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NUTV Home |
Getting Started | Troubleshooting | General FAQs Getting StartedIf you need additional assistance, please call the NUIT Support Center at 847-491-HELP (4357). Troubleshooting
General FAQs
Getting StartedHow do I enable NUTV on my computer? Your computer must have a working network adapter card (NIC) and be connected to a multicast-enabled switched Ethernet connection on the NU Network. To view "Expanded NUTV," you must be in a residence hall with NUTV activated. In addition, your computer must meet certain minimum requirements (see below). Back to top
What are the minimum system requirements for NUTV? Windows XP/2000: Mac OS X 10.2.x: RedHat (Intel) Linux 7.3: Back to topI use Netscape on a Mac. Why won't NUTV work on my computer? Currently, NUTV is not enabled for Netscape on the Mac. Safari, Firefox, and Mozilla are the preferred browsers. Back to topTroubleshootingWhy does it take so long for NUTV to display? Make sure you have the latest version of your Web browser and the latest video card drivers for your computer. You also need the latest version of Java Virtual Machine (JVM), available from the following sites: Back to topWhy does the Video Furnace Viewer display "Waiting for Broadcast," "Tuning In," "Connecting," or "Retrieving guide data," and then do nothing? Your machine has a problem receiving multicast traffic. Multicast is the video distribution technology used by Northwestern to broadcast NUTV. If you encounter one of these messages but NUTV never begins streaming, you may have a software issue that prevents NUTV from being downloaded to your system. User Not Authorized: If you get a "User not authorized" error after seeing the message "Retrieving guide data," try disabling unnecessary adapters and connections, then launch NUTV again. Multiple Network Interfaces: You may have problems if your computer is configured to use several different connections to the Internet (e.g., if you have a wireless card). Disable settings for non-essential connections, then launch NUTV again. NAT Routers: If you are behind a NAT (Network Address Translation) router, you will probably not be able to receive multicast traffic. Back to topWhy is the Viewer showing static/a blue screen? NU may have lost the signal from our provider. Click i in the Dashboard Viewer Guide for information about signal reception. Also, check the NUTV home page or the NUTV Maintenance Calendar to see if scheduled maintenance is taking place. Back to topWhy does my cursor flicker or disappear during playback? (Windows) Windows video drivers may affect cursor display when NUTV is running. To alleviate this, change the properties of your mouse pointer in the control panel to Normal pointer and turn off Enable pointer shadow. To find these options, go to Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel, select the mouse icon, then click the Pointers tab. Back to topWhy does it take time for the video and audio to restart when I click Stop, then Play? Your computer has to leave and rejoin the multicast group for that channel, and there is buffering of video. Back to topHow long should it take for video to start playing after I select a channel? If the video hasn't appeared in 30 seconds, try closing any unnecessary applications and restart NUTV. Back to top
Why doesn't NUTV look like regular TV? There are technical differences between regular analog video on a TV set and digitized video on a computer monitor:
Sometimes my browser crashes instead of loading NUTV, or the Java applet will load but nothing happens. (Windows) Be sure all Critical Updates are installed. The up-to-date Java Virtual Machine (JVM) from Microsoft should fix this problem. Why is my department unable to receive NUTV service? NUTV service is unavailable for departments that: In addition, all wireless networks and VPN are not able to support the NUTV multicast. The following locations are not able to receive an NUTV multicast: Back to topGeneral FAQsWhat's the difference between Basic NUTV and Expanded NUTV? Basic NUTV, available to the entire University campus community, includes two CSPAN channels, NUCH1 (NU Channel 1), and mtvU. The channel lineup is determined by the University and provided in support of Northwestern's academic mission. Expanded NUTV is available to paid subscribers, including students living in University residence halls. It offers additional entertainment channels made possible through NUIT's partnership with Student Affairs. Back to topWhich NU facilities have NUTV access? Members of the NU community with multicast-enabled, switched network connections can access Basic NUTV on the Evanston campus. Expanded NUTV is mainly available in undergraduate residence halls. Back to topWhat do the Video Furnace Viewer buttons do? When you select a channel logo icon in the Channel Guide, the Video Furnace's InStreamTM Viewer loads and video controls appear in the "dashboard." The dashboard is divided into six sections:
Back to topAre there keyboard shortcuts for NUTV? Keyboard shortcuts are listed below. (Mac users: Substitute Apple/CMD for CTRL.)
Back to topHow can I enlarge the VideoFurnace Viewer? To view NUTV in full-window mode, click the TV button in the upper left corner of the program guide window. To increase the size of the Video Furnace Viewer, drag the lower right corner of the viewer to the desired width/height. Right-click (Windows) or control-click (Mac) on the Viewer to display a menu with predefined viewer sizes. The largest size is equivalent to full screen (Windows) and full screen with menu bar (Mac). Back to topCan I use NUTV if my Windows computer has more than one monitor? This is not recommended. Microsoft has discontinued Windows-level support of multiple monitors, and driver-level support varies widely among video card manufacturers. Back to topWhy is the video quality so poor? If your computer is running apps besides the Web browser and Video Furnace Viewer, there may not be sufficient processor power for smooth video performance. If you experience a blocky picture, low frame rates, discoloration, or a jerky picture, close all background applications. The second most common cause of poor video quality is out-of-date video drivers. Update your video card drivers if necessary. Back to topCan I record programs broadcast on NUTV? No, this option is not currently available. Back to topCan I watch NUTV off-campus if I connect to the NU Network with VPN? No. To watch NUTV, you must be on the Evanston campus and have a multicast-enabled, switched network connection. Back to topCan I watch NUTV if my firewall is enabled? Yes, provided the firewall is configured to allow NUTV viewing. Why does NUTV use mono mode instead of stereo? Implementing stereo requires more bandwidth and could affect performance. An upgrade to stereo will be considered at a later date. Back to topHow was the channel lineup decided, and can I request different channels? The current channel lineup is determined by an annual (spring quarter) student survey conducted by Student Affairs. We recognize that there is a demand for premium and pay-per-view content additions; they are not currently available but are under consideration for the future. If you have suggestions for channels, e-mail nutv@northwestern.edu. Back to topCan I view the Expanded program guide if I'm not a paid subscriber? Due to legal issues, the Expanded NUTV program guide is not available for public viewing. Back to topHow can I search for NUTV programs? Select the channel you want to search, then type the name of a program into the search field above the program guide. Results are displayed at the top of the channel's program lineup Back to topIs closed captioning available? Yes, for programs that offer it. To enable closed captioning: For programs with a second language option, press and hold Shift + Ctrl/Cmd + H. Back to topHow can I order NUTV for a common area television? Faculty and staff can order NUTV for a common area online via CONDUITS Online. For more information about NUTV in common areas please visit the NUIT NUTV Web site. Back to top |
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