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Use Of Webcams
Unfortunately I'm having to leave my mum behind whe we immigrate but to soften the blow we are planning to buy her a PC with a webcam so she can see ad talk to us daily. The PC is not a problem but have others got experience of webcams etc. ? I know Broadband at each end is ideal.
Thanks Chris |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by eintracht
Unfortunately I'm having to leave my mum behind whe we immigrate but to soften the blow we are planning to buy her a PC with a webcam so she can see ad talk to us daily. The PC is not a problem but have others got experience of webcams etc. ? I know Broadband at each end is ideal.
Thanks Chris We also use www.skype.com which lets you talk via the computer(make sure your computer has a microphone, or a buy a webcam with one in it). Using the webcam and skype together isn't great(makes it all too slow), but you can always use the phone when using the webcam. It's really cheap with those international calling cards(the ones backpackers also use). Or just use yahoo messenger to type you message. We bought and extension cord for the webcam, so we can give a mini tour of the house :D Been chatting to our families several times a week(but will probably get less over time, it's already starting to lessen now). And yes, Broadband is a must!!!! Good luck :) |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by eintracht
Unfortunately I'm having to leave my mum behind whe we immigrate but to soften the blow we are planning to buy her a PC with a webcam so she can see ad talk to us daily. The PC is not a problem but have others got experience of webcams etc. ? I know Broadband at each end is ideal.
Thanks Chris soapy |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Chris,
You need to do the following on both PC's 1/ Get a usb webcam and install the driver. 2/ Have broadband installed. 3/ Create a hotmail account (it's free). 4/ Install Microsoft Messenger version 6.2 or later, (again it's free). 5/ Startup Messenger and add the person's account that you want to communicate to. This only needs to be done once and in future Messenger alerts you when that person logs in. 6/ Select the person you want to communicate to and click webcam button and the micro phone for audio. 7/ The person at the other end of the conversation will get the chance to accept or reject communication. That's it. Happy conversing. :) |
Re: Use Of Webcams
And if you'll be communicating with anyone on a Apple/mac computer, don't use msn messenger, use yahoo! ;)
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Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by eintracht
Unfortunately I'm having to leave my mum behind whe we immigrate but to soften the blow we are planning to buy her a PC with a webcam so she can see ad talk to us daily. The PC is not a problem but have others got experience of webcams etc. ? I know Broadband at each end is ideal.
Thanks Chris Another you can do is set up a web site for your family. Surprisingly easy and inexpensive. Just use it like a photo album for your digital photos. All software you need is free and it is as easy as creating a word doc and inserting images. MSN, Yahoo & Skype are all great! Trillian is useful too as it combines Yahoo and MSN on the same programme. Andrew |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by andrew63
Chris
Another you can do is set up a web site for your family. Surprisingly easy and inexpensive. Just use it like a photo album for your digital photos. All software you need is free and it is as easy as creating a word doc and inserting images. MSN, Yahoo & Skype are all great! Trillian is useful too as it combines Yahoo and MSN on the same programme. Andrew save sending loads of emails lol |
Re: Use Of Webcams
not wanting to hijack but has anyone used ICQ for a webcam? I've tried both MSN and yahoo. On MSN i've got a good pciture but no sound and yahoo got an OK picture but crap sound. I'm starting to scratch my head a bit here now.
Also a piece of advise if you haven't done it already, get a proper microphone headset. Cuts down on the feeback ;). ta all. |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by scutterUK
Also a piece of advise if you haven't done it already, get a proper microphone headset. Cuts down on the feeback ;).
ta all. Can't help with ICQ. Good luck! |
Re: Use Of Webcams
would you be able to use the webcam on dial up as my parents could not afford the continous monthly fee of broadband
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Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by jwinch
would you be able to use the webcam on dial up as my parents could not afford the continous monthly fee of broadband
I am wondering about this too. Coz some of family live in areas(UK) where no broadband is available at the moment. Ie no FO cables laid. Gonna try later as i have dial up here at the moment. |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by jwinch
would you be able to use the webcam on dial up as my parents could not afford the continous monthly fee of broadband
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Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by Simone
thanks, will try that.
Can't help with ICQ. Good luck! :) no worries. Cheers! by the way, how can anyone survive on a dialup! broadband is a must, at most it only costs a tenner more than dialup nowadays. I really feel sorry for those 'stuck' in a no broadband dead zone. ( i miss my telewest 1.5MB cable! :( ) |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by scutterUK
:) no worries.
Cheers! by the way, how can anyone survive on a dialup! broadband is a must, at most it only costs a tenner more than dialup nowadays. I really feel sorry for those 'stuck' in a no broadband dead zone. ( i miss my telewest 1.5MB cable! :( ) Namely Argyll and Bute. |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by Muzza04
unfortunately my folks have retired to the outer west of Scotland region, where modern IT infrastructure and technology is a few years behind. :rolleyes:
Namely Argyll and Bute. Andrew |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by jwinch
would you be able to use the webcam on dial up as my parents could not afford the continous monthly fee of broadband
Trust me you can.... had to for about 2 years on me on dial up and her on broadband.... we used to use Netmeeting which has both Video and Audio and the quality very good. The audio is also both ways like a telephone and not like when on a CB radio. A microphoned headset is a must, otherwise you will get feedback. |
Re: Use Of Webcams
If the webcam already has a built in microphone can you turn it off so that you can use a microphoned headset ? as we have terrible trouble with feedback
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Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by jwinch
would you be able to use the webcam on dial up as my parents could not afford the continous monthly fee of broadband
We use MSN and AOL Messenger, both work great. You can use AOL with Macs too. |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by koofoo
Chris,
You need to do the following on both PC's 1/ Get a usb webcam and install the driver. 2/ Have broadband installed. 3/ Create a hotmail account (it's free). 4/ Install Microsoft Messenger version 6.2 or later, (again it's free). 5/ Startup Messenger and add the person's account that you want to communicate to. This only needs to be done once and in future Messenger alerts you when that person logs in. 6/ Select the person you want to communicate to and click webcam button and the micro phone for audio. 7/ The person at the other end of the conversation will get the chance to accept or reject communication. That's it. Happy conversing. :) |
Re: Use Of Webcams
We`ve been communicating via pc with our parents in Perth (we`re in Kent) for years now.
