Can VoIP lag the internet

Lunatik72 · 09-01-2008 10:01am #1

Hello,

I recently moved house and my housemate is using VoIP. We have the NTL cable connection 6Mbit and when I use my wireless router everything is fine.

When we switch to his router and he is using VoIP I am getting massive lag spikes. I am playing an MMOPRG so I need a reliable lagfree internet connection.

I have no clue about VoIP as I never used it.

So my question, is his VoIP causing the lags or can it be his router or some wrong settings?

I don't have any further details yet, I don't know his setup or anything like this, just a general question before I start investigating the issue.

Thanks
Luna

axer · 09-01-2008 10:08am

Lunatik72 wrote: »

Hello,

I recently moved house and my housemate is using VoIP. We have the NTL cable connection 6Mbit and when I use my wireless router everything is fine.

When we switch to his router and he is using VoIP I am getting massive lag spikes. I am playing an MMOPRG so I need a reliable lagfree internet connection.

I have no clue about VoIP as I never used it.

So my question, is his VoIP causing the lags or can it be his router or some wrong settings?

I don't have any further details yet, I don't know his setup or anything like this, just a general question before I start investigating the issue.

Thanks
Luna

Not sure what you mean. How have ye got 2 routers? Is it one internet connection or two? Does he use VoIP when your router is plugged in?

VoIP obviously uses bandwidth thus if he uses it at the same time as you then it could cause latency problems for you.

Lunatik72 · 09-01-2008 10:16am

No we use one router at a time and we have one internet connection.

How bad can these connection problems be? I mean we have a 6 MBit Line and when I am playing a game I get massive lag spikes. Not sure if you are playing, but let's say you cast a spell and it should go off immediately. With his router it takes like 5-8 seconds until that happens and that's just unacceptable.

Is there anything I could do to go around that without having a second internet connection for myself?

Sorry if my English is a bit confusing

Luna

BuffyBot · 09-01-2008 11:39am

Is he using Skype or another VOIP service?

Lunatik72 · 09-01-2008 11:57am

TBH I don't know I only know he has a phone connected to his router for this.

I can find out though if its important for more information.

bushy... · 09-01-2008 12:01pm

Voip doesn't use much bandwidth , maybe there is QoS on the router and it is prioritising VoiP over everything else .

RangeR · 09-01-2008 2:19pm

bushy... wrote: »

Voip doesn't use much bandwidth , maybe there is QoS on the router and it is prioritising VoiP over everything else .

Skype has the potential to use an awful lot of bandwidth. If it's SIP VoIP, then this should not go anywhere near maxing out the 512Kb upload on that connection. Even at G.711a it will only be using approx 80 to 90K a second.

QOS on VoIP shouldn't be a problem either as the upload bandwidth is not getting anywhere near stressed.

OP:

Using your housemates router and him NOT on a VoIP call, do you have "lag" spikes?
Using YOUR router and your housemate is on a call, do you get lag spikes?
Does your housemate ever have problems with VoIP.
Find out if he is using SIP or Skype. If he doesn't know, what VoIP provider does he use?
Run a speedtest. It's won't be totally accurate but it will give an indication [www.irishisptest.com]
It could just be down to the NTL Network being borked. There have been soooo many complaints about the UPC Internet offerings over the past good few months. Nothing you can do about it other than change internet provider, if this is the case.

Lunatik72 · 09-01-2008 2:26pm

# Using your housemates router and him NOT on a VoIP call, do you have "lag" spikes?

It seems better when he is not on a call but then again I do not always know when he is on the phone or not.

# Using YOUR router and your housemate is on a call, do you get lag spikes?

I am using my router when he is not at home

My router has no port for VoiP phone because I don't need it.

# Does your housemate ever have problems with VoIP.

I will ask

# Find out if he is using SIP or Skype. If he doesn't know, what VoIP provider does he use?

Ok will ask

# Run a speedtest. It's won't be totally accurate but it will give an indication [www.irishisptest.com]

Yar will do that next time I have lagspikes and will also check on the router if its prioritising VoIP

Thanks for the answers so far

Luna

RangeR · 09-01-2008 2:35pm

Lunatik72 wrote: »

# Run a speedtest. It's won't be totally accurate but it will give an indication [www.irishisptest.com]

Yar will do that next time I have lagspikes and will also check on the router if its prioritising VoIP

Run it now and see what you get. I just want to see if you are getting anywhere near NTL's advertised speeds.

It wouldn't do any harm running it while you are getting the spikes too.

