Mic does not work --I have skype 4.0, not working with Windows user with 5.0

[Frances Cormier-Carroll]

I  posted   before that my  mic did   not work and  it was resolved when talking with    someone on Skype  who has Linux.
However, when I speak with someone   who has Windows and  Skype 5.0 I can hear and see them but  they
cannot  hear me but  can see me.  I  was able to speak with this   person before  I did the KDE  upgrade several
weeks back.  I also notice that when  my  speakers are on  there is a background  white noise that was not there
before (this is speakers on with or without Skype.

I really  would appreciate your help, I am not technical at all and I  use Skype to speak with my son who lives
in another   country so would like to  get this resolved.  Thank you for your help with this.

[Just17]

Can you confirm that - today -  you can converse properly with someone using Linux and cannot with a person using Windows?

What about Skype test call?  Does that work correctly?

[MGBguy]

Did you try making a Test Call under Skype Options?

Did you check your Audio Settings under Skype Options?



Have you checked your Mic/Capture Settings? (Left Click Sound Icon then open Mixer)

Also... and this is a goofy one... (yet it did happen)... The person to whom you were speaking had their speakers muted or unplugged.

Again, just trying to be helpful.  

[Frances Cormier-Carroll]

Thank you for your replies.  The   sound test works and the Window user
does have his speaker plugged  in.  I  do not have  the exact set-up under
sound devices so I put in one closest:

USB Device 0x46d: 0x8d7, USB Audio (hw: 1.0) --have not tried   this one yet with  the Window user--do you think this one will work?  Even after  I changed to this, as soon as I turn my speakers on they make a loud background noise.


My speaker and ringing settings are  not like the ones  you displayed.

Prior to the KDE    upgrade we were able to talk without any  problems.  Do you think it has something to do with him being on
Skype 5.0?  Do you think I should upgrade my Skype to 5.0--would that fix my mic?

I am at a loss, so your help is appreciated.  Thank you.

[MGBguy]

Okay, you said that you did a Sound Test, but did you make a Test Call? "Hello, welcome to Skype Corp Testing Service..."

Also, have you checked your Mixer settings? (Left click Sound icon...Mixer)?

It would be helpful if we knew what webcam/microphone you are using. I'm using a Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 (usb video with built in microphone).

Skype 4 seems to be the latest version in the repositories so I suspect that it a merely a simple setting solution.

Try to make a TEST CALL and tell us what happened.

[Just17]

If you successfully make a Text Call .......  and are played back your own voice, then you know your set up is correct.

That needs to be done first.

IF your set up is correct according to the Test Call, then the problem could well be at the other end .....  if the Skype call centre can hear you then so should your contact!

[Frances Cormier-Carroll]

Thanks for your help--I  did the  test call and test  sound and both are fine.  I  can  talk with a Linux user with 4.0 but still have no luck with my son who has the 5.0 (windows). 

My webcam is a Logitech USB camera 046d:08d7 (dev/video0) and my mic is  totally separate.  I was able to
speak with  him prior to the KDE   update and my mic is fine with a Linux    user.  My son's   speakers are plugged
in and fine he said. 

I did   go into the mixer  and   turned off the booster which got rid of the background noise in  my speakers that I
was   hearing.

While my  son was on Skype  I tried  each of the sound settings   and  then hit   Apply and even tried  Reset but none of
them worked.

I know you said 4.0 is  what is listed--do you think I need to   upgrade to 5.0--will it even work with Linux and as you said it
does sound like a setting somewhere since everything is okay except my  mic when I speak  with 5.0 on  Windows.

I really don't know what to do, I   don't have very much technical skills so any help you can give me is  appreciated.  Thanks.

[Just17]

I think your son needs to fix it at his end .......  is he able to make a proper Test Call with Skype?

[MGBguy]

I think your son needs to fix it at his end .......  is he able to make a proper Test Call with Skype?

I agree. If you heard your voice after making a TEST CALL then everything is working as it should at your end.

Edit:

Let me make it clear that Skype 4 for Linux is the latest version for Linux; Skype 5 is for Windows/Mac only. (Microsoft now owns Skype).
Again, if your Test Call to Skype Corp Testing Service allowed you to hear your own voice played back to you; you are good to go.

