Why does the quality of VOIP vary?

nestman · Post by **nestman** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:33 pm

The company I work for uses AVAYA VOIP phones. I NEVER hear the audio skip out, but it's a common problem with MJ. Do you have to buy a VOIP system that is thousands of dollars before you get clear consistent quality?

Thanks!

crackerjack · Post by **crackerjack** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:58 pm

nestman wrote:The company I work for uses AVAYA VOIP phones. I NEVER hear the audio skip out, but it's a common problem with MJ. Do you have to buy a VOIP system that is thousands of dollars before you get clear consistent quality?

Thanks!

The single most significant factor affecting VOIP is the IP. If your internet connection is not consistently delivering regular ping response time and is subject to packet loss and jitter, your voice communications will definitely suffer.
I will almost guarantee the AVAYA system is provisioned over a dedicated, highly maintained line and has been tuned to best facilitate this strange animal called VOIP. Ask the sysadmin what they are paying for the circuit. Probably quite a bit more than your home internet service, which may be faster, but does not meet the requirements of low ping, low latency and minimal jitter and packet loss.

What can you do to overcome the deficiencies of your home internet connection as to VOIP???
Get a router that supports QOS and learn how to tune it to maximize voice quality.

Typically the fault does not lie with MJ or any other VOIP provider or device. If your underlying internet service is flaky, any VOIP service will suck wind.

Ask to take one of the Avaya phones and use it on your home connection. It will then become obvious where the problem originates...

Have fun

Crackerjack

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:45 pm

If your underlying internet service is flaky, any VOIP service will suck wind.

Amen.

robinmi · Post by **robinmi** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:33 am

nestman wrote:The company I work for uses AVAYA VOIP phones. I NEVER hear the audio skip out, but it's a common problem with MJ. Do you have to buy a VOIP system that is thousands of dollars before you get clear consistent quality?

Thanks!

From my experiences its Magic Jack. Perhaps they oversold the service. However, I tried it and the quality was aweful. Delays, echos, voice breaking up to where the person on the other end could not understand what I was saying... and this was using my quad core 3 GHz computer with no other apps running or taking bandwidth.

Then I got an Ooma. Using my same broadband connection (Comcast) everything works great. Quality is as good as or better than the land line it replaced. And I don't have to keep my computer running.

I know others will disagree, but its Magic Jack. It ain't so magic.

crackerjack · Post by **crackerjack** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:07 am

robinmi wrote:
nestman wrote:The company I work for uses AVAYA VOIP phones. I NEVER hear the audio skip out, but it's a common problem with MJ. Do you have to buy a VOIP system that is thousands of dollars before you get clear consistent quality?

Thanks!
From my experiences its Magic Jack. Perhaps they oversold the service. However, I tried it and the quality was aweful. Delays, echos, voice breaking up to where the person on the other end could not understand what I was saying... and this was using my quad core 3 GHz computer with no other apps running or taking bandwidth.

Then I got an Ooma. Using my same broadband connection (Comcast) everything works great. Quality is as good as or better than the land line it replaced. And I don't have to keep my computer running.

I know others will disagree, but its Magic Jack. It ain't so magic.

Hello robinmi:
glad you are happy with the ooma, enjoy it while the ride lasts. They operate in somewhat of a closed environment and implement a vpn back to their servers so they can exert a great deal of control over the voice traffic. Clever in what they have done but you could have attained almost the same benefit by focusing on my quote above

"Get a router that supports QOS and learn how to tune it to maximize voice quality." at a cost around $40.

My observations are based on installing over 800 different voip systems, most based on a variety of ATA and combo ATA/Router gear. Using a borderline VOIP sustainable circuit with no guaranteed SLA is going to result in unreliable voice quality whether the packetized voice is generated by an original Vonage ATA vintage 2004 or a brand new piece of latest Cisco big iron.
MJ's dependency on the devilish combination of Windows and the black art of USB redirection and host based codec number crunching may serve to make a bad situation worse but in a stable low latency, low jitter, low packet loss consumer grade internet connection, it (or any other VOIP service) will produce agreeable results.

I stand by my statements seen above and am not swayed by your anectdotal experience with one solitary magicjack

Good luck

Crackerjack

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 3:30 pm

"Get a router that supports QOS and learn how to tune it to maximize voice quality." at a cost around $40.

My observations are based on installing over 800 different voip systems

Based on your experience, any recommendation for a brand/model ?

crackerjack · Post by **crackerjack** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:24 pm

cell14 wrote:
"Get a router that supports QOS and learn how to tune it to maximize voice quality." at a cost around $40.

My observations are based on installing over 800 different voip systems
Based on your experience, any recommendation for a brand/model ?

Find hardware supported by either dd-wrt or tomato both of which provide ability to tweak your net connection for optimum voip performance
Many threads in recent past discuss relative merits of various devices

Good luck

fulcrum · Post by **fulcrum** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:47 pm

How is tuning accomplished? Also does tuning remove the beeping sound? I'd like to give it a try.

As of a week ago I bagan using Ooma, and the wife stopped complaining. I still like the MJ concept, and wouldn't mind tinkering a bit, but it were up to my wife (and probably most people), the tuning would never happen.

For now, though, Ooma what my household is using.

jjance · Post by **jjance** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:24 pm

Find hardware supported by either dd-wrt or tomato both of which provide ability to tweak your net connection for optimum voip performance
Many threads in recent past discuss relative merits of various devices

How about a brand name.

crackerjack · Post by **crackerjack** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:45 pm

jjance wrote:Find hardware supported by either dd-wrt or tomato both of which provide ability to tweak your net connection for optimum voip performance
Many threads in recent past discuss relative merits of various devices

How about a brand name.

How about a search on the forum, or perhaps even Google, if you would not find that effort too taxing. Might even learn something that would empower you to become a meaningful contributor to these surroundings......

jjance · Post by **jjance** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:05 pm

Well Mister Jack I will take as you have no answer. Good luck on your way to be a useful contributor to the forum. Now get back under the bridge.

oldtimercurt · Post by **oldtimercurt** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:12 pm

jjance

crackerjack has a number of answers--just wants you to make a bit of effort to find info that is readily available on the forum.

OTC

crackerjack · Post by **crackerjack** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:22 am

jjance wrote:Well Mister Jack I will take as you have no answer. Good luck on your way to be a useful contributor to the forum. Now get back under the bridge.

Perhaps a bit of sharp cheddar to accompany your WHINE.....

magicJack and magicJack Plus Support, Reviews, FAQs and Tricks

Why does the quality of VOIP vary?

Why does the quality of VOIP vary?

Re: Why does the quality of VOIP vary?

Re: Why does the quality of VOIP vary?

Re: Why does the quality of VOIP vary?