Skype
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: All The Places I Shouldnt Be
Skype for Helo Industry People
Just been playing with the latest version of the instant messenger program called Skype and its an awesome program. Also seems its much more stable and reliable than the dreaded Microsoft products and its amazing how many helo industry people are using it.
If you get a chance download it at:
www.skype.com
My username on Skype is kiwined
Cheers
Ned
If you get a chance download it at:
www.skype.com
My username on Skype is kiwined
Cheers
Ned
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: In a Tent
It’s certainly a fantastic service; I know that some Helicopter company’s in the Yukon are using it for contacting there pilots in mining camps (satellite internet) and the savings would be quite substantial (compared with a satellite phone) although through satellite internet there is quite a delay.
Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 206
From: SW England
It's been a life- and marriage- saver here too. Far better service (and quality of comms) than the payservices like Dialpad.
I only wish they'd allow some other means of payment for their Skype Out/In services - credit card or similar. The current payment system they use is utterly impenetrable to all but one of us here who've tried. Can't remember offhand the name of the company they use, but I'm convinced it's losing them (Skype) customers.
Thud (aka q3inq8 on Skype)
I only wish they'd allow some other means of payment for their Skype Out/In services - credit card or similar. The current payment system they use is utterly impenetrable to all but one of us here who've tried. Can't remember offhand the name of the company they use, but I'm convinced it's losing them (Skype) customers.
Thud (aka q3inq8 on Skype)
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: UK
I've just read a review in the Sunday Times of 'free' telephone services. The comment about Skype was that you sound as though you're in a tunnel.
Anyone care to comment?
I downloaded the programme some weeks ago but haven't yet used it.
Anyone care to comment?
I downloaded the programme some weeks ago but haven't yet used it.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 3
From: Escrick York england
ned
i use sipgate with them you get a telephone number free instead of a user name
i use a phone number on the same telephone exchange as at home so when i am away from home anyone ringing my sipgate phone number just pays the local uk call price ,calls are free to all internet based voip and low cost calls to mobiles
http://www.sipgate.co.uk/user/index.php
i use sipgate with them you get a telephone number free instead of a user name
i use a phone number on the same telephone exchange as at home so when i am away from home anyone ringing my sipgate phone number just pays the local uk call price ,calls are free to all internet based voip and low cost calls to mobiles
http://www.sipgate.co.uk/user/index.php
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Up In The Sky...
The comment about Skype was that you sound as though you're in a tunnel.
Anyone care to comment?
Anyone care to comment?
If anyone wants to add me my username's HeliTorque
WhirlyGirl
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 3
From: Escrick York england
i use a headset on my laptop and at my office we have 2 sipgate lines onto our telephone switchboard [a manchester , and a newcastle number]using a voip adapter
you can also buy a voip telephone
reception is perfect
you can also buy a voip telephone
reception is perfect
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 814
Likes: 1
From: Iceland
I have used Skype for 9 months now and like someone said it´s a marriage saver.
The quality is very good and it certainly makes a big difference when able to call for free instead of paying US $1.- /pr min for long distance Greenland - Iceland which is more expensive than calling Australia even though Greenland is neighbour country to my home.
I also use Skype for text messaging now instead of MSN.
To pay for SkypeOut you use Paypal which is actually really easy to use after you get an account and a must if you use Ebay.
To: Thud_and_Blunder!
It actually seems that they now accept credit cards for SkypeOut services!
Aesir. Skype me - I´m "bellpilot"
The quality is very good and it certainly makes a big difference when able to call for free instead of paying US $1.- /pr min for long distance Greenland - Iceland which is more expensive than calling Australia even though Greenland is neighbour country to my home.
I also use Skype for text messaging now instead of MSN.
To pay for SkypeOut you use Paypal which is actually really easy to use after you get an account and a must if you use Ebay.
To: Thud_and_Blunder!
It actually seems that they now accept credit cards for SkypeOut services!