I commend you for taking the PCLinuxOS leap. We're pulling for you.

I would encourage you to ask your son to humor you and check that his Windows sound settings for Skype Communications are set correctly.

[Frances Cormier-Carroll]

Thank you  for telling me the 5.0 is only  for Windows--I had received an email  from     Skype inviting me to  download
their latest  and I am thankful that I did not do that now.  I thought that  would fix the problem.

I really  think I  have messed up my   Skype completely--asked my niece last    night to go on Skype (she is Windows) to check things out and she could not even see that I was on and could not call me.  Do you think I might be better off to get rid of the Skype I have   on here now and then download a new one?  Could you tell me how to do that--I know some about Windows but Linux is very
new  for me. 

I really appreciate  your patience and all your help, I am a real novice at this.

Thanks!

[MGBguy]

Thank you  for telling me the 5.0 is only  for Windows--I had received an email  from     Skype inviting me to  download
their latest  and I am thankful that I did not do that now.  I thought that  would fix the problem.

I really  think I  have messed up my   Skype completely--asked my niece last    night to go on Skype (she is Windows) to check things out and she could not even see that I was on and could not call me.  Do you think I might be better off to get rid of the Skype I have   on here now and then download a new one?  Could you tell me how to do that--I know some about Windows but Linux is very
new  for me. 

I really appreciate  your patience and all your help, I am a real novice at this.

Thanks!

We were all novices once. 

Firstly, it is very important that you understand that PCLinuxOS (or any Linux distro) is NOT like Windows. You should not be downloading and installing any application/program from outside the repositories (an extensive library of useful programs). PCLinuxOS provides for itself with the exceptional work of the developers and packagers. 

I assume that you have PCLinuxOS 2012.8 installed correctly and that you have fully updated by using the Synaptic Package Manager. If not, you should do so ASAP.

1) Open Synaptic (You most log-in with your root password). 2) Reload to update the available programs ...wait for the update to finish 3) Mark Upgrade All Available ...you will be asked to Apply the changes TWICE  Let it finish and you should be fully updated. You may get some comments, but usually nothing of concern.

To install programs/applications such as Skype; do a Search for skype and you will get a listing like below. You will select and Mark for installation , and again be asked to Apply the changes TWICE. Allow the installation to finish.

Here you can see that I'm still using an older version of Skype...(it works, so I haven't found a need to upgrade).

[Frances Cormier-Carroll]

Thank you,   thank you--I  think maybe  that did it.   I followed your directions and went  into  synaptic  deleted the
4.0 and  installed  the 2.2 skype static.  Then I tested it with another Linux  user   who has the 4.0 and we were able
to speak to each other after I adjusted the Capture    and  removed the   ability   for    Skype  to have   control of
the mixer.   The real test  will be when I speak with my  son so I don't  want to mark this resolved yet--we may not
be able to do  this until the weekend because of the time difference.  In the meantime,  thank you for taking the time
to help me out  and seeing the screen shots really help a beginner!

[MGBguy]

Glad to know. 

Stick around, we're a friendly lot. 

[Frances Cormier-Carroll]

Yes and  wonderful to ask for help and get it! 

[Frances Cormier-Carroll]

Thanks for all your efforts  to help me.  Today I tried to talk with my son and  it still did not  work so we were totally baffled.
So this time he deleted  the Skype he had on there and reloaded it. When it still didn't work he investigated further  into
his end and  changed an audio setting--and it  finally worked!

He had thought his was working fine  with other people but then he realized that maybe  that had been before, never
dreamed it was at  his end--and I could even  hear his speakers     over Skype myself but it was in the Skype  audio
settings.

I have been  working on this for 3 weeks and he has not been able to hear me  for that long.

So after all that, it was at his end.  Thank you again for helping me with all this.  I have to say that even though it has been
a struggle and frustrating I have learned  a lot about Linux--so when    things go wrong that is how we grow and learn and
with   this  problem it did teach me a great deal about the workings of Linux.

So once again thank you for all the  time in  trying to help me.