Skype network use tips for long-distance phone calls

Do you want to save money by dialing long-distance calls over the network? Chip will take Skype as an example, from the hardware and software configuration, commissioning, to introduce you how to make a phone call through the network, with online friends voice chat, hold a multiplayer voice conferencing and related use skills to help you understand, use the internet phone.

Currently, Skype is a very popular internet telephony software, unlike previous VoIP software, the software, in addition to providing skypeout services from a computer to a traditional telephone network (PC to phone), has also launched support for traditional phone network calls on computers in Europe, America and Hong Kong. (Phone to PC) SkypeIn service. With the combination of SkypeOut service and SkypeIn service, Skype can provide a service that is no different from the traditional telephone network, but the fees charged by the services are much lower than the traditional telephone. In addition, Skype is also a voice chat function of the highly praised Instant messaging tool, its voice chat features easy to use, good call effect, but also support up to 5 people of multiple voice conferencing and text chat, file transfer and other instant messaging services, and these services are free.

Skype's boom has swept the globe, and today there are hundreds of millions of downloads, which are growing faster and more popular than any other software of its kind ever. At home, although some of the Internet telephony functions such as SkypeIn are still not open, many supporters have been using it every day. If you need a network telephony software that can be dialed to a traditional telephone network, and you want the software to be capable of instant messaging as well as the ability to provide high quality voice chat and support multiple voice conversations, then it's a good choice for you to trust Skype. Below, let's start with the configuration and debugging of the hardware and software needed for Skype, and learn how to use Skype and how to use it.

Download and installation of software

We first need to download and install the Skype software, currently, there are two types of Skype software at home to choose from, one is directly from the Skype Company's Chinese website download and use the official version of Skype, The second is to download Tom Company's version of Tom-skype on the company's Skype website. There is not much difference between the two software functions, both support Chinese language and provide Chinese version, the use of the account is common, users who use different software after login can also exchange. But Skype has official versions of Windows, Linux, Pocket PCs, Mac OS X, and many other operating systems available, and Tom-skype only versions of Windows. The Tom-skype version adds Tom's service link to the main interface and sets up a server for the education network to use. Therefore, for most users who use the Windows operating system, they can choose the software according to their preferences, while users who have restricted access to the Internet need to choose Tom-skype.

The Windows version of Skype software requires the use of a Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system, a central processor of more than 400MHz, or more than a user's computer with audio devices such as sound cards, microphones, headphones, or speakers. More than 128MB of memory and the minimum 33.6Kbps rate of Internet access.

The installation of the software is very simple, you just follow the instructions of the Installation Wizard, you can click "Next" to complete the installation. The default software will run automatically when the installation is complete. First use will open the Create Account dialog box you can enter the username you want to register in the "Select Username" entry box and define the password in the input box below, select the duplicate option to confirm that you have read and accept the end User license, and click the Next button. Enter your profile to complete the registration. Note that in the step of entering your profile, there is a "let Skype search my computer's contact list, and I'm prompted when I find a contact with Skype." If you select this option, the software will automatically be registered, based on your computer's outlook, MSN, and other software contacts list, search for the use of Skype contact person. Select this feature to you can quickly find out who has a friend who is using Skype, but this will take a long time, so you can also leave this option temporarily, and then use the "Import Contacts" button on the software Tools menu to find the Skype users in your contacts.

Hardware configuration Selection

Make a phone call through the network or use voice chat, in addition to software, also need to configure hardware devices. To normal use of computer voice function and to obtain the highest possible quality of the call, the decisive role of the hardware equipment is mainly network access equipment, audio processing and input. The following will be for you in the use of these kinds of hardware equipment requirements, and choose which equipment is more conducive to the quality of the call, but need to note that in the voice chat process, the call on both sides of the device on the quality of the call, in addition to the need to configure their own hardware equipment, You should also instruct your friends who have voice chat on your computer to configure their hardware devices according to the following instructions.

Audio processing equipment

First is the audio processing equipment, the computer audio processing equipment is mainly a sound card, the use of Internet telephony or voice chat function, the sound card is not too harsh requirements, but requires a sound card for a full-duplex sound card, that is, can support the processing of audio input and output data simultaneously, so that you can call Hear each other's reactions while you speak, without having to wait for one side to say the other. At present, most of the sound card support Full-duplex, so, unless your computer is older, otherwise you do not have to care too much about the sound card problem, only need to be in the process of the call to find both sides can not speak at the same time to check both sides of the sound card. But in order to improve the quality of the call as much as possible, it is recommended that you check if the sound card you are using has updated the driver.

