I've been using Skype for a good 6 hours a day to the same cell phone in the United States since last September. It's worked fine until 20 hours ago.

Now when I try to call Skype Out to that same cell phone the call is dropped after 5 seconds. I have the unlimited US/Canada plan.

I haven't changed anything, as far as I know. Can you please tell me how to fix it?

I'm pretty much in the exact same situation. I picked up 1 year of Skype Unlimited for US/Canada last August, and have been mainly calling a cell phone in the US for several hours a day. I'd say the six hours a day is a fair estimate for me too.

It was working fine until this afternoon, when I tried to call the number again. It connected for about 5 seconds, then drops every time. I thought maybe it was something messing with Skype, but it's working perfectly fine for PC to PC calls and such. I only have this issue with SkypeOut. Thinking it might have been then cell, I tried calling a different number. It also dropped after roughly 5 seconds.

So... there appears to be a problem with SkypeOut.

I checked the "heartbeat" page, but there doesn't seem to be anything mentioned there about any problems. Considering I'm not the only one with this issue, and we both started having it the same day... I somehow doubt it's just something to do with my software setup.


Any information would be appreciated.

If I can't get any details here, I might just send a "support request"...
... but with how *that* looks, I figured I might try for a possibly quicker solution.

You may have gone over the fair usage limit which is 10 000 minutes per month.

6 hours a day on 30 days a month would mean 10 800 minutes.

The count is reset on the start of new month.

You should contact customer support for getting more details.

Well it seems more likely that is not the problem, as I started having the same problem since about the same time.

Also including the fact that it is at the beginning of the month and at 6 hours a day, then we would not have passed the fair usage limit, unless for some reason it was not reset at the beginning of the month like it should have been.

Also, considering I am on the Skype phone daily, for maybe more than 6 hours a day and I have never once had this problem, I think it's a little 'convenient'...

If we went over the limit, then it shouldn't allow us to place any calls at all without credit.

This post has been edited by Aurenas: Thu Apr 10 2008, 15:05

Well, if the count is reset every month... I've still used less than 4000 minutes this month.
And given now that three people having the issue at the same time, I'd hardly say coincidence.

And the 10,000 minute limit is for SkypePro, which isn't the service we're using. We're using Skype Unlimited, which is supposedly, as the name suggests, unlimited minutes. I was going to check the service terms for that, but... heh.. the page for that has conveniently disappeared.

If I check the plan details on my account page, I'm taken to the knowledgebase.
http://support.skype.com/index.php?_a=know...ils&_i=1037

Now, the terms are supposedly available at the page:
http://www.skype.com/company/legal/terms/u...ed_calling.html

...Which no longer exists, and redirects me to the general Terms page. Funny.


I know a couple months in there I went well over 10,000, and it wasn't a problem then.

If they have changed the policy to be under 10,000, it would've been nice for them to at least warn us ahead of time. Back when I got Skype *Unlimited*, I even remember specifically looking to see if there was a hidden limit to it. I couldn't find one, and given the repetitious use of the word "unlimited" in their promotion, I assumed it meant there was no limit.

Otherwise, it's not really "unlimited", now is it? If I'm going to be subject to the SkypePro policy for a minute limit, yet not get any of the other service benefits, they could at least change the name of Skype Unlimited for those who purchased it to "Neutered SkypePro".


Anyway, it might just be an issue for Skype Unlimited people that they don't know about. Since it's still not working, I'll contact support to see what they say. I'll post back again if they say anything informative for you guys.

Edit: I also mentioned i was not the only one with this isue, and provided the link to this topic. Hopefully they'll check it out and address the situation. It says 24-48 hours for a response, so... we'll see.

This post has been edited by Tseggena: Thu Apr 10 2008, 15:46

Old Unlimited customers are still getting the Unlimited package for the price what they paid.

You should contact customer support, as helping you further requires lookup of some account info which I'm not able to do.

Cool, that's good to know. Thanks.

Well, I submitted a support request... now just to wait...

I'm having the exact same problem. Yesterday at 4:30 I was disconnected and every call I've attempted since then has lasted either 5 or 6 seconds exactly and then Skype says "call finished" and hangs up. Also, I can't call Skype-to-Skype anymore - it doesn't connect and then says "reason unknown." I have the yearly Unlimited US/Canada SkypeOut plan and it shouldn't expire until November. I'll continue trying to figure it out, but please let me know if anyone else solves it.

I'm having the exact same problem. Yesterday at 4:30 I was disconnected and every call I've attempted since then has lasted either 5 or 6 seconds exactly and then Skype says "call finished" and hangs up. Also, I can't call Skype-to-Skype anymore - it doesn't connect and then says "reason unknown." I have the yearly Unlimited US/Canada SkypeOut plan and it shouldn't expire until November. I'll continue trying to figure it out, but please let me know if anyone else solves it.

