How can UPnP be best used with Vonage device?

Posts: 67 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 67

Well, let's figure why your quality is marginal. What is your typical uplink speed? Have you run pingplotter (I have a web page about this, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to it -- pm me if you want it)? What other applications are running (BitTorrent, Kazzaa)? DSL or cable? Do you have the MTA on top of some other piece of equipment? It isn't shielded. I had it on top of a voice modem at first and got terrible echo. Solution: move the MTA away from other devices....

Tell us more.

Posts: 132 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Apr 06, 2004 Posts: 132

I think it's marginal just because that is the current quality the D/A conversion...I don't think it's a bandwidth issue.

Downloads are typically around 2200 kbps and uploads are around 384. I have not run pingplotter.

I am not running any bandwidth-intensive applications, but for what it's worth, I have unplugged the router so that there is no other traffic at all, and it still sounds the same.

I have Roadrunner cable modem.

I have moved the MTA around and the only time I could notice a change is when I actually set it on top of a CRT monitor...got some hum in that case.

I think that my quality issues may be unavoidable within the current system. I don't hear anything major, but I feel that the conversation seems a little strained. Audio sounds like the sample rate is too low...it has a gritty character, and sometimes the "grit" is big enough to obscure a portion of a syllable. Also, there is a small delay, so duplex conversation can become confusing. It is a similar effect as with a digital cell phone.

The worst thing about the delay is that if I speak at the same time that the other party is speaking, the system generates a subtle burst of white noise where the other party’s voice should be. This only happens if I speak while there is speech or noise on the other end of the line. For example, I had a conversation with someone who was listening to music in the background. Each time I would start speaking I would hear the burst of white noise. Interestingly, the party on the other end of the line said that he thought it sounded fine. I would think that if there were a problem, it would be with the outbound audio, since there is considerably less bandwidth in that direction. I have not had a chance to spend any time listening to the outbound audio, so not sure how I would rate it.

Posts: 67 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 67

I also have RR (Houston area). What kind of modem are you using? I had huge amounts of trouble with a Toshiba PCX1100 and after switching it for an Ambit, I have had nothing but good (well, almost).

The delay is noticable, but that isn't a bandwidth issue.

Posts: 132 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Apr 06, 2004 Posts: 132

I have the standard issue Toshiba modem. How did you get a different one? Did RR supply it?

I will say that I haven't had any particular problems with the modem, other than with Vonage...and not sure the problems I am having are related to the modem or not...(?)

-Mark

Posts: 67 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 67

I didn't think I had any problems either. The loss was very slight and infrequent, but enough to impact audio quality. Trading up on modems did increase my speed marginally, but I would have never noticed (2600 vs 2800 on average).

I just took the modem and the power cord to the local TW retail center and said "I want to trade this for a new modem" -- they did ask me if I wanted a service tech to come out, but I just said no and they gave me a new modem with no hassle.

Posts: 132 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Apr 06, 2004 Posts: 132

Is there a simple way to test for modem issues before I try to talk RR out of a new one?

Posts: 67 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 67

Yes, use pingplotter. I have a write up about this on the web. PM me for the link.

Posts: 67 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 67

Actually, click on the WWW below my post and that should do it.

Posts: 132 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Apr 06, 2004 Posts: 132

Okay...so I got pingplotter, but not sure what I'm looking for...

Posts: 67 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 67

Ping a host and let it run for a long time (hours is good). Look for the last latency to not be wildy variable. For example, mine will run around 50-65. With the old modem, it would run 50-650! Also, there would be lots of packet loss at the Road Runner "front end" and beyond. Once you see a lot of packet loss, all the packet loss after that hop is suspect, so I would see lots of packet loss everywhere. Lots is a relative term. It wasn't a whole lot, but more than you should see.

Again, I have a write up on this on my site. Click the WWW button below to get there.