Basic NetMeeting questions

[LawyerRon]

OK,
I'm trying to set up NetMeeting so our Aussie exchange student can talk to her family in Australia. I've also got my logitech webcam installed. Now I'm trying to get everthing set up.

How do you connect to the other person? Via IP address? If so, we're behind a router so the router's address is different from the pc's.

Also, can you communicate with just audio until the other side gets their camera working?

Basically I just need to know where to start.

[cuffs007]

well, it's been so long since i've tried to connect thru Netmeeting, that i've gotten a bit rusty.. but this should help http://support.microsoft.com/default...to/default.asp

i just used to connect by logging in and finding the other persons "nickname" or "screen-name"... and, yes, you can connect with just audio..

Good luck once again!

[LawyerRon]

Thanks cuffs, I'll read through the link you posted. We were able to chat on our home network by using each other's IP address but haven't tried sound or video.

[cuffs007]

when you log into Netmeeting, you should be able to see who has audio and/or video capability... they have little icons next to their names and such.... my only problem was being able to connect... but, that was quite a while ago!

[LawyerRon]

Quote:
"i just used to connect by logging in.."

What do you "log in" to?

[cuffs007]

when Netmeeting program first opens up, you have to "connect" to their servers(?)... it was frustrating for a while, cuz i'd try to connect to 4 or 5 different ones with no luck...

edit: it's easier if you have the MSN messenger already.... but i think it can still be used as a stand-alone program without MSN messenger

[LawyerRon]

OK,
Also, I'm on ver. 3.0; should I upgrade?

[LawyerRon]

OK, so it works with MS Messinger?

[cuffs007]

yep... works with MS messenger... and if you have 3.0, you're fine... i'm sure you've found this link, but.... http://www.microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting/

it may be a better place to start

[LawyerRon]

OK, thanks cuffs, I'll get back to it tomorrow and try to figure it all out!

Thanks again!

[LawyerRon]

OK, I’ve got all the hardware, ie, camera, mic, etc, working but I’m not understanding how you connect to someone on the other side via the Microsoft Internet Directory. Apparently if the other person is registered with MS Messenger you should be able to find them correct?

[Shikwa]

I’ve found using Netmeeting through MSN Messenger (Windows Messenger in XP) the easiest way to go about this. Voice chat works through Messenger without the need to launch Netmeeting. For a video and voice call start Netmeeting by right clicking on the contact on you’re Messenger list and selecting “Start Netmeeting” or if a text chat dialog box is already open (you’re already text chatting with that contact), just click Actions> Start Netmeeting from the chat box.

The only problem I’ve come across is that diffrent versions of MSN Messenger don’t always communicate too well when it comes to voice/video calls. Upgrading to the latest version of Messenger (on both sides) usually resolves such issues. You should not need to upgrade Netmeeting 3.0. The only instance in which I had to upgrade Netmeeting to get it to work with Messenger was with Netmeeting 2.0 (win 95 I think).

That said- I’m not behind a router . The following pages I have linked too list the ports you need to open/forward on your router in order to get MSN Messenger and Netmeeting working through a NAT firewall.

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~rakerman/port-table.html

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/..._port_list.htm

It appears (form the port listings on those pages) that Yahoo Messenger is more NAT friendly in that you only have to forward one port each for text, voice and video communication (3 ports in total).

HTH and tell us how things work out.

[LawyerRon]

Thanks for the info Shikwa,
I'll let you know how it goes.