Skype For Business

 

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Get started with Skype for Business

Get started pc

 

Get started mobile 

 

 

Useful function in Skype for Business

Basic layout navigation

Make a call

 

 

In call options

 

Answer a call

 

Presence and office hours

 

Advanced call forwarding

 

 

Managing your account for Skype for Business

One-page explainer

  1. One page explainer

Understanding your Monthly Statement

  1. Click to open PDF file.

Call Types

  1. Click to open Call Type explanation.

Billing report

Sign into the https://dt-comms.nwu.ac.za

  1. Click on Reporting, Standard Reports Itemized Bill.
  2. Select the date Range From and To field with drop down Calendar, or select Last Days, Weeks or Months.
  3. Type in your Employee number
  4. Select the Call Type, Business Personal or Both
  5. Click on generate.
  6. Call Type – here is a summary of the type of calls you will see on your bill.
  • OP - Outgoing Private
  • I -Incoming
  • O - Outgoing
  • L - Internal
  • OC – Outgoing Conference Call
  • IC – Incoming Conference Call
  • IX – Incoming Transferred
  • IF – Incoming Forwarded

Phone directory

When you want to dial private numbers in the app you use 88, but you can save all your Private numbers in your Private Address book 

Sign into the https://dt-comms.nwu.ac.za.

  1. Click on the Tariffs Icon, Phone Directory, Personal, New.
  2. Fill in the Phone number and Description
  3. Save

 

Manage call records

Sign into the https://dt-comms.nwu.ac.za

  1. Click on management
  2. Select the date Range From and To field with drop down Calendar, or select Last Days, Weeks or Months.
  3. Type in your Employee number
  4. Click on search.
  5. Call Type – here is a summary of the type of calls you have made.

 

 

Skype for Business Quick Start Guides

Troubleshooting Video problems

Participants cant see my video 

In the Skype for Business main window, go to Tools > Video Device Settings. You’ll see what your camera sees in the window.

Are you using a Dell front-facing laptop video camera?
The front-facing camera in some models of Dell laptops is not recognized as a valid input device in the Skype for business client. To fix the issue, update the Skype for Business client to the minimum version for the appropriate channel.

Is your camera plugged in?

If you’re using an external instead of a built-in webcam, make sure that it’s plugged in and turned on. If it’s connected to your computer by USB, try plugging it into a different USB slot. If you’re using a USB hub, try plugging the camera directly into a USB slot on your computer instead—and try disconnecting other USB devices.

Is your webcam installed correctly?

Check that your camera is listed and enabled in Device Manager, even if you’re using the computer’s built-in camera.

To open the Device Manager

In Windows 10 and Windows 8 desktop, tap the Windows logo key (Start) and type Device Manager in the search box. If necessary, choose the administrative tool from the results.

In Windows 7, choose the Windows logo key (Start) > Control Panel. In the View by browse control items, choose Category.

Choose Hardware and Sound, and then under Devices and Printers, choose Device Manager.

Under Imaging devices, check that your camera is listed.

List of imaging devices

If it's listed, make sure it’s enabled. If you see a Disable option, then the camera is enabled. If you don't, right-click and choose Enable.

If it isn't listed, or if there's a question mark or exclamation mark, you’ll need to reinstall the camera. You can find the latest drivers for your camera on the Internet. Searching for the camera model on Bing.

If the camera shows up in the list but doesn't show preview.

Is another application using your webcam?

Close any applications that might be using your webcam, including video editing software, virtual camera software, instant messengers and Internet browsers. If your webcam has a light to show when it’s in use and you see it when you’re not in a call, then some other application is using your camera.

Check camera privacy settings.
Some cameras have "Privacy" setting.

Video device camera settings

Choose Camera Settings and disable the setting.

If you only see a solid black frame in video preview, your camera might have a physical privacy shutter. Open the shutter to enable the video.

