On-line Meetings

All online meetings are held using the Zoom software. This article explains something of how to do that.

To Enter an On-line Meeting

In any of the diary/calendars on this website, click on the word “zoom.us”, which is a link to the Zoom website. If you don’t have a diary link, your host will need to give you a meeting number (and a password ). We are not using participant numbers.

Hardware Requirements

You will need a computer, tablet or phone of some sort. We in the Church have experience with the following sorts of device:

  • Windows 10
  • Mac OS High Sierra and Catalina
  • iPhone / iOS 9
  • Android 8 (Oreo) and 9 (Pie)
  • Linux Ubuntu (recent).

The Zoom.us company’s software supports a much wider range of devices. Please see their website for details, but be aware that the church may not be of much help if there are problems simply because we may not have any experience with it ourselves.

Your computer will need speakers, a microphone (which could be in a headset or earbuds provided with your device), and preferably a camera (which might be embedded at the top of your device’s screen). If you haven’t got a microphone or speakers, a USB-connected webcam can provide both, if you have a USB port. Look for a Microsoft Lifecam, Logitech HD Pro Webcam, or Trust Exis.

You also need a connection to the internet, either using mobile telephone network or using a broadband (cable, etc). While the amount of data needed per second is not very large, because meetings typically last an hour or more the total can get very large - please keep an eye on your plan’s data cap, if any.

You will get the best results using a wired connection to the internet, second best using WiFi to your broadband router, and the worst results using a mobile data plan. This is not so much about bandwidth but the delays these different connections add to the experience.

Using Windows or MacOS

When system asks you “Open Zoom”, then click on “Open Zoom”.

  • If your system asks you whether Zoom can use your microphone, please click on OK.
  • If your system asks you whether Zoom can use your camera, please click on OK.

Problem solving

If your system says that zoom.us is not  available, it likely means you have not got an internet connection at that moment. Check your WiFi or Mobile Data connection, and check another website (e.g. testmy.net).

If you have used Zoom before on that device, you will have the software installed. Open the Zoom application on your device, select “Join a meeting” and type in the meeting number.

  • Sunday Worship: 503 456 015
  • Wednesday House group: 554 568 425
  • Thursday House group: 909 296 782

Using an iPhone or Android smartphone

If your systems asks you “Please enter your name”, change name if necessary then click on OK

On bottom Row, left icon, tap on “Join Audio” - Tap on “Call via Device Audio”

Using a Standard Telephone

You can speak and listen over a normal phone line by phoning one of the following numbers

  • 0131 460 1196, or
  • 0203 481 5237, or
  • 0203 481 5240, or
  • 0203 051 2874

You will be asked to enter the following

  • meeting number followed by #
  • participant number, which is blank, followed by #; so just enter #
  • password followed by # (use the contact form on this website to ask for the password) 

Hints, Tips and other Notes

Passwords

Passwords are embedded in the diary links. 

Sound

Make sure that your speakers are turned on before going into Zoom.

Your microphone is switched off if, at the bottom left of the screen, the microphone icon has a red line through it. If there is no red line, it is switched on.

If your microphone is on and you need to mute it (because there is background noise in your room), at the bottom left of the screen, click on the microphone icon.

We request that mobile phones are switched to silent during meetings (or you mute your microphone).

In larger meetings (e.g. Sunday morning) the host will turn all microphones off most of the time, and just unmute a microphone when asking someone to speak.

In smaller meetings (all others), all microphones are left on, and all participants, like in a physical meeting, are asked to courteously refrain from talking across each other. Be aware that delays in the system mean some people won’t hear you for a second or two, and you may not hear their response for another second or so: please give each other time to respond.

On iPad go to settings: privacy: microphone: Zoom (turn on).

Video

Your video is switched off if, at the bottom left of the screen, the camera icon has a red line through it. If there is no red line, it is switched on.

It is good to see each other at meetings, so please make sure video is turned on (if the camera icon has a red line through it, please click on the camera icon). However, turn video off (in a similar way) if what is taking place in your room is likely to be a visual distraction.

Where you have any choice, please have the main light in the room on your face and the camera pointing away from it, so you can be seen properly.

On bottom Row, 2nd from left icon, tap on “Start Video”.

Full Screen

Windows and MacOS only: To be full screen: Click on “4 corners of a square icon” at the top right of the screen. To return to normal use the Escape key on the keyboard.

Powerpoint slides / Side By Side

Windows and MacOS only: When the host shares slides they appear on your screen.

To make the slides smaller on your screen, at the centre-top of the screen, click on “View options” then select “Side by Side”, then drag the edge of this pane so that it takes up the proportion of the screen that is desired.

Gallery/Speaker View

iPhone: Swipe left to go to gallery view, swipe right to go to speaker view

Windows and MacOS: To just see the person who is speaking click on “Speaker view” at top right of the screen. To see a grid of people click on “Gallery View” at top right of screen.

When in Gallery view if there are more people than can be seen in the gallery, there are arrows you can press to see those not in the current gallery. On a very large desktop screen you can see at most 25 people at a time, while on tablets and mobiles the limit is much lower, maybe just one.

Attracting attention of the host

Use Thumbs up / Clap to respond to what others are saying
iPhone: On Bottom Row right hand icon: tap on “More” and then tap on Thumbs up / Clap
Windows and MacOS: Bottom right of screen: Click on “Reactions” and then either thumbs up or clap

Use Raise hand to attract the host’s attention, for example to ask the host to speak when you are muted.
iPhone: On Bottom Row right hand icon: tap on “More” and then tap on Thumbs up / Clap
Windows and MacOS: Bottom middle of screen: Click on “Participants” then, at the bottom middle of the Participants window lick on “Raise Hand”. 

There is a chat window where you can type a message to the host.

Subtitles

We usually organise someone to type in subtitles on Sunday morning, they will come up at the bottom of the screen.

iPhone: subtitles are permanently on.

Windows and MacOS: to turn them on, at the bottom of the screen, click on Closed Caption, and then Show Subtitle..

Breakout groups

A breakout group is a group of the main attendees who can see and hear only each other. People outside the breakout group cannot hear or see those inside.

The host will move people into and out of groups automatically - you will get a 15 second warning that the group is closing. 

If you require assistance from the host, at the bottom of the screen, click on “Asking for Help”.

To leave the meeting

At top right of screen tap/click on “Leave” to leave meeting.

Security

Many Zoom features have been disabled, including File Transfer, annotation, whiteboard, remote control and screen sharing other than by the host. Should anyone be disruptive during a meeting the host will remove them from the meeting and then initiate a waiting room.