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 :ok:

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.

That's a pretty magnanimous username Nick!

Like the name "212man"shows us a whole 'nuther thing!! ;-)

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.

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'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.

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

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 :cool:

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

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"

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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.

Well, I downloaded and loaded it up all fine. just gotta find someone to talk to now.
loaded up as wiz310.

Cyber GEEKS....all of you!!!

HA HA!!!


Just kidding! I use it too. Great tool!

DK

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.;)