[Harc] because you may not have Zoom...

Howard, KB6NN kb6nn at yahoo.com
Tue Oct 19 19:23:11 CDT 2021


Because you may not have Zoom ready to go for tonight's meeting, I have attached a little instruction sheet I made to tell people how to get on Zoom.  It's called "HOW TO GET ZOOM".  Attached.  If yo already have Zoom, you can ignore this.
Howard
KB6NN

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HOW TO GET ZOOM

Please read all of these instructions before you start.  

These instructions are for a computer (laptop or desktop, or even some tablets, but I am most familiar with desktop computers and laptops).   

You should install a Zoom program on your computer.  It's the easiest way.  I know there are Zoom add-ons for various browsers, such as Chrome or Firefox, but I think the stand-alone program is the most flexible and the easiest to learn and use.  You might want a webcam if you don't have one.  More on that later.    

OK. So, if you don't already have Zoom installed on your computer, here is what you need to do:

Go to https://zoom.us/download and look for Zoom Client for Meetings ("client" here means a communication "program" and "program" short for "application program" - or "APP" as phone and tablet folks call it).  

On the Zoom download page, under "Zoom Client for Meetings", click Download, and when the installer program has downloaded, click on the intaller to install the application.  

Zoom versions are available for Windows, Linux, and Macintosh, and this how-to applies mainly to standard desktop or laptop computers and some tablets.  The Zoom.us website has instructions for portable devices.  As with many software vendors, Zoom's website is smart enough to know the version you need for your computer or portable device, but there are options, in case the site doesn't read your device correctly or reads it as a generic version of a computer or other device.  In that case, there will be download links for other variations of each platform.  For most of us, just click Download.  Then run the installer after it downloads.    

Whoa! If you think you have to pay, think again!  The basic Zoom account is free.  If you sign up with your email and a password, Zoom will creat an account for you for managing your profile (and profile image) and send you periodic information about Zoom how-to webinars, and also links to any security updates.  

A paid account is only needed if you expect your meeting is going to have more than 100 guests, or run longer than 40 minutes, which is the time limit for 3 mor more in the same Zoom session with a free qccount.  

I recommend to others that their Zoom presentation should go no longer than 30 minutes, with a few minutes afterward for questions and answers.  If Zoom is still operating under Covid-19 protocols, they will let you go over 40 minutes and will warn you that you are about to do so.  They started doing this for Covid-19 in 2020, and as far as I can tell, are still doing it. 
 
As to the 100 participant limit, be realistic.  Unless you are a notable celebrity.  If so, I apologize.  Just stay clear of papparazzi and you should be good to go.  

If your computer does not have a webcam, you will need to get one if you want to participate with video.  I got mine for $10 on eBay, and it works fine.  This isn't Hollywood.  You can spend much much more.  Until you know you need a fancy camera, learn on a not-fancy one, upgrade when you need to.    

You don't actually need a webcam, you can participate audio-only, or even listen-only for most Zoom sessions.  You can dial in to the meeting by telephone, and the Zoom invitation and links used to come with all that information, but I am not seeing them now.  

To participate in a meeting, all you need to do is get the Zoom invitation** and follow the link contained in that invitation.  If you don't have Zoom installed when you click on the link in the invitation, there is a button to click to download and install Zoom.  

**An invitation is created when someone creates a scheduled meeting as its host.  Host/guest: the presenter is usually the Zoom host, all others are guests.  

After you install Zoom, you start the program and set it up for your account and your computer/device using the little gear icon under your name or picture, top right.  Again, this is for computers.  Tablets and phones may have the settings gear somewhere else.  At Zoom.us/download, you will be directed to go to the App Store/iTunes or Google Play.     

That's it.  You are ready to Zoom into the future.  And you don't need a Flux Capacitor or 1.21 Jigawatts to do so. 

Happy Zooming


  



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