Skype - any good?

[bob4432]

i have recently been seeing quite a bit of info about skype and was wondering if the free version is better than teamspeak? a couple of friends and i like to online game, but don't want to also consume both the internet and the phone line, hell that is why i have broadband. also, can you run your own server and have private access with passwords?

lastly, is there any spyware/malware in it?

thanks in advance

 

[Slick5150]

The quality is better than anything I've ever used in the past, but I don't know how well conference calling would work as I've never tried it. I'm not even sure if there's a limit as to how many people can be in on a call.

And no, there's no spyware or anything (that I know of anyways)

 

[skace]

It sounds like what you really want is Ventrilo. Just a suggestion.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i found skype to be much better than teamspeak.. i dont know that skype ties up my phone line at all

 

[Concillian]

What is the problem you are having with Teamspeak?

I have no problem with Teamspeak. Those that I know who HAVE had problems with teamspeak were remedied with one of two simple solutions:

- DO NOT use the voice activation feature when using speakers -- this creates an echo, as the speakers play right into the microphone and it echoes to EVERYONE. SUPER CRAZY ANNOYING. If you use speakers, use 'push to talk'. If you want to use voice activation, buy some freaking headphones. This is not a Teamspeak issue, this is a configuration issue.

- Using proper (decent quality) CODECs. Default server config will have you creating channels with pretty CRAPPY and low bandwidth codecs unless you are careful. Be sure to set up with good CODECs (I generally use speex 12.3), I think default server config will default a new channel to CELP 5.3 or something really low bandwidth like that. There is a drop down box when you create a channel that will have available CODECs, even on servers that are using the default config. The highlighted selection is always the lowest bandwidth of available CODECs. Choose something decent when creating a channel. Again, not a Teamspeak issue, a configuration issue.

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
i found skype to be much better than teamspeak.. i dont know that skype ties up my phone line at all

I'm curious, because I've never used Skype, can you be more specific about what Skype is much better than Teamspeak at? Can you also explain your typical usage?

My usage of TS is generally group discussion in-game such as squads in an FPS game or parties in an MMORPG.

TS suits my needs as long as we don't get some loser on the server who is using voice activation with his speakers playing right into the microphone, but I'm always open to looking at new things.

 

[Schadenfroh]

In my experience

For 2 people, Skype > all

for more than 2 people, teamspeak > all

 

[abaez]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
In my expierance

For 2 people, Skype > all

for more than 2 people, teamspeak > all

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Concillian

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
i found skype to be much better than teamspeak.. i dont know that skype ties up my phone line at all

I'm curious, because I've never used Skype, can you be more specific about what Skype is much better than Teamspeak at? Can you also explain your typical usage?

My usage of TS is generally group discussion in-game such as squads in an FPS game or parties in an MMORPG.

TS suits my needs as long as we don't get some loser on the server who is using voice activation with his speakers playing right into the microphone, but I'm always open to looking at new things.

the clarity of people's voices was much clearer than TS. i never used skype during games, so that might be a factor.. i would do homework w/ friends over skype

 

[Emultra]

How much bandwidth does Skype consume?

I think Ventrilo works well.

 

[Mellman]

skype doesnt use a ton of bw....I used it to talk to some people in the land down under from metro dc area. Worked well, with 5 people on the call (all over the US + aussieland) It was workable....not phone quality...but it was free!

skype is not meant to be a TS replacement... in my experience TS is better then ventrilo because of its features. Vent quality was a little better, but TS has better support. Speaking from experience with the linux server versions only here.