Joining a Video Session

Joining your video tutoring session is easy. Follow this guide to ensure a smooth start to every lesson.

Before You Join

System Requirements

Make sure your device meets these minimum requirements:

Desktop/Laptop:

• Chrome 94+, Firefox 91+, Safari 14+, or Edge 94+
• 4GB RAM minimum
• Webcam and microphone
• Speakers or headphones

Tablet/Mobile:

• iOS 14+ or Android 8+
• Sentuent mobile app (browser not recommended)

Connection Requirements

Internet speed:

• Minimum: 5 Mbps download / 3 Mbps upload
• Recommended: 10 Mbps download / 5 Mbps upload
• Test your speed at speedtest.net

First-Time Setup

The first time you join, you'll need to:

1. Allow permissions - Grant camera and microphone access
2. Test equipment - Sentuent will help you test audio/video
3. Choose devices - Select which camera/mic to use
4. Set preferences - Choose default video/audio settings

These settings are saved for future sessions.

Joining a Session

The Video Interface

Once connected, you'll see:

Video Feeds

• Main video - The other person's camera feed
• Self view - Your camera (can be minimized)
• Toggle - Switch between gallery and speaker view

Control Bar

Located at the bottom of the screen:

• Microphone - Mute/unmute your audio
• Camera - Turn video on/off
• Share Screen - Share your screen or whiteboard
• Chat - Open text chat panel
• More - Additional options menu
• End Call - Leave the session

Session Info Panel

Located in the top corner:

• Timer showing elapsed time
• Session end time
• Recording indicator (if session is being recorded)

First-Time Experience

Equipment Check

Before your first session, run through the equipment check:

1. Microphone test - Speak and see if the meter moves
2. Speaker test - Play a sound to test audio output
3. Camera test - Verify your video appears clearly
4. Bandwidth test - Check if your internet is fast enough

Access equipment check: Settings > Equipment Test

Granting Permissions

When prompted for camera/microphone access:

Chrome: Click "Allow" in the popup at the top Safari: Safari > Settings > Websites > Camera/Microphone Firefox: Click the notification icon and select "Allow"

Joining from Mobile

On mobile devices:

1. Download the Sentuent app (iOS/Android)
2. Log in to your account
3. Tap the session notification
4. Grant camera/microphone permissions
5. Tap "Join Meeting Room"

Mobile tips:

• Use headphones for better audio
• Find good lighting - face a window if possible
• Prop your device at eye level
• Connect to WiFi instead of cellular data

What If I'm Early?

If you join before the scheduled time:

• You'll enter a waiting room
• You can test your audio/video
• You'll be notified when the other person joins
• The session officially starts at the scheduled time

Billing note: You're only billed for time after the official start time.

What If I'm Late?

If you join after the scheduled start time:

• Click "Join Session" as normal
• You'll enter immediately if the other person is already there
• The session will continue for the scheduled duration
• Time lost due to lateness is not refunded

What If They're Late?

If the other person hasn't joined after 10 minutes:

1. Wait in the session room
2. Send them a message via chat
3. Check your dashboard for any cancellation notices
4. After 15 minutes, you can leave and report a no-show

No-shows: Contact support to request a refund or credit.

Auto-Join Feature

Enable auto-join to save time:

Settings > Sessions > Auto-join

When enabled:

• Sessions automatically open 2 minutes before start time
• You're placed in the preview screen
• Click one button to enter

Session Notifications

You'll receive reminders:

• 24 hours before - Email reminder
• 1 hour before - Push notification (if enabled)
• 5 minutes before - In-app notification
• At start time - "Join now" notification

Customize these in Settings > Notifications

Common Joining Issues

"Join Session" Button Not Appearing

Reasons:

• Too early (appears 5 minutes before)
• Session was cancelled
• Browser cache issues

Fix: Refresh the page or check your email for updates

Camera/Microphone Not Working

Fix:

1. Check browser permissions
2. Close other apps using camera/mic
3. Restart your browser
4. Try a different browser

Stuck on Loading Screen

Fix:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Disable VPN if using one
3. Clear browser cache
4. Try incognito/private mode

Black Screen After Joining

Fix:

1. Check if your camera is on (click camera icon)
2. Make sure no other app is using your camera
3. Restart your browser
4. Update your browser to latest version

Security Features

Sessions are secure:

• End-to-end encryption for all video/audio
• Private rooms - Only invited participants can join
• Waiting room - You control who enters
• Lock session - Prevent new people from joining mid-session

Getting Help During a Session

If you need technical help during a session:

1. Click "More" > "Report Issue"
2. Describe the problem
3. Continue or end the session
4. Support will follow up within 1 hour

Ending a Session

To leave a session:

1. Click "End Call" button
2. Confirm you want to leave
3. Rate your experience (optional)
4. View session summary

Note: The session officially ends at the scheduled time, even if you leave early.

After the Session

After each session:

• Session is marked as complete
• Payment is processed (if applicable)
• You can leave a review
• Session materials are saved to your history

Best Practices

Need More Help?

• Read our troubleshooting guide
• Contact support@sentuent.com
• Join a test session to practice