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Frequently Asked Questions

2.  "My streaming video stops frequently to buffer. What should I do?"

1. Test your speed
A sustainable high-speed Internet connection (768 Kbps minimum download speed) is required to view the streaming video. Slower speeds or inconsistent connections (i.e. wireless) may encounter problems with streaming. Please refer to SpeedTest.net to test your general connection speed. You can also use the UNITE Bandwidth Tester to test your download speed specifically from UNITE servers.

2. Connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
If your connection speed is sufficient but you still experience frequent stopping and buffering, note that some Internet Service Providers (like Comcast) may "throttle" your connection speed only for streaming video. To circumvent this throttling, you can first connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) before streaming the video. If you do not already have a VPN connection, you can create one for free through the University of Minnesota by following these instructions . The native client configuration is often sufficient, and requires no additional downloads or installations. Please Submit a Trouble Report to UNITE if you have any difficulty configuring the university VPN.

3. UNITE students can download
Off-campus UNITE-registered students who experience problems with streaming are advised to take advantage of our downloadable podcasts. Once they are fully downloaded to your computer, you can view them anytime, at full quality, without regard for your internet connection.

4. Other potential solutions:

• Reload the web page to force a reconnection.
  
  
• Try watching the "Flash only" format -- some systems/browsers may cause excess buffering in the HTML5 format.
  
  
• Use a wired network connection rather than wireless.
  
  

If you continue to experience trouble, please Submit a Trouble Report.

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