8 replies to this topic

[scubaski]

Skype: Do You use Skype for communication?


You should add this to your travel tools if possible.

I purchased a net book a few months ago and 1 of the bundled programs was Skype. I’ve heard of them for video calling and a VoIP ( Voice over Internet Protocol) provider but just didn’t bother with the program. I traveled with net book to Bonaire, Roatan and Cozumel where I used my cell phone to call home about every other day to check in with my family that all was well on home front and that I was still breathing air above sea level. Estimate about 6 - 8 minutes of quick phone calls on each trip, estimate about $20 per trip for calls.

LSD group was heading to Utila in November and I decided to enroll into Skype. Enrollment was easy, took about 15 minutes and I purchased the minimally amount of credit $10 good for 1 year to be able to make international voice calls. At the resort I needed to find the sweet spot for getting on the internet wireless router ( porch of room 30’ from router) and started using Skype, made about 9 calls for a total of about 12 minutes. 3 of the calls had bad connections, too much echo, volume too low but I just redialed and usually got a much better connection. Total cost of these 9 calls from Utila to the USA $2.20.

I’ve also used Skype to phone from home to Aruba and St. Martin to inquire about reservations and saved many dollars vs. Verizon long distance international calls.

Skype will be my initial go to telephone service for international travel communication providing I have internet service.

If you have Skype and a web cam perhaps we could make a trail video call, a feature I have yet to try.
Thanks All,
Ss

[Fordan]

I'm a big fan of Skype. One thing to be aware of is that some telephone companies and countries overseas (Belize jumps to mind) block access to force you to use their telephony service. If you have a VPN with Internet access (such as for work), this usually gets around such issues.

[Xcelratr]

When I was in Japan for several months at the beginning of the year, I used Skype to talk to my parents. Had no connection issues, but Japan clearly has first-rate high speed internet.

I never paid a cent, not to sign up for the service or to make any calls. It was awesome.

[peterbj7]

I used to use both Vonage and Skype here in Belize, but then they were both blocked (illegally) by the monopoly service provider. They also blocked the more popular VPNs that people started using to get around the block.

That has now been nationalised and slowly the service is improving. Having tried several different VPNs, all of which worked fine outside Belize but most of which didn't work satisfactorily inside the country, I now use one of the services provided by Witopia. I forget which it's called, but if you look at their website they refer specifically to the Belize problem and how they've got around it. They really have, and it works 100%. Interestingly, I've used it in other countries and found that using the VPN call quality is greatly improved. You can choose your server from a range of many in several countries, and I generally use London. That way I can watch BBC television on-line, as they think I'm in the UK! Subject to bandwidth restrictions, of course.

I'd like to re-activate my Vonage, but to route that through my VPN requires hardware that I haven't got and am too mean to buy! Actually it's difficult to get here and disproportionately expensive. But Skype works well, albeit I don't have a phone number.

[Moose]

With the traveling that I get to do, I’m always looking for the “next big thing” in telephony. What I find is that skype is weak, but the most accepted.

I would recommend Voxalot over skype, https://www.voxalot.com/action/home It’s a much better program, 100% free (but you can upgrade.) You can choose the client of your choice (many are also 100% free.)

This is the only one I use. But, what I find is that internet connectivity is almost always a problem (at least where I travel.) Cell phones are really popular in most countries and work extremely well. I got to a point where the premium for the cell phone was WELL worth the quality of the call, the simplicity, and the easy of use.

In Iraq, I gave up on all VOIP systems and just made calls on the cell phone. What I found was that a short cell call with my friends and loved ones was WAY more rewarding then trying to have a conversation with lag, spotty audio, echo, and a whole host of other problems. In fact, most of the conversation is saying “hello, are you still there? Can you hear me?”

Like all things, you get what you pay for.

[Racer184]

Or you could try the telephone company that SingleDivers.com uses.......

WreckWench recently had discussions on getting a group discount rate on phone service for SingleDivers.com members.

Wait a few days ..... perhaps she will be making an announcement on that subject.

[peterbj7]

My last post was deleted! It said that using Witopia I find absolutely no problems with using Skyoe, from any of several countries. Without Witopia I do get dropped connections and poor quality sometimes, even from countries that have no VoIP block.

[drbill]

Skype? How would I live without it. I communicate regularly with the lovely Mia from Manilla (a "fellow" diver) and can "travel" the world from my desktop computer using it to reach others who use it.

[damselfish]

I use it to talk with my daughter in Texas. It's like being in the same room. Awesome.
I'm always up for a video chat! - D