webcam speed...?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Howard9
  • Start date Start date
H

Howard9

Is there anything I can do to improve the transmit speed of the web
cam in messenger - I and my friend both use broadband but it doesn't
seem to take advantage of this....
 
Greetings Howard,

I assume you mean MSN Messenger 6.x's "Webcam" support? If so, if Messenger can't establish
a direct connection between you and your contact, it will use a relay server, which is rather
slow. Reasons for the "Webcam" not being able to directly connect between your contact
include having a software firewall installed and engaged, including the Windows XP Internet
Connection Firewall or using a router without UPnP functionality (MSN Messenger 6.1 also
required, as 6.0 did not have UPnP support for the Webcam).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
Greetings Howard,

I assume you mean MSN Messenger 6.x's "Webcam" support? If so, if Messenger can't establish
a direct connection between you and your contact, it will use a relay server, which is rather
slow. Reasons for the "Webcam" not being able to directly connect between your contact
include having a software firewall installed and engaged, including the Windows XP Internet
Connection Firewall or using a router without UPnP functionality (MSN Messenger 6.1 also
required, as 6.0 did not have UPnP support for the Webcam).
Click to expand...
Great explanation - and much appreciated Jonathan.

I am on DSL with a modem/router firewall and Sygate Personal
Firewall.

Can I just ask if there is any action I could take to speed it up ?

Is there an alternative software package that could speed it up
between two specific people (as opposed to everyone on MSN :) )

Tks again.
 
Jonathan Kay said:
Greetings Howard,
I assume you mean MSN Messenger 6.x's "Webcam" support? If so, if Messenger can't establish
a direct connection between you and your contact, it will use a relay server, which is rather
slow. Reasons for the "Webcam" not being able to directly connect between your contact
include having a software firewall installed and engaged, including the Windows XP Internet
Connection Firewall or using a router without UPnP functionality (MSN Messenger 6.1 also
required, as 6.0 did not have UPnP support for the Webcam).
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
Click to expand...

Does this mean everyone running a firewall will not be able to connect
direct, or is it hit and miss - just a select few?? Everyone runs a
firewall - at least the Windows XP firewall.


--------- original message:
 
Does this mean everyone running a firewall will not be able to connect
direct, or is it hit and miss - just a select few?? Everyone runs a
firewall - at least the Windows XP firewall.
Click to expand...
I personally hope there is some kind of solution or alternative.

I was on my DSL line last night and the video connection with the US
was woeful despite having huge bandwidth available to me...

I hope to try NetMeeting soon and hope that may be better - if you
find any info will you come back here

anyone else ?
 
Hi,

No, probably configured third-party firewalls should not have a problem (and the upcoming
firewall in Windows XP SP2 will also not have a problem), but if both sides have the Windows
XP firewall engaged, it won't be able to establish a direct connection and therefore, will
use the relay server.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
Hi Howard,

Sygate should be fine, just make sure Messenger has full permissions to access to the
Internet (it's been ages since I used Sygate, so I can't be more specific I'm afraid).

However, since you have a router, unless it has UPnP capability, most likely a direct
connection won't be able to be established, and as such, unless your connect has UPnP
capability or otherwise allows you to make a direct connection to them, a relay server will
be used.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
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