CloneZone Watchers

[MidwestZest]

Count me in for CZ from central Illinois. I had it all last year, but cancelled it after basketball season for the summer. Need to make sure I subscribe again this evening and make sure everything's working. Hopefully it will not result in a debacle like the game at Toledo from 2 years ago. Oh, and I hope we don't allow 12 points in less than 2 minutes to end a game. KICK IT OUT THE BACK OF THE ENDZONE!!!!

Also, this thread might as well be called "Roll call of the out of state fans!"

 

[C.John]

I've only ever cloned my laptop screen but I plan to figure out the dual screen thing with my TV this week

Same here, I finally realized that once I was in dual monitor mode that I needed to drag whatever window I wanted to see on the TV over to the far right edge of the laptop and that he cursor keeps going to the other display..

Like I said I'm no IT/Computer guy.:cute::no:

 

[bgprest]

I'll be watching via Clone Zone in Plano (north of Dallas, TX).

Can you guys describe how to set up my laptop and TV for dual monitor configuration?

And, excuse my potential ignorance, but what are "CF and AIM" that Flag Guy wants to have both going during the game?

I certainly don't want any screw-ups and have the best viewing situation possible for this game. Speaking of which, there's no chance of a local Dallas sports bar being able to pull in this game is there??? I've got a local one, Austin Avenue, right down the street from me that's been pretty successfuly at pulling in games in the past that I didn't expect they could.

Thanks.

 

[RyCy04]

I use an s-video cable and hook the computer up to our 42" plasma. It isn't great by any means but it is better than watching it huddled around a computer monitor.

 

[SouthCyder]

I'll be watching from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Get home from a meeting at 8 p.m. ET. Just in time to watch the opening of a new season. Nothing better.

 

[Flag Guy]

I'll be watching via Clone Zone in Plano (north of Dallas, TX).

Can you guys describe how to set up my laptop and TV for dual monitor configuration?

And, excuse my potential ignorance, but what are "CF and AIM" that Flag Guy wants to have both going during the game?

Thanks.

Cyclone Fanatic (CF) and Aol Instant Messenger (AIM)

CF to talk about the game with people here (there is a thread during the game) and AIM to talk to my other friends who will also be watching via Clone Zone :yes:

I doubt any of them will get webcams... but there had been talk of using skype to do a video conference call during the game

 

[Flag Guy]

As for how to do it... you need a cable to connect to your TV (my computer has an S-video output, and my TV has S-video in so I use that)

Then you'll have to go to your display properties and/or graphics card to configure it... I'm sure someone more tech savy could give you more specific directions

I just know I figured out how to do it for my NVIDIA GeForce graphics card on my Dell Inspiron laptop by tinkering a bit...

 

[Cymaster]

Will be checking in from Pasadena.

 

[IcSyU]

Can you guys describe how to set up my laptop and TV for dual monitor configuration?

Depends on operating systems as well as connection. You can connect via s-video or HDMI, and you'll need to go into the display properties (right click on the desktop) and then put a check next to the "Extend my screen to this monitor" on I don't remember what tab in the display properties. Then, you just drag the window back and forth across the screens.

 

[Wesley]

It does not work very well at all on the PS3. Your best bet by far is to plug your PC laptop in to your tv via a HDMI cable. Picture quality on all of the videos currently available on Clone Zone look almost HD quality doing this on to a 60' HDTV. So it will all come down to the quality of the stream on Thur night, which has been less than stellar in the past.....

If it moves, it is magic.

 

[Flag Guy]

Ok guys here is a sneak preview of an e-mail going out to Clone Zone watchers tomorrow (unless you clicked "Don't send me e-mails" in which case you should read this now :wink

Here is some technical advice regarding the streaming of the game - some people will want to pay attention to bullet 4 (connecting computer to other devices)

1. Stream distribution: For the first time, Iowa State fans will see a flash stream. NDSU fans will see a Windows Media stream because they share the same web provider as us, but don't have flash capabilities in the their video player. Both streams will show up in our media player, but ISU fans are encouraged to use flash. You can actually use either stream, but the flash will be slightly better quality.

2. Stream quality: The flash feed will stream at 700k per second and the Windows Media stream will be at 600k per second. If you CANNOT download at a rate faster than 800k a second, you will have troubles watching the webcast. Visit this site. If you have more than 800k of download speed you are fine. I cannot send the stream through at a higher quality as it risks alienating 1.0 to 1.5 mbps DSL-internet users. Between our stream and NDSU, I'm sending through almost 1.5mb per second of data (thank goodness for ISU bandwidth). The computer should have the most recent version of Flash installed and the computer should be newer than 3 years old.

3. Stream source: Our TV contract with Mediacom states that we are allowed to stream any game they carry. However, their connections channel 22 analog signal is not the same quality as a FCS, VERSUS, FSN ESPN or other NATIONAL cable outlets. So, the quality of the stream will be slightly less than last year because of the source. This isn't ESPN360.com because our source isn't ESPNHD quality, it's Mediacom.

