[nelanj]

Hi,
What webcams have your PC friends used, which have provided successful audio and video chats? When AV chatting with you using iChat AV.
My mac setup:
Panther OSX 10.3.9
Broadband connection
iChat AV 2.1
.mac account
will purchase iSight once I know what webcam PC users can use with AV capabilities;

PC user setup:
Windows XP
Broadband connection
AIM 5.9
* AOL account and screen name
Thank you. My family will thank you.
Nancy

[Tom_Diola]

Unfortunaely the PC world does not play well with Mac users. Yahoo Messenger has a webcam but it's painfully slow (like .7 frames /second). Recently we tried an MSN MESSENGER look-a-like called Mercury on the Mac end which plays reasonably well with MSN MESSENGER (you can look for Mercury on www.versiontracker.com). But I don't think it has Audio. I don't know why the PC world doesn't have a good interface for webcams like iChat. iChat has about 30 frames/second audio and visual.

[nelanj]

Thank you, Tom, for responding. I was surprised noone posted a reply for a few days, thus was pleasantly surprised to see you posted something.
After much research and angst, I finally had to go and purchase a webcam for my mother. She is the key to this whole project. Bringing the family together and helping Mom to be more connected with the family since she has gotten older.
It's a Logitech Zoom and has a built-in mic.
Tomorrow night, another mac person and I will do an AV test-run between my mother's PC and his Mac.
We're using AIM (PC side) and our [dot]mac accounts.
If we find success, which this person says can happen, then I hope to post a real basic step-by-step tutorial here.
Thank you, again, Tom!
Nancy

[d00d]

Hi Nancy,
I've done what you're proposed a while back. My friend used some kind of PC webcam (Logitech I think), but really, the kind shouldn't matter as long as AIM can use its video signal.
It was a while back, so I can't really provide step by step instructions. If you have issues, come back and I'll try to figure out any issues.

[nelanj]

Hi backslash,
This guy who is gonna do the test run with me tonight has a step-by-step for the PC user who wants to AV chat with a Mac user.
The link is:
AV step-by-step Mac with PC
AIM might be the answer.
I can only imagine you've seen his page already.
It's pretty comprehensive, and if our test works, I'm running with it.
We're setting up this project, because my mother has lost many of her capabilities (heart attack, stroke, etc.) and we all want to find the ultimate way to stay in touch. She has 24/7 assistance, so when I can't be there to help her with an AV chat, there are others.
If the rest of the family were on macs, we would have been up and running a several months ago. Blah.
Peace,
Nancy

[nelanj]

Hi backslash,
Wanted to give you an update on how the test-runs went:
iChat to iChat went awesome, as you would expect.

iChat to AIM (PC user) went well, EXCEPT for audio. Mac could see and hear PC; PC could only see Mac.
That iChat expert I mentioned/linked to his tutorial didn't show for the test. I'm sure he is extremely overwhelmed with everyone pleading for his help. Wish he could have let me know, he wasn't up for it. And I hope he's O.K. ... in case his intentions were genuine.
My husband was on the iChat side, while I was attempting to configure the AIM and the PC. Everything seemed to be in order on the PC side. The AIM wizard was happy. Yet no audio.
Have done some more reading, and see that I might have overlooked setting up an AOL account for my mother (PC). It's been a week since I downloaded AIM for her, so I can't recall.
That could be one problem.
Also, on the mac I've set up a new preference to "open up to" (??) more ports, including that string of four audio ports.
If you know of anything else that is pertinent to get the audio running on the PC side, please let me know.
People really should get the drift and dump their PCs and use Macs.
Will keep you posted.
Thanks, again, for your offer to help.
Nancy

[d00d]

No problem.
It sounds like you've gotten really close. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I'd definitely check to make sure the sound isn't muted on the PC end (I highly doubt it, but just to make sure).
I'd also try connecting the opposite direction (ie, if you tried to initiate the connection from the Mac, try from the PC).

[nelanj]

Oh, I hope you're right, Derik, about us being close to conquering this challenge.
The mute feature was on at first.
After fixing that issue, we disconnected, quit all applications and started again. Still couldn't get the audio to work on PC side.
Will try initiating from PC side, as you suggest.

Nancy

[Tom_Diola]

Can people like in Canada or outside the US use AIM??? what about people that can only use something like MSN Messenger?

[d00d]

In reply to:

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Can people like in Canada or outside the US use AIM?

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Sure, why not?

[Nobody]

I frequently AV chat with PC users in Europe and Australia, it is mixed results. They can always see and hear me perfectly (iSight and Tiger on my end), but I generally see them very grainy and pixelated and the audio is hit and miss. In one of my chats to Australia the audio slows down so it sounds like they are talking low and slow. In that situation I have been know to use skype for the audio portion and iChat for video!
The funny thing is when we have problems getting their PC to work, they always ask," What do you do to get yours to work?", invariable I reply, "Just plugged it in!!!"
Nothing beats iSight to iSight for ease of use and quality of chat, but it can be done with a modicum of success Mac to PC.

[nelanj]

Don'tcha know it!

[nelanj]

Hi Derik,
Results of tonight's test run:
No audio PC side.
Turns out there is something wrong with the PC's speakers.
We tried initiating AV chats from both platforms and had the same results.
Popped a music CD in and no sound.
If the systems person for my mother's place can't fix this problem, I'm gonna purchase nice earphones for her.
Will continue to keep you posted. It might be a bit of time.
Peace,
Nancy

[d00d]

Thanks for the update Nancy. Sounds like you have things well in hand.