Author Topic: skype (Read 1323 times)

99 · « **on:** 20 February 2010, 23:58:48 »

am setting up a skype account I had one but forgot about it. will try and get some skype related features setup here.
It's a pain on the pc as to be honest windows 7 is not great with multiple sound cards. I have one to use with the Amateur radio, so I can use digital modes via the radio. The other is picking up Navtex also via radio. And I also have a surround speaker system linked up.
I have an auto tracking webcam with a mike built in also.
The webcam is great as it follows you around as you move.
Microsoft really I guess did not expect people to try and do so much at the same time. I see many complaints from people writing software, that the very least the sound mixer is messed up. And I agree it takes a lot of messing around to get the software setup. to allocate software to use different soundcard inputs and outputs

Gerry · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 February 2010, 01:31:16 »

I was at my friends place a few months ago and he has Skype but I didn't think much of the sound so I stuck with Jajah for ringing my brother in Inverness from time to time. He doesn't have a computer and it's done through his phone and we're usually on the phone for about an hour for about $3.00. The quality of the sound is as good as ringing someone next door

99 · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 February 2010, 23:46:11 »

Well have skype on my mobile and it's free to other skype users, I know the audio is not good but can live with it.
It's getting to complicated to get skype on the pc. Because of the dual soundcards and software running at the same time

lava-lamp · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 February 2010, 12:45:29 »

I`ve never used Skype, but can download a app. I`d be too nervous and shy to say anything .

PaigntonPearl · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 February 2010, 07:11:27 »

All my relatives seem to have Skype. I've been tempted, but really, I'm usually such a wreck in the mornings, I wouldn't want to be seen by anybody. And the mornings are the only time when it is good to contact people in the UK from California.

99 · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 February 2010, 01:09:29 »

you don't have to be seen pp, just don't turn on the webcam and just use the voice bit. The quality can sound like you are underwater but it is free. I have it on my mobile.
steve.daniels41 don't always have it turned on

PaigntonPearl · « **Reply #6 on:** 01 March 2010, 06:07:05 »

Yeah, but I can phone the UK for about 1p a minute, so the whole point of skyping would be the visuals.

99 · « **Reply #7 on:** 03 March 2010, 00:53:17 »

i guess no point

99 · « **Reply #8 on:** 04 March 2010, 15:55:20 »

you can use it for free sms messaging though

99 · « **Reply #9 on:** 04 March 2010, 22:22:19 »

anyone with skype that wants to add me it's steve.daniels41

PaigntonPearl · « **Reply #10 on:** 05 March 2010, 06:46:33 »

what's SMS messaging?

raddison · « **Reply #11 on:** 05 March 2010, 10:55:54 »

Texting on a phone system

99 · « **Reply #12 on:** 05 March 2010, 21:08:16 »

as Rad says. It stands for Small Message Service In fact Nokia phones until a few years ago used SMS in morse as the text alert

raddison · « **Reply #13 on:** 06 March 2010, 00:00:50 »

It is still possible to have that alert on the phone but very few knew what they were listening to when they heard it

Apart from the annoying tinny tones

99 · « **Reply #14 on:** 06 March 2010, 00:15:51 »

I have a Nokia but would not want it as an alert. I can read morse so knew what it was. some people thought it was SOS, similar I guess just missing a dash.
And before someone starts SOS does not mean anything. it's just an easy sequence to recognise. There was no real stansard to start some used CQD. One of the good things to come out Titanic was an internationally recognised distress signal

99 · « **Reply #15 on:** 06 March 2010, 00:20:03 »

oh and as a ham we still use a lot of the short codes, QSL, QRZ, QSY and some rather sexist stuff that even female hams seem ok with. YL for a girl/girl you are dating, thats ok, but if you marry her she becomes XYL

PaigntonPearl · « **Reply #16 on:** 06 March 2010, 09:04:33 »

I always thought SOS stood for "save our souls".

99 · « **Reply #17 on:** 06 March 2010, 14:49:58 »

a short history of SOS here http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/060199tip6.htm

it's just a sequence that's easy to recognise

PaigntonPearl · « **Reply #18 on:** 07 March 2010, 04:11:39 »

Very interesting. I had no idea (although no doubt rad could have put me straight)!

raddison · « **Reply #19 on:** 07 March 2010, 11:56:14 »

I hate morse ! (and not the program with J Thaw) but have had to use it so had to understand it

99 · « **Reply #20 on:** 07 March 2010, 16:03:36 »

I learned morse because it was a requirement to get a class A licence, not that I have one, I can transmit on HF as a Class B licence now as the rules changed. Not a big fan although it can get through when other transmission types can't

lava-lamp · « **Reply #21 on:** 13 May 2010, 20:43:52 »

I can download Skype as a app.

Not sure how it works then....

Gerry · « **Reply #22 on:** 13 May 2010, 20:58:11 »

I saw Skype a while back but I can't say I was very impressed with it, as it kept breaking up. It may have improved since I last saw it and it would be interesting to hear the views of any members who use it or have used it?

99 · « **Reply #23 on:** 13 May 2010, 21:24:59 »

Jackie has been using it to chat to her Daughter in Aus and it's worked fine, with only the occasional breakup

Gerry · « **Reply #24 on:** 13 May 2010, 21:44:59 »

Is there a cost involved when making a call?

My brother doesn't have a computer so I use a program called Jajah to phone him directly to his phone. I click Call on my computer and my phone rings and a voice tells me that they are connecting me, I then get connected. For an hour, the call costs me a little over $3.00 which isn't bad for a call to Inverness

99 · « **Reply #25 on:** 22 May 2010, 01:17:05 »

no cost pc to pc, but there is a cost pc to phone

parrot · « **Reply #26 on:** 23 May 2010, 17:19:16 »

We use VoipStunt which sounds similar to Jajah. You top up 10 euros and get 120 free days to certain countries including USA mobile phones and it does phone to phone. You can get your pc to call your phone, then when you pick it up it calls the other person and is such a clear line. Once you have used up your free days you start running down the credit at a rate of 1 Euro cent a minute I think.

99 · « **Reply #27 on:** 23 May 2010, 23:00:59 »

I get calls to places like the USA for 2p a minute on a normal phone without messing around

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Author Topic: skype (Read 1323 times)