4. Connecting your computer to other devices: The stream I'm sending through is a 480x360 pixel window of video. So, if you try and blow that up using HDMI on a 60-inch flat screen TV, it is going to look pixelated. Those that try this are trying to stretch the original pixel to over 50 times its original size. Clone Zone is best meant to be watched on a computer monitor.

If fans have problems during the stream, they are to fill out this form or call our web provider's tech support line at 877-967-3267.

Hope everything goes smoothly for you!

 

[AustinCyclone]

4. Connecting your computer to other devices: The stream I'm sending through is a 480x360 pixel window of video. So, if you try and blow that up using HDMI on a 60-inch flat screen TV, it is going to look pixelated. Those that try this are trying to stretch the original pixel to over 50 times its original size. Clone Zone is best meant to be watched on a computer monitor.

If fans have problems during the stream, they are to fill out this form or call our web provider's tech support line at 877-967-3267.

Hope everything goes smoothly for you!

Do you think we can assume that PR's presser yesterday was sent through at this same 480x360 size? I set it all up last night and watched the archived presser on my 60' and it looked really good.

 

[C.John]

Do you think we can assume that PR's presser yesterday was sent through at this same 480x360 size? I set it all up last night and watched the archived presser on my 60' and it looked really good.

Same here..I'm hoping we won't be all disappointed come Thursday.

 

[pulse]

Do you think we can assume that PR's presser yesterday was sent through at this same 480x360 size? I set it all up last night and watched the archived presser on my 60' and it looked really good.

I think the press conf was 640x360. I'm not hopeful about the quality if they say it is less than what they had last year...

 

[Flag Guy]

Do you think we can assume that PR's presser yesterday was sent through at this same 480x360 size? I set it all up last night and watched the archived presser on my 60' and it looked really good.

I'm thinking not quite...

"Once you take a TV broadcast with a wide-angle shot with SEVERAL moving parts (like 22 football players on a field), you'll start to see what I mean about being pixelated.

The following link is a MUCH better example of what the feed will look Thursday like b/c its a Mediacom feed: http://www.cyclones.com/mediaPortal/...B_OEM_ID=10700

The quality will be about 100k per second better (not much of a difference) but because we are using Flash, that should help as well.

Go full screen on that clip above and you will see what I mean. I did a stream test and bumped to 900k and it made little difference.

I'm maxed out for what I can provide for a signal, in part because of Mediacoms analog signal and b/c I don't want to alienate DSL users at 1 mb or less connection (lot of Qwest users have that, but the real connection is less that 800k)"

Hope that helps you unfortuante bastards who have to watch this game on 60" screens while I'm stuck watching it on a screen that this feed is designed for due to lack of anything else...

 

[CycloneErik]

Do you think we can assume that PR's presser yesterday was sent through at this same 480x360 size? I set it all up last night and watched the archived presser on my 60' and it looked really good.

Where can I get a 60 foot television? :wink:

 

[CycloneErik]

Also, will this work for those of us later who can use ESPN360?

Or are we better off at West Cyde Wings?

 

[Flag Guy]

Couple of notes... if you have questions (like, now. Before kick off...) be sure to use this form
- - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - The home of Iowa State Cyclone Sports (Besure to select "Clone Zone Support" as the area of interest)

If you have tecnical issues during the webcast, call the web provider's tech support line at 877-967-3267.

I'm sure everyone would like nicer video streams, but face it, not everyone has the same quality of internet so they have to strike a balence to ensure as many people as possible can watch the game

No, they aren't working to 56k standards, I'll just squash that one before some smart *** comes up with it

I know the person responsible for webcasting this has been working hard to make sure things work out well for both ISU and NDSU webcasts.

If you want higher quality streams, ***** to those idiots using DSL so those of us ponying up the money for cable internet don't get drug down by the cheapskapes

 

[CycloneErik]

Couple of notes... if you have questions (like, now. Before kick off...) be sure to use this form
- - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - The home of Iowa State Cyclone Sports (Besure to select "Clone Zone Support" as the area of interest)

If you have tecnical issues during the webcast, call the web provider's tech support line at 877-967-3267.

I'm sure everyone would like nicer video streams, but face it, not everyone has the same quality of internet so they have to strike a balence to ensure as many people as possible can watch the game

No, they aren't working to 56k standards, I'll just squash that one before some smart *** comes up with it

I know the person responsible for webcasting this has been working hard to make sure things work out well for both ISU and NDSU webcasts.

If you want higher quality streams, ***** to those idiots using DSL so those of us ponying up the money for cable internet don't get drug down by the cheapskapes

I use DSL. Apparentely, our apartment is providing free wireless internet via Mediacom, and I'm sitting 5 feet from that access point, but they aren't bothering to give us the security key to get onto it.:no:

 

[Flag Guy]

I use DSL. Apparentely, our apartment is providing free wireless internet via Mediacom, and I'm sitting 5 feet from that access point, but they aren't bothering to give us the security key to get onto it.:no:

I imagine your wired connection DSL is probably faster than wireless, even if the wireless is via cable.

I'm sad because my cable company is freak'n cheap and doesn't pay for ESPN360 :no:

I was also part of that less than 10% of America that couldn't watch the Olympics on NBC online, just highlight clips :skeptical: