Computers & Networking

[Lorraine]

Good morning!  I own a Toshia laptop - 2 years old.  Yes, it is fast, and has tons of memory!  Internet is connected to Comcast Cable, wireless.  Problem is, I have a camera/video/audio in order to speak to friends in the Middle East/Israel.  Have been to Best Buy this week and spoke to one in the Geek Dept.; he was very helpful in explaining to me differences in browsers, etc. 

The problem I'm having is this:  Israel cannot hear me as my sound when speaking sounds like broken glass!  His voice and video work perfectly as I receive

both clear as a bell!  He says, my video camera is working, but the voice is horrible!  Yet, according to Best Buy technician, nothing wrong with my camera, etc. 

all work properly! 

Is this a Comcast Cable problem?  Could something be wrong with Cable, to give me such poor reception?  Or, is it the laptop, in that a laptop

may not be as powerful as a PC in order to communicate overseas?  How can I fix this problem, so that my friend can hear me properly?

Thank you!

[Adamtech Emerging Expert]

Are you using a heatset or the built-in microphone?

[Lorraine]

I am using headphones.  Camera has built-in speakers, but prefer the headset.  On Skype, from London, the voice was so clear over the camer's speaker, that I did not have to use the headphones!

However, Skype is worse on the Israel end, even though I could hear him very good; the camera is blurry on Skype, but clear on the browser used for gmail.

No matter what I do, can't seem to get both the camer and audio running smoothly, while I can hear Israel's end and see him perfectly.  (See why I am

so frustrated?! (.

Lorraine

[Adamtech Emerging Expert]

Hmm, not sure about that one.

[Lorraine]

Okay; someone told me at Best Buy, in the computer department, that perhaps even though I can hear him and see him; it could

be on his end; in other words, since I can see and hear it isn't on my end; he apparently cannot RECEIVE me from US; well, I

explained that to him and since he is an "engineer", he claims "no way" - all things check out and he is on a very high end

Internet service.

Well, so am I; so, next suggestion from a clerk in Best Buy was; could my router from Comcast be wrong?  She explained to me that

there are three types, depending upon the memory size of computer; and that perhaps the router I am using is not the best for

contacting oversees.  ???  I asked her what I should do, and she said, upgrade to higher end computer, maybe, and Comcast Cable

would have to upgrade the router so the computer would be used to its maximum.  ???

It is extremly important that I am able to speak to this person, so I really need to find out how to fix this problem.  Thank you for getting back to me.

[alfen23]

Is the camera and mic built into the lid of the laptop or is the camera an add on?  Either way, check for driver updates with the manufacturer, download and install them.  If new drivers are not available try downloading and reinstalling the old ones.  Drivers can sometimes become corrupted (who knows why) and need to be reinstalled.  You didn't say if you tried to connect with computers other than Israel.   Make sure you try others to see if they have the same problem as Israel before you go to the trouble of reinstalling drivers.