[Annie]

I'm taking a class that includes a number of 2-5 minute videos. At first, a video would download and perhaps briefly stop once. Now, however, the interruptions (continuing to download?) occur every 5-15 seconds and are lengthy, making it impossible to follow the demonstrations. Interesting, at the same time this happens on my laptop, it doesn't on hubby's laptop, but his laptop is not always available.

Suggestion/advice most welcome.

[BeeCeeBee]

Hello and Welcome Annie!

First we need to get the basics. When you say download do you mean copy a file to your computer from the net? Or do you mean simply watching it as you would say with You Tube?

The first thing we need to figure out is whether this has to do with your computer or your ISP. What ISP do you use? (Comcast, verizon, AOL etc.) and what kind of connection is it? (Cable, phone line etc.)

Do you connect to the Internet through a router (wireless) or is it hard wired?

Finally, what browser do you use to view pages? Do you use Internet Explorer, Firefox or some other? Is the laptop using the same browser?

It would also be helpful if you give us the make and model of your computer. The fact that your husband's laptop seems to work for you makes me lean away from the connection but lets rule it out.

[Annie]

Hi BeeCeeBee -

In response:

1. I'm just trying to watch the videos

2. Local ISP: fone.net

3. Connection: router

4. Internet Explorer

5. Gate way, model NX100X-3402694R

Hubby's laptop on same systems, we're both on wireless in the house.

Thanks for your interest and prompt response - this has been major frustration - Annie

[BeeCeeBee]

DSTM suggested a possible solution. Go to this link http://www.adobe.com.../downloads.html and download and install the latest version of "Flash Player" That may help. Please let us know as there are other possibilities.

[Annie]

BeeCeeBee, on 06 March 2010 - 10:29 AM, said:

DSTM suggested a possible solution. Go to this link http://www.adobe.com.../downloads.html and download and install the latest version of "Flash Player" That may help. Please let us know as there are other possibilities.

[Annie]

Nope, no changwith installation.

[BeeCeeBee]

Lets test your speed go to This LInk and run the test. ONLY click on run test and not any of the scans that may be suggested. Post the results here when you are done. You will get a box with your upload and download speeds. Just post the numbers. The test will not take long at all. You can also click on the button that says "Copy Forum Link" below the test results, return here and right click on the reply box and then select "Paste" that will create a link to your results.

[Annie]

Thanks, for the reply info, Barry, it does seem as though things aren't the same way twice.

It looks like my last reply didn't go through, however. Let's try again:

The run test figures:

Download: 1.43
Upload: .53
PING: 120

Directions were great, just no Paste choice with R click.

[BeeCeeBee]

Quote

just no Paste choice with R click.

It may be that it never copied, if that is the case the past option would be grayed out. Also is it possible that you right clicked on the reply button rather than in the reply box itself. In any case that is not the problem here.

Those results while just in indication of what was happening at that moment indicate that you should be able to stream video. It is, however, not a particularly great connection and if it is subject to dropoffs it could be a problem. I have done a little checking and you appear to be using a "static" IP address. That should not necessarily cause this issue but I do question whether you have asked for that or it was just assigned that way. It also makes me wonder if the laptop is sharing the exact same address. With a dynamic address that would not be an issue.

Sometimes people ask for or set up static addresses for reasons that are unsafe. (and sometimes not )

Are you in a particularly rural area? As I said that is not the greatest broadband connection in this day and age.

Can you run the same test with the laptop so we can see the difference, please? Also was the laptop running when you did the last test?

[Annie]

Ah, I do live in a rural area. "America the Beautiful"'s 'purple mountains majesty' are the mountains in opur backyard.

I ran the test on my laptop (is that what you were asking?), and nothing was running at the time, just on the web on this site, with your link.

I won't be able to ask questions about a 'static' IP address till next week (it's Saturday), but hubby doesn't think so. I live and work on a reservation in the next state the first few days of the school week, with limited internet and, often, limited cell phone access as well.

But, I can watch YouTube w/o difficulty. And, I could watch these videos a month ago. Is that a clue?

Finally, we are transferring to Verizon ths week, probably changing email addresses, too.

Sigh, shall we put this on a back burner for a few days?

many,many thanks

[BeeCeeBee]

Quote

Finally, we are transferring to Verizon ths week, probably changing email addresses, too.

Absolutely! If this is the cable (FIOS) you should have marked improvement on all levels. (Many time faster than your last test) There is no point in fiddling with settings that are going to change in a week. BUT if this coninues after the changeover we will know 2 things. It isn't the ISP and you do have a problem. I believe that Verizon supplies both modem and router but if not make certain that he checks that your wireless is working before he leaves.

Forget about the static IP you will not have one with Verizon unless you request it and they agree. Just let the installer know that he will have to check your IP/TCP settings. He should anyway.

[Annie]

Well, well, well - ya ain't gonna believe this, Barry:

When I told the class teacher - again - this afternoon why she wasn't seeing any of my work yet, she said she had had the same problem but that her children told her to hold down the Pause button and let it download.

OK, but I don't have a Pause button, to be told to click on the bottom of the screen for it to come up.

I let the video start to download, hit the Pause button, went back, and, lo, the video played.

Will this ever be helpful to someone else? May no one ever have to know!

Again, thank you for all your help and effort, Barry, and for the freebie advice about the Virozon installer - I wouldn't have known - and now to get off for awhile and go build a snowman while I think nice thoughts about this site.

Sincerely, Annie

[BeeCeeBee]

Annie, I apologize for not suggesting pausing the player until it loads. That will work every time BUT and it is a big BUT. You should be able to view a streaming video as it is loading with any reasonable broadband connection. Sometimes you may need to pause it simply to allow it to get ahead of you a bit. You should not have let it load completely.

[Annie]

No apologies! I am so impressed with the time and help you gave me, Barry! It's probably hard to believe what a dorkus some of us are, I should have listed myself as "Do not know how to plug in computer."

I'd love to get help like this in other parts of my life: what is my life's mission? shall I give away all my money in order to seek happiness? is it right to laugh so hard at the comic pictures section here, along with some of those comments?

take care, Barry - the best - Annie

This post has been edited by Annie: 06 Mar 2010 - 05:45 PM