Internet and zoom

Annie1960

I have a VIrgin Media hub, and a laptop that's less than a year old. When using zoom, my sounds is unreliable so people can't always hear me clearly. It's been suggested that I try using an ethernet cable rather than wifi.
However, I've just looked, and my laptop does not have an ethernet port.
Is there any other way to improve my connection? 

Neil_Jones

What is your laptop model number?  Very surprising if it doesn't have a ethernet connection, a lot of them have a fold down flap to expose the full height of a network port.

Failing that you can get USB->LAN adapters, which will go the same job.

Annie1960

Dell inspiron 15 5000. I checked the specifications online and can't see one.

Could you post a link to the adapter you mention so I get the right one?
Thanks.

TadleyBaggie

It has two USB-A ports and one USB-C. The USB-C has a higher bandwidth and is probably more suited to host an ethernet adapter. Such as:

https://uk.anker.com/products/a8341?currency=GBP&variant=37338657456292&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=uk_anker_conversion_alltime_shopping_hub_purchase&utm_content=AnkerHub&utm_term={12386813699}_{118425342456}_{499962699515}&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1pyCBhCtARIsAHaY_5c5yAEcxDPtW_Hd-4qFwruijW9U84VyaahPrN6sEC31APDO-N5AtOIaAjhmEALw_wcB

Annie1960

Fantastic, thanks.

wongataa

Annie1960 said:

Is there any other way to improve my connection? 

Turning your camera off would improve things.  Video uses more bandwidth than audio so if there are any connection issues it is easier to maintain a good audio stream than video and audio.

grumpycrab

Could just be a rubbish microphone. When in zoom (test call link below) click Test Speaker and Microphone (under audio options) and see what you sound like.   http://zoom.us/test

pbartlett

Rather than an ethernet cable you could try using a USB plug-in external microphone. They are quite cheap on eBay

Annie1960

grumpycrab said:

Could just be a rubbish microphone. When in zoom (test call link below) click Test Speaker and Microphone (under audio options) and see what you sound like.   http://zoom.us/test

Thanks, I've tried this a number of times, and the tests are always good. The voice seems to come and go on different days. The same thing also happens on my other device, so I don't think it's the device. 

Annie1960

pbartlett said:

Rather than an ethernet cable you could try using a USB plug-in external microphone. They are quite cheap on eBay

I don't think it's the mic itself, as the tests on both of my devices are always good. It seems to be the connection, I think. I'm about 12 - 15 metres away from the hub.

Annie1960

wongataa said:

Annie1960 said:

Is there any other way to improve my connection? 

Turning your camera off would improve things.  Video uses more bandwidth than audio so if there are any connection issues it is easier to maintain a good audio stream than video and audio.

Thanks, but I would prefer to keep my video on. I could try this as a last resort if nothing else works.