Transcript
How to set up Skype TM: I. CHECK THE SPEED OF YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION 1. Unless your computer is very old, it should be fast enough to run SkypeTM. A more likely obstacle will be Internet upload and download speeds. The problem there is that Internet Service Providers sell you a maximum potential speed. To find out how fast your average Internet service really is, take two minutes to run a free Internet speed test at www.bandwidthplace.com. On that website, once you click START TEST under the speedometer, the site will test your download speed first and report the result, then automatically test your upload speed. You’ll see the results to the right of the speedometer. Write the results here: Download _____________ Upload ______________ Both download and upload need to clock in at around 1.5Mbps or higher for high-definition video. A little less is okay, though. If your download or upload was slow, choose a different server and test again. (You can change the server to the left of the speedometer.) You may have just hit a bottleneck on a particular server. FYI: the Washington, DC tends to be very fast. 2. After testing again, if your download or upload speed is much slower than required (say, under 500 kbps – that is, about 1/3 the required speed), we may only be able to have an audio chat, and that may not be high quality. SOLUTION: Phone your Internet Service Provider’s sales line. (You may get through to a live human being faster that way than if you were to phone their tech support line.) Price a boost in speed. In many cases the cost is minimal and they can upgrade you right away without a visit or a new modem. 3. If your Internet Service Provider tests on their end and finds that your speed is already in range, the problem could be with the wireless card in your computer. SOLUTION: Use SkypeTM via an ethernet connection. (An ethernet cable looks like a cable-TV cable, but each end has what resembles a modular telephone plug on steroids. Your modem or computer probably came with an ethernet cable.) Use the ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your modem and retest the speed. 4. Cannot get a fast enough Internet connection at home even with a cable? SOLUTION: Use SkypeTM from the home or office of a neighbor or friend who has better service. Another possible solution is to use SkypeTM from your laptop at a university, if you have access. They often have lightning-fast, free Wi-Fi hotspots and quiet meeting rooms. Their meeting rooms may even have ethernet jacks, so bring a cable along. In fact, they may even have desktop computers for your use in their meeting rooms. Some public libraries have meeting rooms with Wi-Fi or ethernet, too.
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II. ONCE YOU HAVE A FAST INTERNET CONNECTION, HERE IS HOW YOU GET THE BEST QUALITY AUDIO AND VIDEO FOR YOUR CALL:
ON A DESKTOP OR LAPTOP COMPUTER: 1. WEBCAM. If you are using a reasonably new computer (even 5-10 years old), it probably has a webcam built in, especially if it is a laptop. If not, you will need to buy an external webcam. Those devices often just plug into a USB port. Easy. You can find them at office supply stores, computer stores or even five-and-dimes. 2.
AUDIO. If you are using a relatively new, high-end laptop, you can probably use the built-in mic and speakers without strange-sounding feedback. On a lesser laptop, or if you just want better sound quality, you have two choices: a headset or a proper mic and earbuds.
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HEADSET. Pick up a headset at your local pharmacy or discount store. It need not be designed specially for SkypeTM. I have had good luck with the Logitech headsets. Personal preference: a one-ear USB headset with a folding mic arm. Two-ear USB headsets with a folding mic arm are also just fine. Why should the mic fold? So you can pack it to carry with you when you travel. I tend to like the headsets with the cushy ear pads. I usually get satisfactory results with a $20$60 headset. You do not really need that fancy, $350 noise-cancelling headset you saw advertised in an in-flight magazine.
4. MIC. If you are a voice actor, for instance, who owns a fancy mic and XLR (three-prong) mic cable, you can use them for SkypeTM on your computer with fantastic results. However, many vocal mics require preamplification. For that, I have great results with the portable Icicle by Blue®. They run under $60 in online stores. The Icicle comes with built-in XLR input, and a cable you just plug into a USB port on your computer. (If you have more than one USB port, try both to see whether one seems faster. Some computers have USB ports that look identical but actually have different speeds or differing abilities to power a USB device.) The SkypeTM software will probably automatically find the Icicle preamp after you plug it in. If not, you can tell SkypeTM to use the Icicle by searching in SkypeTM for the Preferences window under one of the menus up top, then selecting the Icicle under the audio/video settings tab. Easy. There are also reasonably priced USB mics that do not require a separate preamp; just plug them in to your laptop. (Again, not an official endorsement, but Blue® makes some nice models.) 5. EARPHONES. If you use an external mic (see II.4., above), you’ll want to plug in earphones, too, or even just the cheap, little earbuds you use at the gym. (I am making assumptions here, I realize.) 6. RECORDING. You can record the call (including the video) using such software as Call Recorder (by ECamm) on a Mac® or SuperTinTin on a PC. Those software applications run $20$30. You may even be able to download them free to try out with some restrictions.
ON A TABLET OR SMARTPHONE: 1. You can probably use SkypeTM just fine on your device with nothing but the built-in mic and speakers, but you may want to use earbuds for better sound.
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2. You may want to make sure you are on a Wi-Fi network so you do not eat up your data plan minutes and because the Wi-Fi network will almost certainly be faster and more reliable than your local cell tower and will not be as sensitive to where you are within your home or office, etc. (I have used SkypeTM over 3G on an iPhone, though, and it worked fine.) 3. There are two disadvantages to using SkypeTM on tablets or smartphones: a. It can be hard to position some of those devices so that I am looking at your lips and not up your nostrils; and b. You may or may not find an app that allows you to record. (This being said, with advance warning, I can record and send you a link to the recording, but it will be a massive download.)
ON A SKYPETM VIDEOPHONE: There are special SkypeTM videophones out now, but I have not tested them. They will still require a fast connection and will not allow recording, I am guessing, so I do not see the advantage. III. FOR ALL SET-UPS 1. Make sure you have downloaded the newest version of SkypeTM to your computer, tablet or smartphone. It is free! 2. Test your SkypeTM set-up with your second cousin Gertrude in Miami. Gertie will be tickled pink to see you on her little computer screen, and if you succeed in talking her through the set-up, you will know you have truly mastered these instructions. © 2012-2013 Douglas N. Honorof. All Rights Reserved. (Last updated 2/10/13.)
Blue is a trademark of Blue Microphones and Douglas N. Honorof is not affiliated, sponsored, authorized or otherwise associated by/with Blue Microphones. Mac is a trademark of Apple Inc. and Douglas N. Honorof is not affiliated, sponsored, authorized or otherwise associated by/with Apple Inc. Skype is a trademark of Skype and Douglas N. Honorof is not affiliated, sponsored, authorized or otherwise associated by/with the Skype group of companies.
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