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Thread ID: 116118 2011-02-17 09:46:00 Well, I'd better ask! Billy T (70) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1179267 2011-02-17 09:46:00 What kind of throughput does Skype video use vs audio only. We had a 30+ minute conversation on various matters this afternoon, she initiated as a telephone call (by accident) but I answered as video, so she could see me but I couldn't see her.

On that basis, and if that is how it works, I was sending heaps, but she was using her hosts connection and we were worried that we might be using too much of her allowance, whatever that might be. I did noticed that my router was going mad.

Telecoms usage checker won't let me in at present and "Traffic Usage Checker" isn't letting me check either. All I get is this message:

17/02/2011 10:41:29 p.m. Error 12031 - The connection with the server was reset

Maybe 20GB/Month won't be enough!

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
1179268 2011-02-17 10:48:00 This is guess work on my part, but idle skype will use about 2gb per month (on 24/7) alone.

It will take between 150-220mb per hour of video calling. ~20-30mb of an hour of voice only.

I could be wrong (skype's algorithms are all top secret, so it could well vary call to call). I would suggest you measure it yourself, a crude way would be to see the stats of network connection, note down upstream and downstream usage, record how long you talked for, and look for the difference after the conversation.
Cato (6936)
1179269 2011-02-17 17:46:00 Yeah I'd believe those numbers. Maybe a little more for video.

Skype has multiple codecs it uses from what I understand and it can adjust them on the fly to use more or less bandwidth. So, if you can handle the bandwidth needed for their top-quality call, then you should get it.

:pf1mobmini:
Chilling_Silence (9)
1179270 2011-02-17 23:41:00 @Cato - so, if you just let Skype load on startup and never use it it will still chew approx 2GB/mth?

That's worth knowing. I don't let mine self start but most people leave it in the default self start mode.
linw (53)
1179271 2011-02-17 23:49:00 @Cato - so, if you just let Skype load on startup and never use it it will still chew approx 2GB/mth?

That's worth knowing . I don't let mine self start but most people leave it in the default self start mode .

I don't believe that is correct . In theory it could possibly use data if it is idle but in practice it does not always happen .
Safari (3993)
1179272 2011-02-18 00:48:00 While I have probably slightly exaggerated I don't think I am too far off the idle usage, it does use a lot. Skype is a P2P whore and likes to act like a supernode. Cato (6936)
1179273 2011-02-18 01:12:00 While I have probably slightly exaggerated I don't think I am too far off the idle usage, it does use a lot. Skype is a P2P whore and likes to act like a supernode.

That is correct, it will use other PC as nodes, although Im not sure the usage is as high as 2Gb p/mth....

On one hand, you need it idling to accept incoming calls unless prearranged, the other hand, you dont want it sucking your data cap!
SolMiester (139)
1179274 2011-02-18 01:56:00 Oh I leave mine on all the time in the background.
Might be time to change that.
But then I know people that only use skype to contact me.
nedkelly (9059)
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