For many business professionals, traveling is a way of life – meaning they can be on the road and away from loved ones for days, weeks, even months at a time.

Luckily, there are reliable video conferencing platforms out there that ease the burden of being away from the people most important to you, and ones that are so seamless and realistic that you feel you could reach out and touch them – even if you are miles, states, or several countries apart.

Take Scott Hanselman, for instance. A principal program manager for Microsoft (News - Alert), Hanselman is constantly on the road and away from his wife and kids. He constantly takes to his personal blog to write about “programming, life and the Zen of computers” and most recently documented his conferencing methods of keeping in touch with his wife and little ones back at home. As he says, “using video conferencing has become totally fundamental to my work life, and when I travel (a few days a month), it’s utterly indispensable.”

After several failed attempts to connect to his wife, Hanselman says he has finally discovered a “foolproof” way of conferencing or calling home, without the typical “Can you hear me now?”

Step 1: Obtain Good Hardware

According to Hanselman, a guaranteed connection starts with a reliable, good camera. Hanselman recommends the LifeCam VX or NX series.

Step 2: The Software

You can use conferencing calling platforms such as Skype (News - Alert), ooVoo or Live Messenger. Two accounts – one for yourself and one for your loved one – will be needed. You should even consider making a separate account for trips for your family back home.

Step 3: Prepare Before You Leave

Before you make your way out the door and onto the plane, designate one computer in the house as the conferencing calling machine. Log your spouse into the special account, and add your account as a contact so your loved one on the other end will only have one contact – you, of course!

Hanselman also recommends you set the following privacy settings:

"Only allow people who are in my contact list to contact me"

"Automatically answer calls from people who are in my Contact List"

"Automatically Send Video"

Don’t log out, though! Make sure you leave the account logged in and check the video camera and microphone before you head out the door. This will enable you to call your family and have video and sound start without anyone touching the machine. Therefore, just by the sound of your voice over the conference call, your little rugrats can start talking to you without any assistance.

These are exceptionally great tips for anyone who wants to reach their family, foolproof. By following these steps, it’s very possible you’ll be able to say good morning and goodnight to the ones you hold closest to your heart – no matter how far away.

Tammy Wolf is a TMCnet copy editor. She also writes articles for TMCnet on a wide range of topics, including IP communications and information technology. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jaclyn Allard