I've used voice Skype a few times to the UK and I'm about to try it with video.

What's anyone's video experience?

Used SKYPE for years and love it...video works fine but the variables are as stated previously. In the main if you both have a good connection works great.

My place has one desktop hooked to a router, and 4 other computers connected using wireless. The wireless has no less quality.

We use Doro phones hooked up vice the built in mic/speakers and find that gives a more normal phone experience.

I only stay at hotels now with free wireless internet....because that = continued free or at least low cost calls.

Overall SKYPE has saved us a fortune.

Cheers, Kev

Generally very good. Actually better than the early days of videoconferencing using ISDN back in the early 90's using a $30 webcam! Transforms the experience of keeping in touch and particularly useful for the aged parents who like to gaze upon their wayward sons visage across the Atlantic!

I have used skype sometime and we have experienced the weird voice thing.

We bought a better mic and hey the voice came back to normal, maybe look at the mic set up or replace if it is a cheap one

Just an idea

Hi

It's not hte mic itself as I've used it to speak to my bro in Houston both from my laptop which as an inbuild thingy - and from my mum's PC at her house which has a mic attachment. it's my brother who goes like a funny voice thing - I guess it's his end or he has way too much going on on his pc when skype-ing.

B

the too much going on is a distinct possibility , i used to find that certain websites that ran banner ads or really dodgy scripting used to chew up bandwidth and cause skype to go funny in the uk. I could run skype whilst playing online games fine but One particular website would make it go choppy and cut out (It wasn't this website by the way!)

Zoe

Hello, we use skype EVERY DAY to uk, to speak with the PARENTS. If you close every thing down i.e Msn hotmail, world clocks etc and have the minimum running with skype its pretty good. We havent had too many problems if any doing it that way.

Lisa

I dont use Skype as the sound quality is awful - I can hardly use a telephone anyway as I am profoundly deafened. I use messenger all the time and recently spoke to a friend via webcam and microphone. The sound quaility was excellent and I was able to lipread some of it. So it was as good as a conversation , which was bloody marvellous I can tell you.

So I want to get a webcam so I can "talk" to my mum who is also deafened. Can anyone tell me which features i need to look for on a webcam? I need the good sound/microphone, plus I want the faces to match the voice, so its all in sync, and doesnt freeze up. The one my friend had was a microsoft, but I dont know which model

Any advice would be appreciated thanks

Hi, guys!! I usually use MSN messenger to speak to the folks back home. We use the video/call which is great. I have never used Skype and was not sure what it was really. After reading the posts in this thread, I'm quiet curious to try it!! So, we can still use our web cam on this? Also, do you get charged for using it like a regular telephone call?

Cheers in advance for any info you would like to share!!

Hi

It's free - download it from the internet, and yes, you can use a webcam.

www.skype.com

I didn't realise I had one in the laptop I'd bought (on a red wine hangover - not a good idea LOL) and apart from the odd darlick moment. I now think it's more to do with what is running on my brothers systtem when he uses it - as he had tonnes open normally!!!

B

Great!! Thanks, Bandit! I'll download it now!! Cheers!!

Ouch! Red Wine hangover; I've had one too many of those!! They're the worst!!

I sometimes have the same problem with the dalek voice on skype with my husband when he's working away.

However, he is a strange wee man who lives in a dustbin on wheels. He has been like this since the age of 12 apparently. Keeps on saying exterminate as well?!

You know for some parts of Canada he'll have to have a Block Heater installed!

"There's no such thing as a free lunch"

Just make sure that when you have finished using Skype that you close it down fully - and I mean fully, not just closing the screen, because Skype can use your bandwidth or supernodes (I'm not a computer expert but I've heard this from 3 reliable, independant computer geek sources!).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype#Criticisms

http://www.hl7.com.au/Skype.htm

Other than that, I think it is great. Although my parents still phone me on my Canadian cell to ask to be talked through how to call on Skype!!!