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Computer problem (s)

How to diagnose and fix Skype sound problems. What do you do if there is no sound at all ?

Skype sound problems

First published 03-02-2011

The last time that you used Skype on your computer, everything was working perfectly, but this time, you switch the computer on, Skype starts up (as normal), everything looks OK so, you dial, but when you speak, you get either, no sound at all or, you can't hear them or, they can't hear you - however this problem identifies itself, it is without doubt, one of the most frustrating problems to be experienced - what the heck has gone wrong ?

Skype sound problems - just whose fault is it ?

The first thing that you ask yourself - Who used the computer last ? The first thing that you think - something must have been changed or, the computer wasn't closed down properly ! The first thing that 'he' says - It wasn't me !

Skype sound problems - fix it yourself !

Before you reach for the telephone number of the 'nice' computer-man that calls round to fix your computer problems, STOP! You may not need to. You may be able to save some money by fixing the problem yourself. In fact, nine times out of ten, fixing the problem is probably going to be pretty easy - the hard part is working out what is wrong and what has caused the problem in the first place and if possible, making sure that it doesn't happen again !

Skype sound problems - symptoms and causes

Skype sound problems - it may not be a problem with Skype.
First things, first! It may not be a problem with Skype at all - this may just be a symptom not the cause of the problem, but let's quickly eliminate the possible causes of common Skype sound problems. The first thing to do is to simply close down and restart the computer and try again. You may be pleasantly surprised. If that doesn't work, check the sound settings in Skype - open Skype and from the menu at the top, click "Tools" and "Options" and then, "Audio Settings" from the menu on the left hand side. You are presented with three important settings - "Microphone," "Speakers" and "Ringing."

The "Microphone" audio settings relate to the microphone in whatever audio device you are using with Skype so, it could be a 'simple' microphone or, it could be the microphone in a 'fandangled' wireless Skype phone.

Look at the "Volume" slide selector and say something out loud - if your microphone is working properly, you should see the green bar move as you speak. If it doesn't, there may be a problem with the microphone.

If you are using a 'simple' microphone, the first thing to try is to unplug and re-plug it back into the computer and test again.

If you are using a USB telephone, a web cam or, some other device with a built in microphone, there may be a problem with the sound driver for the device (we will come to this later) and it may not be as simple as unplugging and then, plugging back in. In fact, this course of action is not recommended with certain devices.

Skype sound problems - sound driver settings

Before we take any further, more drastic measures, let's look at the sound driver settings that we are using in Skype. Click on the down pointing arrow to reveal the contents of the drop down menu and look at the available devices. If you are using a 'simple' plug-in microphone, it uses your computer's sound driver to work so, make sure that your computer's sound driver is selected in the "Microphone" drop down menu. There are many different sound drivers, but look for something like "Realtek HD Audio Input" or, Soundmax or, SIS or, something similar. Make your selection and test the microphone again whilst observing the "Volume slide selector."

If you are using a webcam with a built in microphone, it usually has its own driver and if so, it will be listed in the drop down menu and this is the one that should be selected in this field so, for example, if you are using a 'Logitech' webcam with its own built-in microphone, select Logitech (Quickcam) in this section.

Similarly, if you are using a plug-in USB phone, it usually has its own driver and if so, it will be listed in the drop down menu and this is the one that should be selected in this field so, for example, if you are using a Linksys CIT200, select Linksys. If you are using a simple USB phone, the driver may just be called USB telephone or even, USB device.

If you are unsure, make a note of the settings as they are, and then go ahead and make some changes before testing the device, to see if it is working.

The same rules apply for the "Speakers" and "Ringing settings so, work through each of them, making sure that the selected device is correct or, choosing the correct device, if it isn't.

Of course, the appropriate sound driver for the device that you are using may not be installed at all and if this is the case, you will not be able to get your device working. Check what make of device you are using and look for it specifically in the list. If it doesn't appear, it has to be installed.

If the driver that you need isn't there, before you can install it, you need to locate it.

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Computer problem (s)

Skype sound problems - your internet connection

Skype call sound like Norman Collier ?

Before I go any further, some readers may not have a problem with their Skype sound settings or, sound device configuration, but nevertheless, are still experiencing intermittent sound problems when they make a Skype call, something which the end-user typically labels, "bad reception" - this usually means, one or, the other, of the parties to a call, cannot hear the other party because segments of the conversation (words/sentences) are broken, garbled or, completely missing. This is something that English readers may refer to as "sounding like Norman Collier."

Usually, this means that somewhere along the line, there is either: data packet loss on one of the internet connections being used to make the Skype call or, that one or, the other of the internet connections being used, has not got enough bandwidth availabilty to carry the call. At this moment, some of you maybe thinking - "it can't be, I have an 8 Megabit internet connection," but please read on and let me explain.

Have you got enough internet bandwidth ?

The majority of Skype calls are made over long distances and usually, from one Country to another therefore, the data packets travel over many different networks to arrive at their destination and at certain times of day, the networks that the data packets travel over, get very busy with all types of traffic. If one of the networks that you data packets travels over is very busy with traffic, the amount of bandwidth that is allocated to your Skype call is less so, you may have a very fast internet connection and plenty of internet bandwidth available to you, but one or, more of the networks inbetween may not. Skype calls use internet bandwidth. Everytime you make a call, a certain amount of bandwidth is allocated to the call. The amount of bandwidth is determined by the speed of the internet connection at both sides of the call and how busy the networks are when the call is made.

Earlier in this article, I mentioned data packet loss and explained how, when you are making a Skype call, the data has to travel

Connection between computer and router

across many different networks to arrive at its destination. If you have followed the suggestions that I have made in this article and find that you are still suffering with Skype sound problems, it's time to check the connection between your computer and your modem/wireless router.

