QoS settings - which ports?

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 8

I am hoping to enable the QoS settings on my Linksys router to improve my Vonage service. The router allows me to prioritise three specific ports. Will this help? Also, can anyone tell me which ports to prioritise?

Glad for any help.

Michael

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:53 am Post subject:

I assume this is on your Vonage-supplied Linksys router?

In that case, the unit is already configured for Vonage, but the QoS is not really all that effective.

http://vonage.nmhoy.net/qos.html

Vonage sends the actual voice data over a randomly-selected UDP port between 10,000 and 20,000. So you really can't prioritize your calls by port number. If you need working QoS (if you are getting complaints of choppy audio on the other side of the call), your best bet is to get another router.

I like and recommend the WRT54GL because it allows for aftermarket firmware that can really work well, however Dlink and Hawking have good QoS tuned specifically for VoIP - look for StreamEngine-enabled units.

If you decide on a WRT54GL, here are a few pointers on it, and instructions on how to get your current Vonage router working as a Vonage-only device behind it.

http://vonage.nmhoy.net/wrt54gl.html
http://vonage.nmhoy.net/wrt54glqos.html

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 8

Thanks for this.

Actually, it's not the Vonage-supplied box that concerns me but rather my own DSL router which is a Linksys WAG54G V.2 running fairly elderly firmware.

If there are not specific ports to use does anyone have and idea how I can use this device to prioritise VOIP traffic?

If possible I would prefer not to buy a new router since this one is quite new.

Michael

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:27 am Post subject:

Linksys has newer firmware available for the WAG54G, if you have the access to load it. That might add MAC-address-based QoS, which is what you need.

Basically, you need a way to tell your router to give highest priority to the Vonage MAC, or physical Ethernet port, or however you can identify the Vonage device to the WAG54G. Then connect all of your clients to the WAG54G, and relegate the Vonage router to Vonage duty only.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 06, 2005 Posts: 3

michael550 wrote:

I am hoping to enable the QoS settings on my Linksys router to improve my Vonage service. The router allows me to prioritise three specific ports. Will this help? Also, can anyone tell me which ports to prioritise?

Glad for any help.

Michael

We set our Draytek to prioritise UDP ports 10,000 to 20,000 and it works like a dream.