How to Configure QoS in Skype

Headphones and mics are good for using Skype.

In the past 10 years, Internet VoIP (Voice-over Internet Protocol) programs have become very popular. These programs allow you to conduct voice communication over the Internet via the use of direct connections to each other's computers. Using a direct connection abrogates the need for the use of a dedicated server, thus greatly reducing costs. Skype is one of the most popular VoIP programs. Free to download, it allows free Internet-to-Internet calls and allows calls from computers to phones at a cheap rate. As with any other Internet-based voice program, Skype can suffer from poor sound quality at times. Fortunately, there are some measures by which you can fix this.

Things You'll Need

• Windows XP, Vista or 7
• Skype software

Instructions

1. Restart your computer. If this is a one-time issue, restarting may help. At times---and often inexplicably---simply rebooting Windows can solve a whole variety of issues.

2. Update to the most recent version of Skype (see Resource).

3. Close any processes on your computer that may be using large amounts of bandwidth. In order to sustain high-quality sound, Skype needs a lot of bandwidth (high-quality sound entails a lot of data). If you have any major downloads or other things of the sort in process, Skype may not have enough bandwidth to properly send and receive high-quality audio.

4. Close any resource-intensive programs on your computer, especially if your computer is on the slower side. Skype is, at times, a computer resource hog. If your computer's performance is low due to too many open programs, Skype will not have enough RAM to draw upon. If this is the case, sound quality will suffer.

5. Buy a high-quality headset, and have your Skype partner do the same. The use of poor-quality output (speakers or headphones) or input devices will decrease sound quality. The use of an internal computer microphone is especially bad; it will result in awful sound quality and a lot of background noise.

References

• Make Use Of: 5 Simple Ways To Fix Low Audio Quality on Skype (or other VoIP services)
• Skype: How to Get the Best Sound Quality on Skype Calls

Resources

• Skype: Homepage