These are some best practices that can be used to improve your online meeting experience as both the Presenter as well as a Participant. Keep in mind that these are only suggestions and each system and Operating System will be different. The images presented here can vary also.
1. Minimize other traffic on your home network as much as possible (i.e. Netflix or other movie streaming service, game installs and/or downloads, etc.)
2. Close/Exit other applications that are not currently being used during the meeting. These may be consuming network bandwidth (the ability for your device to connect optimally to the internet) and CPU resources in the background. You can temporarily suspend these applications by right clicking on the icon for the application in the Taskbar and selecting Close/Exit. When you restart your computer, these applications should automatically enable themselves. If you are unsure if they are needed, allow them to continue to run in the background. You can also email the Help Desk (helpdesk@slcc.edu) with the name of the application and we can provide you with additional information.
3. On laptops that are running the Windows Operating system, you can maximize the CPU performance to Best Performance during an online meeting you are hosting. If you are the host, it is best to have the device plugged in and connected to your home network through a wired connection for the fastest and most stable meeting. When your meeting us over, don’t forget to set back these settings when you are running on the laptop’s battery again so the charge will last longer when needed.
4. Set your mobile device to Presentation mode to ensure there are no distractions during your online meeting. This can be done by following these steps:
a. Search your system for adjust setting before a presentation. For Windows laptops, you can do this on left-hand side of the Taskbar. When you have located this settings page, click on it. You will see the following image or something similar, depending on your device.
You will need to select I am currently giving a presentation. There are additional options available to you based on the system of mobile device you are using.
b. For Desktop computer, the Presentation option is not available. However, you can disable notifications be selecting the Focus Assist button in the Notification Panel you can select the Priority only or Alarms only.
Other Considerations
Cloud Storage Syncing
If you don’t need to share your camera for all or a portion of your meeting, turn it off. Additionally, you can turn off OneDrive Sync or Google Sync before your meeting.
Video Sharing
If your connection becomes glitchy, turn off the Video sharing for you and if still glitchy, ask the participants to turn off their video sharing. *Same as above except added participant video
Meeting Join Time
Most people generally join an online meeting on the hour or at the time the meeting is supposed to begin. You can get a faster join experience by joining 5-10 minutes early. This also gives you additional time to complete any unforeseen troubleshooting of issues you may have.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Unless you need to be connected during your meeting, turn off your VPN. Your employer may have provided you with a VPN service that allows you to use the company network while working remotely. Often, VPNs can limit the bandwidth available to WebEx, Zoom and other online conferencing applications. It is best to close/exit your VPN connection for the best experience.
Streaming Services/Downloads
Reduce simultaneous streaming activities. We all love a binge-worthy TV series! But, if you’re joining a meeting and your family is also home, ask them to hold off on that next episode of their favorite show until your meeting is over. Wherever possible, consider downloading shows for off-line watching to save valuable bandwidth during your work hours.
Hardware Connectivity
Hardwire your workstation. Depending on your location and how many people are using the same Wi-Fi around you, you may see slower speeds on Wi-Fi than on a wired ethernet connection to your workstation.
Speed Test Check
Run a speed test on your device if you are not sure if your Wi-Fi can handle the call? The minimum bandwidth for online conferencing is 600kbps (upload/download). It is recommended that you have at least a 1.5 Mbps (upload/download) connection. Check your Internet bandwidth using one of these internet connection speed test sites:
Or you can use your own internet speed test site.
Content Sharing
Share content before your meeting begins. Sending files before a meeting or sharing a link to the file rather than sharing your screen saves valuable bandwidth. This will save your connection for an improved audio and video experience.
Audio Vs. Video
Choose audio over video when your connection quality is low or when your collaboration experience worsens. WebEx or Zoom will suggest or automatically lower your resolution and may eventually turn off your video if your connection to the Internet gets below a certain level.
Audio Call
Switch to call in audio instead of using the audio option within the video conferencing application. If your internet audio and video experience or call me/call back does not work, you can keep collaborating. Call in using the dial-in numbers in your meeting invitation to join via your cell phone or landline.
If you have any comments or suggestions, please provide them in the Feedback section below.
If you have any questions or issues, you can contact Technical Support:
Telephone: 801-957-5555
Email: helpdesk@slcc.edu