We have a shared network on an IP LAN/WAN using 512kbps committed internet bandwidth. We plan to use Skype and Skype Out for long distance calls. Just want to know how much bandwidth is used per call and how many people max can be on skype without affecting data traffic given this bandwidth. Thanks.

Hello HeadMiss2000,

The bandwith usage is about 30 Kbps when i call with my ADSL line.

Good luck!

Actually, Roughly 70 Kbs if you are in a call with one person. This means you will get 500kByte per minute

so to be precise:


1 minute call at 70kbps consumes ~ 0,5 MB of bandwitdh
10 min ~ 5 MB
100min ~ 50 MB

I see we again disagree, happens often.

I continue to say that in my case it is roughly 30 Kbps, with sometimes small peaks at higher values.

Check yourself with NetMeter, free and good!

Thanks Guys. So if a skype call consumes around 30kbps to 70kbps, does that mean I can have at least 10 people on skype simultansously for a 768 kbps internet bandwidth?

Thanks Guys.  So if a skype call consumes around 30kbps to 70kbps, does that mean I can have at least 10 people on skype simultansously for a 768 kbps internet bandwidth?

Well in theory yes, but in practise SKYPE limits conference calls to maxim 5 persons incl the host/

We have a shared network ...  We plan to use Skype and Skype Out for long distance calls...

Well, he is not speaking about conference calls, but "ordinary" calls, so ... yes, at least 10 simultaneous calls at any time theoretically!

We have a shared network ...  We plan to use Skype and Skype Out for long distance calls...

Well, he is not speaking about conference calls, but "ordinary" calls, so ... yes, at least 10 simultaneous calls at any time theoretically!

Good point Jean, well corrected

Adam

https://www.fastaccess.com/content/consumer...er/products.jsp

BellSouth states "best effort" 256kb/s down and 128kb/s up.

In practice my downloads have never topped 25kb/s.

What would the call quality be like?

[quote=spacecomputer]In practice my downloads have never topped 25kb/s.

What would the call quality be like?[/quote]You should try, but i guess quality will be OK most of the time.

Call user "echo123" to make a test!

I'll try to remember to post a status when my skype interface arrives.

Wow! That is really a lot.
Didn`t know that....
My Friends are using a mb connection (buying mbs)need to tell them this....
Thanks....
Can it be optimized for bandwith ?
Thanks in advance !

This post has been edited by pufnatic: Tue Aug 14 2007, 18:49

Network Bandwidth Usage

First look here

Now look here

As we know Skype is made to pass the calls of those users who are behind restrictive NAT/Firewalls through the (random) computers of other Skype peers/users called "relay nodes".
This puts extra burden on those who connect to the Internet without router/NAT, as their computers and network bandwidth may be used to route the calls of other users. The selection of intermediary computers is fully automatic, with individual users having no option to disable such use of their resources. There is no special "relay node" status, it's just that the computer of a "relay node" will be used by those in need when necessary.

We can see which codec is used by Skype by enabling the "technical info" into Menu-> Options ->Advanced and check it.
Then during a call, hover your mouse over the nickname/image of the person.

Measured with Netstat Live
the bandwidth consumption is:
iSAC -> 6,4 (6.4) kilobytes per second = 51,2 kbits/sec
iLBC -> 3,7 (3.7) kilobytes per second = 29,6 kbits/sec

So for iLBC we have this:
upload 3.7KBytes + download 3.7KBytes = 7.4KB/sec
7.4 x 60sec = 444KB/min x10min = 4440 : 1024 =4.33MB i.e.
10 min = 4.33MB of bandwidth trafic with iLBC
60 min = 25.98MB
1GByte = 1024MB : 25.98 = 39.41 -> let's say 40 hours.
So 1GB is enough to call 40hours with Skype.
Nobody can tell how much bandwidth Skype will waste if left running several hours every day on a computer that is not behind a router/NAT.
If a person is running Skype 8hours a day then for 22 days = 176 hours.
This means that during 176 hours Skype can passes the calls of other persons through its own computer and wasting the limited bandwidth.