Lunatik72 · 09-01-2008 2:54pm

I am at work now

Will do when I get home.

RangeR · 09-01-2008 4:36pm

Lunatik72 wrote: »

I am at work now

Will do when I get home.

Ah, you have no commitment to what really matters in life

Lunatik72 · 09-01-2008 5:41pm

Ok so ..

Download atm 2,3 mbps
Upload 500 kbps

Which is normal at around 6pm, I think u dont have 6 Mb for yourself with cable.

The provider he is using is Blueface.

I cannot find anything about VoIP prioritising but can chose the Voice quality and its on his best G.711 Require 64k Bandwith.

Shall I change that down to Good?

Luna

Lunatik72 · 09-01-2008 5:42pm

IrishTLR wrote: »

Ah, you have no commitment to what really matters in life

To the internet?

RangeR · 10-01-2008 10:11am

Lunatik72 wrote: »

Ok so ..

Download atm 2,3 mbps
Upload 500 kbps

Which is normal at around 6pm, I think u dont have 6 Mb for yourself with cable.

Before UPC took over NTL and Chorus, I had the full 6Mb download. If you can, run some test throughout the day. Morning, afternoon, evening and before you go to bed. See if you EVER get near your 6Mb. If not, complain.

Lunatik72 wrote: »

The provider he is using is Blueface.

Good.

Lunatik72 wrote: »

I cannot find anything about VoIP prioritising but can chose the Voice quality and its on his best G.711 Require 64k Bandwith.

If your connection is causing you problems when he is on a call, you might want to ask him to get blueface to change to G.729. He shouldn't notice any major quality issues. It's still very clear and much better quality than GSM. Make sure his ATA / Headset is G.729 compatible.

Lunatik72 wrote: »

Shall I change that down to Good?

What are the options? Try G.729 but you will have to get blueface to change it on their side as well, I think.

Another thing you can test is packet loss. Open a command prompt [Start -> Run -> CMD -> OK] and type in

ping -n 1000 www.heanet.ie

This will take a good few minutes to run and will give you a lot of info but you are only interested in the last 3 or 4 lines, like below

Ping statistics for 193.1.219.79:
    Packets: Sent = 3, Received = 3, Lost = 0 (0&#37; loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 28ms, Maximum = 31ms, Average = 29ms

Lunatik72 · 10-01-2008 11:59am

Oh are you sure you have to change this with blueface as well? I changed it on the router now, so it wont have any impact at all?

I can do some more tests but I am thinking of getting a BT line for my own, there was an eircom line earlier so shouldnt be no problem to reconnect it.

Do you still have to go to eircom first before getting BT?

Thanks for all the help btw

Luna

RangeR · 10-01-2008 12:35pm

Lunatik72 wrote: »

Oh are you sure you have to change this with blueface as well? I changed it on the router now, so it wont have any impact at all?

I am not sure. I know when I was with Clearwire, Blueface had to change it on their end to G.729

Lunatik72 wrote: »

I can do some more tests but I am thinking of getting a BT line for my own, there was an eircom line earlier so shouldnt be no problem to reconnect it.

Get Smart if you can. BT Billing will give you the greatest headache you can ever imagine, and then some.

Lunatik72 wrote: »

Do you still have to go to eircom first before getting BT?

Don't think so. I know you don't have to with Smart. Quick call [ha] to BT will clear that right up [ha ha]. I think I just got a little bit sick in my mouth.

Lunatik72 wrote: »

Thanks for all the help btw

Luna

You are more than welcome, and for the pm.

Lunatik72 · 10-01-2008 1:39pm

I checked out SMART and it does require a phone line first

And before I don't have a number I cannot even check if they are available for me? Not very handy :rolleyes:

RangeR · 10-01-2008 2:03pm

Lunatik72 wrote: »

I checked out SMART and it does require a phone line first

And before I don't have a number I cannot even check if they are available for me? Not very handy :rolleyes:

Do you know a phone number of anybody on your road or area? It's not guaranteeing that your new line will work, but its an indication. It will also tell you if your area is DSL enabled. If you check that phone number on Smarts website, it will also tell you if Smart are in that exchange.

From then, order a phone line from eircom. ONLY the phone line. DO NOT Order broadband. Once the line comes in, you should have a phone number. It might take up to a month for the online checkers to register your number, but at the very least the Smart Website will tell you what exchange you are on and if they have enabled it or not.

Smart is by far the better broadband provider. If it's in your area, bend over backwards to get it. Seriously!!!

Can VoIP lag the internet

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