MrBillM - 9-20-2007 at 09:25 AM
Since Crystal Voice went out of business, I went back to Skype to check my U.S. Voicemail boxes. I immediately noticed that one of the problems I had
with Skype before was still evident.
When I use the keypad to transmit the DTMF tones necessary to access the voicemail, it must be frequently garbled because I often have to key the
tones over again repeatedly. Eventually they go through correctly.
I run into this using three different computers on my Direcway (Hughes) system.
Has anyone else run into this on their Satellite connection ?
JZ - 9-20-2007 at 10:15 AM
It is much better than it use to be. Never tried it over satellite though.
bajalou - 9-20-2007 at 10:36 AM
No problems using Skype for this in my experience. But I'm online with DSL (Telnor) , broadband (in US) or dial up in US.
Gnome-ad - 9-21-2007 at 10:51 AM
We have used Skype for talking, but not for input from a keypad. Talking is spotty with Skype and with Vonage which we have now. Thought we'd try
something different. We are also on Hughes.net. Have been told that the spotty breakup sort of patterns we were experiencing has to do with upload
speed. We can always hear the person in the USA perfectly because the download speed is fast enough. My voice, as heard by my son, has been described
as an alien throwing metal object downstairs ... 
this is not every time, but
when the upload is not fast enough it all gets jumbled. I believe there are ways to remedy this, but I’m not computer literate enough to know. Good
luck.
BCSTech - 9-21-2007 at 06:05 PM
Uplink speed is a problem on most HughesNet systems running on the basic 3/4 meter dishes. Also, older 6000 modems running on SatMex-5, the most
commonly used satellite down here, may be slower. I have also seen antennas that were pretty poorly set up that have a lot of transmission and
reception errors.
Type 192.168.0.1 into your browser and check your modem.
On a 3/4 meter dish, you only have two service options; Home and Pro (and Pro+). Although HughesNet claims "up to" 256 Kb with Pro/Pro+, you will
never see that speed. Usually, it's seldom over 100 Kb. Also, the delay to and from the satellite can cause a problem with any VOIP app.
You can test your HughesNet speed here, and keep a history of your tests:
http://satspeedtest.hughesnet.com/cgi/launch2.cgi
(Must have Java enabled)
Try rebooting everything first, then avoid using your computer for anything else while you're talking; Avoid launching other applications, browsing
the web, using e mail or IM, etc. Turn off any unneeded applications that might be running in the background; virus updaters, other computers, etc.,
anything that might compete with your Skype app for bandwidth.
Make sure you are running the latest Skype release. Go to > Help > Check For Updates.
Also, note the time of day you're calling and the number of other Skype users online. You like to be online and call in the afternoon or early
evening? Well, so does everyone else. You might try to pick another time when there are less people online and less network congestion.
Cause and Effect
MrBillM - 9-22-2007 at 11:58 AM
While there is little doubt that the problem resides in the compatibility with Satellite transmission (at least with the residential level), it is a
problem that it seems could be corrected by Skype if they chose to do so.
Having used Crystal Voice from Jan 2005 until they discontinued service 01 Aug 07, I was able to contact my voice mailboxes every day in Baja without
a single failure that I remember. In fact, in testing at home with my dialup connection, Crystal Voice never failed. Obviously, it is a defect in
the Skype system. One which probably only a few people encounter so I doubt it will be corrected.
Thinking it over, accessing my voicemails via Telcel prepaid will probably add about $30.00 to my monthly costs so it might be worthwhile to upgrade
my Hughes system IF I were sure that would correct the situation. I'm going to have a friend place some test calls via the (business level) system
he's on.
BTW, I have received NO reply to the query I sent to Skype tech support, but I've heard that isn't uncommon. That's Life.
bajalou - 9-22-2007 at 01:09 PM
You might get around it another way-
Get GizmoProject (similar to skype), they also give you a free 775 phone number (Nevada).
Forward your calls to your 775 number and whenever a message is left you get a Email with a .wav file of the message.
As I mentioned before, I've not had the problems you have encountered when using the keypad to access my voice mail.
Problem Solved. Maybe.
MrBillM - 9-22-2007 at 05:59 PM
I downloaded Yahoo Messenger earlier and bought Ten Bucks worth of credit on their "Call Out" feature. Trying both Skype and Yahoo during the same
time period and on the same computer, Skype failed three times and Yahoo worked fine three times.
Interestingly, Yahoo's per minute call rate is also cheaper.
Time will tell, but this may be the answer.
Since Crystal Voice worked fine on the Sat and now, apparently so does Yahoo, it is especially interesting that Skype doesn't just fix the problem.
Thanks for the input.
Yahoo is The Last Word
MrBillM - 9-26-2007 at 09:51 AM
For anyone who might experience DTMF problems with Internet phoning via satellite, YAHOO appears to be the answer.
Since setting it up, I have checked voicemail boxes every morning without a failure.
Today, I gave it the ultimate test. Phoning in to an automated service to refill our current prescriptions. In addition to using the keypad for
multiple navigations on each choice, there were seven eight-digit numbers to order.
Worked perfectly. $0.01 per minute.
The one thing I'm still working on is calls to the Philippines. So far, I've gotten through, but had one-way transmission each time. It may be the
delay. I had wanted to compare it with DSL attempts where I would expect less delay. At $.20 per minute, it beats any other method.
Diver - 9-26-2007 at 10:04 AM
Thanks for the good info Mr Bill.
.
Gnome-ad - 9-26-2007 at 12:39 PM
Thanks MrBill ~
My son has tried to get me to do the Yahoo, now maybe I will.