Network Bandwidth Usage

First look here

Now look here

As we know Skype is made to pass the calls of those users who are behind restrictive NAT/Firewalls through the (random) computers of other Skype peers/users called "relay nodes".
This puts extra burden on those who connect to the Internet without router/NAT, as their computers and network bandwidth may be used to route the calls of other users. The selection of intermediary computers is fully automatic, with individual users having no option to disable such use of their resources. There is no special "relay node" status, it's just that the computer of a "relay node" will be used by those in need when necessary.

We can see which codec is used by Skype by enabling the "technical info" into Menu-> Options ->Advanced and check it.
Then during a call, hover your mouse over the nickname/image of the person.

Measured with Netstat Live
the bandwidth consumption is:
iSAC -> 6,4 (6.4) kilobytes per second = 51,2 kbits/sec
iLBC -> 3,7 (3.7) kilobytes per second = 29,6 kbits/sec

So for iLBC we have this:
upload 3.7KBytes + download 3.7KBytes = 7.4KB/sec
7.4 x 60sec = 444KB/min x10min = 4440 : 1024 =4.33MB i.e.
10 min = 4.33MB of bandwidth trafic with iLBC
60 min = 25.98MB
1GByte = 1024MB : 25.98 = 39.41 -> let's say 40 hours.
So 1GB is enough to call 40hours with Skype.
Nobody can tell how much bandwidth Skype will waste if left running several hours every day on a computer that is not behind a router/NAT.
If a person is running Skype 8hours a day then for 22 days = 176 hours.
This means that during 176 hours Skype can passes the calls of other persons through its own computer and wasting the limited bandwidth.

Dear Rocketman, i'm quite new in using skype and having one concern about what you wrote:
Our office PCs are behind a MS ISA Server which is a firewall. So what kind of additional adjustments should be made on ISA server in order to avoid other skype users be using my bandwidth or just staying connected behind a firewall is enough?
i would appreciate your feedback.

Staying behind a router/NAT or compamy firewall should be sufficent.

Staying behind a router/NAT or compamy firewall should be sufficent.

Thanks indeed for your reply, but there should be some setting like ports etc..
Firewall is blocking ports, so which ports other skype users may consume my bandwidth through?
i mean we should be blocking these ports in order to avoid that.
i would appreciate your kind respond,

This is nice info:
However Rocket is skype acting as some sort of hub utilizing other customers resources to teminated a call? or is it strictly client server based.

If client server based are you refering to hackers compromising the skype box if placed outside the wirewall?

It seems that the ports skype is using are essentional to the program, so the firewall can not block them.

I would like to know how can someone physicly terminate a call from my comptuter with out being on it.

Or how can they pass a call through there own system and it uses my bandwith..
Ohh Are you refering to skype on a cable/comcast conection without a firewall?

This post has been edited by Cyford: Mon Sep 29 2008, 22:42

I would like to know how can someone physicly terminate a call from my comptuter with out being on it.

As far as I know the only person who can do this is eith you or the person you are talking to.

I just did a little experiment to check on the bandwidth usage because I want to make a call over my mobile broadband service.

I am curious on how much bandwidth a 1 to 2 hour call is going to consume out of my 1GB monthly allowance. Over that and it becomes very expensive.

Using my mobile broadband connection I just conducted a 5 minute test calling my wife on her Skype phone.

I did have Ebay open in the background though not actively updating any pages. The short of it is that my 5-minute call racked up a usage of 4.62MB.

This would equate to 55.44MB per hour. At least I know now that if our meeting over Skype to one person goes on for 3 hours I shall be well in on my bandwith usage and I will have plenty remaining for this month for my internet surfing and email.

If I can remember to make a note of my usage before I start my meeeting call I will have a more acurate figue when I finish the call.

Regards
David