Most StratosFour webcast events are designed to run in the Microsoft Internet Explorer environment. So as a general rule, we recommend using IE 6.0 or higher. However, since we customize many projects based on our clients' requirements, certain webcasts may be viewable in other browsers such as Netscape 7.0 and Firefox.

The default media player for a StratosFour webcast is the Microsoft Windows Media Player. Microsoft has discontinued supporting their Media Player for Mac product. However, since we customize many projects based on our clients' requirements, certain webcasts may be viewable on a Mac. Mac requirements include: Mac OS X v10.3.9 or higher, Windows Media 9 for Mac OS X, Flip4Mac, QuickTime v6.5 or higher, Netscape 7.2 for Mac OS X or Safari 2.0.4 or higher.

This is most likely due to pop-up or ad blocking software that is installed on your PC. StratosFour webcasts do need to open in a new window, however we do not use any ad related pop-up software. You will need to either disable all of your pop-up blockers, or add www.stratosfour.com to their allow lists. Instructions for this can be found here.

There are a few things you can check to make sure you have everything you need to participate in the webcast. First, make sure you have everthing listed in the Minimum System Requirements box on the right side of this page. Make sure that your speakers are turned on and plugged in to the correct port on your PC, and that the volume control on your PC is not muted or turned down.

If you can hear the audio but do not see any video, first check the program information to make sure that the webcast is supposed to have video. Many webcasts can be audio only. If there is supposed to be video and you are getting the audio but not the video, then it is most likely a bandwidth issue at your location. StratosFour structures our webcasts so that if there are bandwidth constraints at the user end, the video (which needs more bandwidth) will drop, and the audio (which has lower bandwidth requirements) will continue to play. This allows lower badwidth users to receive the audio, which is typically the most important content.

If you still are not getting any audio/video, it is typically a firewall related issue. Although we don't run into this as much as we used to, some company networks will block streaming audio/video at the firewall. You will need to contact your IT department if this is the case. We are happy to work with your IT department so they can be comfortable with the content that we deliver.

This is most likely a bandwidth issue on your end. If you are trying to view an on-demand (not live) webcast, try connecting at a later time when your network traffic may be lower. If you are trying to view a live webcast, you may try to connect from a PC on a different network segment, or talk with your IT department. Broadband connections are recommended for participating in StratosFour webcasts.