Using voice comm software like TeamSpeak is a great way to enhance your online sailing experience and get to know everyone better at the same time. As you can imagine, actually talking to people as you sail is a whole lot faster than typing! We are fortunate to be able to use the ITBYC Teamspeak Server, so please respect this privelege and don't be naughty. To talk using TeamSpeak, all you need is a headset with mic which you can get online or from gaming or computer stores anywhere. If you don't have a headset, you can still use TeamSpeak to listen to all the rubbish that's being spoken by our worldly members.

TeamSpeak has recently upgraded its software to version 3, however our server is still version 2... please visit this site to download a copy of version 2. http://www.gamearena.com.au/downloads/details.php/8197#

You can download the latest version of the free TeamSpeak client software from http://www.goteamspeak.com/index.php?page=downloads. See the links outlined in red.

Once it's downloaded, install it and fire it up for the first time.

Before you connect, you should set up a few things first...

Configuring TeamSpeak
1. Go to the Settings menu and select "Sound Input/Output Settings".

2. Select "Push to talk" (very important). Click the Set button and press a key (this, of course, is the key you will push to talk...). You can use any key not already in use. We recommend you use F12 as that key is not used by VSK4 by default.

3. Click the "Activate local test mode" button, press F12 (or whatever key you used above) and speak. Make sure you can hear yourself. If you can't hear yourself, your microphone is not connected properly, or you have it muted someplace. You should check that TeamSpeak is using the correct Input/Output Devices by going to the Settings Menu and Choosing "Options". In the Sound Devices tab, the correct devices for input and output should be highlighted. If not, click to highlight them, click OK to close the dialog and then open the Sound Input/Output Settings and test again.

4. Once your microphone is working click the "Deactivate local test mode" and click the Close button.

5. Now to add a button for talking across channels (this is primarily for team racing but can be handy for private chats etc). Your primary talk key will only allow you to be heard by others in the same channel as you. Go to the Settings menu again and select "Key Settings".

6. Click the Add button.

7. Click the leftmost "Set" button and press the F11 key. We recommend F11, but you can use any key. You can use the other Set buttons to add modifier keys if you wish, i.e. Alt-F12 etc. This is the key you will use to speak to the entire fleet (or "cross-channel").

8. For the Action select: Whisper to -> Channel pre-defs -> Channel family, click the OK button, and then the Close button.

When fleet racing, you will just use the F12 key to speak to other skippers, however, if you are team racing, each team should use their own team channels (red or blue). You use F12 to speak to your team and F11 to speak to the both your team and the other team.

Connecting
1. Go to the Connection menu and select "Quick Connect".

Enter the following:

Server address: ts.light-speed.com:8817
Nickname: your VSK alias, plus please include your real name as well eg. oobie - paul
Login Name: leave blank
Password: sailing

2. Click connect.

You should now be connected to the TS server. If there's anyone online, press your talk key and start yacking!

Note
You'll see some members with (R) beside their names, and some with (U) - these are Registered and Unregistered users. Registered users can only be created by ITBYC members. A Registered user has the ability to drag users between channels, though all users can double-click a channel to switch. Fleet racing should always be conducted in one channel.