Kickoff Event Webcast
 

just wandering if NASA do the webcast of KickoFF event. if yes, please post the information about it in this thread. Thanks

Imad

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

According to http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2006/kfevents.htm, details are still pending.

However, if it is like past years, the kickoff will be broadcast on NASATV, and there are several places on the internet that carry webcasts of NASATV (see http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ for a short list).

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Thanks for the info. Actauly we are tryitn gethave a small kick off evetn at our school for hte studetns and their families. Our school is not able to provide NASA Channel, so our bext option is webcast. I will look forward for the fninal info from FIRST. Thanks again

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Yeah, me too. And I'm looking forward to a game hint too. Or maybe we already have something from someone on here who has some insider info.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Isn't now the time that the game clue is given to us?

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Though this is dragging the topic a slight bit OT...

The clue is normally given to us sometime between Christmas and Jan 1st.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

And with Kickoff not happening until the 7th I'd bet it is closer to the 1st than Christmas.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Ahhh.....Another 2 weeks to wait till I can over analyze an unanalyzable clue in preparation for kickoff. I think I'm as excited for kickoff as a kid is for Christmas!
"Can we have the hint Davey, Please Please!! It's only 4 AM! Pleeeeeaaase Davey???"

Now all we need is a photoshopped picture of Dave as a ....no, no, I've said too much already...

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

I have a few questions of my own as our High School is setting up for the Webcast:

1) We will need the exact URL for testing purposes.
2) Will the streaming video work with Quicktime and/or Windows Media
Player?
3) Does it use any nonstandard UDP or TCP ports other than Port80?
4) Are any other browser plugin's required?

At Clarkson I had very little experience setting this up. Basically I just clicked on the link and it worked. Any words of wisdom would be most welcome.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Assuming it's carried on NASA TV again this year (which is likely a safe bet), then you can get all the webcast info you need from the site already mentioned in this thread:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/
Looks like they support both Windows Media and Real, and of course those webcasts are live 24/7 so it's easy to test out.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

1.) The link is http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/
2.) The Nasa TV stream is either in Windows media player or realplayer,.
3.) I don't think it uses any nonstandard ports, other than Port 80, but i'm sure I'm somehow going to be disproved in some way.
4.) You don't need any browser plugin, but I'm pretty sure you need at least the latest Media Player(Or at the very least version 9. The required codec will be automatically downloaded if you haven't changed the option in media player that automatically downloads the required coded.) If you want to test run the computer just visit the link and view the stream. Nasa TV is on all day, and will work the same now, as it will on January 7.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

While we have always been fortunate enough to have satellite reception through our major sponsor for the kickoff, we have often used the webcasts of regionals during the competition season. (The NASA links are already given by other contributors in this thread.)

Run your ethernet through a laptop that has a video out port, and then connect that to a projector or large television. Use the Full Screen mode in RealPlayer, and it'll be easy for all to see. The quality will not be as good as a broadcast, but it'll be acceptable. (My attempts to use WinMedia Player streams always ended up out of sync, or continually trying to buffer the download. Not a knock, just the difficulties I ran into. Others have run these streams successfully.)

Put a VCR in between the computer and the projector/TV, and you can tape the kickoff for later viewing, in case you have questions about the game. It's quite simple, but do a dry run ahead of the kickoff on some dummy stream off the net. That way, you know the procedure works, and that you have all the needed cables/connectors to do it.

If your team builds a practice robot after you ship, consider using the webcasts of the regionals to help train your competition team. Run the webcast in the practice area to give the team the "feel" of the regional; the sounds (turn the speakers up LOUD), the timing (start and stop your practice rounds with the streamed matches), and the length of time for robot setup/removal. Your comp team will be a bit better adjusted to the flow of things once you get to the regional.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Here are the URLs for the direct streaming video from the 2005 FIRST Kickoff. All you need to get the live webcast is a high-speed internet connection and either Windows Media Player or Real Player. The Windows Media Player version has a much higher quality, and would be better for a webcast. The Real Media version is basically for slower speed Internet conenctions.

