| FAQ |
1. Are my streams really private ?
2. Will you host my site ?
3. Can you handle the pay per minute billing for me ?
4. Why is my video frame rate so slow ?
5. My audio does not work, why ?
6. I have a dynamic IP, will this system work for me ?
7. I want a custom Flash client, is this possible ?
8. Is the StreamServer for sale ?
9. How can I do pre-recorded shows ?
10. How can I reduce my bandwidth consumption ?
11. Are my streams protected from hackers and stream jacking ?
12. What kind of mic should I use ?
13. What is your cancellation policy ?
14. What is your refund policy ?
15. What can I request through the gateway ?
16. I'm outside the US, can I still use your service ?
17. What webcam do you recommend ?
18. What is a Stream ?
19. What are the three chat modes ?
1.
Are my streams really private ?
Yes. We don't sell or record them. We claim no copyright on your live streams flowing through our servers. Your privacy is guaranteed.
2.
Will you host my site ?
No. We prefer to concentrate on just video chat at this time.
3.
Can you handle the pay per minute billing for me ?
No. You need to do this on your end. Your user buys time on your site through your merchant account and then a script on your server talks to our gateway creating/updating this user in our database. We provide a sample PHP script that shows the simple authenticated handshake. This all happens in less then a second. Our system tracks your user's usage and decreases his balance every 5 seconds. You can view the user's balance from within our Admin section or query it through our gateway.
4.
Why is my video frame rate so slow ?
Even though your clients are on our bandwidth, our server still needs to get a steady stream from your webcam. If you set the bandwidth too high, then you might see jerkiness in the video or breakup in the audio. Residential cable / dsl accounts are shared and always oversubscribed. You can test your connection speed at dslreports.com. If your site is popular enough, you should consider a fractional T1. 384 kbps up/down will cost about $300 per month and this bandwidth is guaranteed since it is normally used for business grade telephones. Recently I saw full T1's (1.54Mbps up/down) for $495 per month complete. This would be needed for professional sites with multiple cams from the same location.
5.
My audio does not work, why ?
JustCamIt uses streaming MP3 for high quality audio. For legal reasons we can't provide the MP3 codec with our software without paying thousands of dollars to the patent holder. Our software checks your computer for an MP3 codec that may already be there. The MP3 codec was included in some versions of Windows. JustCamIt also looks for the LAME MP3 codec and will use it if it finds it. You can find LAME by doing a search on google.com.
6.
I have a dynamic IP, will this system work for me ?
Yes.
7.
I want a custom Flash client, is this possible ?
We provide the Flash source code which your webmaster can modify to suit your needs.
8.
Is the StreamServer available for licensing ?
No. The StreamServer cannot be licenses since it is the core of our business model.
9.
How can I do pre-recorded shows ?
Currently, there is a company that claims it has a patent on video on demand and is demanding royalties. For this reason we cannot offer pre-recorded shows that have the content residing on our server. The patent office is under fire for issuing a broad patent that should not have been issued in the first place. When the patent is invalidated we will offer pre-recorded show capability. Until then, you will have to broadcast the taped show through JustCamIt to get around the patent and just post a schedule on your website.
10.
How can I reduce my bandwidth consumption ?
The first thing you do is lower your bandwdith setting in the Admin panel. Keep your background plain and evenly lit. Wear single color clothing, no fancy patterns or flower designs. Think simple. Use a good quality camcorder into a video frame grabber (PCI type or USB 2.0 if possible). Get plenty of light on you. Turn audio stream off if you don't use audio. Lowering the frame rate will help somewhat. 200 Kbps is a good setting for smooth video and audio at 15 frames per second.
11.
Are my streams protected from hackers and stream jacking ?
Access to the system is controlled by a user, password combination. Only one user with that username can connect to the video feeds at a time.
12.
What kind of mic should I use ?
This depends on your budget. The best setup would be to use a shotgun mic connected to a small mixer that outputs to your line input on your sound card. These mics cost between $200 to $1000 and are low impedance. Shotgun mics have a very narrow pickup area so extra room noises are highly attenuated. A cheap $20 headset mic will suffice but the quality will not be very good.
13.
What is your cancellation policy ?
Cancellations must be in writing or faxed to us 10 days prior to the end of your 30 day billing cycle. We do not prorate our service so no refund will be given for an account closure.
14.
What is your refund policy ?
Refunds will be provided in the same payment method of the original payment.
There are no refunds offered or promised after 30 days. Refunds will be minus the actual bandwidth used. Any refund will automatically close your service account with eSensual Networks.
15.
What can I request through the gateway ?
All communications with our service is done thru our StreamServer gateway. The gateway provides a single point of contact that is used to create/update/query information about your members in our database. Any webmaster who has worked with merchant account payment gateways will have no problem working with our StreamServer gateway. We provide a PHP test script for your webmaster to use as a guide. A PDF of the protocol is also available.
16.
I'm outside the US, can I still use your service ?
Yes. Our service will work anywhere where you can reach the Internet.
17.
What webcam do you recommend ?
I prefer to use a Sony camcorder with an iLink (FireWire) connection. The optics on even the cheapest camcorder will be superior to any webcam on the market. If you need to use a webcam then any high end unit from Logitech would be my choice. If you can find a computer store with a 30 day return policy in your area then just go buy a few and try them and return the ones you don't like.
18.
What is a Stream ?
A Stream is a single viewer. Every time someone logs into your channel they are using 1 Stream. You only need to be concerned about this if you plan on offering free rooms as teaser chat. You can add more Streams from within the Admin section. Streams are billed on a monthly basis.
19.
What are the three Video Chat Modes ?
The "Public" video chat mode is just that - public, which is normally used as a teaser room. The Group Pay Per Minute video chat mode is used when you want multiple users in the room and pay per minute billing. The Private Pay Per Minute video chat mode is the classic private mode with pay per minute billing. You have the ability to grant on a Host basis any or all of these modes. Pay per minute modes take priority over the Public mode.
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