Skype video calls -- do they work?

[pwabrahams]

I tried to make a video call in Skype. As soon as the connection was made, the entire Skype window vanished, and it seemed as though the task died. What experience have other people had with Skype video calls?

[dibl]

Re: Skype video calls -- do they work?

I have found the Windows version to be (a) more reliable, and (b) less of a "virus", when run from a Windows VM on a Linux OS.

[GreyGeek]

Re: Skype video calls -- do they work?

Skype works flawless for me, in both the video call mode and in the audio conference mode.

I especially like the "Share Screen" mode which allows me to watch a user's screen and direct their activities. I support a couple dozen people and watching them and directing their mouse ("go up 3 inches and 2 to the left ... there! That blue button! Click it!")

There is one aspect of Skype on Linux you should be aware of. When you start Skype, Skype frequently starts a "supernode", i.e., makes your computer a server for traffic of other Skype users, after you've left it in the system tray for a while. You'll notice it because your Internet bandwidth can appear to drop by a forth or more, depending on your bandwidth. So, I do not start Skype until I am ready to use it. When I am done using it I quit it and make sure I remove it from the system tray as well. (Right mouse on it and chose "Quit").

The Windows version of Skype has a toggle button to prevent the supernode from occuring.

[NoWorries]

Re: Skype video calls -- do they work?

I am not sure if this is relevant to your problem, but recently I have also been having trouble with Linux Skype crashing and behaving erratically. What I found was that our Son in the UK had upgraded to the latest Windows version of Skype, I think it was 5.1. With all the problems we were having he ended up replacing it with Skype 4.2 and all is now working well. So at the moment the latest version of Windows Skype is U/S and gives Linux Skype problems when connecting.

BTW I did compare the images we get and Linux Skype gives as good a quality as Windows Skype for similar web-cams.

[pwabrahams]

Why is it different for me?

Skype works flawless for me, in both the video call mode and in the audio conference mode.

There is one aspect of Skype on Linux you should be aware of. When you start Skype, Skype frequently starts a "supernode", i.e., makes your computer a server for traffic of other Skype users, after you've left it in the system tray for a while. You'll notice it because your Internet bandwidth can appear to drop by a forth or more, depending on your bandwidth. So, I do not start Skype until I am ready to use it. When I am done using it I quit it and make sure I remove it from the system tray as well. (Right mouse on it and chose "Quit").

I'm running Skype Beta Version 2.1.0.81 under Kubuntu 10.10, but my results are very different. Skype doesn't minimize to the system tray -- if I set the option for that and restart Skype, there's no icon for it anywhere on my screen, but ps confirms that it's running. In addition, if I try to start the program again, it tells me that there's another instance running.

In addition, when I try running it in Windows XP under Virtual Box, it gives me the error message "Skype has encountered a problem and has to close" when I try to log in.

And, as I described in my original post, Skype quits abruptly when I make a video call, at the moment of connection. The same thing happens when I try the test available via the Skype options. Yet a couple of days ago that test worked correctly!!

So I wonder why my results are so much worse than yours.

[GreyGeek]

Re: Skype video calls -- do they work?

I do NOT have desktop effects enabled because my mid to low end video chip acceleration SLOWS down if I do. If you have desktop effects enabled turn it off and see what happens.

Another problem Skype users have is that they fire more than one instance of skype. If that happens (you'll see more than one Skype icon in the system tray) you won't be able to log into Skype, or if you had automatic login the second instance won't be able to log in.

Regarding crashing when your video starts, there are reports of that happening with some webcams: http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=122401

What web cam are you using?

[tomcloyd]

Re: Skype video calls -- do they work?

I suggest you might want to try an alternative, to which I have switched, from Skype: Google video chat, which is an addon to GMail chat. I have found it to be far more reliable. With a headset, to isolate speaker output from microphone input so there is NO echo (which I believe increases bandwidth, while decreasing clarity of audio), I finally have virtually perfect video conferences with my clients. These typically last 90 minutes, and we have NO problems for the duration of the call. Skype NEVER worked this well for me. The fullscreen video option is especially nice - it makes the call almost like an in-person visit.

I didn't find setup to be as easy as with Skype, however. You definitely have to test your hardware to make sure it's working right (use GMail > settings > chat > voice and video chat > verify your settings). But when the test functions say you're ready for the call, you are. It always works.

I'm totally delighted with THIS software. Skype NEVER worked this well for me.

