Broadcast Questions

Problem: How do I begin broadcasting with iHigh?
Solution: Take the following steps:

1. Register for an iHigh site (if a high school, default template site may already exist. If not, you would need to send us the information about your school or organization and we would create the site, help@ihigh.com)

2. Once registered, we can create an iHigh.TV Live Stream account get a User Name and Password

3. You then download the broadcast software from your iHigh site

4. Once you have all the equipment and passwords you need, we can assist you in a test broadcast to help with any trouble shooting.

How do I get an ID number to upload a Previous Broadcast?
Solution: You will need to first go to http://ibn.ihigh.com/, log in and schedule a broadcast for the event. You may use the event's original date and time for those settings. After the event is scheduled the Media ID will show in bold lettering. Use that number. It will either be a four digit or six digit number.

Problem: Sometimes when I come out of an ad, the screen goes gray or only shows half of the broadcast screen in WME. How can I fix this?
Solution: If this happens:

1. On the left panel, select Options - Hide Monitor

2. Once again, select Options-Unhide Monitor.

These steps should refresh the monitor view of the game and WILL NOT affect the broadcast.

Problem: I sometimes get a "Runtime error: File not found" message after clicking on Start Broadcast. What can I do?
Solution: Please take the following steps:

1. Verify streamer version is 5.0.29 or 5.030

2. Have the user restart the program and click on Add Segments button (third one down)

3. Have user delete ALL segment mappings

4. If they want to use ads, have them close the program, reopen and then add new segments.

5. Once ads have been removed, have them go online through the broadcast process.

Problem: What would a single camera setup versus a multiple camera setup with Wirecast typically look like?
Solution: For a single camera scenario your computer will need an available Firewire or USB port. You will need a camera that is able to send video live via Firewire or USB. Like with most other video productions the quality of your broadcast will be dependent on the quality of the cameras you use as well as other things like lighting and sound. For a multi-camera scenario your computer will need the ability to connect multiple firewire or USB cameras. If you have a desktop machine with available PCI slots, then you can have as many cameras as you have card slots free for. We recommend using a separate FireWire PCI card per camera for compatibility reasons. You may find that multiple cameras of newer model will work fine when connected to the same card (bus), but this is not a configuration we currently support. If you want to use multiple devices on a PC laptop, you can add an additional FireWire PC card (PCMCIA).

Problem: I don't know what kind of equipment I need.
Solution: Streaming via iHigh.TV can be done using most common home video cameras and a standard laptop computer. Most operating systems will work including Windows 7, XP, and Vista 32 bit. Vista 64 bit can cause problems, although some broadcasters have had acceptable luck. iHigh.TV video streams can be viewed on Mac and streamed from a Mac if you use Boot Camp software and install one of the above versions of Windows on the new partition. iHigh.com Tech Support can provide guidance on this process.

Problem: How do I set up the broadcast on the website?
Solution: iHigh provides step-by-step instructions for the setup of your iHigh page and the LiveStream software through the "iHigh.TV LiveStream Guide" PDF or online if you prefer at: http://www.ihigh.com/tutorials.html?tutorial=livebroadcast&page=1  

Problem: I can't get through the system to stream. I am getting errors.
Solution: Some school systems put restrictions on what kind of connections you may have in the school and they may block live video streaming. Talk to your IT administrator and show Tutorial #3 which lists what IT admins will want to know to successfully allow iHigh.TV streaming. You may also try a wireless cell card which can often be reliable but doesn't always provide enough bandwidth for video (at least 200kbps). Click the "speed test" link on the iHigh. com Website Tools menu (or here: http://www.ihigh.com/speedtest.html ) to see if you have the required speed. Since the speed will vary from time to time, set your broadcast to have at least 50% headroom on available bandwidth (if you show 300kbps, set your broadcast to 200kbps, if you have at least 750kbps, use 500kbps etc.).

Problem: Users say they see "buffering" with the video choppy or starting and stopping
Solution: This is almost always a lack of bandwidth at your location or at the user's location. If you have more than one user saying they see buffering, you'll know the problem is at your location (which is usually the case). See the above fixes. If you can't get enough bandwidth, your best alternative is drop down the broadcast quality so you are pushing less kbps.  This will lower the quality of the broacast slightly, but will help to fix the problem on the view end.

Problem: I don't want to do the event live, only delayed
Solution: You won't get the same size audience, but if you need to hide the event, simply check "hidden" in the LiveStream tools then stream as you would a live event. You can un-check the "hidden" button at any time and the event will then appear on your iHigh.com website. You may check the event while it is hidden by using the link inside the LiveStream tools by logging into http://ibn.ihigh.com/  -- just click on the event.

