Our Video Technology
The Mentoring Club uses WebRTC technology for peer-to-peer encrypted video calls. This means your conversations are private, secure, and high-quality with ~99% success rate.
This guide covers everything from initial setup to advanced troubleshooting, ensuring you have flawless mentoring sessions every time.
System Requirements
Supported Browsers
- Chrome (v90+) - Recommended
- Firefox (v88+)
- Edge (v90+)
- Safari (v14+)
Note: Mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Chrome Mobile) are fully supported!
Internet Speed
- Minimum: 1 Mbps up/down
- Recommended: 3+ Mbps up/down
- Ideal: 10+ Mbps for HD quality
Use wired Ethernet if possible. WiFi works but is less stable.
Camera & Microphone
- Built-in webcam (720p+)
- External USB webcam
- Headset or earbuds recommended
Operating System
- Windows 10/11
- macOS 10.14+
- Linux (most distributions)
- iOS 14+ / Android 8+
First-Time Setup
The first time you join a video call, your browser will request permissions. Here's what to expect:
Browser Permissions
- 1 Click "Join Video Call" from your session page
- 2 Browser shows a popup: "Allow access to camera and microphone?"
- 3 Click "Allow" or "Permit"
- 4 Your video preview appears. Check your audio/video before connecting.
Screenshot Placeholder
Browser permission dialog for camera/microphone
Permissions Blocked?
If you accidentally clicked "Block," you'll need to manually re-enable permissions:
- • Chrome: Click the lock icon in the address bar → Site settings → Camera/Microphone → Allow
- • Firefox: Click the camera icon in address bar → Permissions → Allow
- • Safari: Safari menu → Settings for This Website → Camera/Microphone → Allow
Using Video Calls During Sessions
Video Call Features:
Mute / Unmute Audio
Click the microphone button to mute/unmute. Your mentor will see a mute indicator if your mic is off.
Toggle Video On/Off
Turn your camera off if needed (poor bandwidth, privacy). Audio-only calls work great too!
Screen Sharing
Share your screen to show code, portfolios, resumes, or presentations during your session.
In-Call Notes (Mobile)
On mobile, access the notes and chat overlay to take notes or send links during the call.
Connection Quality Monitoring
Our video system automatically monitors connection quality. If your connection weakens, video quality may reduce automatically to maintain audio clarity (audio is prioritized).
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Issue: Can't See Video (Mine or Theirs)
Possible Causes & Solutions:
- Camera permissions denied: Check browser settings (see "Permissions Blocked?" above)
- Camera in use by another app: Close other apps using webcam (Zoom, Teams, etc.)
- Video toggled off: Check if the camera button shows as "off" in the interface
- Slow connection: Video may be disabled automatically. Try audio-only mode.
Issue: Can't Hear Audio or They Can't Hear Me
Possible Causes & Solutions:
- Microphone muted: Check if mic button shows as muted
- Wrong audio device selected: Check browser settings → Audio input/output device
- System volume muted: Check OS volume controls (Windows volume mixer, Mac sound settings)
- Headphones not detected: Unplug and replug headset, or try built-in speakers/mic
Issue: Connection Failed or Keeps Dropping
Possible Causes & Solutions:
- Weak internet: Run a speed test. Move closer to WiFi router or switch to Ethernet.
- Firewall/VPN blocking WebRTC: Temporarily disable VPN or corporate firewall
- Browser extensions interfering: Disable ad blockers or privacy extensions temporarily
- Auto-reconnect: Our system retries up to 3 times automatically. Wait 15-30 seconds.
Issue: Laggy, Pixelated, or Poor Quality
Possible Causes & Solutions:
- Bandwidth issues: Close other bandwidth-heavy apps (Netflix, downloads, etc.)
- Too many browser tabs open: Close unnecessary tabs to free up resources
- Poor lighting: Webcam struggles in low light. Use brighter room or desk lamp.
- CPU overload: Restart browser or computer if it's been running for days
Best Practices for Great Video Sessions
Visual Quality
- Face the camera directly
- Use good lighting (window or lamp in front of you)
- Clean, professional background
- Camera at eye level (use books to raise laptop)
Audio Quality
- Use headphones/earbuds (prevents echo)
- Quiet environment (close doors, silence phones)
- Speak clearly, not too close to mic
- Mute when not speaking if there's background noise
Connection Optimization
- Use wired Ethernet if available
- Sit close to WiFi router if wireless
- Close bandwidth-heavy apps
- Disable VPN if experiencing issues
Pre-Session Checklist
- Join 2-3 minutes early to test
- Check camera/mic permissions
- Close unnecessary browser tabs
- Have notebook/notes ready
Security & Privacy
Your privacy and security are our top priorities:
End-to-End Encryption
Video and audio streams use DTLS-SRTP encryption. Your conversations are private and never stored on our servers.
Peer-to-Peer Technology
Video streams directly between you and your mentor (P2P). We don't relay or record video data.
No Recordings Without Consent
Sessions are NOT recorded by our platform. Both parties must explicitly consent to any external recording.
STUN/TURN Servers
We use industry-standard STUN/TURN servers for connection establishment. These never see or store your video content—only connection metadata.
Still Having Issues?
If none of the above solutions work, our support team is here to help.