Getting Your PC Ready

Setting up to use Paltalk...

To participate through your PC, you'll need to have registered for the free Paltalk chat program. 

For those of you unfamiliar with Paltalk, there are 2 primary "versions" of this chat software:

1. a "slimmed down, easy to use" web browser version called Paltalk Express (Windows, Mac, Linux)
2. a full "PC Client" called PaltalkScene (Windows only)

You can use EITHER one for our Worship On the Web or First Steps Online chats, but #1 is the simplest choice.
(There's apparently a limit to the number of times a non-MAC user can use Paltalk Express, before they make you install the full Paltalk Scene program.  Just be aware of that... it won't affect your ability to join us.)

FIRST: Close any other programs that might be using your microphone/headset (i.e. Skype, Yahoo! messenger, etc)

Now, assuming you plan to use the Paltalk Express, merely click on this link:

    http://express.paltalk.com/index.html?gid=1217014910  

You'll see a banner:     Welcome to Paltalk, and a Registration/Login page

You'll be presented with 3 login options:

1. Not yet a member? (Join Now) [click the button to register a user ID & password - free.  Write them down, so you'll remember them next time!]  OR
2. Login as (guest) [click this button to log in 'anonymously'. You'll be identified as "guest##", and will have limited features]  OR
3. Sign in using your personal user ID & password [created in #1 above]

Next, you'll be prompted to be sure that your web camera and/or microphone are enabled. If you don't have a webcam, don't worry about it… follow the instructions to enable your microphone anyway!

To enable your WebCamera/Microphone using these instructions:

• Be sure to scroll down in the instructions to find the "click here"
• Check the allow box
• Uncheck the 'show at startup', and press the CLOSE button

That's it!  You should be all set-up and ready for our next Worship On the Web broadcast. 

At this point, you're free to explore any Paltalk chat that is in progress (but I recommend the "G" rated ones only!)   

MAC users note:  We've had some problems getting sound heard and/or broadcasted using MAC computers using this BETA (pre-release testing version) of Paltalk Express.  I'm not aware of any resolution to this problem yet.  Try it... and hopefully it will work for you!

When it's time to join our WOW or FSO broadcast, go back to the prior page (using the UP button along the top of this page), and click on the CONNECT button on the left side of the page for instructions, or click here.

If I'm not yet logged on, then our WOW/FSO chat room won't be open yet, and you'll get a "room join failed" message.

• Click OK to that message, wait a few minutes, and hit "refresh" until I get logged in, OR
• Navigate down the list of chat topics to "Religion & Spirituality", choose the "Christianity" groups, and watch for our room to open at the bottom of the list (1 member)

I DO plan to be logged in several minutes before the official starting time, so *hopefully* you won't see this message! But if you do your set-up and testing before broadcast time, expect that message to appear.

If you have a Windows PC, and prefer the more full-function PaltalkScene program, feel free to download it from www.paltalk.com .