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-   -   SKYPE frustration (https://britishexpats.com/forum/spain-75/skype-frustration-679361/)

snikpoh Aug 1st 2010 9:37 pm
SKYPE frustration
 
A friend needs to be able to use SKYPE video call but can't get sensible answers from Telefonica or Movistar.

Before choosing an ADSL option, we need to know how much data is downloaded when making 2-way video calls. Only then can we decide to go for an unlimited option or not.

At the moment our friends use our WI-FI connection but we notice a major drop in response time on the other PC's as soon as they connect. This tends me to believe that SKYPE video is quite hungry.

Also, would it be best to go for a 'memory stick' solution or a fixed-line solution? Which would be best?

Fred James Aug 1st 2010 9:52 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
It doesn't matter how fast your download speed is, on most ADSL connections the upload speed is usually limited to about 300kb/s.

That's what determines the quality of the video as you can't download it at one end faster than you can upload it at the other.

The amount of data using video will depend on the settings for the camera - resolution and frame rate but it's going to be a lot of data.

snikpoh Aug 1st 2010 9:56 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
Originally Posted by Fred James (Post 8746148)
It doesn't matter how fast your download speed is, on most ADSL connections the upload speed is usually limited to about 300mb/s.

That's what determines the quality of the video as you can't download it at one end faster than you can upload it at the other.
It wasn't the speed that was the issue - it's the volume of download that is limited!

For example, if I have a download limit of (say) 2Mb/month and Skype video uses 1Mb/hour then I can only make 2 hours of calls/month before exceeding my limit.

What I need to know is what is the usage so that I can do this calculation.

missile Aug 1st 2010 9:58 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
By "memory stick", I presume you mean a dongle? A fixed line will almost certainly give better bandwidth / connection speed.

If you tell us what vidoe camera we might be able to give you a better estimate.

snikpoh Aug 1st 2010 10:12 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
Originally Posted by missile (Post 8746159)
By "memory stick", I presume you mean a dongle? A fixed line will almost certainly give better bandwidth / connection speed.

If you tell us what vidoe camera we might be able to give you a better estimate.
Thanks missile. Yeah, that would help wouldn't it :p it's only a VGA camera, so no real 'quality' to the video.

Fred James Aug 1st 2010 11:11 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
I had a quick look at some of the Skype forums and the answer to your question seem to depend on many factors but a good figure seems to be about 120mb/hour of video chat.

It does seem difficult to pin down a figure unless you try it and measure the data used.

This Google seach brought up a lot of info:-


http://www.google.es/search?rlz=1C1G...+video+chat%3F

EsuriJohn Aug 1st 2010 11:15 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
Originally Posted by snikpoh (Post 8746118)
A friend needs to be able to use SKYPE video call but can't get sensible answers from Telefonica or Movistar.

Before choosing an ADSL option, we need to know how much data is downloaded when making 2-way video calls. Only then can we decide to go for an unlimited option or not.

At the moment our friends use our WI-FI connection but we notice a major drop in response time on the other PC's as soon as they connect. This tends me to believe that SKYPE video is quite hungry.

Also, would it be best to go for a 'memory stick' solution or a fixed-line solution? Which would be best?
We use a Vodafone dongle and it works fine for Skype on voice only but occasionally drops out when using video. I think this ties in with what Fred says about band width rather than download volume.

ballin Aug 1st 2010 11:26 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
Originally Posted by Fred James (Post 8746148)
It doesn't matter how fast your download speed is, on most ADSL connections the upload speed is usually limited to about 300mb/s.
I wish, you would normally get about 100,000/th of that speed!!!
Most are around 512kb upload

missile Aug 1st 2010 11:35 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
Originally Posted by snikpoh (Post 8746197)
Thanks missile. Yeah, that would help wouldn't it :p it's only a VGA camera, so no real 'quality' to the video.
This is what Skype says on their website about bandwidth

How much bandwidth does Skype use while I'm in a call?
Skype automatically selects the best codec depending on the connection between yourself and the person you are calling. On average, Skype uses between 3-16 kilobytes/sec depending on bandwidth available for other party, network conditions in between, callers CPU performance, etc.

How much bandwidth does Skype use when there are no active calls?
On average Skype uses 0-0.5 kilobytes/sec while idle. This is used mainly for contact presence updates. The exact bandwidth depends on many factors.

Can I change the resolution of my video bandwidth?
Video and call quality may vary greatly in environments with conditions below those recommendations. The codec and resolution of the video is automatically selected depends on the hardware used by callers, the connectivity and bandwidth . It is not possible to change these options and as they vary, it is not possible to give estimations about the used bandwidth during a video call.

Fred James Aug 1st 2010 11:40 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
Originally Posted by ballin (Post 8746396)
I wish, you would normally get about 100,000/th of that speed!!!
Most are around 512kb upload
Typo:(:(

Personally I think the video is pretty poor - I hate using it.

missile Aug 1st 2010 11:48 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
Originally Posted by Fred James (Post 8746444)
Typo:(:(

Personally I think the video is pretty poor - I hate using it.
Video is pretty good on mine. Shame I am not more photogenic! I would suggest it depends on the quality of your camera and your available bandwidth.

I use a Sony Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC6
Just checked my connection at http://www.speedtest.net/
8.53Mbps download and 0.8Mbps upload.

Fred James Aug 1st 2010 11:52 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
I think it's your high upload speed - the best I get is 250.

It's not so much the quality of the picture (my camera is a Logitech 4000 pro which is pretty good) its the jerkiness and delay on the picture relative to the speech.

I'm certain its all down to the bandwidth.

jdr Aug 1st 2010 11:55 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
This is mine and video on the laptop to and from BC Canada is fine. :thumbup:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/900308542.png

missile Aug 1st 2010 11:56 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
I would suggest your neighbours are being a little inconsiderate using video on your internet connection.

Our neighbours asked to use our internet connection, "unfortunately" we have a wired router which does not accept wi fi. Then they asked to connect to our dish. They were surprised when we told them we use all four connections from the transponder and told them to get their own dish.

missile Aug 1st 2010 11:59 pm
Re: SKYPE frustration
 
Originally Posted by Fred James (Post 8746486)
I think it's your high upload speed - the best I get is 250.

It's not so much the quality of the picture (my camera is a Logitech 4000 pro which is pretty good) its the jerkiness and delay on the picture relative to the speech.

I'm certain its all down to the bandwidth.
I am sure you are right. To get good video link, both parties would need a good connection.


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