With increasing questions about skype, wireless connections on campus and your connections at housing, I have decided to start this thread for current and incoming students with computer-related questions. Before coming to AUA, I worked a half a year as network tech at my university and a year for H&R block as a field software tech.

I have experience with many OS's and I currently dual-boot Vista and Ubuntu (linux). Feel free to ask away and other students join in because I get busy.

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show off!! haha jk..actually im confused about how skype works. so tell us about it so we can have an idea. And what other options we have beside skype.

So Matt My question to you is about the skype wifi phone, and browser authentication.
1). Which skype wifi phone do you use?
2) The smc wifi phone and fon router from skype says, it works with networks that do not have browser authentication, so which networks will it work on?
3) Skype is selling the netgear wifi phone with out the router, and its 119 after rebate. Do you think that will be a decent phone to bring to use with skype?


EDIT: Found the answers to questions 2 and 3. So if you could just answer one that would be great. Thanks.

i won't get into too much detail about compression but skype uses VOIP technology to create a direct line with someone else. this technology has actually been around for a long time, for as long as i can remember, but has becoming more popular nowadays as broadband connections have become more affortable. the great thing i like about skype is you can use it without any extra equipment...i can call someone right from my computer and not need any extra modem or devices. of course you can buy extra devices for skype to make it more natural (wifi phones, cordless phones with base stations via ethernet, etc).

i can't remember the prices off-hand but you can purchase a US # with skype (which you can with all the VOIP services) which also gives you voicemail. it is a one time charge for a year and with this, you can make and receive calls. skypein (receiving calls) is always free, skypeout (making calls) is subject to fees depending on where you are calling from and who you're calling to. from Antigua to the US, it's .02 cents a minute to call someone via skype. please remember, skype offers a unlimited calls in US and Canada for like 30 bucks. this does NOT apply in Antigua, even though you have a US #, you must be inside the US or Canada to utilize this. all skype to skype calls are free....you can also forward your calls from skype to your cell phone, there's a connection fee and then they charge something like 20 cents a minute in Antigua. this differs elsewhere.

other options to skype, a few that come to mind are sun rocket and vonage. first of all, sun rocket just went out of business about 10 days ago and vonage as most of you know was sued by Verizon for patent infringement and lost. this is why i don't really trust independent VOIP companies outide those that you can receive as a package with your cable and internet connection (like Time Warner). another VOIP company that comes to mind is ViaTalk based in Albany, NY. i know the CEO of the company, i used to play hockey with him so this is a great up and coming VOIP service.

in my opinion, stick to skype...it's easy and you can use it anywhere else well as on other devices like a pda.

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I use the Linksys wifi phone...they're all about the same on the market right now, poor battery life and no browser authentication. for those who do not know what browser authentication is, whe you go to a hotel, airport, coffee shop, one must authenticate their device by opening up a web browser (to pay for the service or accept the terms) before receiving an internet connection. ACT here in Antigua requires the same thing, to put in a passcode before signing on. with skype wifi phones, there is no way around this. there are a couple of solutions though. skype has a service working with preceptors across the US and the rest of the world that has browser authentication to allow skype connections without this. this service is extra but now one can use their phone in an airport that would require the authetication. another way is by using your pda, you can open up a browser on the pda, authenticate it and then run skype and make calls via the pda. other than that, you're SOL.

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I heard that laptops with windows vista are not compatible with what is on campus. Does this mean I need to buy Windows XP for my laptop? Someone let me know soon. Thanks

Not true...stick with Vista

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i'm not sure where you heard that. there are no basic networking setup that vista would not work on.

the only thing i know that vista had comptability issues with, which i think is resolved, wireless networks running with a Cisco VPN. the networking here are just basic wireless routers with absolutely no encryption and no AP isolation. thus, in class, if you're not running a firewall, you can browse someone elses hard drive who's also connected to the router. this is deff NOT good, but hey i don't run the IT here.

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hi! i got vonage to use over there, which obviously i will be bringing the router that comes with that...do i need to bring a separate wireless router in order to use the internet over there??? thanks!!

quick question about skype in....Lets say I get skype in for 60 dollars and i get a local number from where I live, now if I move to antigua will my parents still be able to talk to me for free if they call me from their local number or will they get charged a long distance fee because i'm in antigua? i'm sure they could tell my location from my ip, but i'm not sure.