Getting the best from iVisit

Getting the best from your Internet Connection and iVisit

This page is to help you tune your connection, and iVisit, to get the best video & audio outcomes possible.

Internet Connection:

Modem	Make sure firmware is up-to-date and all connections are clean and tight Check the owner's manual for options and instructions. Check the makers web site for latest version. Check your speed and stability ( www.dslreports.com)
Router	Make sure firmware is up to date 'click here' for manufacturer urls If using more than one iVisit on a LAN you must map the ports iVisit requires If using WiFi, ensure clear transmission/reception with base station Check the owner's manual for options and instructions. Check the makers web site for latest version.
Network	Ask your network admin to open UDP port 9940 for iVisit traffic (some Unis and Govt Dept. may not allow this) www.ivisit.com/help/troubleshooting/connect-logon.html
Firewall	If using the Firewall built-in to Windows XP you will be asked to 'allow' iVisit operation, you must say Yes and allow traffic on UDP Port 9940 (sometimes allowing the range UDP 9940-9950 is required). If using the OSX Firewall (System Preferences/Sharing Control Panel) you must Add iVisit as a new service on UDP Port 9940 (sometimes allowing the range UDP 9940-9950 is required).
Proxy	Some ISP's route UDP traffic through Proxy Servers, iVisit will not operate under these conditions.
Satellite	Some one-way satellite connections may not allocate IP numbers / ports correctly and iVisit will fail. If using an asynchronous dual-ip system, this will not work.

When logging in to iVisit, if you see "cim.ivisit.net Not Found" or "Can't connect to ivisit.net" types of errors it indicates that either your DNS Lookup of the domain name failed or, there is some block between you and the server. Use the hints and tips on this page to help you identify where the problem is.

Computer, Operating System and CPU Load:

In general you will get the best from iVisit if you;

avoid running many other applications at the same time (disable unwanted Windows background services, click here for more details)
do not run other video, audio or IM applications before iVisit (they will 'steal' the video/audio signal)
adjust your lighting so you're well lit from the front, cut backlighting and any background image clutter
use a headset and hands-free mode for best possible audio performance
adjust your camera driver software properly, full auto mode will deliver the slowest fps, always have LATEST camera driver installed!
close or stop any 'Font Manager' applications, if Chat window typing slows check for Corrupt Fonts

iVisit Settings: (Settings/Preferences)

Bandwidth Connection Management (PC) Network Settings (Mac)	Set Maximum Transmit/Receive rate for any window to 120/120 for dial up and 400/400 for broadband . Do not exceed this limit; the iVisit bandwidth manager will adjust rates as required. If you have an Internet connection with volume limits/caps then setting these values lower (e.g. 32/32) will reduce your load.
Video Video Source (PC) Video Device Settings (Mac)	Source shows your currently selected video input, more choices may be available and other device drivers may offer more functions and controls. The frame rate of some cameras can be improved by checking Continuous Capture, others will not run in this mode and may crash (PC only). Compression settings in the Mac Video Device Setting dialogue will have no impact on iVisit input - select None. Set the Format at 160x120 pixels 24bit RGB / Millions of Colors. Camera driver software can vary widely, some offers little control and adjustment while others allow full configuration. Where possible set the Exposure and White Balance manually and avoid 'automatic' configuration changes as this will slow your fps rate.
Video compression Codec Settings	iVisit uses H.263 style video compression technology; adjusting the Encoding Quality (1 - 10) setting has a huge impact on video fps (frames per second). iVisit recommend 5-7 but best results will depend on the quality of your camera and lighting. Quality 10 will deliver the highest resolution image possible but at a slower frame rate, Quality 1 will deliver the fastest possible frame rate but by blurring the image (like iChat). The best results can be achieved with a good camera, good lighting and Quality setting 6-7.
Audio Settings/Audio (PC) Sound Control Panel (Mac)	Source shows currently selected audio input, other devices may be available. Gain/Sensitivity is set with the Input slider, about 2/3rds across will give good signal. (PC) Full duplex must be selected for hands free operation, Mac is always enabled. Echo Cancellation is recommended if using speakers with hands free mode. Headsets (microphone and earphones in a single unit) deliver the best results. When using hands free mode move the 'squelch' slider to the right until you only transmit audio when actually speaking, don't keep it full left and waste bandwidth (and slow your video) transmitting silence, typing or background noises ! Audio Codecs - The VBR (Variable Bit Rate) Codec works well under a wide range of conditions and should be used for speech and general use. 44.1khz will transmit in stereo if an mp3, avi or mov file with 2 sound tracks is dragged & dropped onto your AV window. (PC) If your audio breaks or stutters lower the Audio Quality Settings; the menu shows what data rate each setting uses, do not set this high if on dial-up.