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Preferences: Connection

From the Menu bar, select Tools > Preferences: Connection.

These preferences determine the actions RealPlayer takes concerning your connection to the internet. If set properly at installation, the defaults are usually sufficient.

Changing these settings should be done with care, or when you are instructed to do so by your System Administrator or by a Technical Support specialist.

Option

Description

Bandwidth

(Default is set during installation) RealPlayer automatically selects which bandwidth to use when delivering content over the internet, based on your normal and maximum connection speeds.

Test Connection... Opens the "TurboPlay Connection Test" dialog. Use it to test your current connection speed. If your current settings do not correspond to the measured speed, you can update your bandwidth settings to match. (Select Cancel or Skip to leave settings as they are.)

Normal

This setting is first selected during installation. Adjust it for best performance. (For example, if you have a 56.6K modem but your connection speed is routinely only 30 Kbps, you should probably set normal bandwidth to 28.8Kbps.) If this setting is too high you will experience poor playback and extended buffering times as RealPlayer attempts to play clips at bitrates greater than your connection can deliver.

Maximum

This should be set just at or below your best possible connection speed.

Network
Time-out

Connection (Default: 20 sec.) Server (Default: 90 sec.) These settings determine how long RealPlayer will either attempt a particular transport protocol (connection), or how long it will try to connect to a server. If either time is exceeded, your Player will tell you it cannot connect, or that it has lost its connection (to the ISP ). If you frequently receive time-out warnings, try increasing these times.

Online Status

Select Automatically detect...(Default) or Assume I am online.

Many of the RealPlayer services require access to the internet. RealPlayer can determine when you are using a dial-up modem to access the internet and can automatically connect when necessary. If you are using a network connection or have a cable modem or DSL connection, you can let RealPlayer assume that you are online all the time.

Tip: If you have both a modem and a network connection to the internet (as many laptops do), and you are using the network connection, select Assume I am online to simplify online status detection.