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ITV Streaming Troubleshooting

ITS ensures that "ITV Streaming" functions properly on computers at ITS-supported University College centers, i.e., University College at Saco, Sanford, Bath/Brunswick, Norway/South Paris, Rumford/Mexico, Rockland, Ellsworth, Penquis and East Millinocket.  If you are having problems viewing "ITV Streams" on a university computer at another location please contact the location's computer support staff for assistance.  REQUIREMENTS for viewing ITV Streams, including other university and home computers:

  • Microsoft Windows XP or Vista. (Macintosh computers, including those running Virtual PC or Bootcamp Windows, are not supported)
  • Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher. Other web-browsers are not supported.
  • Adobe Flash player is v10.0.12.36 or higher.
  • Windows Media Player 11
  • Broadband Internet connection of at least 300kbps and which is not blocking UDP streaming ports.

If you computer meets these requirements and you are having trouble viewing ITV streams, please check the following before calling for assistance:

  1. If you hear and see the following "Racecar" video then you probably do not have firewall or bandwidth problems.  If you cannot hear and/or see the video then you need to recheck the above computer requirements and check all the "Windows Media Player Common Issues" and Firewall notes below.



  2. Windows Media Player common issues
    1. Ensure You are using Windows Media Player 11 (download at http://www.microsoft.com)
    2. Check that your Windows media player connection speed is set high enough, (minimum 768Kbps for high quality, 256Kbps for regular quality streams). Note, if you have a blank video window and the "Detect Connection Speed" box is checked in Windows Media Play, Tools menu, Options screen, Performance tab, uncheck it and manually set the "Choose Connection Speed" box to "DSL/Cable (384kbps)" and try again after  closing all your Internet Explorer and Windows Media player windows.
    3. Windows Media Player device settings can cause streaming problems, especially with audio. Open Windows Media Player. Access the options screen (Alt-T, Options), select the "Devices" tab. Check "speakers" properties and try the different audio devices that are on the selection menu.

  3. Ensure that you don't have a firewall blocking OUTGOING network traffic, e.g., Zone Alarm or Norton Security's firewall. The built-in Windows firewall does not block outgoing traffic, but many add-on firewalls do.  If a firewall is blocking outgoing UDP traffic then your computer may not be able to send its streaming request to our server.  Try disabling your firewall software and reloading this page to see the "Racecar" video above.  We have found at least one very large local (Maine) Internet Service Provider who was blocking UDP streaming on their firewalls on part of their network.  You may need to work with your Internet Service Provider if you have tried everything else and the "Racecar" video above does not play.

  4. If you can see and hear the "Racecar" video but cannot view ITV Streams, then you probably have a problem with Flash or Internet Explorer.

    1. Visit: http://www.adobe.com to get the latest version of FLASH.  (Note: If you have a slightly older version of Flash v9, the player page will start to load but then hang).
    2. If you have installed a utility to bock Internet Explorer from sending "referer information" you must remove it (some add-on "security" programs and firewalls block the sending of this information without your knowledge).
    3. Try adding our streaming servers to your "trusted sites" in Internet Explorer. Set your "Trusted Sites" zone security to "Low" in Internet Explorer, Tools menu, Internet Options, Security tab, Trusted Sites zone and add the following addresses to the "Sites" button
      • https://itvstreams.maine.edu
      • http://itvstreams.maine.edu
      • https://itvstream.maine.edu
      • http://itvstream.maine.edu
      • Uncheck the box that requires "https" for trusted sites.
  5. If you contact us for assistance with viewing ITV Streams on your home computer we will help you implement the tips on this page but cannot be responsible for deeper problems with your computer or Internet service.  If viewing ITV Streams is critical we recommend that you arrange to visit a University College center.
  6. If you need further assistance with a non-University College, University-owned, computer you may want to ask your local computer support staff to contact us for technical details.

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