webphone problems

[sethfp]

When using computer to phone, the audio is horrid. The sound on my end and the reciever's end has clipping, distortion, echo, and delay. When it clips I can't understand anything thats said.

[furlong47]

What type of connection do you have? When using computer-to-phone software over the network that I'm on, these problems often occur because I have limited bandwidth. On days when there are very few people here, I can call almost crystal clear. For the clipping, try to talk quieter and farther away from the microphone. Keeping your speakers and microphone far apart is also advisable so you don't get feedback, and can help with the echoes as well. Although I sometimes use the computer to make short, unimportant calls to my parents, etc, it's no replacement for long distance!!

[sethfp]

Originally posted by furlong47:
What type of connection do you have? When using computer-to-phone software over the network that I'm on, these problems often occur because I have limited bandwidth. On days when there are very few people here, I can call almost crystal clear. For the clipping, try to talk quieter and farther away from the microphone. Keeping your speakers and microphone far apart is also advisable so you don't get feedback, and can help with the echoes as well. Although I sometimes use the computer to make short, unimportant calls to my parents, etc, it's no replacement for long distance!!

I have a 200Mhz system using a 33K modem. One of the programs I've tried uses Netmeeting, another has an echo cancelation option. Would the echo cancelation help?

[furlong47]

What is your actual connection speed? (Even though your modem is a 33.6, you may not be getting its full speed.) The minimum requirement for using net2phone is a 28.8 connection, and even that I think is pushing it. Your calls will never be as clear as a phone. Using the echo cancelation option might help some, along with the other things I suggested before. (Using a headset instead of speakers when on the phone might also help the echo a lot.)

For more information on making your connection sound better, go here: http://www.net2phone.com/net2phone/help/sound.html

[3fingersalute]

I hate to say it, but you might just have to drop the whole idea....I had a 56K USR modem dialing in, hitting 50-52k connect each time, and downloads ran 5.0-5.9k/sec. but using webphone causes all sorts of crackles and echos....I took my machine to a buddies house and hooked into his network (he has DSL) and it worked fine....I think maybe dial-up can just be too slow for these free phone programs!!

[In The Wind]

I have a family member that is using a cable modem, he has very good luck with net to phone apps. It sounds real good both ways on his connection. My connection is dial up, connects at 42666 mostly, and I have very poor quality using the same apps. Another friend has wireless access, again, sounds good. It seems to boil down to how much bandwith your connection supports. I heard that there are free DSL providers out there....wait, that was last fall, sorry.

[In The Wind]

I had a second thought (and my brain is still in one piece!) and it involves two 56K modems and using Multimodem. Of course that requires two phone lines, and two Inet accounts possibly. Somewhere I seemed to have hit the point of diminishing returns.

[Larommi]

Originally posted by 3fingersalute:
I hate to say it, but you might just have to drop the whole idea....I had a 56K USR modem dialing in, hitting 50-52k connect each time, and downloads ran 5.0-5.9k/sec. but using webphone causes all sorts of crackles and echos....I took my machine to a buddies house and hooked into his network (he has DSL) and it worked fine....I think maybe dial-up can just be too slow for these free phone programs!!

Agreed, plus connection speed doesn't mean a thing if you are trying to make calls during high traffic times. Net congestion does not always go away with high speed connections.

[sethfp]

Originally posted by furlong47:
What is your actual connection speed? (Even though your modem is a 33.6, you may not be getting its full speed.) The minimum requirement for using net2phone is a 28.8 connection, and even that I think is pushing it. Your calls will never be as clear as a phone. Using the echo cancelation option might help some, along with the other things I suggested before. (Using a headset instead of speakers when on the phone might also help the echo a lot.)

For more information on making your connection sound better, go here: http://www.net2phone.com/net2phone/help/sound.html

I checked the Net2phone site, and free calls are limited to 5 minutes. Dialpad doesn't work--the Dialpad screen reads that its dialing, but it never connects.

[stupot71]

one answer to stop echo's is use a headset rather than speaker and mic this cuts feed back and a whole lot of interference