Video quality is poor

If video quality is poor—meaning that call participants can see each other’s video feed but the picture is too dark, blurred, or pixelated, or the picture freezes—the following tips might can help:

Check your connection

If the video freezes, looks block-like, or has motion blur, it might be your Internet connection (or another participant’s Internet connection) causing the problem. If Skype for Business detects a weak connection, it'll reduce the quality to try and stop the call from dropping altogether. Review our guide to solve your connection issues.

Improve the lighting conditions

A well-lighted room can make a big difference with the video quality of your calls. If the room is too dark, your webcam will try to amplify the signal to make the picture brighter, which reduces the video quality. Also if you have a window(s) or a bright light source behind you, for example, your face will appear dark and featureless to the other participant. For best results, make sure there's enough ambient light, and avoid back light.

Check your camera settings

In the Skype for Business main window, go to Tools > Video Device settings. You’ll see what your camera sees in the window. Choose Camera Settings to access the settings of the used webcam. We recommend using the default settings to let the camera automatically adapt to the lighting conditions. It might be necessary, however, to manually change some settings. For example, the anti-flicker setting might not be set correctly for the 50 Hz (hertz) or 60 Hz wall power setting in your area.

Upgrade your camera

Built-in cameras in older laptops and tablets might not produce the best results. You might want to invest in a newer webcam. Most external webcams work with Skype for Business, but the best experience is guaranteed by using a Skype for Business Certified webcam listed in the catalog. If you’re already using an external camera and you’re having problems with video, try plugging it into a different USB port.

 

Troubleshooting Audio problems

Solve microphone issues

Other participants can't hear me
If other participants can't hear anything from your side, the problem is either with your microphone or with their playback device (speakers or headphones).

Check your settings in Skype for Business.

  • Skype for Business automatically mutes people joining a scheduled conference. This is done to reduce the noise from parties that aren't active presenters.
  • To unmute yourself, choose the microphone icon with the diagonal line in the call window.
  • Skype tools showing the following icons: camera, microphone, present screen, phone handset

Check your microphone.
If you’re using your computer’s built-in microphone, make sure it isn't muted. If you’re using an external microphone, check that its plugged in. If it’s a wireless microphone, make sure the batteries are charged. Also check for physical mute buttons on the headset/headset cord.

Make sure that the correct device is selected.
Watch this short video for detailed instructions about checking your audio and video settings. Or, follow the steps below.

  1. On the lower-left side of the Skype for Business main window, choose Audio Device Settings.
  2. If you want to use different devices for audio input and output, then choose Custom Device.
  3. This opens separate drop-down lists for Speaker and Microphone.
  4. In the Microphone drop-down list, choose the mic you want to use.
  5. If you only use your computer’s built-in microphone, you’ll see just one option.

Speak into the microphone. If the microphone can hear you, the blue speech activity indicator bar will move up and down (the farther right it reaches the better the signal level is). If you have more than one microphone and you’re not sure which name relates to which microphone, talk into each microphone in turn and check the blue speech activity indicator for movement

Make a test call.

On the lower-left side of the Skype for Business main window, choose Check Call Quality.

Note: This feature isn't available yet for Skype for Business Online users.

  1. Check call quality for custom device
  2. If you can hear your recorded message played back, then your microphone is working fine. The problem might be with another participant’s connection or playback device.
  3. Suggest the participant review this guide to solve speaker or headset issues.

If you can’t hear your recorded message, continue through these steps to check your Windows audio settings.

Check your Windows settings.

  1. Adjust the signal strength (boost) of the microphone in Windows by right-clicking the loudspeaker icon at the bottom-right of the screen and using the slider control.
  2. Focus on Windows speakers icon that is shown on the taskbar
  3. Choose Recording devices. Right-click the device Skype for Business uses and choose Properties. Then, on the Levels tab, use the slider control to adjust the volume.

If these steps haven’t helped resolve the issue, you might have a problem with your Windows audio settings. Microsoft has a tool to automatically diagnose and fix audio problems.