Skype HOWTO.

Dear AA1 ubunteros,
What about to write some manual about tuning skype in our AA1s? I am tired of it's unstable work and I'd like to, know, if somebody tuned it well. I'd like to use it with headphones and internal mic. What I did:

1) I have installed Ubuntu 8.10 with Sickboys-Kuki kernel (tnx to them). http://www.aspireonekernel.com/
added at the end of
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base

Code:

#acer aa1 stuff
options snd-hda-intel model=acer-aspi

Updated BIOS to 3039 version with next procedure:
Install unetbootin:

Code:

sudo apt-get install p7zip-full

-this is needed for unetbootin
Download http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/i386/ ... n/download
install it:

Code:

sudo dpkg -i unetbootin_304-1_i386.deb

For the 9.04 you can just type

Code:

sudo apt-get install unetbootin

Insert fat32 formatted USB flash drive. Launch it System Tools -> Unetbootin. Choose FreeDOS and press install.
Download BIOS arxive and extract it to flash drive to folder 3309. Reboot and choose boot from USB. Press Enter and choose Live CD only (last entry). Type:

Code:

c:
chdir 3309
3309.bat

After flashing. Reboot normally.
2) And after I've installed skype from medibuntu http://packages.medibuntu.org/intrepid/index.html
3) In sound options of Skype I put next:[attachment=1ke2tkpk]skype_opt.png[/attachmentke2tkpk] (NOW put HDA Intel (hw:Intel, 0) EVERYWHERE)
4) In recording options of gnome is next:[attachment=0ke2tkpk]vol_opt.png[/attachmentke2tkpk] (To see Capture tracker press Preference and check Capture checkbutton).

As result of this skype works extremely not stable.
If you want just press call button, you'll get error "Problems with Audio Device". So, when I need to call somebody, I go first to Skype Sound Options, press "Make a test sound", and when it sounds, I press call button for contact, which I need. (SOLVED!?)
Sometimes I also receive calls from my friends, but mostly they got the same error: "user has problems with audio device". (SOLVED?!)
Another thing that I don't like - is that my voice sounds, like I am sitting in small noisy bottle, and it's really not good.
Also - now I can hear only in on earphone (left).
I'll change this post if any good advices appeared, to have well done manual in future

 

Updating the BIOS on my AA1 removed those errors (also running 8.10 with sickboy).

I think I updated to 3309? Whatever the most recent version is.

Skype now seems to work perfectly.

 

As an expert, could you, please write here about procedure of updating BIOS. By the meantime I'll try to do it this evening. And could you also say if you have the same configurations at skype, and volume control as on my pictures?

 

This might help you: http://macles.blogspot.com/2008/07/flashing-bios.html

cheers to macles

 

All of my options in Skype are set to: HDA Intel (hw:Intel,0)

In recording options I only have Mic Boost as an option and it is set to 0 exactly as in that picture.

I also followed that same link to update my bios.

Let us know how you get on!

 

Thanks for supporting!
Ok, I updated kernel. I'll add instructions how to do it on the webpage.
With HDA Intel (hw:Intel,0) setted everywhere there is no "problems with audiodevice" message, but I have sound only in left earphone, which I don't like. Also on skypetest my voice is still very noisy.
To see Capture in sound options, you should press preference button and check all there. Could you compare Capture also, please?

 

My capture is set the same as yours except is at maybe 9/10 of full.

Don't know why you'd only have the left headphone working - maybe ask in the Sickboy kernel thread.

Good Luck.

 

OK. Let's wait maybe for some other people who will use this howto and see results.