Prioritize Internet Usage - QoS or Something Else ?

maxjivi05 · Post by **maxjivi05** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:51 pm

I've been doing research on how to Prioritize Internet usage for MagicJack to be # 1. Can anyone help me shed some light on this. I can't figure out how to Configure QoS on my computer "Windows Vista" and I'm not 100% sure if my router supports it and if it does I can't figure it out, or if there is a program that can do the same thing just easier to work with? I'm using Net Limiter right now and it's not the best because I have bandwidth I'm not even using now just to make it work correctly and I need some help... I appreciate any and all help! Thanks..

Router Belkin F5D7230-4 Wireless G

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:00 pm

maxjivi05 wrote:I can't figure out how to Configure QoS on my computer "Windows Vista" and I'm not 100% sure if my router supports it ...
Router Belkin F5D7230-4 Wireless G

I read your router's manual here:

http://cache-www.belkin.com/support/dl/ ... manual.pdf

No mention of QoS capabilties.

You can buy a Hawking Broadband Booster which is "QoS in a box." Just plug it in between your router and DSL/Cable modem.

But, for not a lot more money, you can buy a Linksys WRT54GL and flash it with Tomato. My HOW-TO is here:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r215819 ... oppy-voice

If you can get the router flashed, and just follow the configuration instructions there, it will make a big difference for you.

Mark

kumar · Post by **kumar** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:23 pm

I seccond the WRT54g(L) ... i would use it with dd-wrt instead of tomato though...But that is just me

Kumar

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:54 pm

kumar wrote:I seccond the WRT54g(L) ... i would use it with dd-wrt instead of tomato though...But that is just me

DD-WRT has a lot more features than Tomato. That's a positive for people who need more features (like vlans, etc.).

I think Tomato's strong point is that it's simpler. Especially for QoS. If someone only wants QoS, they don't have a big learning curve. They don't have to learn about DD-WRT's "mini" version as a pre-requisite to the "standard."

I also like Tomato's QoS "graphs" and "details." This makes it ridiculously easy to verify that QoS classifications are being applied as expected. (That's how I found L7's RTP filter wasn't working). With DD-WRT, I think the user as to telnet/ssh into the router and execute a command line to see what's happening. Not terrible. But, for people who just want to do QoS, Tomato's interface makes it easier to see things like that.

But, if I were setting up a hotspot, or sharing my network connection with neighbors, I'd go with DD-WRT.

PS: If I really wanted simple. I'd go with Hawking Broadband Booster. That's even easier than Tomato (at the expense of flexibility and specificity).

Mark

kumar · Post by **kumar** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:59 pm

Yeah I agree... Tomato is much more easier to use, but DD-WRT is expandable... I would only get a new router if you were having issues with your old one with the MJ though...

Kumar

maxjivi05 · Post by **maxjivi05** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:57 pm

Will the HBB1 Work with WiFi? Will I just have to put it between the Router & the Modem?

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:02 pm

maxjivi05 wrote:Will the HBB1 Work with WiFi? Will I just have to put it between the Router & the Modem?

Yes, and yes. But, be aware that wi-fi can cause or contribute to choppy voice. See the following for common causes of choppy voice:

http://www.phoneservicesupport.com/post26529.html#26529

Mark

HendersonMike · Post by **HendersonMike** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:28 am

With a Linksys BEFSR41, setting QoS is a breeze......

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:01 am

HendersonMike wrote:With a Linksys BEFSR41, setting QoS is a breeze......

What does that setting do for you? It looks like all it does is give higher priority to the computer connected on a specific port/jack of the router? If that's true, it wouldn't prioritize competing traffic coming from that computer. Just protect it from other computers?

That could be useful if there are other computers, and one (or more) are playing games, downloading music, etc. But, it wouldn't protect you if you do something on your own computer during a call (like saturating available bandwidth at www.speedtest.net)?

Mark

isleblue65 · Post by **isleblue65** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:30 pm

az2008 wrote:
But, for not a lot more money, you can buy a Linksys WRT54GL and flash it with Tomato. My HOW-TO is here:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r215819 ... oppy-voice

If you can get the router flashed, and just follow the configuration instructions there, it will make a big difference for you.

Mark

Great tutorial on setting up Tomato QOS Mark - Thanks!!

I gave it a shot this morning, but ran out of time. Even though all of my settings were the same as yours, Magic Jack was still set as low priority, but I think that is because I did not add the rules correctly. I will give it another try when I have more time to really follow your directions line for line.

Very helpful info!

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:40 pm

isleblue65 wrote:I gave it a shot this morning, but ran out of time. Even though all of my settings were the same as yours, Magic Jack was still set as low priority, but I think that is because I did not add the rules correctly. I will give it another try when I have more time to really follow your directions line for line.

I'm glad it was helpful. If it doesn't work for you, take some screen shots (matching the ones in the how-to) and email it to [email protected] (and PM me here to let me know, because I don't monitor that email address. It's just a throwaway.).

I should do a how-to flash Tomato. There are some little things that should be done, like going into Administration->Configuration->Restore Default Configuration->Erase NVRAM (thorough). That can be useful after an initial flash to make sure no values from the previous firmware are present, in locations used by the new firmware, causing confusion for the new firmware. I've read that Tomato does this clear as part of its bootstrap install. But, I'm paranoid about little things like this. I do the 30-second reset (hold the reset button 30 seconds while powering on, release it) before and after flashing. And the Erase NVRAM.

The topic of configuring QoS was long enough without adding a lot of flash instructions.

Mark

isleblue65 · Post by **isleblue65** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:47 am

Well Mark, I was hoping all would work out perfectly, but QOS is making my MJ quality worse than without it, and I think my settings are the same as in your tutorial. I've PM'd you.

On Speedtest.net when I count into the phone without QOS, I can hear my voice on both upload and download, though it is more delayed on upload. When I apply QOS and count, my voice comes back choppy on download and disappears completely on upload. In fact, my MJ disconnected from the echo test connection (due to not enough system resources I think). When QOS is disabled, everything runs better.

Could the way I've configured the other settings in Tomato be causing problems in QOS? Perhaps a walk through of all settings in Tomato would be a good thing?

Anyhow, if you have any suggestions after looking at the Print Screen shots I've sent you, I'd much appreciate it!

Thanks,

Craig

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Prioritize Internet Usage - QoS or Something Else ?

Prioritize Internet Usage - QoS or Something Else ?

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