Skype Problems

[Tom_ZeCat]

I set up Kubuntu 13.10 on my roommate's old Lenovo laptop (formerly a Windows XP machine). It has a Celeron processor and has 2 GB of RAM (upgraded by the previous owner from either 512 MB or 1 GB, don't know which). Kubuntu's running great. It does not have a built-in web cam, but we used a USB-based Logitech C510 web cam. To my surprise, I did not need to install a driver. It worked out of the box. I tested it at www.testwebcam.com. We tested a Skype conversation from my Skype account to his. On his laptop we were able to get a good video transmission, but the audio was such poor quality that it's unusable. It completely breaks up. I tried adjusting the volume levels both in Kubuntu and in Skype, but the audio was awful no matter what. I played a Youtube video in Firefox and the audio quality was perfectly fine.

Any ideas?

Edit: One other quick question. I also tried his web cam on my newer Lenovo, but I could not get it to work instead of the built-in web cam that comes with this thing. How would I use the USB-based cam instead of the built-in one?

[NoWorries]

Have you tried using System Settings > Multimedia > Audio and Video Settings? This allows you to move your preferred Audio Playback, Audio Recording and Video Recording devices to top.

Also with Skype Options > Video Devices you can select the webcam and a double click on the image will put it to full screen. Esc returns it back.

Let's know how you go with this.

[claydoh]

Often Skype sound problems are due to Skype's compression and codecs, combined with poor or low *outgoing* bandwidth. Sometimes it's just Skype being terrible sometimes. One thing I've found is that sometimes just waiting it out during a fit of stuttering lagging sound works, or hanging up and calling again. Unfortunately Skype is the best choice for a lot of people worldwide, it is better for me than Google's offering when I call my red headed Aussie lass in New South Wales from here in the U.S..

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