Choppy Audio - Help Sought

Posts: 36 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 36

Haven't been able to get thru to live tech support so I am putting this out there. I have only had the "service" 3 weeks. Am using their Linksys RT31P2 set up as per their specs. Even with no other traffic (ie: all PCs off, no other router on) and using a corded phone attached to the Vonage Linksys, I have been getting choppy audio though the other party can hear me just fine. I have plenty of bandwidth (1mb up & down) and have even used the bandwidth saver to set it to lowest setting. Is there some setting I can try on their router that might help? Surely someone else has gone through this and can share Vonage's tips.

Posts: 148 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 148

I'm getting the same problem, and thought it was my connection (wireless broadband), but maybe it is Vonage....

I live in East Central IL, maybe there is a connection?

Posts: 67 · Full Forum Member Joined: Feb 08, 2005 Posts: 67

others can correct me if i have it wrong, but i think the solution to choppiness is to increase (not decrease) the bandwidth saver setting. especially in your case where you've got good upload.

might check you QoS settings, too, although im not quite sure i completely understand how that works.

also maybe check out the Voip speed test.

http://www.vonage-forum.com/voip-speed-test

Posts: 148 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 148

My problem seems to have fixed itself- so who knows? I'm on the 50k setting and everything is sailing along fine! Very Happy

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 03, 2005 Posts: 4

What's funny is I have been going back and forth (with no success -- horrible tech support!!!!!!!) for weeks on this issue.

I have 3MB down and 512 up and I have this problem all the time!

Even when call transfers to voice mail I hear the choppy audio on the message. Now THAT CAN'T BE MY CONNECTION!! But tech support blames some packet loss on the major backbone between Dallas and DC (not even my ISP's) as the cause. Bull crap! That means that any packet loss would cause problems for hundreds of people.

I've been blown off and I am about to drop these people!

Posts: 148 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 148

yeah, my problem returned with a vengence today. I called CS, and they adjusted the packet size on my router from 30 to 10, so we will see tomorrow afternoon if that helps.

Posts: 2 · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 1:48 am Post subject:

I have had garbled audio (at 40 sec intervals - approx.) since I've had Vonage. I think I might have finally fixed the problem though. Time will tell. Vonage techs told me it was on Comcast's side that I was getting packet loss. I did troubleshooting with Comcast and had them come out and check my lines. All was well according to them, but still poor sound and packet loss (3% to 10%). I spent some time with Comcast Chat Help - very helpful! We noticed 19 foreign addresses accessing the internet when there should only have been 3, based on what internet software was running. Here's what made the diff: 1. downloaded and ran Spybot software. 2. Removed almost everything from my windows start-up (lots of stupid stuff in there anyway). 3. Rebooted modem & router according to Comcast tech's detailed direction. So far, no more packet loss! For anyone with Comcast ISP, try their Tech Support via Chat for good and fast help.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 03, 2005 Posts: 4

However I had no packet loss near my connection. It was all WAY down stream on the internet.

I might just reboot the voice adaptor and the Modem and router.

My problem is that it seems very widespread but when I talk to support they act like I am unique in the problem I have!

I'm about to drop these guys like a bad habit!!

Posts: 30 · Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 9:28 am Post subject: Choppy inbound audio

I have been experiencing this choppy incoming audio as well even when the QoS is in the 85% range. I have not been able to make a decent call in days since the inbound audio is so choppy I can not even tell if the other party can hear me. I have been blaming my ISP but from the sound of things others (even based in the US) have been having the same issues.

Is there a Vonage site that shows current network status?

BTW: Last week I had Vonage change my packetization from 20 (default) to 10. He also advised keeping bandwidth at 90 for the best codec.

Posts: 492 · Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject:

I can't understand how so many of us have this problem. You just need to clean up your systems and get a decent ISP, but there are ways around it.

You can not have a bandwidth of 1Mb up & down. If you need to test I will leave you with my favorite sites. As to setting your bandwidth to it's lowest setting may be a mistake.

Go to http://www.dslreports.com and run the speed test and the tweak test. Also go to http://www.2wire.com running the "speed meter" will get you your actual bandwidth. I suggest setting your "Bandwidth Saver" back to 80Kbps (the default) until you figure out what's happening.

Don't forget to disable your router to allow for ping tests, as well as your firewall. Instructions are given.

Finally, consider this:
http://www.vonage.com/help_knowledgeBase_article.php?article=264&category=47

Mike