The next webcast - Marine Insurance - will be broadcast live at 14.00h GMT on 24 February 2009.


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Frequently asked questions

If your question is not answered below and you would like further assistance, please call the Helpdesk: +44 (0) 20 7017 5532.
The Helpdesk is available: Weekdays: 9 am to 5 pm (GMT).
Alternatively you can e-mail us at: professional.enquiries@informa.com.
For general contact information, see Contact us.


Q. How do I know if my computer will play the webcast?

A. The following link will check if your computer is set up to allow you to view our webcasts: http://www.online-congress.com/service/system-check.html?L=1

Q. Is my internet connection quick enough?

A. The following link will perform a bandwidth test and let you know if your system is suitable for streaming media: http://www.online-congress.com/service/bandwidth-check.html?L=1

System requirements

We assume DSL as the standard connection, but you can still take part with ISDN bandwidth. Test your connection speed. PC or Mac with a modern operating system, sound card and speakers or headphones.

Detailed system recommendations

JavaScript and cookies must be activated and enabled in your browser.

Proxy server and firewall configuration

Deactivate the proxy server Streams can be blocked by a firewall or proxy server. Both are typically used in company networks.

Configure your firewall correctly

You may need to change the firewall settings to receive video streams. You may not be able to do that yourself, but may have to contact your system administrator.

Notes for system administrators.

Use our system check to analyze your system.

Bandwidth requirements

If you dial in via DSL, you should achieve a bandwidth of at least 300 kbit/sec. If you dial in via ISDN, you should achieve a bandwidth of at least 40 kbit/sec.

What is "streaming"?

"Streaming" means the digital transmission of sound and moving images via the Internet. That means transmitting audible and visual information in real time - there is thus only a short delay until the audio and video data are displayed. With downloading, on the other hand, the complete data must first be transferred to the computer.

How are streams transmitted?

Special modern technologies are used to transmit data, e.g. Windows Media Technology from Microsoft or Real Media Technology from RealNetworks. These technologies permit continuous transmission of sound and moving images, while also permitting transmission of live events. These data are received with special software that is provided by Microsoft and RealNetworks.

What software do you need to receive streams?

Online Congress preferably transmits streams via Windows Media Technology. Windows Media Player version 9.0 or higher must be installed to receive these streams. Windows Media Player is currently automatically bundled with all Microsoft operating systems. Streams can therefore be played directly with the player software. The streams are often embedded directly in web pages, which can be displayed directly by all modern Internet browsers, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.

Possible causes of transmission problems

To transmit streams in real time, the hardware and software used, as well as the Internet connection, must meet very specific requirements. If these requirements are not met, the following problems may occur:

The correct player is not installed

Windows Media Player version 9.0 or higher must be installed to receive streams. Some browsers require a plugin. You can download this software for free.

The correct browser is not installed

Correct display of streams in web pages makes particular demands on the browser. We recommend using Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.

Your Internet connection is not up to speed

Transmission of streams generates a relatively high data rate. If you only have a modem connection, there may be frequent data bottlenecks. Even with faster connections such as DSL, transmission may fail if other data are transmitted at the same time as the stream.

The Internet is overloaded

Even if the data link between your computer and dial-in node is fast enough, there may still be difficulties if too many users are surfing the Internet at the same time, or your Internet connection is used by too many users.

Streams are blocked by security systems

In company networks, the Internet connection is protected by security systems - so-called firewalls only permit the transmission of particular content, such as web pages. Such systems can prevent the transmission of streams. Private Internet connections too, often use proxy servers, which prevent the transmission of streams. In this case, you should deactivate the use of proxies in your Internet browser.

You are receiving neither pictures nor sound?

Reload/restart the page by pressing the F5 key; alternatively close the open window and open it again. No change? Please proceed to the helpdesk form, and send us an automatic diagnosis of your computer - we will contact you.

You can see an image, but there is no sound, or it is too quiet?

Please check whether your earphones or loudspeaker are connected properly and switched on. Check this by playing some other audio signal. If everything is correctly connected up, your computer’s playback volume may be set to zero or close to zero. You can change the setting in the Start menu under Settings / Control Panel / Sounds and Multimedia. Alternatively, double click on the loudspeaker icon on your taskbar. Click with the right mouse button in the video window to check that the player is not set to "mute". The player usually has its own volume control. Check that it is not set too low.
We are aware that some Citrix Systems users are experiencing sound difficulties. At present, we aren’t able to offer a solution to this.

You can hear sound but there is no picture

This can occur if there is no suitable "codec" (compression/decompression) installed in your player. In your player’s default setting, the appropriate codec is automatically downloaded from the Internet. If you use a firewall or restrictive Internet settings, you will have to actively enable download of the codec. Please follow the instructions given in your security software.

The sound disappears after a pause

This is a known effect of the Media Player and can only be remedied by reloading the page (press F5 or shift-F5).

You continually have to log in

We use a cookie for login, which is erased when the browser is closed (a so-called "session cookie"). Its only purpose is to maintain your login status while you are using the web services. We recommend that you allow cookie saving for the sites "online-congress.com" and "online-congress.de".

Picture and sound continually stutter

- DSL users: switch to a lower available video quality (e.g. ISDN). This gives you perfect reception from a bandwidth of 64 kbit/sec.
- ISDN users: if possible, change your dial-up service provider. There are peak periods in the early evening or at the start of the day (when most Internet users are surfing), and there may be heavy fluctuations in your provider’s bandwidth at these times.

How do I claim my CPD Points?

The Lloyd's Shipping Law Congress Online is CPD accredited. Ten CPD points are available for all Lloyd's Shipping Law Congress Online participants during the course of a year’s subscription. One CPD point is available per webcast.

In order to claim your CPD points, you must be a registered participant and complete in a short online questionnaire after each webcast. You should print a copy of your results for your records.

If you are taking part as a group and wish to claim CPD points, each member of the group must be registered with us beforehand.

Our CPD reference is: EV/LSSL.