FLV load speed, progressive v. streaming

I've got a site page set up to load different FLVs when a
number is clicked. The client says that 10 seconds elapse before
the video begins to play. They weren't worried about download time
early on, but they want it instant now. They want streaming video,
but I don't know that would be cost effective because I'm guessing
50 visitors per month. Any recommendations for streaming and those
costs?



I think progressive is the way to go, but I'm not sure the
best way to handle the lag time. I tried embedding the FLV into a
SWF and creating a preloader. That worked, but the video is slow
and out of sync. Maybe the frame rate? Maybe just the side effect
of embedding?



Here's the site
http://www.sscconst.com/about.php



Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.FLV load speed, progressive v. streaming
Well, when I go to that site the is no 10 second lapse for
the video. It comes up almost instantly when I click on the link. I
have never gotten price quotes, but I am sure that going to a
streaming server isn't the option for you due to the small amount
of users vs huge cost of using streaming servers.



Maybe you should re-encode the videos to a smaller size or
lower quality. Test a bunch of size/quality mixes until you find
settings that make for a small file size without too much noise or
jaggies in the video.



Progressive streaming is the way to go. Sometime a user has
to be a little patient if they want to watch a video and their
connection speed is slow.FLV load speed, progressive v. streaming
Exactly my thoughts. I guess what I'd like to do is set up a
preloader so they know that something is happening. One concern is
that if there is a delay the user may think the link is broken and
then move on to another page. Using the preloadFLV in the Flash 8
Live Docs doesn't seem to realy preload, it only tells you what has
been loaded. I'm testing on a 384 DSL connection so I have some
buffering issues myself, but increasing the buffering time is
really only an option if I can set up a preloader. I've had trouble
finding much help in this area.
Well, you don't really preload an FLV file as I know it. I
think you are skipping creating a Flash file and putting your
videos right into dreamweaver. I am not sure how that makes a
difference, but I never use that technique. If you add the video to
a swf file in Flash you can control the buffer size fairly easily.



The reason you don't preload a FLV is the point of
progressive streaming. Once enough of the file is loaded the video
starts to play while the remainder of the video downloads.



The trick I use is to put a layer below the FLVplayback
controller in Flash with the text, ''Video is Loading, please wait''
on it. That text will be visible until there is enough of the video
loaded where it shows up and covers that line of text beneath it.



Hope this helps.
Not quite flash related, but the camera work for those videos
could use a tripod and consistent lighting. Jumpshots or cutaways
would make it nicer too..