Improve Skype Quality Improving Quality of Skype Video Chat

[november_ra1n]

Improving Quality of Skype Video Chat

1. Delete shared.xml file.

• Locate the shared.xml file found in:

XP - C:Documents and settings\Your Windows Username\Application data\Skype\shared.xmlWindows 8 /8.1 - C:\Users\Your Windows Username\AppData\Roaming\Skype\shared.xml

• Note: Showing hidden folders and files has to be turned on: please navigate to :

XP – My Computer > Tools (Menu) > Folder Options > View.Windows 7 –  Open Explorer >Organize (Menu)> Folder And Search Options > View.Windows 8/8.1 - Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Folder Option\View\Show hidden files, folders, and drives

• Restart Skype ( shared.xml will be recreated )

2. Skype dropping calls problem

2A. Check connection settings

In Skype Click Tools >> Option >> Advance >> Connection

• Use Port.. >> Type any port between 1024 and 65535
• Unticked this settings "use port 80 and 443.....incoming connections"
• Unticked- Enable uPnP

2B. Configure your µTorrent application

• In µTorrent, try this- Options >> Preferences >> Bandwidth.

Set the Global maximum to a lower number - try a 100 or less

• You can also try to turn off DHT.

options >> preferences >> BitTorrent > unmark enable DHT (network + for new torrents)

2C. If you have Hamachi LogMeIn installed?

Uninstall it...

3. Quit any file sharing applications or high-bandwidth usage applications.

4. Disable Quality of Service packet scheduling. Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections. Right click on the connection you are using. Select Properties. Untick the “QoS Packet Scheduler” option.

5. Reconfirm that your firewall is correctly configured. Follow the simple visual guide here:

How do I update my firewall to work with Skype?

How can I update my Windows Firewall settings after reinstalling or upgrading Skype?

6. Make sure Skype is updated to the latest version. They improve the quality of video chats with each new version, so if you're still running a copy from two years ago, you're probably going to get the same crappy quality you had two years ago.

7. Wear headphones. If anyone is hearing echoes in the audio, it's because the other party's speakers are too loud. Wear headphones and this problem disappears instantly. Any headphones are fine; earbuds are nice since they don't distract from your face.

8. Adjust your light. Again, this is a small tweak that can make a world of difference. Make sure you have a lamp or other light behind your monitor, pointing toward you, and that you don't have too much light behind you. If you're on a laptop, make sure the camera is at eye level and not pointing up at the ceiling lights, or down at the floor

9. Don't overload your internet with other tasks. If you're downloading files, watching YouTube videos, or playing video games (or if someone else in your house is doing any of these things), that's less bandwidth Skype gets for itself. Close any unnecessary programs, specifically those that are using your internet, and you might find that the call quality increases dramatically.

10. Adjust your webcam's video settings. Most webcams will let you tweak the brightness, contrast, microphone volume, and other things within their settings. If you're using Skype, you can get to them quickly through Tools > Options > Video Settings. Drag the video settings window so its next to Skype's Options window, so you can see your video preview. Adjust any brightness, exposure, color, while balance, and other sliders until your video looks better. This could take a bit of playing around, and it won't help as much as, say, better lighting will, but if you're short on real-world fixes this can help a bit.

11. Increase Skypes frames per second. This is a Skype-only workaround, and it's a little "hacky", but it can help if you're experiencing really choppy video. Quit Skype if its open, and open up Windows Explorer. Tyle %appdata into the address bar, and then navigate to Skype > [your Skype username] and open up config.xml in your favorite text editor. Find the line that starts with <Device>, and create a new line under it. On this line, type <Fps>25</Fps>, then save the file and quit. When you open up Skype, you should notice that your video is much smoother, though it will likely be blurrier. It isn't a perfect fix, but if you'd rather have smooth video than high-resolution video, it's a little hack that can help.

november_ra1n 16 November 2013

Ref: lifehacker [Part of the topic]

Edited November 16, 2013 by november_ra1n

[november_ra1n]

When i have time and motivation i may add other important steps Improving Call Quality of Skype About:

How to Optimize Skype Via Port Forward Your Router

[nanoman]

It's Great thread :showoff:

Also I suggest Adding other Download Links For The Official offline installer for those who can't download with out vpn

Plus adding The most reliable Free Vpn services to enable others where Skype is blocked @ their countries to gain access & use it

[Cyberboom]

Thanks november :)

[Yorel]

Very good and useful tutorial.

Thanks november