It doesn't matter whether you are connected to the internet via a wireless connection to a wireless router or, through a cable to a modem, you can easily test the connection between your laptop/computer and the device that connects you to the internet by running a ping test to the first IP address.

Before you can run any tests to determine whether there is a problem on your internet connection, you need to find out the IP address of your computer. How you do this depends on the operating system that you are running. We are going to assume that your computer is running a Windows' operating system (XP, Vista, 7)

Computer problem (s)

Skype sound problems - your internet connection

Skype sound problems - improving call quality

Improve the quality of your Skype calls by changing the way you speak and by setting your equipment up correctly.

During a Skype call, sound travels two ways - there and back. Voices are digitised at both sides and forwarded to the other party. When bandwidth is plentiful, voices can travel in both directions simultaneously, in other words, you can talk over each other (full duplex). Sometimes however, bandwidth is in short supply and there is only enough to allow sound in one direction at any time. Speak over each other and one of you will not hear what the other one is saying. If this is the case, one way that you can improve the quality of the call, is to refrain from talking over each other, say what you want to say and then wait silently for the other caller's response. If you have ever used a walkie talkie radio, you will know that you have to press a button to speak and then, let it go when you have finished speaking then, listen to what the person at the other end is saying. If you are having Skype sound problems and it is because there is a shortage of internet bandwidth, you can use the same technique to improve the quality of your Skype calls.

When making a Skype call, any sound that is picked up by the microphone is digitised, wrapped up in a data packet and sent. This uses internet bandwidth that needn't be used and, if there is a shortage of bandwidth

Skype sound problems - background noise and setting equipment up correctly

When making a Skype call, sound is digitised, any sound picked up by the microphone uses resources so, make sure that there is no background noise.

at the time that you are making a Skype call, any back ground noise uses up valuable resources. Making sure that there is no back ground noise when you are making a Skype call is another simple way that you can vastly improve the quality of your Skype calls so, switch that TV/radio off and close the window before you make a call.

If you are using a Skype telephone of some sorts, chances are, it is set up correctly and not giving you any problems. If you are using a separate microphone and speakers to make your Skype calls, position the speakers away from the microphone otherwise the sound coming from your speakers will be picked up by the microphone and re-transmitted. This, not only uses up valuable internet bandwidth as we already know, but the person that you are speaking to at the other side, hears what they have just said through their own speakers and their system suffers a lot of feedback and distortion. If you have moved your microphone away from your speakers and the people that you are calling still complain about hearing their own voice or, about feedback or, distortion, try purchasing a USB Skype telephone or, similar device to improve the quality of your Skype calls. A USB Skype phone works like a normal telephone

Skype sound problems being caused by other software ?

and does away with the need to use your computer's speakers completely and so, eliminates this problem altogether.

If you have just installed a new program/application to your computer and suddenly experience Skype sound problems, the new program/application may have altered your computer's sound configuration. To cure the problem, you may have to look through the operating system's sound settings and change them back to how they were previously.

If you have recently installed a new program/application and can't find the reason why you're suddenly experiencing Skype sound problems - it's a drastic step, but you do have the option of doing a system restore and taking your computer back to a date prior to installing the program/application that interfered with your sound settings. This will remove the offending program/application and return your sound settings back to normal.

Skype account hacked

First published 01-05-2010

If you are unlucky enough to have had your Skype account hacked or, compromised in some way or, discover that someone else is using your Skype account without your permission, you'll want to put a stop to it - sharpish !

Computer problem (s)

Skype sound problems - your internet connection

An introduction to Skype mobile

Everyone is familiar with Skype which was one of the first of a generation of global internet telephony products offering the ability to make voice calls over an internet connection.

All that was needed was a computer, a microphone, some speakers and an internet connection. Free internet to internet voice calls was the starting point with cheap internet to landline telephone calls soon to follow.

Nowadays, you wouldn't tolerate anything less than a wireless walk-about telephone, leaving you free to roam around the house whilst making FREE internet to landline calls or, receiving incoming landline calls on your own in-bound telephone number.

Since its launch in October 2003, Skype and more recently, many other similar internet telephony programs, have revolutionised the world of private telecommunications.

Wait a minute though, whilst private telephony has been leaping and bounding, what has been going on in the world of business telephony? Where would you like to begin?.....I hope that you are sitting comfortably!

No longer do we need an office, a nice looking secretary and a fax with a built in answering machine.

Skype mobile telephony for business

Businesses operate using telephone numbers that follow their employees around the globe, they divert them into any telephone number in any country without the caller knowing where they are in the world.

Their calls are 'automatically' answered with welcoming messages from their virtual secretary who 'automatically' routes the call to the most appropriate number for the enquiry or, 'automatically' switches the call to their voicemail, where the call is recorded and sent to them as an email attachment.

They operate from virtual offices, with virtual secretaries and virtual fax and answering machines.

Skype mobile - make free calls

The even smarter operators, no longer pay a telephone bill at the end of each quarter for line rental and telephone calls, they receive a cheque from their service provider who pays them for using their service!

Not until recently, has there been a way for a Skype user to directly dial from their mobile telephone, using their Skype account or, to receive calls on their mobile telephone from their Skype account - Free!

OK, over a WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G), we know that a Skype user with a mobile telephone running Symbian is able to use Skype on the move, but the calls are not necessarily free! - What about the cost of internet access?

There is a way to use your Skype account to make calls from a standard mobile telephone, completely free of charge! - Skype mobile.

*Making a free call using your mobile telephone and your Skype account relies upon your mobile telephone operator's sim to sim calls being free of charge.