We have our own Ventrilo server hosted by darkstar networks llc with the capacity for 50 users. We'll use this server for lectures.
Ventrilo is a voice communications program, whereby users connect to a central server. The user interface has a series of buttons through which you configure and use the program. Note there are no menu bars. There is a list box which shows all the channels on the server.
Steps to get onto this server are below:
I have lifted these from the website of the server and modified them for our use.
Step 1 - Download Ventrilo's Client from:
http://www.ventrilo.com/download.php
Step 2 - Run the installation program with the default settings.
Do not get the jaws scripts, they make Ventrilo more difficult to use. Ventrilo is usable without scripts.
Step 3 - Start up the software from Start --> Programs --> Ventrilo --> Ventrilo.
Note that settings for servers are saved based on user names so if you add a new username you must re-enter all the server settings.
Step 4 - Under USER NAME, click the arrow next to it ( -> ), click NEW, and enter your first name, e.g. John You can also set up the phonetic spelling for the text to speech engine, so it says your name correctly when you connect or disconnect from the server.
your password should be your last name in lower case.
It is possible not all accounts have been created yet; if that is the case; send an email to Iain Murray.
Step 5 - Under SERVER, click the arrow next to it ( -> ), click NEW, and enter the NAME: "cavi". Click OK. Then under Hostname or IP, enter:
v47.darkstarllc.com
Step 6 - NEXT, make sure the port is set to: 4031.
Step 7 - Under password: your last name in lowercase
Step 8 - Click OK again.
Step 9 - That set up will be saved. To connect, simply click CONNECT, and in the future after opening Ventrilo, simply just click CONNECT as the user name and server will be saved.
Step 10 - Click SETUP; from here, you can change your PUSH TO TALK hot key as well as incoming and outgoing amplification. Increase outgoing amplification if you're too quiet to other people, and incoming if you can't hear them well enough. Be sure that "Use Push To Talk Hot Key" is CHECKED, then click in
the field next to "Hot Key" and choose a hot key to press when you want to be heard - we would recommend: right control
Depress your right control to talk and let go when you have finished talking. When you are not depressing the controlkey, the speaker icon next to your name is red. When it is depressed, the icon is green.
If you are using Jaws you may have some trouble setting certain options.
When setting the hot key in the preferences Window do the following:
when in the preferences dialog activate your jaws cursor by hitting numpad - then tab through the dialog box. When you hit hotkey press the key you want for your push to talk hotkey then jaws cursor down to the OK button. Left click that button by hitting numpad /.
If you need to set other items in this dialog box that appear after the hotkey do it in reverse order with shift-tab.
If you have trouble with the cursor sticking in the phonetic spelling field during account setup hit windows M to minimize all applications then alt tab back into Ventrilo.
We would prefer that students not use auto-vox, and only use push to talk, or if students are using auto-vox disable it if they are not talking for a long period of time.
We will all be in the lobby initially. We will move into the lecture theatre when it is time to commence lecture. To change channels, arrow down to the channel title and press enter. If you have text to speech enabled, a "now entering the lecture theatre channel" message is spoken.
To enable text to speech, activate the setup button. Go to the speech tab. Check the box that says Enable Text To Speech messages from other users.
You will also need to be in the chat window. The chat is an IRC style text chat. We use this for students to ask questions, to interact with students who have issues with their audio setup and to submit answers in the end of module quiz.
To open the chat window, activate the chat button. Be sure to check the Enable TTS checkbox. This means that messages that are entered into the chat window will b automatically spoken.
We might need to optimize microphone levels initially, best to close skype if you are not using it it messes with microphone levels at times.
Also to save and restore audio settings google for quickmix and configure it if you can to quickly set things the way you like them.