Go to your account page (there’s a link on the Start tab or in the Tools menu in Skype or you access it from the Store), select the amount of credit you wish to add and make the payment with any major credit card. Switch back to Skype, enter a phone number, hit the big, green phone button and start talking. That’s all there is to it. When you run out of credit it’s just a quick trip back to the account page to top up and you’re good to go again. Your Skype Credit will remain active for 180 days after your last
Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 206
From: SW England
Thanks Aesir - I'll give that a try.
Quality? no experience of the "tunnel" audio, but I've had to ask my Dad (partially deaf/tinnitis from flying RCAF North Stars - DC4s with Merlins, props exactly in line with the cockpit...) to use headphones as otherwise I hear my voice booming back at me.
Also agree that it's a better form of text messaging than MSN - no limit to the amount of stuff in each message, and you can separate longer spiels into paragraphs.
Quality? no experience of the "tunnel" audio, but I've had to ask my Dad (partially deaf/tinnitis from flying RCAF North Stars - DC4s with Merlins, props exactly in line with the cockpit...) to use headphones as otherwise I hear my voice booming back at me.
Also agree that it's a better form of text messaging than MSN - no limit to the amount of stuff in each message, and you can separate longer spiels into paragraphs.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Up In The Sky...
Well I had my first transatlantic conversation with another ppruner yesterday - I must say the quality is astounding. It is like you're in next office. I had only used it for talking to people in this country until now but it works really well - no delay, no tunnel audio.
WhirlyGirl
WhirlyGirl
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 1
From: USA
The tunnel audio is caused by the speakers feeding back into the mike. With a ppruner last night, we tested the audio while counting as I dropped the speaker volume, and the tunnel effect fell with the speaker volume, with a headset, it was gone.
I bought a Tandy headset for $19 which works perfectly, the mike is clear and sharp.
So far, conversations from the esat coast US (South Carolina) to UK, Kuwait and Mexico have all been virtually perfect, with no delay and sound that is like a CD's audio.
And the price is just right!
I bought a Tandy headset for $19 which works perfectly, the mike is clear and sharp.
So far, conversations from the esat coast US (South Carolina) to UK, Kuwait and Mexico have all been virtually perfect, with no delay and sound that is like a CD's audio.
And the price is just right!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 369
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From: Europe trying to enjoy retirement “YES”
Great system and as has been said great prices and access is easy. That is assuming that the internet provider allows access to the gateway and web support sites! NOT all countries allow access, as blocking the system protects its own local phone companies and maximizes the already substantial profits that they make.
outhouse
outhouse
Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 206
From: SW England
Aesir,
Just went through the new-look subscription pages - all was going very well until it gets to the "payment options" page. Just the one option - S0dd)ng Moneybookers!! No Visa, Mastercard or whatever, just this inept organisation that blocks all attempts I've made to buy Skype services. Not happy!
Mind you, since Ned started this post I've had text chats with people in UK, Monaco, Kabul and Oz (the last 3 in a conference call), have caught up with people I used to work with many years ago and even spoke on a beaut line to S Carolina. Yup - technology really can be wonderful sometimes!
Just went through the new-look subscription pages - all was going very well until it gets to the "payment options" page. Just the one option - S0dd)ng Moneybookers!! No Visa, Mastercard or whatever, just this inept organisation that blocks all attempts I've made to buy Skype services. Not happy!
Mind you, since Ned started this post I've had text chats with people in UK, Monaco, Kabul and Oz (the last 3 in a conference call), have caught up with people I used to work with many years ago and even spoke on a beaut line to S Carolina. Yup - technology really can be wonderful sometimes!
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
Is this the way of death for pprune rotorheads forum.....we will all be on line chatting verbally rather than typing away on the keyboards?
Granted ol' Nick will be using the old tried and true GaTech method....two fore fingers as he lip synchs the words.
Granted ol' Nick will be using the old tried and true GaTech method....two fore fingers as he lip synchs the words.