Skype...anybody use this service?

[captcraig2 120]

Do any of you guys use Skype? I'm trying to find the best internet phone service available. I need to figure a way where I can make calls to the States on a regular basis for business, any advice?

[MC_Ldop 40]

It really depends on what kind of bandwidth you have. I use both Skype and Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Skype generally works better, but is more expensive than Y! Messenger. I've called US numbers (both landline and mobile) from Thailand with pretty good success. It just depends on your connection.

 

Now, if your clients use Skype, that makes it much easier. Skype to Skype calls are free and the call quality is better than Skype to landline.

[LordFlash 45]

I use Skype and apart from dropping out occasionally the quality is great. You have to have a good reliable connection though if it is for business.

Reliable? In Thailand? Ummm maybe not!

 

LF

[captcraig2 120]

How about Sawasdee talk?

[papillon 695]

I talk to my girl in the Philippines twice a day.

 

I only use Skype as a backup service.

 

For me, over the past @ 30 days the quality of calls on Skype has been abysmal. No exaggeration, it's been terrible. I have good quality broadband connection available to me and I know that's not the issue.

 

The cost of Skype calls has been steadily increasing also. Whilst still cheap, it is by no means the cheapest anymore.

 

Skype to Skype is free but the vast majority of my calls are 'Skype Out' calls, ie my Skype handset to my Girl's cell phone.

 

About 6 months ago I bought an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter) made by Zoom. I plug my regular home telephone into this to make and receive calls.

 

The quality of the call is exceptional. Full Duplex (Two way conversations without having to wait for one person to stop talking before the other starts talking, basically).

 

The people I buy credit from are called Voipcheap.com. Calls are very cheap.

 

I can take the ATA with me on my travels and use it anywhere with a hardwired internet connection.

 

Skype have gotten too big too fast imho and their service is lacking as a result.

[MC_Ldop 40]

Why do you use a Skype handset? From all the reviews I've read, none of them are that good.

[Eneukman 1]

I use Skype as well but last Sunday when my brother phoned, it was very poor and not helped by incompent TOT's broadband service going down for a few minutes.

 

It can be very good though.

 

Alan

[friendlyric6411 0]

Lord flash do you arriganate from the uk grimsby

[papillon 695]

Why do you use a Skype handset? From all the reviews I've read, none of them are that good.

 

I don't like headsets, that's why I use a USB handset.

 

What do you use?

[MrMango 667]

I was in the VOIP business, helping setting up a service for Oz, and in my opinion, using VOIP in LOS is unrealistic. Whenever I tested it using a home broadband connection, the packet loss and delays simply could not give you a reliable connection, not to mention all the times that the Broadband was down.

[superdot 0]

I have one of those ATA devices. Tried it but decided it was too confusing with the mix of landline and skype calls from the same handset - besides I actually prefer using a headset with skype - so if anyone's interested it's for sale 1,500 baht (paid 2,500 - sticker price still on the box) - all in original box as new. Anyone interested send me a PM. I'm in Pattaya.

[barry_bonds 1]

I use skype service, usually from cell phone to cell phone. I've purchased a skype number in the city/state that I'm from (in USA) and basically, when family or friends call my skype number...all of those calls are automatically forwared to my voicemail. This gives me freedom of not being tied to my computer. When I make international calls back to the USA, I'll tell family or friends to call me back on my skype number. IMHO, the quality of the calls are better than skyping-out from a computer, but not better than computer-to-computer, sometimes though it is so clear that it is quite shocking...but do expect some lag response time during the beginning of the call and some, not frequent disconnects, as you would expect with cell phones.

 

I don't really know what costs more, paying in baht for international calls (refilling my Thailand sim card) or paying for skype-out calls on my skype account (cheap local rates); however, I'm assuming it is cheaper and I know it is much more convenient than having to refill my sim card, very so often.

 

To papillon:

it may be of some interest to you to set-up a Phillipine local line, so your girlfriend can call, for a similar effect and convenience, as I have stated above...

Edited February 25, 2007 by barry_bonds

[MrMango 667]

I have one of those ATA devices. Tried it but decided it was too confusing with the mix of landline and skype calls from the same handset - besides I actually prefer using a headset with skype - so if anyone's interested it's for sale 1,500 baht (paid 2,500 - sticker price still on the box) - all in original box as new. Anyone interested send me a PM. I'm in Pattaya.

It's actually quite difficult setting up a ATA box to a different network. Most are locked, like cell phones, and you must also set up all of the IP addresses necessary to operate on their network.

[LordFlash 45]

Lord flash do you arriganate from the uk grimsby

 

Uk yes but Grimsby No. Never really been a fan of fish.......

 

Any reason you ask?

 

LF

Edited February 26, 2007 by LordFlash

[MM 6,562]

I was in the VOIP business, helping setting up a service for Oz, and in my opinion, using VOIP in LOS is unrealistic. Whenever I tested it using a home broadband connection, the packet loss and delays simply could not give you a reliable connection, not to mention all the times that the Broadband was down.

