VoIP Question

edvallie · Posted: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 01:07:46 Post Subject: VoIP Question

Well I've had my VoIP for several months through Vonage. Being as it seems like we have some support for the technology here, maybe you guys could help me out with a *little* problem I get with mine. To be perfectly honest, Im not a big fan of the support available with Vonage, I never seem to get good results with the tips they give me. Anyway, on with the problem. So I'll be talking on the phone, and ocassionally I get an echo of myself that I can hear through the reciever. This isn't a constant problem, but just likes to rear it's ugly head now and then. Any advice?
Wave

knight0334 · Posted: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 09:33:31 Post Subject:

That echo is a telephone office problem. Not typically a end user or subscriber issue.

Its a trunking and switching problem in one of the central offices that your call goes through. A bad line card, a bad echo/feedback canceller card, and high levels on a voice circuit can cause this.

Its not Vonage's problem since your vocal transmission and reception is not an analog frequency, its a data stream.

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 10:13:22 Post Subject:

I'd trust the expert above... But, what kind of set up do you have? Just your typical home phone on a VoIP adaptor? Or a VoIP phone?

T-shirt · Posted: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 10:20:58 Post Subject:

Normal (pots)telephone service was designed to have a small amout of echo/hear your own voice (makes the conversation seem more normal) however if the delay is too long, it is very disruptive. This usually only is noticably on very long distance calls.
Some (most?)VoIP services have chosen to emulate this and if there is a packet delay (latency) it sounds like an echo. This is most noticable on low bandwidth CODEC's. With vonage I believe you can dial *99 (might be #99) before dialing the call to signal for a high rate CODEC to be used (intended for FAX and data calls) (exact number code depends on ATA brand and the provider)
much high quality, at the cost of much more bandwidth.

Kilamon · Rated XXX Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 811

Don't foget to check your vonage account web page. There's a bandwidth protection feature and you might have it turned down (saving bandwidth) when it could be better to turn it up.

BeerCheeze · Posted: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 12:03:19 Post Subject:

Yea, like these guys said. It's a bandwidth or latency issue. Depending on the type of connect you have, if you are doing other things on the same line (such as downloading, gaming, streaming video/audio, etc..)it could cause this issue.

T-shirt · Posted: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 14:57:08 Post Subject:

I checked Vonage and it *99 before dialing the call to signal for a high rate CODEC is correct for highest quality sound for that call only, the Bandwidth Saver can be set for up to 90kbps for all calls as follows. Normal~( the middle of the slider) should be fine in most cases

How do I enable/disable Bandwidth Saver?

The Bandwidth Saver feature allows you to control the sound quality of your call to save valuable bandwidth.

To enable/disable Bandwidth Saver:

Log into your Web Account at www.vonage.com
From your Dashboard click on the "Features" link from the top menu.
On the left hand side, the third blue box from the top you will see "Bandwidth Saver".
Choose the number you would like to configure for Call Waiting and click "Configure".
You will be taken to the Bandwidth Saver.

edvallie · Posted: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 16:09:24 Post Subject:

Thanks guys, I'll try some of those

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 16:12:50 Post Subject:

And if all else fails... follow the link in my sig and qualify for Nortel business VoIP... Laughing

knight0334 · Posted: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 16:25:38 Post Subject: