microphones?

[nick25]

Was contemplating putting this in general discussion but it is computer related.

Having just moved to university and not having a fixed land line phoning home/friends etc is becoming an expensive issue with the old mobile.

Now most people I know use msn messenger - I was wondering if anyone here has any thoughts on the voice conversation utility msn messenger offers. Does it work well? what equipment is needed (i'm assuming just a microphone either end - which are some good microphones to get without breaking the bank?)

Would there be a problem with firewalls/routers/ university firewall/security. Is it likely I'll have to open some ports and whatknot - if this is the case amI stuffed (as I'm on the university network)

Thanks, Nick.

 

[boardy]

Nick the best way to test to make sure if you need to open ports is to start an audio convo with someone even tho u dont have a mic and see if it connects. I personally don't have to open any other ports on my router other than the one for messenger to work anyway.

Plantronics headsets are pretty good. I use them for Ventrillo voice comms on games and also for using my webcam over MSN and talking to people. The voice thing on MSN is pretty good, you just have to remember theres a slight delay.

Boardy

 

[nick25]

thanks for the reply. How big is the delay? Is there a free software program that is better? perhaps one just for audio conversations?

Thanks.

 

[boardy]

The delay depends on there internet connection. If your on broadband and there on broadband then there isnt a delay but if there on dial up then theres a slight delay because dial up sux for anything more than normal browsing. Any other software will have the same problems because of the net speed.

MSN seems to be the best at the audio convos atm tho, tried yahoo the other night and didnt like it at all.

Boardy

 

[nick25]

Well I'm on T1 connection and my rents are on 750k connection so delay should be pretty minimal right?

Thanks for your help.

 

[boardy]

Exactly right, delays should be very small if at all.

No probs mate.

Cheers

Boardy

 

[nick25]

Do they just plug into the headphone/mic sockets on the motherboard (parents only have onboard sound - via kt3 chipset i believe)

 

[boardy]

Yea, just need to plug it in and set up audio in MSN

 

[fatty]

Another couple of programs I use mainly for gamming but non the less are teamspeak and roger wilco you can have more than two people on them as messenger you can only have you and the person you are chatting too I think roger wilco is the best and you can also password protect it so no one else can get in ( not that you would have that problem with messenger)