What's so great about Teamspeak?

[waterinthefuel 10]

I can't ever get that program to work on my computer. I find it complicated, the GUI is awful. Why not just use the in-game voip? I was in one game where everyone was using the in-game voip and it was awesome! No problems, very coordinated....the most fun CTF in Arma 2 I've ever played!

Why do some servers require TS? I can't play on those as I can't get TS to work on my computer. I was hindered greatly in Arma 1 as many servers were TS only. I tried, downloaded and installed, did everything, still can't figure it out. A friend of mine, who is VERY computer literate, also tried TS to no avail. When him and I play in a game together we just use yahoo messenger's voice service and it's as clear as a telephone and simple to use. Not to mention its VOX.

I must ask you TS people, what's so great about it? Why not use the in-game voip?

[koroush47 10]

Nothing, In game VOIP (if it works) will blow it away.

Ventrillo is even better than it.

[Thirdup 0]

The in-game VOIP has some issues....some serious (search and you'll find *many* threads discussing it's pros and cons). My group has tried it found it lacking in both performance and quality (and we're a pretty small group).

We use Vent. Servers are cheap and stable (up for a year with no restart on our last host). Quality is crisp, clear, and lag-free.

Edited September 8, 2009 by Thirdup

[Halli~SPARTA~ 0]

Our group uses Ts and it is clear as any communication device I have ever used.

The set up is Very easy Dowload www.goteamspeak.com

open programe enter ip & port, Put name under nickname, click anonymous and join.

After joining go to settings and click a key for press to talk.

It is very easy to use.

[Inkompetent 0]

Actually, if the server has the newest beta, and you as a client have it as well, then there won't be any issues with VON. Not as far as I've seen these last days, and that's with up to 30 people on a server.

If a client doesn't have the newest beta though, then things can get messy (if nothing else for that client, but maybe also for the server and/or other players)

[Alex72 1]

If your TS doesnt work you can test change from DirectX to Wave in the options (TS options). I know this happened to many people, and it was sorted changing that around. That is if your mic works fine otherwise.

[randir14 10]

How come a lot of people using VON break up and cut off? Is it because instead of push to talk they're using sound activation that doesn't pick up their voice fast enough?

[Defunkt 431]

TS voice quality is poor, the only advantage it has over Ventrilo is that it is free for any number of users. I would use Mumble in preference to TS if hosting my own server but Ventrilo's sound quality is better yet.

Obviously if the built-in VON is fairly clear, has its own volume slider (so it isn't drowned out by the A.I. voices) and no longer crashes servers then that would be the best option for ArmA.

[Inkompetent 0]

How come a lot of people using VON break up and cut off? Is it because instead of push to talk they're using sound activation that doesn't pick up their voice fast enough?

If they cut off it's probably because they release the push-to-talk button too quickly when talking, and using voice-activated is kind'a random.

Most problems with VON are because of the VON quality settings on the server, and the server's bandwith settings though. At least as far as I've understood. Can take some tweaking to get it right with the increased bandwidth need.

[terox 316]

Although Teamspeak 2 is ageing now, and the voice quality may not be as good a mumble it is still pretty good. It also has advantages that the present version of Mumble does not have such as

• Whisper to .....
  
• Channel commander
  

to name but a few

It's advantage over ventrilo among other things is the cost of hosting it.

The reason why servers use teamspeak, or alternative comms applications is quite simply because the ingame voip just isnt as good nor as flexible.

Playing large scale co-ops, pvp's, platoon to company sized missions and general community chit chat is so much easier to run and manage via these applications.

I have no idea why you are having so much of an issue installing teamspeak as it is very stable and well tested in 32 and 64 bit versions of XP, VISTA and even WIN7.

If you have a look at the following document, there is a section in there all about setting up teamspeak. maybe you will find this useful.

Zeus Community manual

My advice to you is install Teamspeak, you will most defintely find that it enhances your gameplay

Teamspeak 3 may be released this year, we have been waiting for the new version for several years now, and it is expected to blow the competition away.

Our community has been running it for 6, 7 years now and we wouldnt be without it

Communicating with VOIP players is a pain in the butt

[-Total- 0]

Many server admins don't know there's a quality adjustment in the server.cfg file.

vonCodecQuality = (calue can be 1 to 10. Default is usally 3)

While it's not as clear as TS or Vent, it's still useful for those who run a pub server. We keep our's enabled and invite people into vent.

[Alpha-Kilo 36]

The change log of the latest beta patch says that VOIP has been fixed. Has anybody already tested it?

[Dwarden 1125]

i prefer Mumble http://mumble.sourceforge.net/

here is what's upcoming http://mumble.sourceforge.net/Upcoming

TS2 is outdated compared to it ... Ventrillo also

Edited September 10, 2009 by Dwarden

[Alex72 1]

How come a lot of people using VON break up and cut off? Is it because instead of push to talk they're using sound activation that doesn't pick up their voice fast enough?

VON do break up at times, but it seems BIS is working on this. Well see later on.

