Africam - dis-connect/re-connect - Comments

Ann wrote:I sure am glad

blueeyedlibra — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:04:27 -0700

Ann wrote:

I sure am glad that there wasn't a commercial on top of the lion sighting this evening!

that must have been nice. A commercial came on while the lion was just starting to roar. Remember the 20 minutes is different for everyone. The 20 minutes doesnt start counting until you start watching the cam. I would have loved to hear the roar but I got to hear how the woman in the commercial was going to leave her soft silky hair down and not in a pony tail! What a big WOW

I have noticed that as well,

Ann — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:57:19 -0700

I have noticed that as well, however, it still changes my volume! I sure am glad that there wasn't a commercial on top of the lion sighting this evening!

This morning I am noticing

RogerH — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:35:18 -0700

This morning I am noticing that although both cameras are resetting every 20 minutes, there are no commercials! Is anyone else seeing that?

Mind you, this is not a complaint - just an observation.

bumping this up

karen-inVA — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:14:24 -0700

bumping this up

Aquila wrote: Video of how

blueeyedlibra — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:06:01 -0700

Aquila wrote:

Video of how the commercial interrupts my muted cam and resets the volume. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSAzcnDBwjM

you mean to tell me you dont like this? this video is the best work I have seen from you thus far. Why wouldnt anyone lke this, its fantastic! I missed so much cam time on this day Im glad you captured it for us viewers who just happen to miss the cam.

k enough being sarcastic but them commercials suck!

I have to put my two cents

RogerH — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:49:17 -0700

I have to put my two cents worth in and say that I agree with Aquila, 100%. Her "book" tells it like it is, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE VIEWER! And, I would submit that the viewers ARE Africam. I understand that there are fiscal issues, here, and without money to keep the cameras rolling and the feed connected, there will be no Africam.

But, PLEASE, give us some options, here, people! Even cable TV, for a price, gives us the option of watching commercial free movies and sporting events. Some sort of paid membership, with the benefit of add-free cams would not only keep many of the existing viewers, who might otherwise get fed up and go elsewhere, but would also bring along new ones who would quickly, I think, see the benefits of membership.

Think about it...............

Aquila wrote:Sorry to say

Theva — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:44:47 -0700

Aquila wrote:

Sorry to say but I have a real problem with the commercials taking over my player volume and mute controls. Many folks watch the cam with volume low or muted due to work environment, children and/or family members sleeping, they are on the phone, etc. When the commercials come on it unmutes my cam and increases the volume to half way on the slider bar. Now some might say lower your computer volume controls but that is not always an option as volume is needed for many other programs and many of us are multitasking while still keeping one eye on the cams. Viewers should have control over how they watch and listen to the cams and not have a blasting commercial to deal with.

I agree with every word, Aquila. While I can't say I like the commercials at all, I could probably learn to live with that if they are what will keep Africam going (and if the problems like being kicked out and not being able to get the cameras going again etcetera get solved, of course...). The volume being turned up or being unmuted outside of my control, however, will mean that often I will not be able to have the Africamsite open at all.

I usually have the volume for the cams turned down low or muted and turn it up only when there is something interesting that I want to listen to, and when it is not disturbing others. I love the quiet sounds of NK and EP. And then, when the commercials turn the sound up or unmute, I almost panic, trying to stop it all. It is impossible to find the balance between the sound that I want on my computer and the sound from the commercials and I really dislike not being able to control that myself.

Please find a solution to this very real problem. I truly believe that this may actually turn people away from Africam, and that would be really sad. I know it will be difficult for me to watch the cams as much if this continues.

I don't record videos or

Lady in Michigan — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:56:43 -0700

I don't record videos or take pictures but, I really enjoy the cams. That being said, I see no way how anyone can make a good video with the commercials popping up !

I hate to bring up another site but, I am going to anyway. Wavelit is showing the live feed from NK with no commercial interruptions. I don't watch EP very much so I don't know about commercials there on Wavelit.

Africam, I know you need the $$ to keep going but, I don't think these ad interruptions are the answer. They are very disruptive to everyone. I like to keep the NK cam on at night while I sleep. The sounds help me fall asleep. I turn the sound down at the halfway mark then all of a sudden I am rudely awakened by a loud commercial ! I don't want to leave Africam but, I feel these commercial interrulptions stress me out too.

I sure hope someone can think of another way to fund Africam.

Aquila wrote:Sorry to say

karen-inVA — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:12:41 -0700

Aquila wrote:

I uninstalled Real Player from my computer because of this type of unwanted control takeover. It took over my volume control settings for my "entire" computer and I will not tolerate any type of program doing something that I did not ask it to do. I feel that this became intrusive when it started taking control right before my very own eyes.

Aquila wrote:

Now some might say lower your computer volume controls but that is not always an option as volume is needed for many other programs and many of us are multitasking while still keeping one eye on the cams. Viewers should have control over how they watch and listen to the cams and not have a blasting commercial to deal with.

