Bad call quality only on international calls all of a sudden

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: May 04, 2007 Posts: 8

I've been using Vonage for about a year and make calls to Europe regularly and have seen a degradation in quality in the last few days. This affects ONLY my intl calls and to the point of not being able to carry on a conversation. The problem is the quality of the conversation - its static-y and broken up. This is across multiple numbers.

No changes in software and hardware to computer.

In general I am satisfied with Vonage. My speculation is that because of the holiday season intl calls are up and there could be a problem with bandwidth to Europe? Or Vonage could have made some changes in how it routes it calls locally in Europe?

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 1

It's odd, I've been running into the same problem in the last few weeks for not apparent reason. No changes to network (computer, router, or modem) however the quality of the call has dropped by at least 60-70%. The calls when initiated sound horrible (i.e. every other word drops and the recipient cannot hear), or if the call starts off fine within 5-7 minutes the same problem starts to occur. I have even attempted calls with all machines unplugged from the network, and problem still exists.

I was thinking it was my internet connection, so I attempted a call to the same number using Skype. Call quality was perfect. It must be a Vonage issue, and unfortunately if it continues I will have to discontinue using Vonage for international calls. Any ideas?

1. Your location: Chicago, IL, USA
2. Your ISP name and type (cable, DSL, wireless etc): Comcast / Cable
3. Upload and download speeds:1446kbps /18085kbps
4. Modem make and model: Motorola SB5120 SurfBoard
5. Vonage Adapter:Motorola Vt1005V
6. Network: Modem -> Router -> Vonage adapter (has worked perfectly for over 2 years)
7. Issues: choppy audio (recipient cannot hear),echoing
8. Voip Test Results.

Download speed: 9159288 bps
Upload speed: 1484576 bps
Quality of service: 88 %
Download test type: socket
Upload test type: socket
Maximum download pause: 43 ms
Average download pause: 2 ms
Minimum round trip time to server: 49 ms
Average round trip time to server: 64 ms
Voip test statistics

--------------------

Jitter: you --> server: 2.9 ms
Jitter: server --> you: 9.0 ms
Packet loss: you --> server: 0.0 %
Packet loss: server --> you: 0.0 %
Packet discards: 0.0 %
Packets out of order: 0.0 %
Number of supported Voip lines: 25
Estimated MOS score: 3.9

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: May 04, 2007 Posts: 8

I called Vonage tech support. The person I spoke with was really great! She called my last two intl calls and was able to replicate the problem on both calls. She said it sounds like a bandwidth issue. and nothing on my end. She said she will let the engineering dept know and to give them 24 hours to address the issue.

I think it may be a problem with high call intl call volume around Christmas. I'll be making some intl calls again this weekend.

Kire, coinciidentally I also am in Chicago but using AT&T DSL (argh).

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

It would be interesting to go to www.testyourvoip.com and run test calls to Boston and to some of the overseas test locations. Compare the results.