[pwabrahams]

Desktop effects; multiple instances

I do NOT have desktop effects enabled because my mid to low end video chip acceleration SLOWS down if I do. If you have desktop effects enabled turn it off and see what happens.

I've had desktop effects disabled all along for just that reason.

Another problem Skype users have is that they fire more than one instance of skype. If that happens (you'll see more than one Skype icon in the system tray) you won't be able to log into Skype, or if you had automatic login the second instance won't be able to log in.

I don't get even a single instance in the system tray. That's part of my problem.

Regarding crashing when your video starts, there are reports of that happening with some webcams: http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=122401

What web cam are you using?

I'm using the builtin webcam on my Asus K60IJ. Until recently it had a nasty problem: the image was upside down, not just for Skype but for cheese, etc. However, that's been fixed in a recent update. I wonder if the fact that the video test button was working but now causes termination could be due to a recent update.

And by the way, is there a way to find what caused the crash? There's nothing in /var/log/messages.

[oshunluvr]

Re: Skype video calls -- do they work?

Yes.

Camera needs to be linux compatable, driver installed, skype setup properly.

I have a desktop using Logitech C200, HP Mini laptop using built-in cam, HP ZD7010US using built-in cam - all skype video working.

[pwabrahams]

Camera compatibility

Camera needs to be linux compatable, driver installed, skype setup properly.

I assume that if cheese works, the camera is compatible and the driver is installed, right? What kinds of errors in Skype setup are possible, assuming the skype package has been installed with Synaptic?

[oshunluvr]

Re: Skype video calls -- do they work?

In my experience, if cheese works - so did skype.

Webcams are the "modems" of this decade. Three decades ago, modems we the finickiest point in a system. Then it was video cards, audio cards, etc. It will take a few more years before standards are settled. Usually, it seems one retailer will forge ahead with one particular sub-system and the smaller makers will follow out of sheer market response. Often this leads to enough compatibility that the drivers become easier to manage.

For the record; I do have desktop effects enabled (except on the Mini) and I have had no problems communicating with Windows versions either.

I would suspect a problem that may not be Skype caused, but may be affecting skype. I'd suggest starting with re-booting (skype not launched at boot-up), turning off as many unnecessary services as possible, then launch skype from a terminal so you can see the output.

You should get some error output when you connect and get a crash.

[jeremy1701]

Re: Skype video calls -- do they work?

Skype works fine for me, although I prefer to use chat on gmail. When you run it from the command line, what errors do you get when the screen vanished?

[GreyGeek]

Re: Camera compatibility

.....
I assume that if cheese works, the camera is compatible and the driver is installed, right? What kinds of errors in Skype setup are possible, assuming the skype package has been installed with Synaptic?

That's been my experience. What kinds of errors? camera doesn't work, and/or sound doesn't work, too slow, crashes, won't start... the list is long.

I am running 2.1.0.81 from the repository.

[pwabrahams]

Errors: video test does nothing, skype bombs on video calls, no icon in panel

I have two categories of errors: video problems and system tray problems.

Video: if I go into the video test and press the test button, there's no response. If I click it rapidly a couple of times, I get a gray screen that I can get out of with the Esc key. But at that point, Skype has grabbed the camera so that cheese doesn't work. After getting out of the Skype options, cheese works again. In addition, if I try to make a video call, Skype simply quits and disappears from the screen at the moment the video should be starting.

Although I never got the calls to work, the Skype video test did work until about a week ago. I have no idea what changes caused it to stop working; I update my system regularly.

In addition there' s the problem that when Skype should be minimizing to the system tray, i.e., the panel, the small Skype icon is nowhere to be seen -- not on the panel, not anywhere else. So at that point there's no way to get into Skype, even though ps indicates that it's alive and if I start it from the command line I'm told that there's another instance running.

[NoWorries]

Re: Skype video calls -- do they work?

I have and ASUS F3Jr which does not have the performance of the K60IJ but I find the performance of the inbuilt 1.3M pixel camera substandard. I now use the Logitech Vision Pro for Mac which has built-in drivers for video and audio and therefore does not require any extra software driver in the operating system. I have no problems when using it with Skype. The image that our Son gets from us in the UK when calling from Australia is attached. He gets a 640x480 pixel image. Recently I accidentally had the Laptop camera selected and he complained immediately.

I find that the problems with Skype are more related to web-cams being incompatible with Linux drivers. I have learned from bitter experience to make sure that the web-cam is compatible. Hope you are prepared to invest in a new web-cam and, like me, can treat the web-cam on your laptop as decoration.