20, then you will always
receive us 20 seconds on delay, for 20 seconds is what
you have stored. In most cases this repairs cutouts, cutoffs,
and rebuffering problems. You can also make adjustments
to speed and everything in this area of your computer.
Be sure when you get it set the way you want, that you
press "Apply" before "Okay".
INTANGIBLES WE CANNOT CONTROL....
Unfortunately, there are things we have no control over.
Technology is still being developed and growing. There
could be a local problem in your regional system. For
example, we have a hard time sometimes coming in to Denver,
Colorado and places in Arizona and even here in KC in
Lee's Summit, Missouri. There could also be something
wrong or a glitch in your computer. There was something
wrong in mine for some time that cut out and rebuffered
with Audio, especially Internet stuff. Of course, our
server could be full, too. Except for possibly the first
48 hours we were back on, that just has not happened yet.
There are actually many reasons you may not be able to
get us, or get us as clear and clean as you would like.
Just pray because, unfortunately, we cannot control everything.
THINGS YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND.... LET'S RECAP!
Make your choice of the one Player you want to use. These
are available on our "Listen Live" Page. Then, be sure
and fully download your Player, making sure that it is
compatible with your Operating System. In other words,
if you use XP then you must have the Player for XP. If
you use Windows 2000, then you must use the Player for
that system. Fourth, be very sure and get the very latest
version of any player. For some reason, our system only
plays on the very latest Players. When you get
an opportunity for a free upgrade, get it. Stay current!
THINGS TO KNOW TO GO LIVE.... LET'S RECAP AGAIN!
Go to "Listen Live" or to the Radio Icon on our web site
Home Page. Once you are on the "Listen Live" Page, and
if you already have your proper Player installed, then
be sure and click on the right speed. The 24kbps speed
is strictly for dial-ups and slow speed Internet. The
96kbps speed is intended for Cable, DSL, T-1 and higher
speed Internet. It's important that you make the right
choice here. Next, when your Player comes up, be sure
and check the buffering numbers inside it. Remember, we
will always sound better with external speakers that you
can use to fill your house with sounds of praise, worship,
and prayer. We recommend Altec Lansing. They are very
very good and very affordable for computers. Also, remember
to put us under favorites so we're easy to get to, and
you can listen while you work on your computer by minimizing
after you get good audio. Be sure and turn the volume
way up and get the anointing to your neighbors, too! Ha!
Ha!
LET US KNOW HOW IT'S GOING!
We want us in your life, your house, your computer, and
even in your business if you want. So please contact us
if we can help you further. These guidelines have helped
most people that we have been dealing with for the last
year. You can always reach us at info@thenightwatch.com.
Please let us know if your problems have been resolved
and how.
Thanks again for your help, support, prayers, and giving. Thanks
for standing with us! And thanks for grace and patience
as we continue to work on these issues and tweak everything.
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