Wikiposts
Search
Rotorheads A haven for helicopter professionals to discuss the things that affect them

Skype

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 14th Oct 2005, 19:46
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: All The Places I Shouldnt Be
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Arrow 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
Ned-Air2Air is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2005, 00:58
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: USA
Age: 75
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ned is right, and Skype also allows "phone calls" between members absolutely free. All you need is a microphone and speakers. Must be driving the phone companies to drink!

I am rotorhead101 on skype.
NickLappos is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2005, 01:30
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Den Haag
Age: 57
Posts: 6,269
Received 336 Likes on 188 Posts
That's a pretty magnanimous username Nick!
212man is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2005, 02:14
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: USA
Age: 75
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Like the name "212man"shows us a whole 'nuther thing!! ;-)
NickLappos is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2005, 09:40
  #5 (permalink)  
MCA
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: In a Tent
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
MCA is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2005, 10:08
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SW England
Age: 69
Posts: 1,500
Received 89 Likes on 35 Posts
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)
Thud_and_Blunder is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2005, 12:04
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
agentprovocateur is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2005, 12:23
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Escrick York england
Posts: 1,676
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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
md 600 driver is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2005, 12:58
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Up In The Sky...
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The comment about Skype was that you sound as though you're in a tunnel.
Anyone care to comment?
In my experience the quality is exceptionally good, but if you don't use a headset you can get feedback which makes it sound a bit like you're in a tunnel. Otherwise it's perfect!

If anyone wants to add me my username's HeliTorque

WhirlyGirl
WhirlyGirl Sarah is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2005, 13:10
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Escrick York england
Posts: 1,676
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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
md 600 driver is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2005, 09:33
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Iceland
Age: 58
Posts: 814
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
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!

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
Aesir. Skype me - I´m "bellpilot"
Aesir is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2005, 13:18
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SW England
Age: 69
Posts: 1,500
Received 89 Likes on 35 Posts
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.
Thud_and_Blunder is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2005, 13:58
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Up In The Sky...
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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 Sarah is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2005, 15:45
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: USA
Age: 75
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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!
NickLappos is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2005, 19:32
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Europe trying to enjoy retirement “YES”
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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 is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2005, 20:36
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SW England
Age: 69
Posts: 1,500
Received 89 Likes on 35 Posts
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!
Thud_and_Blunder is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2005, 21:30
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The tunnel effect disappears with the simple use of earpieces - if your computer has a mini jack you can use a walkman-style or single earpiece and still speak using your built-in mic.
headsethair is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2005, 22:09
  #18 (permalink)  
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Bai, mi go long hap na kisim sampla samting.
Posts: 2,849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Talking

Well, I downloaded and loaded it up all fine. just gotta find someone to talk to now.
loaded up as wiz310.
the wizard of auz is offline  
Old 17th Oct 2005, 19:05
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: canada
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cyber GEEKS....all of you!!!

HA HA!!!


Just kidding! I use it too. Great tool!

DK
donut king is offline  
Old 17th Oct 2005, 20:07
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Downeast
Age: 75
Posts: 18,290
Received 518 Likes on 216 Posts
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.
SASless is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.