A dogs life

We've got the folks coming over in two weeks. They were over a year ago, and we set up a webcam to work with my brother and his nephews, and it worked quite well. But the audio was terrible. The obvious reason being we had microphones and speakers, so the microphones picked up the sound from the speakers and then echoed it back.

So for this time around I want to do it better. Me and my brother both have better PCs and faster broadband. So the question is, whats the best setup for the ultimate Oz to UK webcam and audio experince.

a) what messenger to use, Yahoo? Microsoft? Google?

b) What setup to use for audio, PC speakers and microphone? (how does that work without getting echo?) or Skype?(how do you use that?) Or just ordinary phone?

c) Any other tips and tricks people have learnt in the last year from using this stuff to see and talk to UK?

All advice and info much appreciated,

ADL

herrchook

And can I ask, if it's at all possible with dial up? My folks refuse to get broadband.

skywalker

Definitely not! You need some bandwidth, 56k is not enough!(at least for skype)

herrchook

as I suspected. Thanks for confirming it for me.

wmoore

Download the latest Skype which now includes video too and get yourself a headset. I got a Plantronics for <$20 that does the job nicely

Siren & Brian

Yes a headset is the most important thing. If one of you are having trouble hearing the other maybe pause the video, or change its settings to a lower level.

DunRoaminTheUK

Skype version 2.0 Beta allows you to use video as well as audio and my guess is that it's more than likely better than using MSN Messenger.

Having stated that though, we used MSN Messenger from Sydney to UK a few months ago and it was perfect for our requirements. My webcam is 1.3 megapixels so we looked better than our parents looked as my Dad has an old camera. The sound (microphone built into webcam) was very good too.

My wife spoke to her Mum (same distances involved) using Skype(Out) and the quality was 110%, no lag and to be quite honest very impressive!

furkew

I use skype with both my laptop built in microphone / speakers and also with a headset from Logitech.

Both work brilliantly.

If you have fairly up to date equipment, you should have no problem at all.

I have tested my skype to mobiles and land lines and the quality has been excellent all the time.

willmore

I do the same on my Mac with the same equipment and it works brilliantly. Talk to folks in different countries with no problems at all. The line may occasionally have static but in most cases it is clearer than the phone.

A dogs life

So how come there is no echo? Seriously this is whats bugging me! If your PC speakers are giving out the other side of the conversation, obviously the microphone will pick it up and transmit it back, thus causing the echo we experience.

How can you have a microphone built into a webcam that doesn't pick up the output from the speakers?

I'd love to just sit and chat without a headset, but logic says thats not possible, unless someone can explain otherwise

ScottDavis

Get a Mac. Use iChat.

'nuff said.

Hutch

And what if you want to talk to the other 95% of computer users

A dogs life

And Macs have this surreal ability to stop the microphone picking up the output from the speakers

Duh! The question is, has the technology been developed whereby you can have one family on one side sitting around a PC using a microphone and speakers, and another family on the other side using a microphone and speakers without the terrible echo.

Its not a stupid Mac/Wintel debate.

Hutch

Yes. Used to use a desk-standing microphone and speakers with Skype (now use a USB phone), and never had any problems with feedback at all. Not sure why, but it never happened.

ScottDavis

Ever thought of trying decaffeinated coffee!