Problem: I can't connect to the Internet. How do I record and upload later?
Solution: You can record any event and upload it later if you wish. iHigh provides instructions through a PDF and online at: http://www.ihigh.com/tutorials.html?tutorial=offlinebroadcast&page=1 . 

Problem: I want the event live, but I don't want it archived for later viewing
Solution: You can "hide" the event at any time by checking "Hide" in the LiveStream schedule tools. Broadcast the event live, then check "hide", it will be removed from any of the iHigh.com sites. You can un-check "hide" at a later date if you wish and the event will reappear.

Problem: I only want select individuals to see the event. How can I show them if it is hidden?
Solution: Once you have "hidden" the event, as the administrator of the event you can send a weblink to anyone you wish to be able to view it. Go into your LiveStream account at http://ibn.ihigh.com/  and login. Find the event. Then, with the mouse under the event name the event shows as underlined. Right click, select Copy Link Address (or something similar) and then send that link in an email to anyone you would like to see the event. It remains hidden from the rest of the world unless you choose to unhide by un-checking "hide".

Problem: I can't get anyone to help
Solution: There are almost always people in the team's circle who would like to contribute to the team's success and to help promote the program. Once a crew gets started using iHigh.TV streaming video, the anxiety goes away, they receive the deserved accolades and they will not want to stop. The most common places to find help are media teachers, media students, other teachers, parents, athletic trainers, assistant coaches, parents and other boosters. Send an email out to the group announcing your desire to bring the team to the world on iHigh.com. You can also post a flyer or ask your iHigh rep to come in to do an event so you can show your community how great this can be. 

Problem: There's something on the event video I don't want people to see or hear.
Solution: You can "hide" the event at any time by checking "Hide" in the LiveStream schedule tools. If you want the event edited, you'll need to contact support at help@ihigh.com to make the request. This is typically handled within 24 hours of the request.

Problem: How do I delete an archived broadcast?
Solution: An archived broadcast cannot be deleted. However, you may go to your Broadcast Manager and hide the broadcast so that it does not appear on your site. Just click on the Edit link to the left of the broadcast and then locate the check box that says hide and then click on the update button. The broadcast will disappear from your iHigh site in about a minute.

Problem: Can a broadcast be viewed on a smart phone?
Solution: Broadcasts can be seen on iPhones, iPads, and android devices.  There are two ways to view a broadcast, the first is to go to the iTunes or Google play store and download the iHigh app.  Once the app is downloaded you can select a favorite school and watch broadcasts in the broadcasts link.   The other way is to put in the URL of the iHigh site you would like to watch the broadcast on, or you can search for the broadcast by going to ihigh.com, selecting the broadcast link and search through the broadcast for the one you want. See here.

Problem: What devices can receive the audio and video of an iHigh broadcast over the internet? What about cell phones that have internet service?
Solution: Most devices are able to. For cell phones you would need a 3G or 4G smart phone (Android, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry).  Go to ihigh.com on your mobile device to search for the broadcast, or download the iHigh app to stay up to date with your favorite schools.

Problem: Can a broadcast on iHigh just be an audio broadcast? Can a broadcast just be a video broadcast?
Solution: You may broadcast audio only, video only or both. We even have some schools that have 24/7 audio broadcasts.

Problem: What equipment is needed to do just an audio broadcast and what would the cost be? What equipment is needed to do a video broadcast and what would the cost be? What equipment is needed to do an audio and video broadcast and what would the cost be?
Solution: To do an audio broadcast you will just need a Windows-based PC (or laptop or a Mac that has had a BootCamp Windows installation), an internet connection (either ethernet, Wi-Fi or broadband air card) and then some form of audio, either from the computer or through a mixer. You can get a decent mixer for under $100 (see http://store.ihigh.com/ ). To do a video broadcast you will need a video camera, preferably a firewire connected one. You may be able to use an A/V cable attached through a Dazzle device if firewire is not available (once again all devices are available at http://store.ihigh.com/. If you already have a laptop and internet, you can get by with under $500 of equipment, including a video camera, a tripod, cables, a mixer and headsets.

Problem: What file formats can I use when uploading a video clip?
Solution: If you are uploading a video clip, you may use .wmv, .mpeg, .mp4, .mov, .avi, .flv or a number of other formats. Please bear in mind that there are some .avi and .mov formats that have encoding that is not compatible. Make sure that your .avi file is not DivX encoded and make sure that your .mov is a Quicktime .mov file and not one saved from iMovie, which adds some incompatible codec's. For more questions about these, please feel free to contact iHigh.com Technical Support at help@ihigh.com . Please note, a video clip and a broadcast are two separate things.

Problem: How does iHigh provide this service without a cost?
Solution: iHigh.com has numerous national and regional sponsors. Like Yahoo, Facebook, Google and other sites, we are able to maintain our free services as a result of our advertising. All advertising is high school age appropriate.