The Kingdom now has Zoom, online conferencing software that anyone can use! Read more about it in our article here.

Have more questions?
About Ætherial Court logistics?
About Download and Login?
About Audio and Visual Setup and Troubleshooting?
About Participant Options and Troubleshooting?
About Host Options and Troubleshooting?

Our Kingdom Social Media Officer, THL Sumayya, and Kingdom Webminister, Baroness Amalie, have the answers in the Q&A below, and at this link.

Ætherial Court Logistics

Q: How will TRM Timothy and Gabrielle’s Virtual Court work?
A: Starting at 12:45 PM on Saturday, March 28, you can join the Zoom Meeting with this link: https://zoom.us/j/835274613

If you want to type the Meeting ID into a phone or browser window instead, please use this Meeting ID: 835 274 613

Please note, if you try to join early, you will be held in a waiting room until the host allows everyone in to the Zoom meeting.

Q. How will communication work during Court?
A. The meeting room will have all participants muted an video off upon entry. These options will not be available to participants during Court. However, the chat window will be available for you to type any congratulatory messages you may have for award recipients. Reactions (clap and thumbs-up) are also available. When you enter, if it is before Court starts, there will be music playing in the background from AETube.

The Royalty and Heralds will all have video on so people can see them. TRM and Snorri will be heard speaking on screen.

Q. How can I make sure to see the Silent Herald, Mistress Gytha, at all times?
You can pin her video to the screen by going to her video feed, clicking on the 3 horizontal dots in the blue box, and clicking “Pin Video”.

Q. What are my options if the Zoom Room limit (300) is reached?
The Zoom meeting will hold 300 participants. Court will be streamed to the SCA Æthelmearc Kingdom Page on Facebook, as well. However, if you need “up-to-the-second updates”, you will need to join us in the Zoom meeting. Facebook will have a 20-second delay.

Court will also be uploaded to the Kingdom YouTube channel, AEtube, after it is complete.

Q. I’m having trouble with my audio. What is the dial-in information, if I need to call in with my phone (see also Audio and Visual Q&A below)

Choose one of these numbers to call:
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Enter Meeting ID: 835 274 613 then #
Enter your Participant ID then #

Please use your Participant ID! Find this when you choose phone audio from the audio button (or up arrow by the mute button if you’re in the meeting).

You could also watch from the Kingdom Facebook Page, if you have Facebook.

Download and Login Questions, for Ætherial Court and all other Zoom meetings

Q: It is my first time using Zoom. Do I need to do anything?
A: Please check our documentation available here on installing and accessing Zoom for your first time.

Q: Do I need to download Zoom to my computer?
A: Yes, Zoom has a small downloadable file to install on your computer. The download site is here: https://zoom.us/download#client_4meeting. You want to download the Zoom Client for Meetings. We have documentation available here on installing and accessing Zoom for your first time.

Q: Do I need an app for my phone or tablet?
A: If you are using an Apple or Android device, you will need to download an app called Zoom Cloud Meetings. It is free.
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zoom-cloud-meetings/id546505307
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings&hl=en_US

Q: Do I need a log in to Zoom?
A: If you are a participant in a meeting, no you do not need your own log in.

If you are the host of a meeting, you will have information from the Kingdom on how to access your meeting.

Q: How do I dial in to Zoom?
A: When you are accessing the meeting room, Zoom will have a pop-up window with two tabs: Computer Audio and Phone Call. Click on the Join Audio by Phone Call and follow the instructions on the screen. Please make sure to use your Participant ID when prompted.

Audio and Visual Set-up Questions and Troubleshooting

Q: I am having issues with my computer audio. How do I switch my computer audio to phone audio?
A: If you started on computer audio and need to switch to phone audio, go to the lower left of the Zoom window. You will see an icon for a microphone. To the right of the microphone you will see a caret (^)/up arrow. Click on the caret/up arrow to access the menu and click Switch to Phone Audio. Follow the instructions to dial in to the Zoom meeting. Please make sure to use your Participant ID when prompted.

Q: Do I need to use the Participant ID when I dial in for phone audio?
A: You should use your Participant ID. This will connect your video and audio together as one participant in one user window.

Q: I do not have a microphone on my computer. Am I just able to listen through the computer’s speakers?
A: No, you will need to either have an internal microphone or external microphone (headset or standalone) on your computer to use computer audio. If you do not have either of these, you will need to use phone audio and dial in to the conference.

Q: What do I do if the computer selects the wrong microphone input on my computer?
A: Go to the microphone icon in the lower left. To the right of the microphone you will see a caret (^)/up arrow. Click on the caret/up arrow to access the menu and click on the correct microphone/audio input.

Q: What do I do if the computer selects the wrong video/webcam input on my computer?
A: Go to the video camera icon in the lower left. To the right of the video camera you will see a caret (^)/up arrow. Click on the caret/up arrow to access the menu and click on the correct video/webcam input.

Participant Options and Troubleshooting Questions

Q: How do I get the chat window to appear?
A: On a computer, move your mouse to the bottom of the zoom window. In the middle of the bottom menu bar, you should see an icon for Chat. Click the chat button and the chat box should appear to the right of the Zoom window.

On a phone/tablet, click on your screen for the menu to pop up. Click on More. Click on Chat.

Q: I see some cool, virtual backgrounds behind people in Zoom. How can I get that, too?
A: On a computer, go to the bottom left of the Zoom window, you will see icons for a microphone and a video camera. To the right of the video camera you will see a caret (^)/up arrow. Click the caret/up arrow and select Choose virtual background from the menu, and from the pop-up window, select your background, then click Done. (You do not need a green screen to use this feature.)

On an Apple device, tap More in the controls and tap Virtual Background. Tap your preferred background or tap + to upload a new image. Tap Close.

Unfortunately, Android devices do not support this feature.

Q: Everyone froze on my screen. What can I do to fix this?
A: Close your Zoom meeting window and reenter the meeting using the original provided link or meeting ID number.

Q: I accidentally swiped to the left a few times on my phone and now I am in a safe driving mode. How do I get out of safe driving mode?
A: Swipe right to go back to video mode.

Q: How do I leave a Zoom Meeting?
A: At the bottom of your screen, on the lower-right side, the words End Meeting (in red) are present. Click End Meeting.
If you are the sole Host, you will end the meeting for all attendees.

Host Options and Troubleshooting Questions

Q: Should I have a co-host in my Zoom Meeting?
A: That truly is up to you. However, know that if for some reason you are booted out of the room (bad Internet connection, Blue Screen of Death…) and you are the only host, your meeting will be terminated. You must have a host in the room for the meeting to take place.

Q: How do I share my screen?
A: If you go to the bottom of your Zoom window, you will see a green Share icon. Click this icon, then choose which screen you would like to share with your participants.

To stop sharing your screen, click the red Stop Share button at the top of your computer screen.

Q: Should my room be password protected?
A: When you schedule a room using our reservation form, we will set up other Order Meetings and meetings/sessions that are requested to be private with a password. This password will be shared with the Meeting Host to distribute to the appropriate people. Passwords should never be posted to any Kingdom public resources (calendars, Facebook, public listservs, etc.).

Q: Are there other reasons to password protect a Zoom Room?
A: If you are worried about potential Zoom Jacking, you can password protect your Zoom meeting. This prevents random people from entering your room and sharing screens or interrupting conversations.

Thanks again to the Zoom Project Team THL Summaya and Baroness Amalie!