Router/Modem connectivity test

Telnet Test:1. start->run->cmd

2. Click "OK" and a console window should appear

3. Type "telnet -ex 195.215.8.141 33033" or “telnet –ex 212.72.49.141 33033” (without the quotes) and press enter

4a. if you see the "Connecting To 195.215.8.141..." text for an extended period of time (usually followed by "Could not open connection to the host, on port 33033: Connect failed"), then the problem is indeed with your network connection and *not* skype. (you might also want to try "telnet -ex yahoo.com 80" to see if your firewall is only blocking skype servers)

4b. if the console window goes blank, press "x" on the keyboard. if you see the following text: "Welcome to Microsoft Telnet Client / Escape Character is 'x' / Microsoft Telnet>" then telnet is working fine and the problem seems to be skype-specific indeed, so let us know and we'll investigate

2) Tracert Test:
Run tracert command.
Start
Run
Type: tracert www.skype.com
Ok
Is this test causing a connectivity loss?
If it does, it is a router problem.
Solution is to upgrade router firmware or replace it with different brand

I ran the tracert test earlier and it wasn't a router problem, but I just ran the telnet test and the error you described came up. I've specifically set my firewall to allow Skype, but could it be a problem with my university's firewall? Also, why would it block Skype all of a sudden?

I have an appointment with the personal computing service at my university tomorrow, but let me know if you come up with anything else.

Thank you.

I've specifically set my firewall to allow Skype, but could it be a problem with my university's firewall? Also, why would it block Skype all of a sudden?
Thank you.

Could well be but will wait untill you have seen the IT person first before I suggest anything else at the moment.

Could well be but will wait untill you have seen the IT person first before I suggest anything else at the moment.

I am having the same problem and I ran the test and skype is not being blocked. So I am concluding that it is a skype issue.

I am having the same problem and I ran the test and skype is not being blocked. So I am concluding that it is a skype issue.

If PC to PC and Echo123 (Skype Test Call) are ok, the problem is likely with the PSTN/Gateway providers not your setup.

The only other solution besides waiting is to:
Report each and every failed or bad quality call do not just send in 1 report keep doing it even if you are calling the same failed number each time to pstn-feedback@skype.net with your location, time of day of call and the complete phone number you were calling and of course what happened. Without this information there is not much Skype can do to fix your problem.

Thanks for all your help. I've been reporting every dropped call and I'll post if the IT people come up with any solutions.

Thanks for all your help. I've been reporting every dropped call and I'll post if the IT people come up with any solutions.

So I am having the EXACT same problem as a few others with the UCP it's leading me to believe that there is an issue. My UCP is good til May 31st 2008 but is cutting out 5 seconds into the call exactly..Now by reading a few of the same issues on the site I do notice on similarity we all have UCP...Is there a change that took place? Is there something that we weren't told? I havent changed a thing about my network or computer beyond having to upgrade my skype since these issues started yesterday...I have been submitting tickets with no such response..

I jumped around the site and did find out that at 5 seconds a connection fee is supposed to be charged...That would be the only coincedence I have seen, any information as to why my service is now limited would be greatly appreciated as everything on my end is perfectly kosher...

Regards,

James

...Is there a change that took place? Is there something that we weren't told?

It's an eBay company...what do you think? Dang skippy there is something we have not been told. It's just their way and they simply cannot help themselves.

btw, have you installed the newest software update? I have noticed some folks are having issues here and there with connectivity since installing the newest update.

btw, have you installed the newest software update? I have noticed some folks are having issues here and there with connectivity since installing the newest update.

Um yeah I did actually, I have uninstalled tried the beta then the normal. Also did the modem and network tests and tracert etc...There is nothing wrong on my end as far as connectivity it just I am noticing a trend..

Just has you all have experienced this iam also another Skype Unlimited costumer and my calls are also dropping after 5 seconds. Would really like to know whats going on! If you got any answers let me know! I've did the test and everything is fine seems it's just skype!

Um yeah I did actually, I have uninstalled tried the beta then the normal. Also did the modem and network tests and tracert etc...There is nothing wrong on my end as far as connectivity it just I am noticing a trend..

Yeah, read you have pretty much done everything you can w/o a line monitor for your broadband service. And given the simultaneous occurence of this issue for users with the same service agreement, then something changed withing Skype's software (probably on the accounting side). But perhaps even the new update is, for some gawds only know why, reason is not compatible with your Unlimited service.

The last option I would suggest would be to go to a buddy's place and install Skype then try and make a call from there and see what happens. If you are not home, not on your PC and still have the issue you know it's Skype. But if you can indeed make the call and it does not drop after the 5-sec period then indeed the issue is somewhere on your side. Could be anything from your ISP throttling anything it considers P2P (it's a trend I am afraid) to some stray temp file that has not been swatted when Skype shuts down.

If you have tried calling from a completely different place and PC sorry, I missed that part in the thread. I know such a test is a PITA but it can eliminate it being your issue as a non-Skype problem.

BTW, I am suspicious the issue might be with the newest update either on the client side or the server side and is linked to your service type.


This post has been edited by grumpy3b: Fri Apr 11 2008, 01:55