Audio input

Audio input, the computer is mainly a microphone, headphones or speakers, speakers, and voice communication the best choice is to use the headset, that is, headset headphones, microphone combination. The headset is designed for voice communication, so the headset and microphone design is particularly suitable for voice communication, and the use of headset, both allows you to empty both hands easy to operate the computer, but also can easily adjust the microphone and mouth distance and angle, and can effectively avoid the output of audio incoming microphone back to the noise. The transmission noise is very affecting the quality of the call, so if you do not have the headset, you should choose as much as possible headphones and external microphone, do not choose speakers, speakers, and adjust the microphone angle and the distance from the mouth.

In addition, if you use a notebook computer, it is recommended that you choose another headset or external headphones, microphone, notebook computer built-in microphone and speakers are not suitable for voice chat, second, most of the poor quality, three design considerations are not comprehensive, most of the microphone and horn design positions are too close.

Internet access Devices

Because of the current network telephony or voice chat software design is relatively excellent, in general, as long as the network line stability, even the use of 33.6Kbps speed modem dial-up access to the Internet, the use of the quality of the call is still good. But if your network environment uses wireless network devices to access, because most of the home users of wireless network devices are relatively backward, so it is recommended that you use the internet phone or voice chat function, as much as possible to switch to the wired network connected to the computer, otherwise, in the use of the process, wireless network equipment may not continue to maintain high-speed transmission, Causes network line interruption and affects call.

Network Telephony equipment

Headset is the best choice for voice communications, but the most convenient use of network telephony is the USB telephone (such as Figure 2), such as network telephony equipment. At present, the most common network telephony devices are USB telephones and network phone partners, most of which are designed for a popular network telephony software, which is used with the corresponding network telephony software, allowing users to dial or answer phones from a telephone using a traditional telephone device. More in line with people's usual use of telephone equipment operating habits, but also to take care of computers do not know a lot of people. For example, a Skype-specific USB phone, when connected to a computer with Skype, can call other Skype users, make calls, and answer calls like a traditional telephone with a phone button. and the network telephone companion can connect the computer after connecting the ordinary telephone handset, realizes with the USB handset similar function.

USB Phone and headset

Setting up and testing the system

After the hardware and software are ready, we need to set up the audio device and, if necessary, modify the network settings such as the firewall open port according to the requirements of the software. Then in the test to confirm the whole system is normal, and then start the official online chat with friends or call, to avoid the system is not normal and waste friends time or waste to call the cost of network calls.

Audio settings

Before using voice chat and dialing a network call, we need to set up the audio device, such as adjusting the input and output volume. Most network telephony software or voice chat software provides the Setup wizard, but you can also click the Start button to select Control Panel, locate sound, voice, and Audio Devices in Control Panel, click Enter to locate sound and audio devices, click Enter to change the settings for your audio device as you want. In the Audio tab you can select the input you want to use and adjust the volume for more detailed settings. After setting up, you can click on the "Start | accessories | Audio Recorder" to simply test the state of the sound equipment.

Network settings

Different network telephony software requires a large number of network settings, but the method is set up in accordance with the software required by the network port, on the firewall to the network hardware and software settings. Skype is a strong firewall capability through the network telephony software, in a variety of complex network environment can still be used, or even restricted to allow the use of only 80 ports, can still be used normally. Skype is not available until the limit is limited to 80 ports and only the HTTP protocol that browses the Web page can be used. So, you can temporarily skip over the network settings, and then set the firewall in the following way if you have a problem.

If Skype doesn't connect to the network properly, you can open the options on the Skype Tools menu, click to switch to the Connection tab on the Options Settings dialog, and view the required connection ports shown above the tabs, and on the firewall software you use, Open the port or alternate 443 port and 80 port for Skype (Figure 3). If you access the Internet through a proxy server, or if you are using a more restrictive approach, but you have access to other proxy servers, you can also use the "Connection" tab to set up a HTTPS/SSL proxy server to connect using Skype via a proxy server.

