FAQ’s
Answers to questions about this service.
When did this service begin?
Reaching out to members in remote areas, especially those who cannot physically come to a congregation, has been a concern for many years. Advancements in technology and free opportunities to stream through the internet was the perfect balance to offer this service without a significant financial investment. After some research and before purchasing any equipment, the first broadcast via internet was on April 15, 2009 from San Francisco, California.
Why can’t I see any picture at all?
The video content is being streamed through a flash based web server. To view a service, we recommend a high-speed internet connection with the latest version of Flash player installed. Adobe offers the free player at their website, http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/.
If you have problems with download speed, there is a lower-quality feed available. On the attendance page, just select the “dial-up” option.
Why is my picture a bit blurry?
There are a few technical components to balance. Internet speed and ambient light at the broadcasting location are the two significant factors. Too much information “chokes” the speed of the data being streamed requiring a lower resolution to keep the data moving. Considering the available light in a congregation, our eyes are amazing in compensating for low-light environments. Our churches don’t typically have “broadcast lighting” for the altar, so the camera must compensate for the lower light by adding some electronic noise. This results in challenges with the camera accurately focusing on the subject. Some of our locations are connected via cable and others via DSL, resulting in variances of quality.
Another factor in this is our computer monitors have a high resolution. We typically sit closer to our screens than out TV sets. If you’ve chosen the Full Screen viewing option, the picture may be a bit more out of focus. You can either view this in the small screen version or sit a bit further away from your display.
Who runs the broadcasts?
Our system benefits from a significant amount of automation. This frees the local broadcast sites from being burdened and allows the members to enjoy the services. The equipment used is a small computer, a video camera, audio from the altar and some basic software that triggers the broadcast to start and stop automatically. The broadcast computers can be reached remotely allowing adjustments to be made once the system is in place. It’s an easy process with a low cost, making it feasible to offer this service.
Is there technical assistance during a broadcast?
We’re sorry, but we’re in church! We don’t offer any technical assistance during the broadcasts. If you have problems connecting, you may want to refresh your browser. We’re constantly making adjustments to allow this system work trouble free and unattended. If you’re unable to connect, we apologize. Please complete a survey at the bottom of the time zone page and we will use this to monitor the adjustments needed to ensure success.
What happens if I can’t see a service?
We’re sorry if you have a poor experience with this service. We appreciate your patience with our adapting this technology that allows souls to connect with the altar. Perhaps it’s still possible to connect to a Divine Service in a different time zone. In any case, please communicate with us and tell us about your experience. A survey link is at the bottom of a broadcasting zone page. Or if you’d like to drop us a line, you can click on the “email us” link at the bottom of each page.
A few things you may consider if you cannot connect:
- Viewing video streams on the internet requires a high speed connection such as DSL or cable
- Close all other applications on your computer, as well as other browser windows
- Verify that your computer has a good internet connection, that other pages load in your browser
- Re-start your computer