Some web sites help you get your 'Geek' on. Mine helps you get the 'Geek' out! Fix IT Newsletter Alert Mar 2010 Issue 0030 News New pages added since last newsletter... Web Cams and Video Calling - Conferencing Articles "Processor Affinity" Hello Back when I was a tech for a large bank a new phrase appeared in the computing world - Tel / Video Conferencing. This was a new system of connecting a large group of people together over a large area to collaborate on projects. It was complicated, it was expensive, it didn't work. Today you can make a video phone call with your computer. It works and it is cheap. If you want do large area conferencing it is still expensive. (Requires special software and cameras along with either a T-3 or ISDN network connection through your ISP - Internet Service Provider - Geek stuff). How ever there is a cheap way to do two way video calls. My Daughter-In-Law is almost ready to deliver her baby. She couldn't make it home to Spokane, Wa. for her baby shower so she asked me if it was possible to do a video conference with a service like Skype. Short answer no, they only support two way video calls at this time even with the Business package. Normal voice calls they support up to twenty-four connections. (Go To Meeting is not video conferencing it is desktop and voice sharing like Microsoft's NetMeeting). Even with high quality cameras the image is fair, I wouldn't consider it high quality except in a local area setting. That is from one computer to another computer in the same building (on the same network). Once you have to go out side of the local network the speed of the connection will cause the video to be choppy and the image will deteriorate to the point where it is fuzzy if the subject moves. Two thoughts come to mind after doing an experiment with my Daughter-In-Law. Her connection is wireless only, my connection is either wireless or wired. With the wireless on both ends the quality drops off dramatically but with the wired connection she reports that the quality is quite good even when the subject moves. The How To.. I set up three cameras (two Logitech Web Cam 9000's and a Creative Web Cam Live!). Once the hardware and software is installed I made three Skype accounts (three cameras, three accounts) one for each computer. One computer has a wired connection only (my desktop), one computer is wireless only (the wife's desktop) and one computer is either wired or wireless (my laptop). Once I had the accounts setup I connected to the other two computers with my desktop (the Logitech Web Cam 9000). I tested the laptop with both the wired and wireless (the Creative Web Cam Live). Over all quality locally the video is not fuzzy (when the video breaks up or pixels) when I move. How ever when the connection is wireless there is a discernable lag with movement. One thing I did discover with the Skype program is after you install it and before you connect to Skype if you are behind a firewall/proxy you need to go to the 'Tools' and set the proxy server IP. Unlike the Yahoo! IM/Video call program (the Yahoo! program uses five random ports) you can select the port that you want to use with Skype, I use port 80 because it is open for web browsing. So if you need/want to make a Free video call Skype is the way to go. Regular Price  $57.00! Never pay a Geek again! Self Computer Repair Unleashed! A Geek gets paid for what they know, you pay them. Why not keep your money in your pocket? My new manual to help you fix nearly every problem you will have with at computer. Even more information than the Self Computer Repair manual. Almost as much information as the Members Only section! Truly a one of a kind manual! Over 400 pages! Over 200 illustrations! With12 checklists to help you repair your computer! Information in everyday language! No Geek! All for about a half hour of Geek time. Other news: It is that time of year again for us in the US of A, taxes. Personally I use a program called Turbo Tax as the wife likes Quicken for our banking and budget tracking. I am not endorsing Turbo Tax or Quicken just a little reminder, the sooner you get it done the less stress you will endure. News Flash! 02/20/2010 It has been reported in the national news that there is a cyber attack going on across the US of A. Get your Anti-Virus updates! Setup your firewalls! The Tech Support You Need - When YOU Need It! Q and A This site contains a lot of information. As with any publication not all information is available due to space, time, or subject constraints. If you have a question that you did not find the answer on this web site  you a can ask your question here and we will endeavor to get you the most up to date answer possible! Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this newsletter and tell me what you think! Yes, you may forward this email to anyone you want! If you don't have a subscription, and would like one, just go to our Fix It! newsletter signup (and get free sample pages at the same time) Here are some web sites that may be of interest to you: Did you know that there is now a boom in Small Business startups? During a recession more people turn to self support when the job market fails them. I did, you read about my adventures every month. You can do it too! The company that I use to build my web sites - Need help with basic system functions: Computer help - Learn how to use your computer All the best, Monte Russell Webmaster www.diy-computer-repair.com Return to top