Your microphone volume slide and play control volume slide should be pretty close to the top. You can test it here and hear yourself. When you talk into your mic you want to have about 2 or 3 green bars light up . You can adjust this by holding your mic nearer or further from you mouth or speaking louder or softer. You new name with follow you into the next session, unless you change it again.
Some people type messages while others are speaking.
You can see what's going on by opening up the Talk Chat. Here is a good place to type http and e-mail address information that others can highlight, copy and paste. You don't even have to restore the talk box. Remember to let go of the F9 key when you are finished talking. The software is set-up so only one person can speak at a time to the room.