PC Phone

[stefanus]

A friend of mine has a Brother in the far east, Sumatra I think. His Bro phones via a PC. the problem is time lag and bounce "Q". How does one communicte via a PC to a phone? and how on the receiving end can the lag and bounce problem be eliminated. What soft ware is required to use a PC to phone international/nationaly. I do not know the answer, and if it is in the wrong forum please excuse me. Maybe the Mod/s will put it in the correct forum.
Stefanus ;) :D

[Budfred]

I don't know much about PC phones, but I know that some of the time delay is probably due to distance. If you call someone long distance from the Midwest USA to Europe, there will be a noticeable delay due to the time it takes for the signal to travel. The internet doesn't violate that particular law of physics....:D

[stefanus]

Budfred, thanx. I appreciate the law of physics does not alter via electronic mail. What I realy would like to know is how a phone works via a PC. I told this particular friend of mine that I had some amazeing friends in a particular forum who knew the answers to every thing connected with a PC and said that I would give him the answer by Thurs next 06/04/04 :o and I know I will not be let down :D
Thanx Guys :D
Stefanus

[ErnieK]

stef
I am going out on a limb here, but until someone comes up with an answer here goes.

First make sure that you have Phone Dialer installed (Check in Add/Remove Windows components)

Then give that a try. Once installed bring it up and try dialing. Sound should come through your Headphones/speakers. You may have to use a mike to talk or you might have to pick up phone I do not know for certain.

I do know that some modems allow you to connect the phone to them and this allows you to use the phone that way, so you may need one of these.

[stefanus]

Ernie, thanx for your reply, it looks like the answer. ((I knew that, just checking if you did :D :o.))

LANG MAY YER LUM LEAK :D

Hope that is the correct spelling ;)
Tomorrow I am going to be a look like acool dude when I give him the answer, a little embelished of course :cool: :D

Slaap Lekker all

Stefanus ;)

[ErnieK]

last word should be REEK.

Ah! but what if it is the wrong answer?:eek:

[stefanus]

Thanx for the spelling corection Ernie :o I put my trust in your answer implicitly. Any way I can always claim it came via a third person and it is not realy my answer:D

Stefanus

[Sylvander]

Going from memory, the speed of light [in a vacuum] is 300,000,000 metres per second. [That's 3 times (10 raised to the power 8)]
That's 4 times around the Earth in 0.5 of a second.
[Strange the facts I keep in my failing memory]
I think long distance internet connections are transmitted up to a satellite and back to earth, then through optical cables, then through copper wires. All of the speeds are similar to the speed in a vacuum.
I remember seeing the times taken to "ping" another computer and get a response returned and it took milli-seconds.
I use PC to PC audio [phone style], Scotland to the USA, using Netmeeting and there's no delay detectable.
So I don't think the delay is due to the time taken for the the signal to travel the great distances on and above the planet.

Here's my limited understanding of PC to phone:

1. Person A has a PC and installs the PC to phone software of a specific company.
He opens an account with that company which is kept topped up with payments using a credit or bank debit card. The low cost calls are charged to that account.
See
http://svetart.tripod.com/
http://www.dialpad.com/
http://www.net2phone.com/
http://www.go2call.com/
http://www.pc-telephone.com/

2. He needs functioning audio hardware = sound card [with full-duplex capability], mic, speakers [or headset].

3. He runs the software and uses it to call person B at his ordinary phone.

Better to use PC to PC phone, especially if A & B have unmetered broadband connections. Then it is effectively free.
I read recently that "Skype" http://www.skype.com/download.html has particularly high quality sound and is VERY easy to use.
It works with Win 2000 and XP, and there's a beta release issued.
See what it does here http://www.skype.com/skype.html

[ErnieK]

Sylvander

Sounds to good to be true, something of value for nothing.

Do you know if this a stable version? or is there an older version available?

[deddard]

There are overheads with using VoIP that aren't inherent to standard phones.
There will be a slight delay on all long distance phones, simply because the signal has to go via several switching units, usually including a satellite uplink/downlink.
I'm not an expert on VoIP - it's something I've got to get into, but my guess on the delay would be due to simply switching delays.
If you use a standard landline, it has to be routed via whatever infrastructure is in place. This is then sent to an exchange where it is converted into IP packets, adding further delay. This may not actually take place near to the individual's local exchange( and in theory could actually be sent as voice across the atlantic, and then rerouted halfway down the US to be converted to IP before being sent to the Internet connection local to the receiver)

Sylvander is pretty much spot on here - keep both ends the same and you will likely get a better connection. What the local phone exchange and IP conversion set up in the relevant countries is of paramount importance.

[Sylvander]

Hi Ernie.
All I know about "Skype" is what "Computeractive" magazine say about it.
They had an article in the April issue on "Internet Telephony".

CALLSERVE
www.callserve.co.uk
came out best, with 4 stars, in the PC to phone category.
Free software; Pay per call; simplicity the key; disappointing sound quality.
1. Lets you call about any telephone number in the world.
2. Download the software, register your details online.
3. Pre-pay service; buy credit in advance; minimum of £10.
Credit balance prominetly displayed.
4. Last 10 numbers dialled are listed.
5. Add favourite numbers to an address book.
DRAWBACKS
6. Can waste credit, because it does not automatically disconnect if the other caller hangs up.
7. Poor quality. Overlapping voices will produce a stutter-fest of inaudibility and one or other voice will periodically drop away. Just about bearable considering the low cost.

BT BROADBAND VOICE
www.btbroadbandvoice.com
came out best, with 4 stars, in the new-type "phone to phone" that allows the user to plug a standard phone into a broadband internet socket. [so long as it runs at 128 kbits/sec or better]
No PC needed; no 999; restricted international calls.
£7.50 per month + pay per call; hardware cost to be confirmed.
1. Adaptor lets you plug a standard phone into any broadband socket.
2. Dialtone when you lift the handset. Local, National, Overseas.
3. Can plug in a DECT base station and use a cordless handset.
4. Gives you an additional telephone line.
5. Calls out AND in.
6. Local & national calls are free every evening and weekend.
7. Can plug in anywhere in the world at the same call rates.
DOWNSIDE
8. International calls to only 17 countries [will expand with time].
9. Can call mobile phones, but not premium-rate numbers.
10 Cannot call emergency services.

SKYPE
PC to PC; 5 stars; "Try it" recommendation.
1. Specifically designed for internet telephony.
2. Simple interface.
3. A breeze to set up & use.
To make a call, just select a contact from your list, press the big green button.
To answer an incoming call, just click the same green button.
To hang up, just click the red button and the line goes dead with a satisfying clunk.
4. Conference calls with up to 4 others.
5. Text messaging.
6. Call quality SUPERB. [Real audio fidelity]
7. Minimal delay, and no perceptible echo.

[Budfred]

Skype is the next phenomenon from the people who brought you KaZaA. Just like KaZaA, Skype uses P2P (peer-to-peer) technology to connect you to other users – not to share files this time, but to talk and chat with your friends.
This information is enough to suggest that it needs to be avoided like the plague carrier that Kazaa is... since it is free, guess where their revenues are going to come from... I will still help you clean up the mess, but I would rather not have to.....

[stefanus]

Thanx All. I have put it on a floppy and my friend can peruse it at will. ;) :cool:
Stefanus

[Juha H.]

I downloaded Skype today and experimented it with Internet connections between two continents and between my PC and fixed phones. Just amazing! Download it at once and save money. http://www.skype.com/download/