Remote Pairing

TODO: flesh out, add more links

Overview

Links

• This is a good site by a very experienced remote pair programmer: http://remotepairprogramming.com/
• Here's another site that isn't currently updated, but has good info too: http://www.wideteams.com/

Hardware

Headset

You need a good headset. Earbuds with mics (e.g. iPod earbuds) are not always good, they especially tend to rub on your clothing and make a lot of noise for the other person. Here's some examples:

• Cheap analog headset: http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-Audio-326-Stereo-Headset/dp/B001S2RCXW/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1419443996&sr=1-5
• Very expensive, but this is a top-of-the-line headset, very comfortable: http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-audio/razer-carcharias-for-xbox-pc

Audio Adapters/Splitters

1. splits macbook apple TRRS jack type ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio) ) to standard stereo/mic adapter: http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-headsets-separate-headphone-microphone/dp/B004SP0WAQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418113706&sr=8-3&keywords=headset+adaptor

2. standard stereo splitter (use two for two headset/mic plugged on same machine): http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Speaker-and-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B00009WQSR/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417465533&sr=8-1&keywords=audio+splitters

3. USB audio adapter (USB based alternative to #1, there's pros and cons to each, so it's good to have backup alternatives): http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_z

Software

• ScreenHero (free trial, cannot initiate calls after trial expires)
  • Note that non-paid expired ScreenHero accounts cannot initiate calls. But, remote Ninjas should have paid accounts to use. Do NOT continually create multiple new trial accounts, this is confusing. If there's an issue with not having a paid screenhero account, talk to management or switch to a free alternative
• OSX Screen Sharing (free, but need to have ports open via VPN or SSH tunnel)
  • TODO: Details on opening ports via VPN or SSH Tunnels
• Skype
  • ScreenHero isn't the greatest for voice chat, because it drops if screenhero drops. It can be better to have VOIP over a different app so it stays up. Skype also auto-reconnects, which is nice.

Instructions to setup for two pair headsets connected to a single machine

• Plug in standard stereo/mic TRRS phone jack splitter ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio) ) adapter: http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-headsets-separate-headphone-microphone/dp/B004SP0WAQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418113706&sr=8-3&keywords=headset+adaptor into your audio port of your machine. This is the one with three stripes:

• Plug in two of the standard stereo splitter (http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Speaker-and-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B00009WQSR/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417465533&sr=8-1&keywords=audio+splitters), one into the mic port and the other into the stereo port of the standard stereo/mic adapter. This is the one with two stripes:

• Plug in the mic jacks of the two headsets into the splitter connected to the mic port of the black splitter and the stereo jacks of the headsets are plugged into the splitter connected to the stereo port of the black splitter.

• Go to system preferences > sound on your machine and make sure it is setup to use external microphone as input

setup for connecting the splitters

setup up for connecting the headsets to the splitters