[Halli~SPARTA~ 0]

Is the question 'what's so great about Teamspeak" or is it "Why do I have to join your Teamspeak to fly choppers on your server?"

[Blake 0]

Mumble is far superior to Teamspeak.

[Halli~SPARTA~ 0]

Maybe i am just getting old but I see (hear) no problems what so ever using Teamspeak

it is clear as any sound that comes from my computer, I do have a Xfi Platinum Card with Infinity speakers so maybe that's why or is there a difference using the free TS compared to the paid version?

[Colossus 2]

I like TeamSpeak, nothing wrong with it. You can preset keys to talk to other channels or spesific players and the quality of sound, well, it's not that bad. You can still hear what people are saying, unless they got a €10 headset.

It's nothing wrong with the other systems, such as Ventrilo or Mumble, it's rather a choice whether or not the team or clan you are playing with have TeamSpeak or any other program. They all have their weaknesses.

[Defunkt 431]

i prefer Mumble...

...here is what's upcoming http://mumble.sourceforge.net/Upcoming

Ah.... finally user registration through the client instead of arcane RPC mechanisms - I might actually end up moving from Ventrilo. Hopefully they've made the noise cancellation optional, I found it easier to distinguish what was said over background noise without it.

[Slyder73 10]

Maybe i am just getting old but I see (hear) no problems what so ever using Teamspeak

it is clear as any sound that comes from my computer, I do have a Xfi Platinum Card with Infinity speakers so maybe that's why or is there a difference using the free TS compared to the paid version?

I've never had a problem with the ingame voice when it's on. I can hear players clearly and don't seem to be getting cut off.

I like the ingame quick ability to switch from commander, to squad, to side to local or vehicle.

When someone is using the ingame voice, their lips move and head turns so you can see who in close proximity is speaking, or can get a clue if observed enemy are communicating with each other. It really does help the immersion and realism as well.

I won't use any other third party program, first because it is completely un-needed, and second because I usually play with the same couple friends I've gamed with for the last 15 years, and we have our own Vent on so the few of us can carry on, swear and have a good time outside of the game sound.

I wish more of the servers would try the VON turned on, I'd bet they would notice and IMPROVEMENT in the level of teamwork and quality players on their servers.

[M9ACE 0]

This is written from the perspective of squads/clans/teams/clubs/communities, who operate a significant portion of the ArmA2 servers out there.

1. Several of the squads/clans/teams/clubs/etc. that you see playing ArmA2 have been around for years. Many have been organized in order to play other games there were popular in the past. Over time, these organizations evolve to support multiple games and therefore their membership often includes members who not only play just ArmA2, but other games in a single night depending on the mood. A third party program is preferable in such a situation, it often becomes a virtual meeting place. It facilitates everyone as a group finding the same server to play on.

2. If an ArmA2 server crashes, and the only means of communication between everyone is the games built-in VOIP, obviously there will be difficulty in coordinating between everyone you play with if for whatever reason the server does not come back on within a reasonable time. Everyone may want to jump on another server together, and a third party voice communication program is obviously superior to an instant messenger for this purpose.

3. In order to maximize the performance of a server in general, you would off load as much as you can. Not having VOIP running is one less thing the server has to do so that it can dedicate more resources to actually running the game itself, such as AI routines (i.e. if there is any AI in the mission you are playing). The advantage to having a third party voice communications program is that you can have it running on a different server all together.

4. Another advantage to having a third party voice communications program running on a different server is that you can have it running on a different connection so that you are now maximizing the bandwidth of your ArmA2 server. This is a benefit to everyone playing on the server.

5. When there is a disruptive user on a TS or Ventrilo server, it is much easier to single out that person and address the problem as needed. Simply stated, it offers more control to the people running the show.

6. Both TS and Ventrilo can be configured in different ways, with regard to channels. Both programs feature the ability to setup macros so that you can switch channels without alt tabbing out of the game. In the case of TS, you can easily provide others with links with you use the TS chat window at the bottom (see my screenshot for an example of this).

I can't ever get that program to work on my computer. I find it complicated, the GUI is awful. Why not just use the in-game voip? I was in one game where everyone was using the in-game voip and it was awesome! No problems, very coordinated....the most fun CTF in Arma 2 I've ever played!

Why do some servers require TS? I can't play on those as I can't get TS to work on my computer. I was hindered greatly in Arma 1 as many servers were TS only. I tried, downloaded and installed, did everything, still can't figure it out. A friend of mine, who is VERY computer literate, also tried TS to no avail. When him and I play in a game together we just use yahoo messenger's voice service and it's as clear as a telephone and simple to use. Not to mention its VOX.

I must ask you TS people, what's so great about it? Why not use the in-game voip?

No offense intended, but I have no choice but to question your friend's level of competence since Teamspeak is very easy to setup. Perhaps from your perspective your friend is "VERY computer literate" but the reality is that he must be overlooking something basic for both of you to have such a hard time with it. If you are having so much trouble with it just visit the TS forums and I am sure you can find answers to your problems there.