Tip for MSN Messenger Webcam users

[Tristan]

I discovered something interesting last night which I thought I'd share. If you regularly use the webcam facility on MSN Messenger, stop: there's a much better way of doing it.

Rather than clicking the webcam icon in the messenger window, go to the `Actions' and then `Start Video Conference'. This starts up a two-way video and audio conversation using a different (and *much* superior -- WMV?) codec to the regular webcam system.

Note that this only works if both parties are using Windows XP, as it uses the video conference functionality built into Windows Messenger (rather than the messy webcam function grafted into MSN Messenger by Logitech). It also has similar port requirements to the audio facility -- so if audio doesn't work, video conferencing won't (but those with direct connections or UPnP routers will be fine).

The only other drawbacks I can think of are that it automatically starts up both webcams (though it still works if only on party has a cam) and the audio system, although if you mute the microphone then this won't take up any extra bandwidth. Oh, and you can't resize the video -- the other person's picture is permenantely set to abotu the same size as the "large" setting for regular webcam, and your picture to about the size of "medium".

But if you and a friend both have Windows XP, then give this a try -- the difference between the regular webcam and video conference is staggering.

Alternatively you could use the one on Yahoo Messenger which actually works!!

[Tristan]

not much good if all your contacts are on MSN though, is it?

Any more helpful suggestions?

[etccarmageddon]

image quality is poor on yahoo messenger.

[Chris W]

I find that generally the msn webcam is reasonable, but not great- i don't use xp so video conferncing is not an option for me.

I find the quality on yahoo is ok, but the frame rate is a bit slow. If you are only chatting with one person though, Supermode is great get nice large pictures and good quality, but it is a bit of a bandwidth guzzler.

[Pompey1]

For some reason when I have tried my webcam on yahoo, it says that I am behind a firewall. This happens even when I have turned firewall off. I have checked to see if the Win XP firewall is on, and it isn't.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

PS. When I go to yahoo help and check if my wecam will work on chat I get a pic fine. Even with my fire wall on.

[Chris W]

Originally Posted by Pompey1

For some reason when I have tried my webcam on yahoo, it says that I am behind a firewall. This happens even when I have turned firewall off. I have checked to see if the Win XP firewall is on, and it isn't.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

PS. When I go to yahoo help and check if my wecam will work on chat I get a pic fine. Even with my fire wall on.

are you using a router?

[Dave Stones]

i tried using the video conferencing after reading this, the quality of the cam was awful... all block and nasty *back to regular webcam now*