Help with webcams for Mom to see the new Baby

[mCowboy]

Thanks for the replies. I guess then probably that a 3 year old Dell computer back in the States is probably to blame. This webcam is 640 x 480 and plenty of bandwith.

Well the bandwidth is not up to what's your ADSL or cable connection has or what your mum etc has... it's the slowest part of the network throughout the whole of the connection from your house to your mum's. And since US is across the pond with lots of people wanting to send data back'n'forth using the limited capacity of undersea cable or satellite, reduces the bandwidth accessible for you...

[raamv]

Thanks for the replies. I guess then probably that a 3 year old Dell computer back in the States is probably to blame. This webcam is 640 x 480 and plenty of bandwith. I am using a dual core processor new computer here.

Also, in addition to my above question this I guess will apply to anyone that uses Skype Video. When I was using it yesterday the video that I was broadcasting was shown in the Skype window so tiny that I could barely see it. Does anyone know how to make this bigger so I can see what I am broadcating to others??? It was so small and almost impossible to make out for me. Hope you guys know what I mean. Thanks

In skype settings when you have the webcam up, there is a place in that where it says view full screen! this makes it viewable full screen. If I remember right, there is also an option to scale up your picture.. ( full screen and make it medium size are options)
What I use is skype audio and MSN video ( I found that msn has a better video resolution than skype..so YMMV)(

[Ciprian]

@raamv

nop. you cannot make your own video feed full screen in skype , but you can get the receiving one windowed/full screen

and about Microsoft (Research), they have the best free tool to do video chat on poor/low BW connections:

Microsoft Portrait >>> http://research.microsoft.com/mcom/portrait/

(yes. it's research stuff: works like a charm, crashes from time to time, not quite for the average joe to install or use, but once you'll get it running you'll love it... like with any other M$ product... nah, just kidding on the last "like")

[hychamaz]

Can you at least get it bigger somehow then the 2cm x 2cm box that it shows you when you are transmitting. I would like to know what the person on the other end is seeing (not just me squinting at this tiny box

[r3ddr]

maybe if you use a magnifying glass...

[hychamaz]

I have a new skype problem and have been reading a ton of Skype forums but was wondering if anyone here was experiencing this problem. This problem seems to have lots of people in my same boat irrate at Skype. While for some reason Skype worked fine the first time I used it with video to Ny we now have this problem where my mothers Pentium 4 2.8GHZ computer goes to 100% CPU usage when Skype is started. This freezes the computer making using Skype pointless. Some people are blaming the new version of Skype, many have switched back to older versions and still have the problem, others are blaming too much heat for their computers to handle, and still others the ports that Skype is using. Just was wondering if anyone her ewas having this problem and if so what they did. Thanks guys as mom is getting frustrated not seeing the little guy.

[mCowboy]

When SKype servers are overloaded,the Skype clients start to act as nodes, hence using up the CPU and bandwidth. I just kill and restart Skype when that happens...

[hychamaz]

When SKype servers are overloaded,the Skype clients start to act as nodes, hence using up the CPU and bandwidth. I just kill and restart Skype when that happens...

Thanks for the reply mCowboy. I am just so frustrated as it worked fine the first time I hooked up the webcam and used it with her. We have tried several days now, multiple times each day, and it just doesnt work. She cant even restart Skype as the hourglass comes up on her screen and the computer freezes. She cant even answer my call before this happens and the computer freezes. Once I heard her with a 10 second delay for a while before it dropped the call. after 30 secs. All I get are these "robotic" noises through my speakers.People and businesses that use Skype sound like they want to revolt and kill the makers of Skype for all of these problems. Any other fixes??

[hanj]

I am currently using the Logitech Webcam Pro9000...it makes a lot of difference with the extra pixels resolution.Image is sharp and clear...definitely worth the 85eur. I use it with Skype as it gives better streaming than MSN. The picture you get on your screen isnt a large one when you use skype but the receiving end, they get to have a large image. On the other hand, I think the Microsoft Lifecam VX7000 should give you similar quality.....though I have never tested it before

[hychamaz]

I have finally solved my Skype problems. It turned out to be moms computer back in the states. The computer just had so many programs running after 3 years of using it that it needed a thorough cleaning. Skype was just bringing it to a hault. It took the company that we used 9 hours to tune it up remotely but now the P4 runs like new. Thanks everyone.