Its good to talk

It would be good to talk if it were at all possible. Thats what gaming on live is all about. Playing games and having a bit of banter with friends adds to the experience. So why isnt it happening for me? Up until a few weeks ago I was able to chat with fellow gamers and  laugh as I was gunned down and blown up in many visually impressive ways. Things have changed however and for no aparent reason. Now when I play halo2 or Call of Duty2 online I can only hear my fellow combatants. I can no longer congratulate them on a skillful kill or mock them for a lucky one (note: you have probably realised that I die quite a bit online). My 360 came with the microsoft headset, which has been known to develop faults quite quickly. OK, fine, I get another headset or rather my wife gets me an early Fathers day gift of a headset (ta very much love). The new model being from "Game". Both of the headsets let me hear other gamers. I hear the chat, songs, gibberish in pre-game lobbies and the sound of my impending doom during games but neither of the headsets will convey my own Scottish dulcet tones. (youd love my accent ladies, and gentlemen of a certain persuasion ;-)

So, Watson, the game is afoot. To have two dodgy headsets, one of which brand spanking new, would be bad luck but not impossible. I feel this is unlikely, being the optimist that I am. So I continue to try and figure out what is going on. Could it be the controller connection? Could it be my ISP? Could it be that people simply ignore me? If anyone  perusing this blog has any suggestions for a solution here is some hardware information:

Im using a microsoft wireless controller, X360, NAT set to "open", ethernet cable connection to a Netgear DG834GT 108Mbps Wireless ADSL Modem Firewall Router with 4-port 10/100 switch (laptop connected wirelessly but not normally on when gaming). Like i said, I could talk to people a few weeks ago but not, apparently, anymore.

Of course i should caviat this my stating that there is the possibility I have been a complete eejit the fault is entirly mine and simple to correct but I assure you, 100%, that I do not have anything on mute!