RETIREDHSTEACHER
EASTERN L.I.
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Joined: 03/15/2005
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Arborist wrote:I use Skype 2.8 for Mac (leopard) You will need a usb headset like the one pictured here:
Plantronics
Since the input on a Mac is for a powered microphone a regular headset boom mike won't work! The Plantronics headset comes with a USB dongle that acts as a sound card and pre amps the microphone. (found this out after trying to use two regular headsets)
The sound quality is better the farther away you make your calls to.
For $2.95 a month I got rid of my land line and cut my cell minute usage in half.
Of course you have to have your computer running to send and receive calls.
I get emails when I have a message waiting.
Over a good wifi connection, this setup works quite well.
Your milage may vary.
Best,
Arborist
I'm so happy you made this post because the headset was the next thing I was going to research. Is there a way to make it so my wife and I can listen at the same time? Maybe just use a microphone to talk and use the computer's speaker to listen?
I went the wi-fi way for many years but the FL state parks that I stay at in the keys in the winter had no wi-fi. I even went so far as to set up a big yagi antenna but you can't get wi-fi through anything with water in it like leaves so I finally bit the bullet and got Verizon's USB modem. I'm now going to check out plantronics.
Ed
[b/]2005 Sierra 2500 Duramax HD 4WD EXT Cab SLT
2006 Jayco Eagle 29RLTS
TTT Mirrors
Pullrite 16K Superglide
Garmin 7200 GPS
BrakeSmart
Mor-ryde Pin Box
60 gal. aux. fuel tank-toolbox combo
Porta-Bote- RV brackets on side of RV
and many more additions.
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texasbaskets
Frisco, TX
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Joined: 10/06/2003
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I use Skype on three different computers, one of those our G4 iBook with Leopard. We do video on the iBook as well although it is a bit choppy. If you connect on battery power, first change the processor settings to "best performance" to get the best results. The one computer where I have to go through a Proxy server has the worst Skype performance although it's the most capable of the three.
When I have a choice, I'll use the Mac.  
BTW, we have the 2.95$/month unlimited US and Canada plan.
Cheers.
Michael, Kay, and Prissy (The vicious Malti-Poo)
'05 Coachmen SportsCoach SE 372DS a.k.a. "Mana's Cabana"
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Wildcatbrownhound
Smyrna Tn
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 I too have been looking at turning off my home phone. I dont think it has rung in about 2 weeks now. In order to have 24 hour phone service on Skype and MJ dont you have to leave the PC on all the time? When you turn off you PC wouldnt you loose the service. I am assuming when you turned the PC back on the service would return. I have been looking at the MJ for some time and have been trying to find the catch on having something that works this good for this little money. This post is the first I have seen on the Skype. I always heard if it is too good to be true it usually is.
 2008 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Alison Ext.Cab. Longbed LineX Prodigy Dashhawk
Wildcat 24RL 5er Reese
1971 Chevrolet Custom 10 Deluxe
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Arborist
Tacoma
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Sound Source is a small app that lets you switch between input / output without going to system preferences:
Sound Source
So you can have the mike as an input and your external speakers as the output.
When you plug in the USB device you will have to set it up in Sound, system preferences once to test the Digital input volume. (1/2 to 3/4 of the way is best) to test the microphone. The Plantronics Audio 400 DSB sells for $79 dollars on the Plantronics site, butI bought mine from Buy.com for $41.34 with free shipping.
Here's the link:
Buy.com
And if you want to test for voip speeds heres the test page:
Voip Test
Best of luck,
Arborist
* This post was
edited 08/30/09 06:53pm by Arborist *
"If hard work were such a wonderful thing, surely the rich would have kept it all to themselves." - Lane Kirkland
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RETIREDHSTEACHER
EASTERN L.I.
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Wow, once again, I thank you.
I spent several hours looking for a Skype phone that I could put on speaker or a speaker phone and couldn't come up with anything that would work with a MAC. One said it would work if I have an Intel processor. I have to find out if I have one. I went on to a Mac-Skype forum and many said they were having problems.
I'm going to follow your suggestions and see if I can get it working. I bought my first Mac a month ago and have been learning ever since. (I've had PCs since 1991 but I'm far from an expert.) When I bought the MAC I purchased the one-on-one instruction for $100/yr. If I can't get it going, I'm going to take it to the Apple Store and I'm sure they will do their best to help me.
Re: sound source, Do I need external speakers or can I use the internal speakers in the MAC?
Ed
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Arborist
Tacoma
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If you have a Macbook, yes. My Mac Pro (tower) doesn't have internal speakers. In fact with the MacBook you can use both the internal mike and internal speakers and it works quite well.
You just look funny talking to your laptop!
Arborist
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texasbaskets
Frisco, TX
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Joined: 10/06/2003
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RETIREDHSTEACHER wrote:Wow, once again, I thank you.
I spent several hours looking for a Skype phone that I could put on speaker or a speaker phone and couldn't come up with anything that would work with a MAC. One said it would work if I have an Intel processor. I have to find out if I have one. I went on to a Mac-Skype forum and many said they were having problems.
I'm going to follow your suggestions and see if I can get it working. I bought my first Mac a month ago and have been learning ever since. (I've had PCs since 1991 but I'm far from an expert.) When I bought the MAC I purchased the one-on-one instruction for $100/yr. If I can't get it going, I'm going to take it to the Apple Store and I'm sure they will do their best to help me.
Re: sound source, Do I need external speakers or can I use the internal speakers in the MAC?
Ed
I don't hook up anything to my iBook when I use Skype. I use the internal speakers and built in microphone.
Skype 2.8 for Mac OSX.
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RETIREDHSTEACHER
EASTERN L.I.
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Making progress.
About a month ago I decided to get the 20" iMAC because the whole computer is in the monitor which makes it easy to transfer from home to RV and back. (See specs. below) I probably should have mentioned this right in the beginning as it would have made replies easier.
I just ordered this to make the transfers between home and RV easier-
Back-pack/carrying case
I also ordered the headset recommended by Arborist. When it comes in I'm going to download Skype and the sound source app. I think this app is going to be just what I need to be able to switch from listening with the headset to using the computer speakers. Will let you know how I make out.
Ed
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac9,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: IM91.008D.B08
SMC Version (system): 1.44f0
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creeper
Richmond Hill, Georgia
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Joined: 12/22/2003
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RETIREDHSTEACHER wrote:Making progress.
I also ordered the headset recommended by Arborist. When it comes in I'm going to download Skype and the sound source app. I think this app is going to be just what I need to be able to switch from listening with the headset to using the computer speakers. Will let you know how I make out.
Ed
I never use a headset. I video conference with multiple people at a time. Just no need for it.
When I want to change source input/outputs I just use the system preference panel.
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Arborist
Tacoma
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Retiredhsteacher,
You have plenty of power with that Imac. I'm a transplant from East Meadow, LI, live here in Tacoma, WA for six months then Apache Junction, AZ for the Winter.
See you on the road.
Best,
Arborist
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