Must Take Turns Speaking in NetMeeting (155024)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
- Microsoft NetMeeting 2.1 for Windows NT 4.0
- Microsoft NetMeeting 2.0 for Windows NT 4.0
- Microsoft NetMeeting 3.0 for Windows 98 Second Edition
- Microsoft NetMeeting 2.1 for Windows 98
- Microsoft NetMeeting 2.1 for Windows 95
- Microsoft NetMeeting 2.0 for Windows 95
- Microsoft NetMeeting 1.0 for Windows 95
- Microsoft NetMeeting 3.01 for Windows 98
- Microsoft NetMeeting 3.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition
This article was previously published under Q155024 SYMPTOMS
When you start a conference in Microsoft NetMeeting, both parties cannot
Speak simultaneously, but have to take turns speaking.
CAUSE
You may have half-duplex audio instead of full-duplex audio.
Full-duplex audio allows you and the other person to talk (and hear)
simultaneously. An example is a normal telephone conversation.
With half-duplex audio, you and the other person must take turns speaking.
An example is a two-way radio, where you have to press the Send button to
talk and release the button to listen.
The requirements for a full-duplex audio conversation are as follows:
- Full-duplex sound card
- Full-duplex sound card driver
- Full-duplex audio enabled in NetMeeting
- Other conference participant is also full-duplex audio capable
- Necessary speakers or headphones, and microphone
RESOLUTION
Determine whether the sound cards and drivers are capable of full-duplex
audio, and verify that full-duplex audio is enabled in NetMeeting on both
computers.
Determining If the Sound Card and Driver Support Full-Duplex Audio
To determine whether your sound card and driver support full-duplex audio,
follow these steps:
- In Windows 95 and Windows NT, click Start, point to Programs, point to
Accessories, point to Multimedia, and then click Sound Recorder. In
Windows 98, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point
Entertainment, and then click Sound Recorder.
- Repeat step 1 to start a second Sound Recorder session.
- In the first Sound Recorder session, play a sound (.wav) file that is
at least 30 seconds long. To do this, follow these steps:
- On the File menu, click Open
- In the Open dialog box, locate and select an appropriate .wav file.
- Click Open.
- While the first session of Sound Recorder plays the .wav file, switch
to the second session of Sound Recorder and record a .wav file. To do
this, click the Record button at the bottom of the Sound Recorder window
(the rightmost button with the red circle).
If you can record a .wav file while the other .wav file continues to play,
your sound card and the sound card drivers support full-duplex audio.
If you cannot record a .wav file while another .wav file is playing, there
is a problem in one of the following areas:
- The sound card does not support full-duplex audio
- The sound card driver does not support full-duplex audio
- The sound card or sound card driver is not properly configured to
support full-duplex audio
Note that the sound card drivers included with Windows 95 do not support
full-duplex audio. If your sound card supports full-duplex audio, you must
obtain full-duplex drivers from the manufacturer of the sound card to use
full-duplex audio in Windows 95.
Verify that Full-Duplex Audio Is Enabled in NetMeeting
The Audio Tuning Wizard included with NetMeeting can determine whether a
sound card supports full-duplex audio. However, this tool does not enable
full-duplex audio by default.
To verify that full-duplex audio is enabled in NetMeeting, follow these
steps:
- In NetMeeting, click Options on the Tools menu.
- Click the Audio tab, and then make sure the Enable Full Duplex Audio
check box is selected.
MORE INFORMATIONOther Full-Duplex and Half-Duplex Considerations
In order for both participants in the conference to have a full-duplex
conversation, both participants must have full-duplex audio capabilities.
If one party is full-duplex capable and one party is half-duplex capable,
the full-duplex party can send and receive simultaneously. However, the
half-duplex party cannot.
This means that if both parties are talking (sending) at the same time, the
full-duplex party will hear (receive) what the half-duplex party is saying
while the half-duplex party will not hear (receive) anything. Both parties
have to adjust to what is effectively a half-duplex conversation.
A common technique is to say "Over" or "Your turn" or "Back to you" when
you are through talking. Keep each turn fairly short (under 30 seconds)
so that the other party can get a chance to respond.
Changes in Ambient (Background) Noise Levels
Changes in ambient noise levels can impact the ability send audio.
Suppose a full-duplex party is talking and a half-duplex party is
receiving and everything seems to be working. Also suppose that the full-
duplex system does not have the audio sensitivity tuned correctly for the
current environment or the audio environment changes.
This can happen when there is a change in background noise from when the
Audio Tuning Wizard had originally set the audio sensitivity. For example,
a radio or television is playing nearby, an air conditioning or heating
fan turns on, a quiet side discussion starts in the background, a door
opens letting in traffic sounds, and so on.
At this point, the full-duplex party stops talking. However the microphone
is picking up the ambient noise and sending it. Because the full-duplex
system is still sending, the half-duplex system will not switch from
receive to send mode. The sound may not be loud enough to be audible to
the half-duplex party.
The resolution is for the full-duplex party to run the Audio Tuning Wizard
again so that sound sensitivity can be re-tuned for current audio
environment, including current ambient noise levels. To do this, click
Audio Tuning Wizard on the Tools menu in NetMeeting.
Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 12/6/2003 |
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Keywords: | kbenv kbprb kbsound KB155024 |
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