Skype on TV

Video chat can be very usefull in keeping contact with distant friends and family. If you’re using it as a group, then a TV screen and a wide-angle camera seems obvious. Everybody can fit into the frame, and the larger distance from the camera improves the illusion that the persons in the other end is actually looking at you.

Unfortunately, Microsoft chose in 2016 for unknown reasons to discontinue their version of Skype for smart-TV’s an TV-boxes. I therefore scouted the market for potential alternatives, but I did not find a completely satisfactory solution off-the-shelf. Therefore, I instead decided to sort of build my own. And it turned out to work quite nicely! Here follows the description.

Unfortunately, Microsoft chose in 2016 for unknown reasons to discontinue their version of Skype for smart-TV’s an TV-boxes. I therefore scouted the market for potential alternatives, but I did not find a completely satisfactory solution off-the-shelf. Therefore, I instead decided to sort of build my own. And it turned out to work quite nicely! Here follows the description.

You’ll need the following hardware:

  • Intel Compute Stick with Windows 10, e.g. STK1AW32SC
  • Webcam, e.g. Logitech C920
  • Pulse-Eight USB-CEC Adapter. This is required to be able to turn on the TV on incoming skype calls (since Intel’s Compute Sticks do not support the CEC standard themselves.
  • A bluetooth pointing device, e.g. Sandberg Touchpad Keyboard. Note that it needs to be bluetooth, because it cannot take up a USB port, like for instance Logitech’s Unifying Receiver.

You’ll need the following software:

  • The newest version of libCEC
  • Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio
  • Skype (from Windows Store)
  • My program skype2hdmi. It detects sounds in Windows and sends a CEC command over HDMI to turn on the TV and change to the correct HDMI input. If you want to add functionalty, take a look at the source code. I’d appreciate if you send any updates to me 🙂

Ok, to make the TV Skype system work, follow these steps:

  1. Connect
    1. Plug the Compute Stick into the TV
    2. Connect the bluetooth device (touchpad). This probably requires that you temporarily connect another kayboard + mouse.
    3. Plug the Compute Stick into the HDMI-CEC box (both with HDMI and USB) and plug the box in the TV.
    4. Place the camera on top of the TV and plug it into the Compute Stick.
  2. Install all of the software on the Compute Stick.
  3. Configure
    1. Make both skype2hdmi and Skype itself start on Windows startup.
      1. Press Win+R
      2. Type “shell:startup” and hit enter
      3. Add shortcuts to Skype and skype2hdmi. Right-click to configure Skype to start maximized and skype2hdmi to start minimized.
    2. Enable auto-login in Windows.
    3. Disable sounds: Sound -> Sound Scheme -> No sound.
    4. In the skype2hdmi folder there is a file called setup.txt. Open it and correct the value next to “hdmi” to be the HDMI port you want to use on your TV.
    5. Login in Skype or create a new Skye accound for the address.

You’re now set to go! When the Compute Stick starts, both Skype and skype2hdmi starts. When a call is incomming, the TV is turned on automatically and set to the correct input. You can now use the bluetooth touchpad to “pick up the phone” 🙂