Knowledge Base » [120704] Can I host meetings/attend classes when I travel?

Product or Service: StudyPlace, GatherPlace, TutorPlace
Client Software: GP4
User Type: Family, Student, Host, Administrator, Teacher
Yes. As long as you have your computer (or access to a computer you can install the GP4 software onto) and an Internet connection that allows GP4 to communicate to the servers.
Please follow the recommendations below to ensure your GatherPlace experience will be successful during your time away.

A special note about using laptop computers and GP4
The default setting for most versions of GP4 is for GP4 to start when the computer starts up. Then it will try to validate your account. If your laptop does not have an Internet connection at the time of start up, the program will not be able to validate.
If this happens, simply revalidate your account once you have an Internet connection.


Using your own computer while traveling
If you will be traveling with your personal laptop computer, please do the following before you travel:
  1. Make sure your laptop has the latest version of GP4 installed and running.

  2. Validate your account from one of the locations/connections you normally use the computer from.

  3. Check to make sure any of your meetings or classes are displayed in the My Meetings list.

  4. View this short test presentation (optional).

Do the following as soon as you are able to at the new location*:
  1. Find the Internet connection you will be using at the new location and get connected.

  2. Start GP4 and try to validate your account.
    If you get an error when trying to validate:
    • Make sure you have a connection to the Internet by trying to open one or more web pages.
    • If you can connect to a web page, but get an error that your account could not validate then you are being blocked and will need to find another Internet connection.

  3. Check to make sure any of your meetings are displayed in the My Meetings list.

  4. View this short test presentation (optional).

* Public Internet connections such as those found in a library, school, airport and many sandwich or coffee shops can be configured to block certain communications.
If you have used GP4 successfully on your computer at another location and it will not work on the public or another Internet connection, it is usually being blocked by the local network or servers at the location you are using.

You may be able to speak to the IT department at the location to see if they can open a port or connection for you, but it is unlikely.
In these cases it is best to find another location with Internet access and try again.

If you are successful with the IT department, they may need this article to configure their servers or firewall to allow GP4 to communicate to our servers.

Using your own computer on a public (or someone else's) Internet connection.
Public Internet connections such as those found in a library, school, airport and many sandwich or coffee shops can be configured to block certain communications.
If you have used GP4 successfully on your computer at another location and it will not work on the public or another Internet connection, it is usually being blocked by the local network or servers at the location you are using.

You may be able to speak to the IT department at the location to see if they can open a port or connection for you, but it is unlikely.
In these cases it is best to find another location with Internet access and try again.

If you are successful with the IT department, they may need this article to configure their servers or firewall to allow GP4.

Using a friend's/relative's/colleague's computer on a public (or someone else's) Internet connection.
  1. Download GP4. [ Hosts | Teachers and Students ]

  2. Start GP4, enter your user name and password in the Account Setup tab of the Preferences and try to validate your account.
    If you get an error when trying to validate:
    • Make sure you have a connection to the Internet by trying to open one or more web pages.
    • If you can connect to a web page, but get an error that your account could not validate then you are being blocked and will need to find out what is blocking GP4 on the computer or network.
      Please see this article for information on un-blocking GP4.
    • If you get an error about UDP traffic being blocked, please see this article.

  3. Check to make sure any of your meetings are displayed in the My Meetings list.

  4. View this short test presentation (optional).


Using a public computer or shared, such as those found in a school or library.

Most public computers do not allow programs to be downloaded so it is unlikely that you will be able to get GP4 installed on the computer.
In the event you are able to download GP4, follow the steps in the section above.
If you get any errors or are blocked, please see #2 in the section above.

Validating your account

To validate your account, simply select Revalidate Account from the Tools menu in GP4.
Keywords
traveling, vacation, holiday, trip, break, away, new, location

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