I downloaded Skype today and set up an account. I am running it on a fairly new ThinkPad using a USB headset. When calling from my apartment (Time Warner cable provided high speed), I encounter sound problems: both parties on the phone hear approximately every other word. So I went to a local Starbucks and tried it there, and it worked fine.

I did go to skype.com and followed their suggestions for improving call quality, but nothing worked.

Any suggestions? Could there just be something about my internet service at home that is incompatible with Skype?

I have noticed that if I call someone using Skype but the other person is on a dial-up connection that the call is not very good. Dial-up does not like Skype in my experience.

If you are calling the same people from home and Starbucks then your ISP is probably blocking something that is causing the problem.

Blumie,

What type of router do you have at the house?

If it works fine at Starbucks but not at home I'd suspect you may be dropping packets on your network. (Either behind your router or in the cable network.

Here are two free online tests that will measure packet loss. Run them from behind your router at home. The first one is designed for gamers to test their connections, but the principle is the same and it does measure packet loss. Be sure and run this during a normally busy time or when you might want to make a call.

http://gamer.ubicom.com/benchmarks/benchmarks.html

The second one is a bit more thorough and user friendly. I include both for reference so you have two independent results.

http://myvoipspeed.visualware.com/

If you ARE suffering packet loss, or significant jitter, you will need to address this with your ISP.

Regards,
-Bouncer-

I call all over the world with my skype and have very few problems. I never had an every other word problem. Most problems can be readily cured by a simple hang-up and re-dial. I use a Thinkpad T-42 and an occasional T-40 with the built-in microphone and loudspeakers. I tossed my USB headset long ago as it added very little quality.

MisterNice

This definitely is the problem. I didn't run your tests, but Skypes has a call quality monitor that measures packet loss, which was significant from my NY apartment. I've now tried it from a couple of different Starbucks and from my Boston apartment, and have experienced no problems.

Is this something I can expect my NY ISP to do something about, or am I just SOL when I'm in my NY apartment?

Blumie - Are you running wired or wireless at home? If wireless, what encryption/security?