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Overview
There may be times when you need to use your personal Internet service to connect back to campus to do your work or your classwork. This document provides some helpful tips on making your connection away from campus as successful as possible.
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Use an Ethernet Connection
Wireless Internet service can often be inconsistent. Rain, snow, or other nearby electrical devices, including vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, or your cell phone can interrupt your Internet service. If you have an ethernet cable that can connect your computer or laptop to your router/modem, it is highly recommended to do so.
Not only do you need a reliable Internet connection to have a successful video conference, you need to make sure that your computer is ready!
- Position the computer on a hard surface, ensuring that the air vents are not blocked. You don’t want it to overheat! It will also ensure that the camera stays steady when you are presenting.
- Connect it to a power supply. You don’t want to depend on your battery!
- Keep cords organized and out of the way. You don’t want to snag a cord. Not only could this disconnect you from the meeting - it could damage your device.
- Reboot the computer. This will give your computer a fresh start. You should do this at least on a daily basis. The computer should be turned off (not put into sleep) when it is not going to be used for long periods of time.
- Close unneeded windows or applications. This will save memory and computing resources.
Video conferences use a bit more bandwidth than working with documents and files. Here are a few things to consider when you are using tools such as Google Meet, Webex, or Zoom.
Mute your camera
If you aren’t leading a discussion or demonstrating an item on your end of the connection, consider muting your camera.
Turn off other devices
Just like at work, your computer isn’t the only thing placing a demand on your Internet connection. Anything that is connected to your Wi-Fi service is competing for space on the wire that goes to the outside world. Confirm that other people in your home aren’t streaming videos, music, or video-games. Additionally, check that other devices, such as personal assistants (Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant), aren’t performing tasks while you are in a video conference.
Consider an Audio-Only Connection
If you are multi-tasking and just planning to listen to a video-conference or webinar, consider asking for a phone number to dial into the event. And just like a video conference, you can still unmute your phone to add your voice to a conversation.
Plan time for Testing
Whether you are a participant or a host, always make your connection to the event 10-minutes prior to the start time. This gives you time to download any required software and to test your camera and microphone. You can also confirm that your camera is positioned in a way that presents you in the best professional light. Here is a video that you might enjoy that provides some tips on setting up your space to make it ideal for video conferencing. And don’t forget we also have a video that provides similar tips available as a training supplement in our Technology Guidelines for Google Meet.
Take a break between Video conferences
As mentioned above, you need time to check your connections before a video conference. If you are hosting several ‘back-to-back’ video conferences, plan to end your conference so you can have time to set-up the next one. It’s also good to get up and stretch, take a short walk, get a drink of water or something to eat after you have been sitting for awhile. It is recommended that you plan for a 20-minute break before each scheduled event.
Every Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers different service-level plans. If you find that you are working faster than your Internet connection can keep up with, contact your provider to confirm that your service is delivering the speeds that you are paying for. Ask if they have any additional suggestions to improve the quality of service, and consider moving to the next tier of service. Additionally, you may find this blog post of interest which includes information on how to test the speed of your Internet connection.
Important Notes
- Use an Ethernet cable for maximum stability. It’s significantly more reliable than Wi-Fi for video calls.
- Limit heavy streaming (Netflix/Gaming) in your household during meetings to protect your bandwidth.
- Check Your Lighting, Face your light source so you’re clearly visible. Use a neutral or blurred background to stay professional.
- Audio, Use a headset when possible to block background noise and stay on mute whenever you aren’t speaking.