Test system

For most network telephony software and voice chat software, only simple tests can be done after being set up, and the validity of the validation system will still be tested by actual use. But the use of Skype does not need to work with other people to use the actual test, just click the "Tools" menu, choose "Add Friends", add the test account provided by the service provider, you can fully test the voice function is normal, you can also test whether other users can normally call you and communicate with you.

If you want to use the English test system, you can click on the "Tools" menu, choose "Add Friends" (Figure 4), add Skype account for "echo123" friends to test, if you want to listen to Mandarin female test, you can add Friends "Echo-chinese", male can add friends " Testyuyin ". When you add a call to the buddy, the system will voice you through the microphone, and playback, to help you test whether the input and output of the audio device is supported, but also to test the software-related setup options. If you want to test whether the network settings are normal and if someone else can call you, you can also send text messages with "Call me" to these friends, who will be calling you right away and repeating voice prompts to help you test your audio device.

Network Connections

How to use

When everything is ready, we can start using Skype to make phone calls and chat with friends. Here's how you can use Skype to dial a landline, live voice chat, and use a multiple-person voice conferencing feature. As for the addition of friends, file transfer, text chat and other functions, because they are well-known instant messaging services, and Skype is the name of the Easy-to-use software, so this part of the use of the function is not introduced.

Online voice Chat

One of the main reasons why Skype has become so popular is that it's easy to use and meets the user's usual habit of using telephony devices. The software mainly relies on the main interface below the two buttons to operate, the two buttons corresponding to the traditional telephone picking machine and hanging machine function, after adding friends, you just click the name of the friend and click on the green button on the left, you can call friends (Figure 5). When a friend calls you, you can also click the button to answer the call. In the end of the call, click on the right Red hanging machine button, you can close the call. Or when someone else calls you, you don't want to answer or you can click the button to abort the caller.

In addition, type the name of the buddy in the input box below the main interface, or you can call each other. You can also use the right mouse button to click the name of the friend, select "Allocate Speed dial", and then assign a number to the friend, you can later in the main interface below the input box to type the number to quickly call friends. When you have purchased and installed a USB phone and other devices, you can also use the keys on the USB phone dial the number to call friends.

Multi-person Voice conference

Using Skype to support voice conferencing for up to 5 people is also very simple, and you can do multiple voice chats in a variety of ways. First you can click the "Tools" menu and choose "Create a meeting" then, on the Launch conference Call dialog box that pops up, enter the subject name of the meeting and select the friends who will be invited to participate in the meeting (Figure 6), and then click the "Start" button, and Skype calls these friends and invites them to join the meeting you are hosting. After they have received your call, they will be added to the meeting. Second, you can also hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard, click the name of the buddy who participates in the meeting, and then click the Call button at the bottom of the Skype main interface to quickly start a conference call.

When you are in a meeting and want to add other participants to the meeting, you can select the person you want to add to the meeting from the list of contacts, click the Call button, or right-click and select Invite to the meeting to add the buddy to the current meeting. Please note that you can only add new participants when you are the host of the meeting.

In addition, since the Skype conference uses Peer-to-peer technology, it is important for the moderator to have a stable Internet connection and a computer with good performance. If you plan to have meetings with multiple participants, you should choose the person with the best Internet connection as the creator of the meeting.

Dial a fixed number

Using Skype to dial a traditional telephone network, if you dial a toll-free number around the world, such as 800 in the United States, you can make a free call, and other calls require a skypeout service, which allows you to lower your call costs, Access to traditional telephone networks around the world via Skype. You can click on the SkypeOut in the service bar under the main Skype interface, enter the Skype website, log in and recharge your Skype account, and open the SkypeOut service, which supports credit cards including domestic banks such as China Merchants Bank. In addition, Tom and Skype are currently offering skypeout services, the use of Skype and frequent visits to these sites, during the event according to the home page guide, you can obtain a certain amount of skypeout service costs.

After opening the SkypeOut service, you only need to type the number in the input box below the main screen of the Skype software, or click to switch to the Dialing tab, enter the number as a button phone through the number button, and then click the Call button at the bottom of the main interface to call out. But unlike the usual way to make a phone call, you need to dial like an international long-distance call, for example, call Beijing telephone number "88888888" fixed telephone, you need to enter "country code + the code + each other's phone number", that is, "00861088888888", which "0086" Is China's country code, "10" is Beijing's area code, "88888888" is the telephone number. Call the phone number "13988888888", you should enter the "country code + each other's mobile phone number" to dial, that is, dial "008613988888888".