Skype: five steps to squashing Telkom

[LoneGunman]

albert123 - if you need to have it on 24/7 -just install Net Limiter - and find a ahem 'patch' - and then block-reduce the outgoing bandwidth via Skype, using the app, all the time, except when you get an incoming call.
That takes care of any possible b/w usage thats unrelated to your calls.. (just dont forget to unclick the b/w limitation before you answer calls, or you'll sound like a mangled mess, with not enough b/w to carry your audio out)
net limiter: http://www.netlimiter.com/

As regards the Skype -> regular fone - never used it. Still have my code somewhere untouched - got it when I got the wireless skypefone.. whereas skype->skype is totally free, so endless chattering for personal or business, doesn't cost a cent..

 

[albert123]

ant5 ... it will depend on what wireless network you use, for skype i would really recommend getting adsl. but, must add, i have used skype over a 56k dial up modem also and it worked fine on voice calls.

very few people however will call you on a number in london if you are up the road from them. you can always get a prepaid telkom fone and spend like R50 a month just for the incoming calls, which is about the same as the skypeIN charge except people wont swear you every time they have to call you in london.

but ja like i said, skype will do everything perfect and cheaper, except incoming calls, for now

 

[albert123]

albert123 - if you need to have it on 24/7 -just install Net Limiter - and find a ahem 'patch' - and then block-reduce the outgoing bandwidth via Skype, using the app, all the time, except when you get an incoming call.
That takes care of any possible b/w usage thats unrelated to your calls..
net limiter: http://www.netlimiter.com/

i will defnitaly have a look at this, thanks

 

[LoneGunman]

ant5 - no, the Skype app is still running, but there's net limiter in place, which you've set to reduce/block outgoing b/w - in case of 'node' activity when you're NOT on a call.
So the data is sometimes flowing in and out of your pc at varying speeds when you're NOT on a call (the 'node' mode)- but - in case its chewing up b/w - you can set net limiter to say 'only allow skype 1k' for example, of OUTWARD b/w -
except when you GET/MAKE a call, and in that case, just unclick the limitation on Net Limiter,
and skype gets to use all the b/w it needs.
I just use this route to ensure that skype doesnt chew up b/w when I'm not around, but am leaving it on..

Its just one little click to ensure you arent wasting b/w - and it doesnt 'block' skypes abilities at all..your fone rings, you unclick the b/w limit for skype on net limiter, and answer your skype. (if you are leaving skype on 24/7 - and want to keep an eye on how much b/w is possibly being used up..)

 

[ant5]

thanks albert123. I have spoken to the UK and Thailand at the same time using a Skype conference call on iBurst..worked pretty well. But I guess the whole package will only be effective once we get JHB based SkypeIn numbers. Worth keeping an eye out for, they'll probably have these numbers way before my new telkom line gets installed anyway..

Gotcha,LG...but what's the ahem*patch*....

 

[bwana]

Re the supernode - from what I've read skype needs to have direct access to the internet to act as a supernode so your firewall or router should put paid to that unless you're running in the dmz.

Also I'd suspect that the average SA adsl line wouldn't meet the supernode standards.

 

[albert123]

thanks albert123. I have spoken to the UK and Thailand at the same time using a Skype conference call on iBurst..worked pretty well. But I guess the whole package will only be effective once we get JHB based SkypeIn numbers. Worth keeping an eye out for, they'll probably have these numbers way before my new telkom line gets installed anyway..

Gotcha,LG...but what's the ahem*patch*....

ja i've talked on skype from jhb (dsl), with someone on a 56k modem in cape town, and someone in canada (dsl) and everybody talked fine. really doesnt use much bandwidth of anything to work.

i am sure telkom would try everything to stop skype from getting SA numbers.

 

[albert123]

Re the supernode - from what I've read skype needs to have direct access to the internet to act as a supernode so your firewall or router should put paid to that unless you're running in the dmz.

Also I'd suspect that the average SA adsl line wouldn't meet the supernode standards.

in plain english?

