Zoom Basics and Help
Zoom is a teleconferencing program that allows individuals to use their computer or smart device to video conference with others. CHM uses Zoom for the interactive portions of our events and for online ministry. If you are new to Zoom, we highly encourage you to find a friend or family member who has used it before and practice using this program with them before your first CHM Zoom meeting. We have provided a few tutorials below to help you get connected to Zoom and to help with some basic troubleshooting.
- Prerequisites for using Zoom at CHM
- Getting started with Zoom
- Signing in to a meeting
- Once in the meeting
- Making sure you are seen and heard
- Troubleshooting: I can’t hear anyone and they can’t hear me
- Troubleshooting: Others can’t hear me
- Troubleshooting: I can’t hear others
- Troubleshooting: Others can’t see me
- Troubleshooting: My audio or video quality is poor (choppy or delayed)
Prerequisites for using Zoom at CHM
In order to use Zoom, you will need the following three things:
- One of the following:
- A desktop computer with a camera, microphone, and either speakers or headphones
- A laptop with a camera, microphone, and either speakers or headphones (Most modern laptops come with this equipment)
- A smartphone such as an iPhone or Android phone
- A tablet
- The Zoom app downloaded to your device. Some Zoom meetings can be run via an internet browser, but since CHM uses some of Zoom’s advance features, you will not be able to use the browser option. You must download the Zoom app.
- A steady and strong internet connection (over wi-fi or cellular data).
Getting started with Zoom
Download and install the Zoom app before your first Zoom meeting.
On a smartphone or tablet, go to https://zoom.us/download and follow the instructions.
On a desktop or laptop, click https://zoom.us/client/latest/ZoomInstaller.exe
The file, zoominstaller.exe may appear at the bottom of your screen. To install the file, click on the file and follow the instructions. If you do not see the file at the bottom of your screen, you may need to look for the file, zoominstaller.exe, in your downloads folder and double-click it to install.
Signing in to a meeting
You can sign in to a CHM meeting in one of two ways.
The easiest way is by clicking on a link. This link should be found in the form of a large button in the event platform (for event participants) or in an email sent to you by CHM’s staff (for ministry appointments). You can click on the link and it should take you directly to your meeting.
The second way to sign on is by opening up the Zoom app, clicking “Join” and enter the Meeting ID and password. You should be able to find the meeting ID and password in the online platform (for CHM Events) or the email sent you by CHM’s staff (for ministry appointments).
Once in the meeting
You may see a message telling you that the host will let you in shortly. This is the waiting room. If you see this screen, it means we are not quite ready for you, so please wait until our host lets you in.
If you are signing in to a Zoom meeting for the first time, you may see several boxes appear on your screen. Please read these boxes carefully and do NOT press cancel. If your computer is asking permission for Zoom to use your microphone or camera, select “Yes.” If Zoom asks you if you want to join with video, select “Yes.” If Zoom asks you how you would like to connect to audio, select “Internet Audio.”
Making sure you are seen and heard
In order to be seen and heard, your video must be turned on and your microphone must be unmuted.
The controls for your camera and microphone are found in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
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If you see this icon, it means that your microphone is connected to the meeting and should be working fine. If you would like to turn your microphone off, you can press this icon to mute yourself.
If you see this icon, it means that your camera is on and others in the meeting should be able to see you. You can press this icon to turn your video off.
Troubleshooting: I can’t hear anyone and they can’t hear me
Normally this happens because you have not selected to join the meeting’s audio. Press the “Join Audio” button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen and select “Internet Audio.” If you have selected an audio connection and you are unmuted, yet there is still no audio, you may want to try exiting the meeting and signing back in.
Troubleshooting: Others can’t hear me
 Make sure you are unmuted in the Zoom app. If there is a red line through the microphone icon in the lower left-hand corner of the screen, press it to unmute yourself.
If you are using an external microphone, make sure you have not pressed a mute button on the microphone. |
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If you are unmuted and settings are fine, you may want to try exiting the meeting and then logging back in. |
Troubleshooting: I can’t hear others
Check to make sure your device’s volume is up and unmuted.
Do you have headphones plugged into your device that you are not currently wearing? Audio could be playing through your headphones instead of your device speakers. If you would like to listen to your audio through your speakers instead of headphones, simply unplug your headphones.
If using a laptop or desktop, you may want to see what speaker has been selected in Zoom’s Audio settings. Click the small upwards arrow to the right of the mute button. A pop-up box will appear, from which you can make sure that the correct speaker is selected. You can also use Zoom’s “Test Speaker and Microphone” feature from there.
If all of your settings are correct, you may want to try exiting the meeting and then logging back in.
Troubleshooting: Others can’t see me
Make sure that your video is on. If the camera icon in the lower left-hand corner of the screen has a line through it, press that icon to turn on your video.
Some desktops and laptop computers have a cover that is in front of the device camera for privacy. Make sure all covers are removed and the camera is not blocked from seeing you.
If you have a desktop or laptop computer, you may want to make sure the correct camera is selected in Zoom. To view your video settings, click the upwards arrow. A popup box will appear, from which you can see all of your camera options and make sure the correct camera is selected.
If all settings are correct, you can also try exiting the meeting and then logging back in.
Troubleshooting: My audio or video quality is poor (choppy or delayed)
This normally means you have a weak internet connection.
If you are on a phone or tablet with a cellular data plan, you may need to find a location with the strongest data signal possible. Data signals on a mobile device are normally indicated by bars at the top of your screen.
If you are using wi-fi, please get as close to your router as possible.
If you are close to your router and still experiencing a poor connection, you may want to restart your wi-fi router. You can normally do this by unplugging your router, counting to 20 and plugging it back in. Please note: This will interrupt your internet service and can sometimes take 5-10 minutes for your router to fully restart.
You may want to log out of the meeting, restart your computer, and sign back in.
If you are on a tablet or smartphone with cellular data, but using wi-fi, you may want to turn off the wi-fi option and try the to connect with cellular data. Please note: If you do not have an unlimited data plan, fees and data charges may apply.
If your wi-fi connection at your home is not strong enough, you may want to find another location with a stronger internet connection.