Computer to Computer Video Calls

[Padlin]

With my recent retirement I'm looking forward to extended trips, my wife not so much, seems her big issue is missing the grand kids.

With that in mind I'd like to start looking into the possibility of making phone calls computer to computer with video. Has anyone successfully done this? If so I'd appreciate some pointers on where to get started. Informative web sites, vendors, equipment needs, that sort of thing. I just started checking out Skype, says you can do video chat which sounds like what I'd like to do.

[Alfred622]

We have Skype on our laptops for routine video-conversations. Works just fine. However, I do have a Verizon Mifi Jetpack that gives me excellent bandwidth. I would not try this over public WiFi (ie, McDonalds, Starbucks, campground, etc) because the connection quality could vary a bunch. With the MiFi it stays pretty good almost all the time.

I have to say, when you can't be there in person, being able to have a good video-chat with the kids is just wonderful.

Oh.. PS.... Facetime works fine on Apple products - but only on Apple. Won't help if you want to talk with someone using a PC, Kindle, or a new TV set (yeah, they come with Skype built-in now too). Skype works on everything which is why I like it better. Skype is also simple to use and the quality is high enough that major networks conduct broadcast interviews using it!

[JRS___B]

We use campground wifi for Skype. In 2011 the service was poor. In 2012 service was better with a new outfit named LinkNgo. 2013 the service is very good with the same outfit plus some campground upgrades. The more this campground improves its wifi service the better skype works. It's as simple as that. This wifi is for "free".

Our next campground has a pay for service arrangement called Camplink. I am hoping that will be as good or even better.

[RoyB]

If it were me I would not even consider messing with the camp Ground WIFI or any of the other PUBLIC NON-SECURE WIFI connection HOT SPOTS...

We went with the Verizon stand alone MIFI dataplan which works anywhere we get a Verizon CELL PHONE connection. The MIFI idea is to create your own safe to use SECURED WIFI HOTSPOT and will connect up to five of your devices at the same time. My MIFI unit gives us a good 80-feet WIFI HOTSPOT area around our trailer to make good connections. We currently are using a small grandfathered 3GB DATAPLAN for around $27 a month just for checking our emails, paying our on-line bills and chatting with family. If we would ever need more data to support VIDEO Conference then would probably use the MILLENICOM 20GB setup which also uses the Verizon network. I think the Millenicom 20GB 3G/4G network is around $70 a month after you purchase all the equipment you need...

Just my thoughts

Roy Ken

[Padlin]

DO N DAT wrote:
We just finished 21 months on the road on the eastern half of the US. We used skype to stay in touch with family and friends, and now use it to stay in touch with the people we met while out east. Works good and is free.

Was/is this with video using campground wifi?

[Padlin]

Both laptops are windows 7. The in home end is wifi connected to cable modem, don't know their speed. The home bound laptop is a middle of the road Dell with built in camera, resolution unknown.

The traveling laptop is a new Lenovo X1. If we're traveling we'd be using whatever wifi connection we could find, I have no dish on the trailer. If I can figure out how it works, and get both ends setup, I'm thinking I can sit at a McD's to see how it works from free wifi.

[naturist]

Apple's Facetime is hard to beat. Comes free with iPhone, iPads, iPod Touch and is a free download for Macs. I've done it, but as others have mentioned, all such software will require a fairly solid 'net connection. Video sucks up bandwidth, there's no way around that.

And yes, my wife and I have done it from our home in Virginia to our daughter's in LA. My iPod Touch to her iPhone. We do not have a very good wifi connection here, only 2 MBaud via a slow DSL. If you can get faster, it would no doubt work even better.

[Bill_Satellite]

Your biggest challenge will be finding the necessary internet connection. You can provide your own so that when you are in an area with good 4G service you will have enough speed to make a reasonable video chat. Some campground wifi systems will work but it's really a tossup as to yes or no. You might be able to do the chat from McDonald's or Starbucks (or many other) as their connections are usually pretty good.
If you use your cellular connection to get on the internet your monthly data will be limited but as long as this is only something you do a couple of times a month (and not for hours) it would likely not have much of an impact on your monthly data limits.
I will let other just in with the various services as I have only done a few Skype calls and have never tried any others.

[DO_N_DAT]

We just finished 21 months on the road on the eastern half of the US. We used skype to stay in touch with family and friends, and now use it to stay in touch with the people we met while out east. Works good and is free.

[Liltippy]

It would be helpful to know why computer you are using. A lot will depend upon your connection and carrier If using WiFi , hard to beat Apple's FaceTime for ease of use and dependability.

Using iPads on both ends I have has great success. As easy as selecting a phone number and making a call

Good luck.