 

[Johand]

Skype is using bandwidth - whether you make a call or not. The reason is simple - Skype is a peer-to-peer application. Users behind a firewall or NAT cannot connect directly to other users behind a Firewall or NAT. So if both users are behind a NAT a third party - not behind a firewall is used to relay the call between the two users. As most users are behind NAT's the few not behind NAT's are responsible for routing their calls.

So if you have a direct connection via ADSL instead of a router you might be used to route calls. This is easy to establish. Run ipconfig /all and see if you have a non-private IP address. Anything starting with 10.x.x.x, or 192.168.x.x or 172.(something).x.x (cannot remember this last one) are private - the rest are public. If you have a public IP address and are able to make Skype calls you are probably relaying traffic.

You will see the effect when tranferring a file via skype - it will tell you when you are tranferring a file directly or using a relay connection. The relay connection is normally quite slow (it is bandwidth limited).

 

[albert123]

Skype is using bandwidth - whether you make a call or not. The reason is simple - Skype is a peer-to-peer application. Users behind a firewall or NAT cannot connect directly to other users behind a Firewall or NAT. So if both users are behind a NAT a third party - not behind a firewall is used to relay the call between the two users. As most users are behind NAT's the few not behind NAT's are responsible for routing their calls.

So if you have a direct connection via ADSL instead of a router you might be used to route calls. This is easy to establish. Run ipconfig /all and see if you have a non-private IP address. Anything starting with 10.x.x.x, or 192.168.x.x or 172.(something).x.x (cannot remember this last one) are private - the rest are public. If you have a public IP address and are able to make Skype calls you are probably relaying traffic.

You will see the effect when tranferring a file via skype - it will tell you when you are tranferring a file directly or using a relay connection. The relay connection is normally quite slow (it is bandwidth limited).

ja but this still doesnt give you cheaper tv

 

[bwana]

in plain english?

If you're behind a firewall - either in the form of a router or a something like windows firewall - which blocks incoming connections then the chances are slim you'll end up being a supernode.

A dmz is an unprotected area easily accessible by the outside world. All requests are first routed there.

 

[Freshy-ZN]

If it is so popular why dont more people have a Skype contact on MyADSL?

 

[Highflyer_GP]

All you pay for is your internet connection, and if you're on ISDN or ADSL, you already have an always-on connection.

huh
and with that confusion post number 1000

 

[LoneGunman]

re 'If it is so popular why dont more people have a Skype contact on MyADSL?'

er, because we don't want people phoning us unless we want them to phone us, in which case, they're doing it already?

again, Telkom is also to blame, there're a lot of things we'd all be doing with our b/w - that we can't, and have to operate in an 'antisocial' way because of the constraints and cap rubbish.

 

[Freshy-ZN]

Awwww come on LG, you know you want strangers to phone you.

 

[MobileAllOver]

Anyone played with Skype & incoming calls from Cellphone / landline?

Basically 'manual' process for SkypeIn. You have cellphone connected to computer using Bluetooth (Voice Gateway) to forward all calls to predefined Skype address.

 

[RDPearson]

anybody knows if skype work on windows 98? want to load it on all pc's here but need to test it first on 98 ? anybody?

Skype can run on win98 but you need an older version. I know that ver 1.1 works fine on 98. I have it so you can PM me if you cant find it.

 

[bwana]

Skype can run on win98 but you need an older version. I know that ver 1.1 works fine on 98. I have it so you can PM me if you cant find it.

Or download it from http://www.oldversion.com/ - always a handy site to have bookmarked.

 

[Jeeva]

pity skype 2.0 is such a load of crap, bring back BETA!

Have you been a Skype user for ages? Noticed that it isn't as good as it was? Silent moments, repeated sounds, buzzes? Here's the good news: it's almost certainly fixable. The bad news? You have to lobby your cable company to fix it.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/23/isps_set_skype_limits/

 

[Jeeva]

btw, for those who don't know, we run a prank call station on za.shadowfire.org #esportsa-radio via SKYPE & ShoutCAST, fun when you can phone USA / UK toll-free via skype ;P Got spots for 100 listeners and we normally invite people to join the conference call (if you're very good at acting).