Hi all,

So, there was I coming back from the store the other day with my fresh new quick cam sphere af, all excited to see this so much spoken of HQ video with skype.
Once all the stuff installed (a month ago), I haven´t been able yet to get that so much awaited HQ logo during my calls, though i THINK i have everything necessary for HQ; acer core duo @ 1.6ghz, with about 380kbps upload bandwith, and on the other side ( my aunt ) a fujitsu core duo also with broadband, last versions of skype etc..

The goal is to make skype HQ video go through the call, but no sign of it, I think it´s because of the connection settings.., DUring a call, I have about 20 kbps of upload, (seen in skype bandwidth display), and relays is sometimes 0, sometimes 4, but can´t figure what it means.. Despite this, 640*480 image @12-15fps goes through sometimes after a while returning to 320*240, but nothing like HQ.
Could it be that "direct connection" thing that´s making it impossible to have HQ?

Thanks for the advice
Regards from Brussels.

Hi all,

So, there was I coming back from the store the other day with my fresh new quick cam sphere af, all excited to see this so much spoken of HQ video with skype.
Once all the stuff installed (a month ago), I haven´t been able yet to get that so much awaited HQ logo during my calls, though i THINK i have everything necessary for HQ; acer core duo @ 1.6ghz, with about 380kbps upload bandwith, and on the other side ( my aunt ) a fujitsu core duo also with broadband, last versions of skype etc..

The goal is to make skype HQ video go through the call, but no sign of it, I think it´s because of the connection settings.., DUring a call, I have about 20 kbps of upload, (seen in skype bandwidth display), and relays is sometimes 0, sometimes 4, but can´t figure what it means.. Despite this, 640*480 image @12-15fps goes through sometimes after a while returning to 320*240, but nothing like HQ.
Could it be that "direct connection" thing that´s making it impossible to have HQ?

Thanks for the advice
Regards from Brussels.

Yes you need a direct connection for HQ to kikn in NO relays. Please see below the requirement and 'hack'

1) to push video in 640x480x30 fps you will need DC/C2D or more... and it's normal ... this resolution needs high cpu usage... + you have to consider that during video call you are not alone...
about other side : if computer is <= Pentium 3 ... video will switch in 320x240 ... because of cpu usage to decode stream (do not overload this side) ; if computer is ok... np pb but if something (cpu > 90%, fps < 8...) is wrong ... switch will be there

2) to push video in 640x480 you need last Logitech cams (HQ certified)... I think in the future Skype will add others cams in HQ cams list

3) for the moment you can hack the xml file to enable 640x480 for all cams (see below).... You need to be on 3.6 LATEST

what I think now : these 3 Logitech cams are great because of Zeiss lens that's why quality is great... of course others cams do 640x480... but with lower quality... my opinion will be to let users choose and not limit 640x480 just for Logitech... users see difference + logo (HQ logo) appears only with HQ cams... so I think it's sufficient.

4) You need to make sure that you have direct connection with the other party. You can monitor it on the call technical info. If you see there that the connection is relayed then you can not get High Quality Video.

Other thing : about 640x480... I prefer 320x240 at 30 fps and not 640x480x10-15 fps
and I repeat HQ = 640x480x24fps




Config hack (ONLY works on 3.5 and I ‘think’ latest 3.6 released last week
- <Video>
<AdvertPolicy>contacts</AdvertPolicy>
<AutoSend>0</AutoSend>
<CaptureHeight>480</CaptureHeight>
<CaptureWidth>640</CaptureWidth> [/b
<Device>Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX</Device>
<Disable>0</Disable>
[b]<Fps>30</Fps>
<RecvPolicy>contacts</RecvPolicy>
</Video>

hey bananeraie!

First I would suggest getting the latest 3.8 beta from here: http://share.skype.com/sites/garage/2008/0...or_windows.html

It is not related to your problem but it is always a good idea to be on the latest release.

You should be getting HQ. Relays 4 has nothing to do with having a relayed connection.

Sessionin and sessionout should show UDP (not relayed_UDP)

I suggest you do a test call with me.

Regards,

Bill

Hi Everybody and specially Bill, also Gladiator.

Just to let you know that I haven´t reached High quality yet, but I took this picture of the skype connection data for you guys to have look, it´s really bizarre about my upload numbers, well, you´re the pros, so I´ll let you judge.

Bare in mind that I have 3500k download and 380k upload on speedtest.net.

Meanwhile, I´m resting on Bill´s verdict, (that skype doesn´t recognize that i have core duo) Bummer :/

Regards

Link to the Photo; http://www.sendspace.com/file/ma2unp

Hey bananeraie!

Yes, the bandwidth is silly. If I remember it was like that during our test call too.

I am only guessing, but if the algorithm misguesses your CPU it could cause all sorts of other anomolies. Whatever is under the hood of the video engine is kept top secret.

Your cmp is very high 14 out of 15. It should be closer to 4 or 5. And do not ask me what cmp (complexity) is.

Your CPU values indicate you are running some heavy processor intensive activity besides Skype Video. Skype appears to be using only 20%.

Try again without anything else running. I am avialable if you need a test partner.

Regards,

Bill

bananeraie,

please provide dxdiag from both computers.

How to provide DxDiag file

bananeraie,

please provide dxdiag from both computers.

How to provide DxDiag file

Here´s dxdiag from my aunt´s computer, (no cam on this one)
Connection to the web; download 3600kbps upload 170kbps, today.

Attached File(s)

 DxDiag.txt ( 36.38K ) Number of downloads: 106

 

And here´s my computer´s dxdiag (the one with quickcam sphere af)

connection here, 3300kps and 360 upload.

Attached File(s)

 DxDiag.txt ( 49.04K ) Number of downloads: 97