Webcam advice question

[MadsDad]

My wife has recently retired due to ill health and spends quite a lot of time on the phone to the kids so we are going to start using Skype to cut down on phone bills. They have also decided that they want to get webcams so they can see each other as well and I know nothing about this so I would appreciate any advice on the subject generally but there are a couple of questions that spring to mind after looking at some of the sales sites.

Firstly are all cameras compatible with Skype? Some are advertised as being 'Skype compatible' which implies that others aren't (but, of course, they won't mention this).

Secondly is there any band-width restriction on Skype? What I'm thinking is the larger the number of pixels the clearer the picture but this will take more bandwidth so there would be no point in buying a camera with lots of pixels if the extra data isn't transmitted. (Basically what would anyone recommend as a maximum).

Third is there any sort of recommendation for the sound part of the system - headset, incorpoated microphone/speakers or free-standing microphone/speakers (one point is I also intend to install Dragon voice recognition software, so would prefer it to be compatible with that).

As I say any advice appreciated.

[rotorcraig]

I've stuck various webcams on a various PCs and found them all to work fine with Skype - so long as you have Broadband. Skype does work with voice over dial up, but video definitely isn't going to work. Think it needs Windows XP also.

I've found that separate microphone and speakers result in problems such as feedback. Have had better results with a headset with built in mic.

RC

[Keef]

Echo Rotorcraig's experience.

With a headset (even one of those cheapo "telephone handset lookalike" ones) Skype is great. Wife chats with daughter in Germany for hours using it.

Skype video works fine (on broadband) with any webcam I've tried.

The cheap webcams have strange habits: the one I have here at the moment works for about 4 hours from PC switch-on, then gives very strange error messages. Some day I'll get round to buying a decent one...

[MadsDad]

Sorry, should have said. Box should be perfectly adequate (AMD32, 1Meg, XP) and 8 meg broadband so any limitations will be system imposed or user stupidity.

[spannersatcx]

Why not just use windows messenger, works well with voice and video, it's free.

[Keef]

Sorry, but Windows Messenger isn't in the same league as Skype. It's riddled with ads, guff, and dinky features. I think it is aimed more at teenage girls than serious communication: my granddaughter certainly spends too much time using it.

Skype's free, too.

[green granite]

Why not just use windows messenger, works well with voice and video, it's free.

All that Keef said plus it's reported to have security issues, which since it's a Microsoft product I can well believe.

[stickyb]

Slightly off topic, but there are some very good dual cordless phones available.

The base unit has 2 incoming connections, one for landline, one for usb connection to PC/Skype. Up to 4 cordless handsets that can make/receive landline and Skype calls. Don't have to be tied to the PC as you chat away for hours

[Tosh McCaber]

Further to the above, when a webcam/phone say that it is "Skype Compatible", what extra features, if any, does it have? Or is the phrase just b******t?

[icemel_aratt]

Just bought a logitech webcam pro5000 from pc world for 30 notes, usual cost around 45. Use it for skype. works a treat...get one! (Although be wary if you have a dell machine, have heard they don't work too well with them)