Skype

llh189

My folks live in Spain and whilst I am using a cheap way of phoning them it is still costing £10 plus a months.

I was planning to buy my dad a Skype hand set ( the USB type only ) for his birthday and get one for me too.

I am BT Broadband but they only have unlimited dial up no Broadband where they live.

Can't be doing with web cam / voice thingy via msm or yahoo, I end up shouting everything (twice normally as it is intermitent at their end and I am sure my mum is going deaf), which really stress me out, and my walls are really thin at home and I am therefore my neighbours can hear me!

is this a good idea, I really need to reduce my monthly BT £45 total a month is getting me down.

What do you guys thinks?

Thank in advance,

Lisa

mrJ_5

Skype really needs broadband as well unfortunately... you don't have to get a Skype handset - you can just use a simple microphone...

albertross_2

Costs nothing to try PC to PC assuming they have a microphone.. should still work on dial-up.

mrJ_5

it should work on dial-up - but the quality may just as well not be as good, or there may be lag due to the available bandwidth that dial-up offers

LifeisEvenbetter

Agree with mrj - does work on dial-up but quality not as good. I call my friend in Libya (she has dial up and I have broadband) and it is usually ok. I say usually ok - that is when my friend is able to access the internet there. Occasionally a slight delay but generally pretty good. Hope that helps.

dc

llh189 wrote: »

I am BT Broadband but they only have unlimited dial up no Broadband where they live.

Can't be doing with web cam / voice thingy via msm or yahoo, I end up shouting everything (twice normally as it is intermitent at their end and I am sure my mum is going deaf), which really stress me out, and my walls are really thin at home and I am therefore my neighbours can hear me!



Lisa

I know maybe this is not much help until your parents could get broadband via their telephone line, but for future ref.

Skype have added Video to the service on beta test, and is very good, but slow on sending attatchments. I use it regularly to talk to my son in US. For free.

To allay your fears of shouting, have you tried a headset with an attatched microphone ( preferably noise cancelling), set close to your mouth? That way you wouldn't need a handset at your end.

computerwoman

while I was one of the first to use skype back in the day,
I find google talk is just as good,
and better sound quaility.
http://www.google.com/talk/intl/en-GB/index.html#utm_campaign=en_GB&utm_source=en_GB-ha-emea-uk-google&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=googletalk
give it a go
cw

computerwoman

also the only equipment I use is,
headset with mic
or you can use a bluetooth headset,
my son use's a wired headset and mic,
or speakers and mic
cw

dc

What is the Google speed like on sending files?

dmxdave

llh189 wrote: »

My folks live in Spain and whilst I am using a cheap way of phoning them it is still costing £10 plus a months.

I was planning to buy my dad a Skype hand set ( the USB type only ) for his birthday and get one for me too.

I am BT Broadband but they only have unlimited dial up no Broadband where they live.

Can't be doing with web cam / voice thingy via msm or yahoo, I end up shouting everything (twice normally as it is intermitent at their end and I am sure my mum is going deaf), which really stress me out, and my walls are really thin at home and I am therefore my neighbours can hear me!

is this a good idea, I really need to reduce my monthly BT £45 total a month is getting me down.

What do you guys thinks?

Thank in advance,

Lisa

I have SKY talk for £5PM ALL local national & 10 international calls inc. Spain up to 60min are included.

mustsportsbar

llh189 wrote: »

My folks live in Spain and whilst I am using a cheap way of phoning them it is still costing £10 plus a months.

I was planning to buy my dad a Skype hand set ( the USB type only ) for his birthday and get one for me too.

I am BT Broadband but they only have unlimited dial up no Broadband where they live.

Can't be doing with web cam / voice thingy via msm or yahoo, I end up shouting everything (twice normally as it is intermitent at their end and I am sure my mum is going deaf), which really stress me out, and my walls are really thin at home and I am therefore my neighbours can hear me!

is this a good idea, I really need to reduce my monthly BT £45 total a month is getting me down.

What do you guys thinks?

Thank in advance,

Lisa

Try downloading Freecall on your PC, put €10 credit on your account and then you can call their landline in Spain for free for 90 days (up to 300 mins per week). Good quality line if you have broadband and then they only need a landline their end not a pc. Cheaper call rates than Skype on most calls too including text messages. I only use Skype for pc to pc calls now.


http://www.freecall.com/en/index.html

Hope this helps