Windows Media video: mms://sargasso-3.arc.nasa.gov/2005/first/05kickoff.wmv

Real Media version: http://robotics.nasa.gov/first/2005/05kickoff.ram

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

You can also record streaming media using a program called "WM Recorder".

www.wmrecorder.com

The software is about $30-$50 and it is worth every penny. I've used for so many things and I've only had it a month. I'm a teacher and at our school our connection is pretty slow and unpredictable, so I can record streaming video content (like from annenburg or PBS) at home using my DSL and then take them to school and show students (for educational purposes of course) You can set it up to record at certain times and dates too. Anyways, I don't work for them or anything, but in case some people wish to record the webcast or any of the competitions - it may be useful.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Last year at the Southern California remote kickoff, they did the Windows media webcast and toward the end it lagged, bad. We weren't able to get the last 5 minutes at all (where they gave the password to the manual). If anyone organizing that event is reading this, please get NASA TV on satellite or cable for that event.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Maybe I'm reading what you're saying wrong or something, because this appears way too obvious to me...but NASA TV is already on cable (probably need digital cable, though) and satellite.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Well, four members of out team are going down to VCU Richmond to get the parts. but rest of out team will be in school watching the kickoff. Our school don't provide us with the NASA channel, so we are tryin to get the webcast. I really don't know how reliable it is, but i guess it worth a try ;)

Thanks for the info.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Happy Holidays to all,

Anybody out there have any experience with capturing streaming video on a Mac running OS X Tiger? I found this bit of software but would like to here from others before adding $70 to my amex bill. :]

Snapz Pro X 2.0.2
http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

According to the NASA TV schedule of events, the kickoff will be broadcasted.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasat..._Breaking.html

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

To Andrew S:

1) I believe that NASA always makes a downloadable version of the kickoff available after the event

2) To capture a stream on a PC, use TechSmith Camtasia or use a graphic board that has analog outputs to a VCR, DVR, etc

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

That's really the only thing I've found. You can use it for 30 days for free if that helps any. :)

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

He is saying that you need to get NASA TV from cable or satellite rather than from the internet because the quality will be better.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

our team was able to get a minor sponsorship in the local cable company in the fact that they are waving the installation fees for us when they install the cable in our temporary warehouse. we are just getting the NASA channel from now through kick off end of build season.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

thats another reason why we are trying to get the webcast. I mean only four people from our team are getting a chance to go official kickoff event, and most of us don't have access to NASA channel. So webcast is the onyl and best option. As far as the quality goes, its not that good, but better than nothing.
ONLY 10 MORE DAYS TO GO!!>..........wo wow excited

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/2006_kickoff.php

Just saw this.



What I can't find anywhere is a list of remote kickoff venues.


I assume there will be a kickoff at New Hampshire, but If I was a rookie from the west coast, I'd be pretty confused on how and where to get the kickoff information. I expect that there will be something at San Jose State, but there is nothing on the WRRF pages, nothing on FIRST, nothing on NASA about where to go.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

would anyone be interested in getting the entire kick-off on dvd?

Our school is an official kick-off location and we will be recording the kick-off on a dvr so we can burn it to dvd.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Heres a link to the FIRST page as to where all the local kickoffs will be held. Al i hope this helps,

2006 FRC Local Kickoff Information

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Finally kick off is about 13 hours away.

Just thought this would be helpful to some people.

http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/2006_kickoff.php

Good Luck everyone

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

ill be logging in to watch
it will be around midnight here for me in japan but i cant miss out

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

I just went to that site and saw this information: If you are not able to get NASA TV at your location and you have a group of people watching a big screen of the webcast and want a better quality stream please email Seth Carter at sjcarter@mail.arc.nasa.gov for stream information. - I e-mailed him but it's so late he probably won't see my e-mail. If anyone has info that they can share with me, please PM or e-mail me. We just discovered that we cannot view the kickoff via satellite as planned since it cannot bring in the digital satellite feed and we're having to switch to webcast in a large auditorium. I'll be checking online tomorrow morning early before I leave. Thanks.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

I have this information, I will forward you the email.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

Thanks for the info!

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

My team won't be having any thing today. They can't pick up the channel or something. They want all of us to watch it on the web. They said that the're going to record it over some person's house, then let us watch it on monday. I'm going to watch some of it from my computor.

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

I know it's late, but if anyone has this information and could pass it on to me via PM we'd really appreciate it. Our whole team is meeting in the school auditorium and we recently found out that the cable provider no longer offers the NASA channel like last year, so we'll be watching the webcast on a big screen. If there's a high quality feed that would really help. Thanks in advance!

Re: Kickoff Event Webcast
 

The downloadable files are available at the same page you went to see the webcast: http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/2006_kickoff.php

The Aim High animation is available in 3 sizes:
89MB http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/first/AimHigh-Lrg.mov
18MB http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/first/AimHigh-Med.mov
and 6MB http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/first/AimHigh-Sml.mov

The FIRST kickoff video is available in
Windows Media Player format http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/first/kickoff.wmv , 292 MB,
and RealMedia format http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/first/kickoff.rm , 235MB.