Video Chat Problems

[chewyryce]

things that i have running and are working:
- Logitech C910 HD webcam
- Logitech Z-5500 5.1 sound system
- SoundMAX audio drivers.

Running:
- Win7 64bit
- MSN Messenger

the problem:
whenever i use msn to video chat to anyone. i have tried on about 3-4 people now. the other person can see and hear me. i can see the other person but cannot hear. i have gone through the settings and tested out the speakers and what not and they all work. but i dont get any sound from the other person. ive searched around the net but cannot seem to find a fix yet. maybe im just not looking hard enough? its probably a simple fix but im sure someone out there has had this problem or knows how to fix this?

things that work:
- normal windows sounds
- music and sound from movies and streaming videos
- i can hear myself talk though the mic


Thanks. Chewy

[phildough]

I have come across problems with the Soundmax onboard sound card before.
I would try hunting for the latest Soundmax Blackhawk sound drivers,
If you cant find windows 7 one download the latest Vista ones and run as administrator when you install them.
I have installed them on my laptop and desktop as they both use a similar sound chip and they have greatly improved the sound quality.
I hope they may fix your issue as my GF's laptop could not see the mic input untill I installed the blackhawk drivers.

The best thing about these drivers is the sonic focus control panel as it increases the sound quality heaps,

If you can't find them PM me and I will find a link for the ones im using.

[chicaboo]

Oh, there is a stupid checkbox in the SoundMAX GUI options that does this. Sorry I don't remember exactly where it is, but from memory it has to do with [automatically?] muting the microphone or microphones detection. So you need to look for something along those lines. When you find it, you will shake your fist in the air at SoundMAX... :p

Gav.

[chewyryce]

@ Phil - I havnt tried the Blackhawk yet but i have done a self video call using skype and it played back sound that i recorded and i could hear myself fine...

@ Gav. i see mic but it doesnt seem to be on mute??

Also i asked my boss and he said i might need to port forward MSN to allow incoming calls :S. i hate port forwarding because its annoying. but i shall give that a go and maybe try Blackhawk on the weekend.

thanks :)

Chewy

[chicaboo]

I think the option you are looking for is "jack sensor detection". Anyhow, that used to kill the mics and/or headphones on the PCs running SoundMAX where I used to work. From memory this option was nested under a pop-up options box. Or it could be what your boss said? :confused: :p

Gav.

[chewyryce]

yeah ive got that "jack sensor detection" on. but i dont see how the mic is related to the caller's sound? shouldnt the sound from the other caller play through the speakers naturally?

[chicaboo]

Have you unchecked the jack sensor detection, or changed it from what it was to see if it makes any difference? There is also another set up options relating to the mic in Window's Sound Properties. That's something else you could look at.

Gav.

[chewyryce]

yeah its not unchecked as yesterday i plugged in my earphones into the front jack and the detection worked.. when i unplugged the earphones the sound goes back to the speakers.. i havnt tried using earphones while using video call. i have noticed that the sound options in windows and in soundmax are very limited and i have tried a lot of different ways. i think i'll just upload some screens of the options that i have for you to see. maybe when i get home from work.

Chewy

[chewyryce]

UPDATE.
ok so it turns out that if i call someone this is what happens:
- they can see and hear me
- i can see but cant hear them

IF they call me:
- they can see and hear me
- i can see AND hear them...

whats with that. technology frustrates me :(

[phildough]

What sort of internet do you have?
run a speed test at http://www.speedtest.net and see what sort of speed you are getting.
Insufficient bandwidth may cause this.

[chewyryce]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/998349894.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

[bourbon]

your uploads are down a bit...

ours here at work

http://www.speedtest.net/result/998357245.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

[wheeler33]

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/4540/lolgwu.jpg

:) both of yours seem down

try using another program such as skype, if the problem still persists, you know its hardware/connection. if it works fine. its MSN. thus you boot msn. :) troubleshoot

[chewyryce]

@ wheeler - holy crap thats a good connection. skype works fine. i just installed that 2011 messenger live thing this morning so i'll give that a go. but how come the uploads are so low? and are you running cable or something? :P

[Clean_Cookie]

:( http://www.speedtest.net/result/998706807.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

optus is slow...but msn video calling etc works for me?

[wheeler33]

I work for Cisco, so you can imagine the uber speeds. Yeah well its something to do with the MSN stupid messenger. You rule out hardware, now you just gotta fix msn!

[RustyKaos]

Heres mine just for the hell of it. Running ADSL2+ but here we are on the edge of 2 exchanges so it doesn't get any better. :(

http://www.speedtest.net/result/999878115.png (http://www.speedtest.net)