Teccy help plz...video calls

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by sadbrewer, May 22, 2020.

  1. sadbrewer

    sadbrewer Well-Known Member

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    Three of my friends and I would like to get together and do a video conference call, like for instance Microsoft Teams...can anyone suggest an easy to use free app that we can use.
    We're all on Android phones or tablets....if that makes any difference.
     
  2. MexboroughTyke

    MexboroughTyke Well-Known Member

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    Zoom is good, and easy to use.
     
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  3. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    Can't you do it on facebook and watsapp?
     
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  4. sadbrewer

    sadbrewer Well-Known Member

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    Three of us are not on Facebook....I have WhatsApp....but not a clue what it's for tbh.
     
  5. Mrs

    MrsHallsToffeerolls Well-Known Member

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    Whatsapp is for Bud drinkers I think.
     
  6. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    It's a shame you're not on facebook .Laura sometimes video messages so I can see George on my dinner breaks using WhatsApp. There is a button with a camera on it. I don't know if you can have group chat though.
     
  7. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    True true.
     
  8. sadbrewer

    sadbrewer Well-Known Member

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    Definitely not for me then!!
     
  9. Don

    Donny-Red Well-Known Member

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    Google duo
    Skype
    Zoom
    Whatsapp (limited no’s for video)
    FB messenger I think can be used w/out a FB acct (I’ve a mate I use messenger with who’s not on FB)

    none of them difficult to use.
     
  10. Loko the Tyke

    Loko the Tyke Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Zoom is free and easy to use but you have a 40 minute limit.

    You could all download the House Party App as well although I've not used that one myself.
     
  11. Old Goat

    Old Goat Well-Known Member

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    Mrs Goat uses WhatsApp to video call both our daughters, sometimes at the same time. I think you can have 4 on together, possible more. She thinks it's the bees knees - and that's from a self-confessed technophobe. She has the occasional glitches, but it's free so you cant complain.
     
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  12. Farnham_Red

    Farnham_Red Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Easiest to use is Zoom - 40 minute limit for the free version but you can just setup another call when you get kicked off
    Has the advantage that each person joins seperately so if someone is a few mins late they can just join
    also only the person setting up the meeting actually needs a zoom account

    Skype works OK but someone needs to call the others and if they aren't there they cant just join - the host needs to try to add them again
    all have to have Skype accounts - No time limit though

    I think Watsapp is similar to skype but limitts to 8 callers - if you all have it you could try that quite easily

    Not used Houseparty so dont know how easy it is to use

    Personally I'd start with Zoom
     
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  13. JamDrop

    JamDrop Well-Known Member

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    Does it? I had a 2 hour Zoom call with my mates last week and we have an hour long one every week with Guide Dogs. I've never set the meetings up, just joined via the link but I don't think either of those use a paid for account.
     
  14. Loko the Tyke

    Loko the Tyke Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    They've probably got a pro account then. It's a 40 minute limit on the free one definitely as we run in to issues with it at work all the time and have to restart it.

    This might have changed though fairly recent whilst I was on furlough.
     
  15. Farnham_Red

    Farnham_Red Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Yes a zoom call setup from a free account has a 40 minute limit if there are 3 or more participants - if there are only 2 people there is no limit
    When I first set my account up Zoom generously extended the time limit for the first few calls but now I only get 40 minutes on any I setup
    Are you sure the person setting them up isnt using a paid account
     
  16. JamDrop

    JamDrop Well-Known Member

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    I'm almost certain that they don't have pro accounts. There were 7 of us with the mates one and there's about 15 of us on the Guide Dogs ones. Perhaps they've been offered extended ones for the first few?

    Edit: I see that anyone on a school's domain gets unlimited time and my friends are teachers so they could have been on the VPN with their own free acount. I'd be surprised as they probably shouldn't but it could explain it as I'm sure they won't have a paid for account (unless school paid for it for them). Possibly Guide Dogs have had it extended as a charity too? Just guessing here.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2020
  17. Farnham_Red

    Farnham_Red Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Something thats annoying is there is nothing between the Free account and the pro one which costs £11.99 per month
    If you are using it commercially - like my keep fit instructor does with lots of calls per week its good value
    If you set up a weekly call with your mates thats £3 per call - not so good
    I think Zoom are missing a trick here - if you could do some PAYG for longer calls at say 50p per call I would happily pay that but Im not paying £12 per month for 4- 6 calls in the whole month
     
  18. Don

    Donny-Red Well-Known Member

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    I believe the 40min limit on zoom is currently suspended
     
  19. Farnham_Red

    Farnham_Red Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    It wasnt last time I used it - which was last Sunday
     
  20. Don

    Donny-Red Well-Known Member

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    Last time we used it (fortnight ago) it put a msg up for the organiser, he just clicked OK and then there was a msg for all saying the meeting had been extended. :)
     

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