why is my QoS so low?

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 09, 2005 Posts: 13

1,901,224 bps
Upload 372,280 bps
QOS 18%
RTT 68 ms
MaxPause 601 ms

Seems like my speeds or ok, but my QoS isn't. I haven't switched to Voip from POTS yet, and probably won't until I have some reasonable expectation of it working correctly...

Thanks,

-stan

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:11 am Post subject:

if you want reasonable expectation, check out your detailed results at testyourvoip.com
post it here for comments or if you don't understand something.
if you want to know what qos on that test measures, check this out:
http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic3360-20.html

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 09, 2005 Posts: 13

Thanks, John. Here's my testyourvoip.com results:

From me to target:
3.4 / 5.0
(Best with G.711 is 4.4)
Degradation Sources
Codec 0.58 35.4%
Latency 0.00 0.0%
Packet Discards 0.46 28.1%
Packet Loss 0.59 36.5%

From target to me:
4.1 / 5.0
(Best with G.711 is 4.4)

Degradation Sources
Codec 0.58 65.4%
Latency 0.00 0.0%
Packet Discards 0.27 31.1%
Packet Loss 0.03 3.4%

It also told me that port 5060 was blocked, so it had to run the test over port 6000. I don't have any firewall running (unless there's something built in to my Netgear wirelss router that I don't know about), and I'm running Windows 2000. I can't figure out why my numbers are so low, and like I said, I'm not switching from POTS until I get some confidenced in the quality of Voip.

Thanks,
-stan

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:49 am Post subject:

I wouldn't be very confident. who is your isp and what is your network setup (including modem)?
also, your results say "target" instead of the test site. did you use boston or san jose (assuming you're in the US)? use the closest one.

Posts: 89 · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:52 am Post subject:

Packet loss is part of your problem. What type of modem do you have? Also how is everything configured ( modem>TA> PC ect.) Also are you using cable or DSL? I believe QOS is based on how much your bandwith varies durning the test. I suspect you are on cable and there may be a lot of congestion in the pipeline. Just a guess. Low QOS doesn't mean your calls will be bad but the packet loss is going to be a problem.

Dave

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 09, 2005 Posts: 13

Thanks for the ongoing help.

I have Comcast Cable -> Motorola Surfboard 5120 -> Netgear Wireless router. Reckon my modem is bad?

-stan

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 11:02 am Post subject:

unlikely. are you doing these tests over a wireless connection?
you might want to run pingplotter.com for a bit to see how your overall internet connection is. as jockey pointed out, packet loss/discards/etc kill Voip.

Posts: 89 · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 11:07 am Post subject:

Are you testing using a wireless laptop or pc? If you are, try running the test why you are "plugged" into the modem. Some of your packet loss could be lost "in the air" witch of course would not effect your phone calls because the TA would be wired to the modem. I am fairly new to this tech stuff so if this does not make any sense I hope someone else will chime in and correct me. I am just kind of "thinking out load"

Hope it helps,
Dave

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 09, 2005 Posts: 13

Haven't tried pingploter, but I will. FWIW, I was using the Biston connection - I live near Baltimore. I am going through a wireless connection, but since it's a 802.11g router, I would think that it would be the largest part of the pipeline and not make a difference...

-stan

Posts: 89 · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 11:08 am Post subject:

Man, rebook beat me again..... Great minds think alike... LOL