Not only can this be intrusive but I am sure I am not alone in feeling that I personally should be the one in control of my own computer.

Aquila wrote:

When recording the streams with desktop recorders, one might have all cams muted except for the one that has the great sighting and they are trying to record that sighting for all those folks that might otherwise miss it and bingo... along comes the commercial blasting on the once "muted" cam and the sound is recorded right into the video. I won't even go into the problem of the actual commercial popping up on the cam you are recording.

I am not one of the recorders, but as one that sets my still pic snapper to take pics while I am not at computer are really looking forward to having to go back thru and deleting commercials in my daily pic folders of every 3 seconds being snapped, as that is how I have "chosen" to have pics snapped in case sightings occur. BUT I have also noticed not only with the loss of feed at EP and many pics missed because of it, some are being lost at NK now too, possibly from the breaks in feed.

Aquila wrote:

There are so many different setups for different computers and it seems each is having different problems with the every 20 minute commercials. On Firefox, I have started having a total freeze up with the entire window turning totally white. I usually have to do a control, alt, delete to end the session. This only started with the commercials. Coincidence? Maybe....

Yea it may be coincidental, but I too have had a few really weird things going on with my computer lately. It is really scaring me to read where some viewers are doing "restores" and a few other things to their computers in desperation to try and view the cams.

Aquila wrote:

I am afraid these problems will decrease the number of viewers to our beloved Africam cams which in the end may very well defeat any benefit of the ads.

Sad to say it has already decreased my morale and not that it matters to any one other than me personally, but I already have enough high stress factors going on in my life. I could always depend on sitting here and watching the cams as a soothing stress reliever before all this recent mess. Guess I need to call my doc and get him to up my Valium prescription...lol

Aquila wrote:

Sorry, I know.... I wrote a book. LOL

Video of how the commercial interrupts my muted cam and resets the volume.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSAzcnDBwjM

Ya know what Aquila... book or not.. it was a very important chapter in my opinion.

Sorry to say but I have a

Aquila — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:00:49 -0700

I am afraid these problems will decrease the number of viewers to our beloved Africam cams which in the end may very well defeat any benefit of the ads.

Sorry, I know.... I wrote a book. LOL

Video of how the commercial interrupts my muted cam and resets the volume.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSAzcnDBwjM

I don't like the ad

hunjoro — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:36:05 -0700

I don't like the ad interruptions. I understand the problems, but...I have a visceral response to excessive and intrusive advertising. I watch public television and listen to listener-supported rado so as not to be bombarded with ads. Also, I keep EP on at work with the sound off. The other day, I kept hearing sound from the cam. It's been off since - I have to have control over the sound at work. I wish you guys could come up with another solution to the financial issues. I'd much prefer a paid subscription to this. I dunno, as much as I love the cams, this could be a deal-breaker for me....

Thanks Maxx! I have IE7 and

donnabac — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:52:09 -0700

Thanks Maxx! I have IE7 and was able to enable it. Hope it does the trick. The one time I got a commercial it came back. Crossing my fingers....

Just as the lions were

blueeyedlibra — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:26:00 -0700

Just as the lions were starting to roar at EP 11:14 CAT 20 mins was up and the commercial took over then I had to start EP all over. It didnt come right back on. I really hope this is all a trial. What about those who record? Alot of deleting and editing will have to be done just to get that commercial out. If the commercials are here to stay thats gonna really stink especially if it doesnt restart automatically!

Also could you rethink the Logo in the cam...maybe go back to the lighter 1 that you had at NK for a few days, its more better than the gaudy 1 now

Okay, after doing a system

jandd86 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:26:00 -0700

Okay, after doing a system restore to back up to a few days ago (reinstall of WMP messed up my music files) and a reboot, still was not able to get on. Even tried the dreaded IE browser, still no. Decided to check again and at 3:22 (9:22pm CAT) was able to get on both NK and EP.

Don't know how long it will last, but crossing fingers.

Flower

A suggestion for those who

maxx — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:53:08 -0700

A suggestion for those who are losing the cam and using IE....this might help....

Africam has installed a javascript that refreshes the cam every 20 minutes. However....your browser may be choking because of the information already in your cache. Try this...

From Internet Explorer>

Tools>Internet Options>General tab

In the section for Temporary Internet Files....click "settings". On the userbox that appears, look for something like, "Check for newer versions of stored pages" and make sure "Every visit to the page" is clicked and OK back out. This may or may not help and is for IE6. Those using IE7 or Firefox may have this setting located differently. All I have at this point for people to try that are losing the cam entirely after the auto-refesh....

dis-connect/re-connect

Lady in Michigan — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:47:56 -0700

I am having a problem with the NK cam. For the last couple of days, after viewing the cam for aproximately 20 minutes, the cam goes down and then automatically re-connects. I don't usually watch the EP cam so, I don't know if it happens there too. I could not find any other posts about this problem. Is anyone else having the same problem or is it related to my server?

To the Africam and Nkorho family, as always, you are the best !!