 

Works fine for me here in Pattaya. Only problem is when I call my mother...she's still used to AT&T voice quality (CBR rather than VBR or VOIP). She doesn't like cell phone calls either . Other callee's seem fine with the quality and delay characteristics.

[MrMango 667]

Works fine for me here in Pattaya. Only problem is when I call my mother...she's still used to AT&T voice quality (CBR rather than VBR or VOIP). She doesn't like cell phone calls either . Other callee's seem fine with the quality and delay characteristics.

How often is your broadband down? When I tried to use it in Jomtiem, it was down for days at a time, making the phone useless. The telephone standards is 99.999% (5 nines) reliability, which means about 5 minutes per year downtime. Until VOIP gets to this level in up times and delays and packet loss, it will be a toy, not a serious business tool, IMHO, of course.

[don_dadda 0]

How often is your broadband down? When I tried to use it in Jomtiem, it was down for days at a time, making the phone useless. The telephone standards is 99.999% (5 nines) reliability, which means about 5 minutes per year downtime. Until VOIP gets to this level in up times and delays and packet loss, it will be a toy, not a serious business tool, IMHO, of course.

I cant speak for Thailand, but I use to work for a US telco that provided VOIP. Our standard was 5 9's, with "self healing networks" and a whole bunch of other nerd jargon we got close but never quite made it.

[papillon 695]

It's actually quite difficult setting up a ATA box to a different network. Most are locked, like cell phones, and you must also set up all of the IP addresses necessary to operate on their network.

 

Mine wasn't locked, nor are the ones available in retail outlets.

 

Mine has a DHCP client built in.

 

Took me about 10 mins to set up. Enter the username, password and server address provided to you by whatever service provider you choose and that's it, done!

[MM 6,562]

How often is your broadband down? When I tried to use it in Jomtiem, it was down for days at a time, making the phone useless. The telephone standards is 99.999% (5 nines) reliability, which means about 5 minutes per year downtime. Until VOIP gets to this level in up times and delays and packet loss, it will be a toy, not a serious business tool, IMHO, of course.

 

There are outages sometimes...especially if it rains and the power lines start sparking and shorting (as they frequently do here). Then all the network gear goes down and we lose connectivity. It's nowhere near 5 9's but when it works (which is probably 95% of the time), it works fine.

 

This is Thailand and sometimes things don't work. Big deal, wait a bit and they will...mai bpen arai. Now if they could only eliminate that pesky 15 hour time difference to the western USA, I'd be really happy.

[AZZZEY68 0]

Skype free 5000 mins on 3G UK to skype worldwide www.three.co.uk

[captcraig2 120]

I wonder what regular telephone rates would be for calling the States on a regular basis (15 calls per day)? sounds like even though they may be more expensive it might be a more relible way to go.

[superdot 0]

It's actually quite difficult setting up a ATA box to a different network. Most are locked, like cell phones, and you must also set up all of the IP addresses necessary to operate on their network.

 

Not at all. I think you're misunderstanding the device. It has 3 plugs - one goes to your standard phone wall plug, one goes to your phone and one goes to the USB of your PC. You can now make calls with your phone as always, or with skype using your phone by starting the call pressing the '*' button. No IP to configure, nothing to lock or unlock, all you need is standard Skype working on your PC.

[MC_Ldop 40]

I don't like headsets, that's why I use a USB handset.

 

What do you use?

 

I use two pairs of Plantronics headsets (not at the same time). I have a full-size pair with big puffy ears for home use; I've used the set for more than an hour and it's totally comfortable. I also have a foldable set that I bring on the road.

[papillon 695]

Not at all. I think you're misunderstanding the device. It has 3 plugs - one goes to your standard phone wall plug, one goes to your phone and one goes to the USB of your PC. You can now make calls with your phone as always, or with skype using your phone by starting the call pressing the '*' button. No IP to configure, nothing to lock or unlock, all you need is standard Skype working on your PC.

 

From what you say, it seems like your ATA is for Skype only?

 

What's the make and model number? I'd like to take a look at that.

 

I use my ATA with.....

 

http://www.voipcheap.co.uk/en/splash_skype.html

 

or

 

http://www.voipcheap.com/en/splash_skype.html

 

 

 

To papillon:

it may be of some interest to you to set-up a Phillipine local line, so your girlfriend can call, for a similar effect and convenience, as I have stated above...

 

Barry, I would like to be able to do as you do, unfortunately there are no landlines where my girl lives, only cellular.

 

Her island just got wired to the National Grid last November, lol.

[MC_Ldop 40]

Just made a bunch of calls with Skype and Y! Messenger at an Internet cafe (have a sleeping lady in the room). According to Speedtest.net, my bandwidth is 365/1,673 kbps (up/down). The call quality was pretty good. I heard the people I called quite clearly. They reported some tinnyness on my end, but nothing that made it difficult to understand what I was saying.