PalTalk

What is Paltalk

Paltalk is an internet chat service for text, voice and video chatting. The Paltalk Messenger program is in a free, banner-supported format. It has an ad-free version that requires users to subscribe. Paltalk is only available to users of Microsoft Windows. The program now identifies itself as PaltalkScene, a change that was made in September 2007

The service provides access to several thousand chat rooms in which users can interact with large groups of people simultaneously. This feature is very useful for conducting online meetings in real time over great distances.

Getting and setting up Paltalk

This review although a little dated explains how to get and set up Paltalk. It is a straightforward process.

  1. The first step is to use your web browser to load the download page for Paltalk.
  2. CLICK on BANNER
  3. Then you see the dialog box: SAVE the Paltalk installer file
  4. Once the download is complete, you will see another dialog box. Click to RUN or install.
  5. For Select Install Type — select Standard
  6. Agree to the terms of the license.
  7. The installer will be completed and you will see another dialog window to begin the registration of a nickname.
  8. Fill in the form as required. Choose a nickname, usually not your real name for privacy reasons
  9. Once the nickname is validated, you will be “logged on” to Paltalk and greeted with the Paltalk Main Console window.

 

Tips and tricks

Audio

  • You must make sure that your microphone volume is such that people can hear you.
  • So adjust that level by clicking on the microphone icon which is in a set next to Mute (third icon from the left).
  • And if you cannot hear people adjust the sound volume by clicking on the speaker control located next to the microphone icon.
  • If, after that, you still cannot hear a person who is speaking send a text note to that effect to the bulletin board to notify the owner of the chat room.
  • To prevent your breath distorting some of your words when you speak, locate your mouth to the left or the right of the microphone rather than speaking directly over and towards it. Alternatively, locate the microphone below the line of your chin or above your mouth in line with your nose.This way you prevent air turbulence distorting the sound.
  • If you are using a microphone with an on/off switch make sure….of course! — that it’s on. But hey — that mistake happens all the time.

Meeting procedure options

  • If it doesn’t cause any problems for your desktop keep this page open on your browser during the conference so that you can check your procedure if you are new to Paltalk.
  • When conferencing it is useful to keep your email program running on your computer so that you can send or receive posts and attachments to/from the other participants during the conference.But if you have a slow internet connection using email during a conference may interfere with audio quality on Paltalk.
  • Paltalk’s text messager will only allow a limited number of characters to be sent and posted via the platform. (The limit I think is 1000 characters). If you want to send long pieces of text to the bulletin board divide the text into small junks and post those in succession or notify participants that you have sent them an email with the text and/or file.
  • Conference/meeting chairpersons may like to post the conference agenda to the bulletin board so all participants will know what to expect.Similarly minute takers or chairpersons can post the text of any motion and later copy/paste those motions into any minutes file kept separately for record keeping.Agendas and appendices, etc can also be referred to by sharing their url/web address on the bulletin board — if these items/files are posted to the web before the conference begins (eg: on a wiki such as this one).That way participants don’t have to search through their email program to find old messages.

Voting on Paltalk

  • I guess there are a few ways to record a vote on Paltak. One way is to ask for any one who opposes the motion rather than for those who vote for it. ‘No’ votes can be recorded on the Bulletin Board via a text message sent by individual participants.
  • Another way would be to ask who votes for and who votes against by asking participants to vote by raising their hands using the Raise option– just like in everyday meetings but in this case each vote is registered as a hand icon against each participant’s name in the right column.After the ‘for’ votes are taken the chair should ask supporters of the motion to turn off their Raise preference so that the ‘no’ and ‘abstain’ votes can be registered.

 

Troubleshooting

From Paltalk Help:

Re-installing Paltalk

  1. Delete all the files in the C:WIndowsTemp folder
  2. Uninstall Paltalk
  3. Delete the C:PalTalk folder
    Note: If you received any files thru PalTalk, move them from the C:PalTalkReceived Files folder
  4. Restart your computer
  5. Turn OFF your antivirus program
  6. Goto PalTalk download and install PalTalk

 

Firewall

  1. On the main PalTalk window click on SETUP
  2. Click on the ADVANCED SOUND CONTROLS tab
  3. Put a checkmark on Firewall/Home Network Voice Support
  4. Restart PalTalk and test your sound

 

Troubleshooting Microphone

To determine if the problem is your microphone, windows, or PalTalk. Follow the instructions below.
Click on Start — Run and type SNDREC32 then click on OK
You should see the Sound Recorder program. Click on the Record button and talk into your mic

Sound Recorder
Sound Recorder

Stop recording and play it back. If you hear your voice then you either have a Firewall
Or you installed PalTalk with your Antivirus program ON
If you dont hear your voice make sure that your microphone is plugged into the right hole in back of computer
If it is plugged in correctly then continue to Sound Settings

Sound Settings

On the lower right hand side of your screen, next to the time display. You should see a small yellow speaker icon like the one on the image below.

Speaker
Speaker

Right click on the speaker and then click on “Open Volume Controls” from the menu.
A window will open, similar to the one below.

VolumeContros
VolumeContros

(Not everyone has the same audio settings, just concentrate on the items we mention.)

Remove the check mark in MUTE under Microphone Balance
Talk into your microphone… You should be able to hear your voice coming through your speakers.

You should now see the Recording Controls window, which looks similar to the image below.

Recording Controls
Recording Controls

Now pay attention

If you see MUTE under microphone with a checkmark in it Take out the checkmark
If you see SELECT under microphone & there is no checkmark. Then put a checkmark there
Test your microphone again with the Sound Recorder program
If after all this you still cant hear your voice then you should try testing with another microphone
If no voice still, then you most likely have a problem with the sound card

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