Hi David !

(The description below might look troublesome, but it is quite easy - and you do this only once when it comes to downloads and registration.)

As Skype are Voice Over Internet Phone, and the services on the site have a system for each caster witch uses a telephone number and a unique id - one has to call in.

To use VOIP to call a landbased number one have to have additional services activated on ones account - for Skype this is called SkypeOut. One can call this "refill" and are bought to call phones outside the internet, like a cellphone. This cost about $10 to "refill" and gives about 10hr call time. The best thing about this is that you pay almost the same rate to phones around the world as you would to call your neighbor.

You can read and download SKYPE here( About 100 million people have done it before you..): http://www.skype.com

Skype is free of use amoung other Skypemembers - it has also chat and video as additional feaures.

Why use Skype and VOIP to phone in ?
1. It is cheaper than other sevices and better voice quality
2. You use it when you sit by the computer
3. You can at the same time enter the cast with a computer interface and use the chat and request to speak.

There are other several ways one can participate if one wants that - by cellphone and ordinary phone to call in and participate.

The best way also is to register at http://www.talkshoe.com to get a pin and id for recurring visits. Please then use your name as you use it here on the boards - it makes it easier to identify.

The last major "action" - is to have good headset with a mic. Here there are myriads of options, but headsets from Logitech and Plantronics are good options:

http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/cat640035/cat1430032
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/productlistns/US/EN,crid=101,ad=hmf

The stages you begin are as follows:
1. Get hold of a good headset - test it in the shop before you buy. Choose a USB-headset - easiest to connect.

2. Download Skype - register and buy SkypeOut service.

3. Test your headset w/mic with Skype thru Skype Testecho, so it do function correctly. You may if you want to call me on Skype: my handle is roy.h.larsen (don`t forget to type the dots...)or call me to see if the SkypeOut fuctions : 713-893 8039

4. Then is time to go to http://www.talkshoe.com and register to get a pin and id - and to download the Talkshoe Live client and install that. You may have to download the Java-client too if you don`t have that already on your computer - http://www.java.com .

When this is done you`re set for a talkshow.

Roy H