Vonage DIES when uploading/downloading files

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

I love Vonage. HOWEVER whenever I am uploading/downloading files on the internet, Vonage is unusable. The sound quality is terrible - barely audible.

So is that cure for this? Otherwise Vonage is USELESS since I and my family members download a lot.

It is very annoying. I am talking long distance and suddenly the phone call is inaudible because one member of the family started a upload/download.

PLEASE HELP !!!!!!

Posts: 23 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 23

List your equipment (brands and model #'s)and the setup your using. Then we could help you better

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

I am using the Linksys WRT54GP2 and am in the USA.

My friend is in England and his problem is much worse. He is using a D-Link DSL-G604T router which feeds all the computers as well as the Linksys RT31P2-VD router which is used not as a router (all ports are empty) but just as a phone adapter.

Thanks.

Posts: 23 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 23

[quote="Leica"]I am using the Linksys WRT54GP2 and am in the USA.

My friend is in England and his problem is much worse. He is using a D-Link DSL-G604T router which feeds all the computers as well as the Linksys RT31P2-VD router which is used not as a router (all ports are empty) but just as a phone adapter.

Thanks.[/quote]

OK, one at a time, is your linksys connected directly behind the modem? What is you upload and download speeds? (see the Vonage speed test) And is calling England the only time you have a problem? Local calls ok?
You may want to go to you Vonage account and under features select the Bandwidth saver, set it to the lowest , 30k (says may take an hour to set)

Second one, The D-link is the modem, and it doesn't support QoS (quality of service) It is probably giving all ports equal access to the net, He should try setting the Linksys up on the DMZ in the d-link, and move the computers behind the Linksys ( his supports 3 pc's, if he has more than 3 pc's put most used behind linksys), it can better control the phone service when setup this way. And also try bandwidth saver if problem continues, He may not have available bandwidth to run all computers with Vonage.

Give that a try, and good luck.
James

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

My Linksys is connected directly behind the Cable Modem yes. My speeds are 4Mbps Download and 512Kbps Upload.

The problem happens both with local calls and international. For me it is usually when uploading that the sound quality goes down.

The Vonage bandwith saver is set to the highest quality. After that is our goal.

The friend has a D-Link DSL-G604T which is a two in one. It is a combined DSL modem and router with wi-fi. His speed is 2Mbps download and 256Kbps upload.

He could run the compters off the Linksys, except that he would limited as he needs the wi-fi of the D-Link.

Thanks.

Posts: 23 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 23

I would set bandwidth saver on lowest setting on both of your accounts. Quality is not that bad, if 30k works move up to 50k and see if that works, if not drop back to 30k. give it a try at least.

Wireless would prove to be difficult on the linksys. I don't have any more Ideas for you, sorry.

I've got 6mb down 370k up, And I usually can't maintain 90k upload with comcast cable. 50k is my normal, and even had to drop to 30 several times.

Posts: 1389 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:42 pm Post subject:

Leica,
Could you do the www.testyourvoip.com test to Boston, preserve call quality, and post the detailed results here? With 512 UL, you should in theory be ok with your settings. This is for you, not the mate in the UK.

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

I got 3.6 and here are the details:-

To Boston:-

Media Quality MOS 4.0 / 5.0
(Best with G.711 is 4.4)

Degradation Sources
Codec 0.57 57.9%
Latency 0.00 0.0%
Packet Discards 0.42 42.1%
Packet Loss 0.00 0.0%

Codec G.711 (PCM at 64kbps,
20ms RTP payload,
80kbps IP BW)
Round-Trip
Latency 158 ms
Packet Discards 2.3%
Packet Loss 0.0%
Loss Periods Min: 20 ms
Avg: 20 ms
Max: 40 ms
Random Loss

Jitter Min: 0 ms
Avg: 6 ms
Max: 55 ms

Signaling Quality Post-Dial Delay 78 ms
Call Setup Time 78 ms
Media Delay 188 ms

From Boston:-

Media Quality MOS 3.6 / 5.0
(Best with G.711 is 4.4)

Degradation Sources
Codec 0.57 41.6%
Latency 0.00 0.0%
Packet Discards 0.60 43.8%
Packet Loss 0.20 14.6%

Codec G.711 (PCM at 64kbps,
20ms RTP payload,
80kbps IP BW)
Round-Trip
Latency 158 ms
Packet Discards 1.6%
Packet Loss 0.5%
Loss Periods Min: 20 ms
Avg: 20 ms
Max: 40 ms
Random Loss

Jitter Min: 4 ms
Avg: 7 ms
Max: 43 ms

Signaling Quality Post-Pickup Delay 84 ms
Call Setup Time 88 ms
Media Delay 118 ms

Posts: 80 · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 4:31 pm Post subject:

The honest truth is that until the consumer style routers learn how to differentiate traffic and do proper Quality of Services (QoS), this will continue to be a problem.

Some of the new Linksys routers will do downstream QoS but the smaller pipe for most people is the upstream and the QoS doesn't work in that direction. If your issue is the sound of the person you're talking to (and not your own voice going out to them) getting garbled, this downstream QoS may help.

Your choices for now are to refrain from doing large downloads when people are using the phone or segregate the download connection from the voice connection (i.e. two network connections)to the Internet.

- Mark