What do I need for Teamspeak?

We’ve been trying to set up an online gaming center, so people can tele-game with us. One problem is that we’ve got a nasty issue. So far, they’ve been using Yahoo voice chat, but that’s… erratic.

We’ve bene hoping to switch, and several of us suggested Teamspeak. However, our GM doesn’t actually start downloading or installing until, say, around when the game starts. This is not helpful.

Anyway, he couldn’t get it running. What exactly do we need for Teamspeak?

For reference, he installed the Teamspeak server, but whenever he tried to start it up and log in, the thing just kept… loading… forever.

If it’s installed on one of the gamer’s PCs, the incoming and outgoing ports need to be open on any firewalls in the host’s network. In addition, if the host is on a shared network, the incoming & outgoing ports should be directed to that PC specifically. (Behind a linksys/dlink/other_brand router, the ports need to be forwarded.)

I’m sure the teamspeak web site has plenty of screenshots, and if not, a simple google search on “teamspeak server setup network” shows plenty of hits for configuration help on a variety of VoIP server setups.

If you’re running a game server somewhere, most groups just host the VoIP server on that.