We use paltalk ( www.paltalk.com ). It`s free for voice, and you get video if you subscribe. Voice works well even on 56k.... it`s kinda like CB Radio... you press a button down when you want to talk, and then let go to let them talk. We have broadband in Kent, they are 56k in Oz, but they get our video and voice fine their end, whereas they sound like underwater chipmunks when video is turned on. Weird. Get a Logitech Quickcam Express (or whichever Quickcam it is that has an inbuilt mic) from www.ebuyer.co.uk , and install Paltalk. Paltalk also has the facility to create rooms on their servers, which you can password protect. This way you can get lot`s of friends/family to join the room for a big `conference` call. Also Paltalk has alot of other general public rooms on all subjects which can e fun. |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by hutchy
why cant i use the msn webcam. also when i send my video with net meeting, and this is serious my pic is upside down, no sxxx
But seriously... have you tried looking at the web cam settings from within Netmeeting? It's not an uncommon feature to allow image rotation. If you can't find it, have you tried uninstalling the webcam sw, driver and netmeeting. Then install again from scratch? We use MSN Messenger 6.2, dial up at both ends. Sound and video both work simultaneously. Not brill, but adequate. Any issues went with the change from 6.1 to 6.2 upside down??? you're killing me ;) |
Re: Use Of Webcams
well being a lad of leisure i've been spending time and bandwidth trying out some different bits of software with the webcams. it's quite funny i have my laptop set up on one desk and another pc behind me both with a webcam. it gets quit funy talking to yourself and looking at the back of my head... anyway this is what i've learnt.
MSN messenger (6.2) - picture great but no sound on either machine. from what i've found this could be caused by being behind a NAT router.... but i'm not. windows messenger - i can get sound and if both pc's had winxp i'm sure i could get picture too, as they're not it didn't work. Yahoo messenger - picture and sound. the sound wasn't very good at the time but i've recently bought some headsets so i haven't tried it with those yet. otherwise useable (sorry i just hate the program!) ICQ - sound was fine but the picture was tiny! with no way of increasing the image. the option was there but it didn't have any effect. AOL messenger - didn't attempt that, i just hate AOL. and just out of interest. Skype - fantastic! it does what it says on the tin, the sound quality is brilliant compared to the rest. If you just want voice chat it's worth downloading. ....anyone else got any more suggestions? |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by scutterUK
well being a lad of leisure i've been spending time and bandwidth trying out some different bits of software with the webcams. it's quite funny i have my laptop set up on one desk and another pc behind me both with a webcam. it gets quit funy talking to yourself and looking at the back of my head... anyway this is what i've learnt.
MSN messenger (6.2) - picture great but no sound on either machine. from what i've found this could be caused by being behind a NAT router.... but i'm not. windows messenger - i can get sound and if both pc's had winxp i'm sure i could get picture too, as they're not it didn't work. Yahoo messenger - picture and sound. the sound wasn't very good at the time but i've recently bought some headsets so i haven't tried it with those yet. otherwise useable (sorry i just hate the program!) ICQ - sound was fine but the picture was tiny! with no way of increasing the image. the option was there but it didn't have any effect. AOL messenger - didn't attempt that, i just hate AOL. and just out of interest. Skype - fantastic! it does what it says on the time, the sound quality is brilliant compared to the rest. If you just want voice chat it's worth downloading. ....anyone else get any more suggestions? |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by Simone
Cool. We use Yahoo and skype. Of course, that isn't a coincidence with Pascal having done the research and us having a apple/mac.
don't ya just love em... macs i mean. ;) :D |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by scutterUK
don't ya just love em... macs i mean. ;-) :-D
Yeah, they're good. But I've got to much experience with them now to think they're perfect, they can crash. Very sometimes. And Safari does regularly(Pascal says I'm doing to many things at the same time and it can't cope :rolleyes: ). I've heard of people talking about a better browser, anyone know where/how/what!!!!?? |
Re: Use Of Webcams
I've spent the past 6 monthws trying to get my mac webcam to conference with my parents PC webcam without success. I've sent you a PM if you can help me!
Thanks |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Originally Posted by babyface
I've spent the past 6 monthws trying to get my mac webcam to conference with my parents PC webcam without success. I've sent you a PM if you can help me!
Thanks You need to use AOL , version 5.9 I htink. Needs XP on the PC. I am now near success, receiving good video and audio from a Mac, though they are yet to receive pic and sound quality is poor. |
Re: Use Of Webcams
Mac to PC and PC to Mac is going fine with us (well, video) using Yahoo Messenger.
And for audio we use Skype. Both at the same time makes it quite slow, but I think this has to do with our computers and/or internet connection. |
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