VoIP Mechanic

Residential VoIp Providers

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  • Axvoice

VoIP-The top 5 complaints & fixes


Top 5 VoIP complaints.

What you can do to correct them.

1) I'm not receiving all my calls.

2) I have Internet, but no dial tone and can't make calls.

3) My calls sound choppy.

4) I hear an echo.

5) I hear static.


PROBLEM #1: The loss of incoming calls.

If the IAD (aka ATA) is unable to register with your VoIP provider, then the ability to receive an incoming call is gone.*   If you have voicemail enabled on your VoIP account, then your provider, failing to get the IAD to respond will route the call to your voicemail.  If you do not have voicemail enabled, there will be no where to route the call to and after a number of rings the call will fail and the caller will either hear a fast busy or a message that the call was unable to be placed as dialed.  Look to one of the following as most probable:

REASONS:

FIX: If you lost your Internet connection, try power cycling the modem and router/IAD.  If this fails, call your ISP. 

tip1An option some VoIP providers offer is the feature of "Call Forwarding upon the Loss of Registration".  If this feature is enabled, then in the event of the loss of your Internet connection the call will automatically forward to a preset number. 

You may want to consider having voicemail enabled by your VoIP provider, so they can route your call. 

* On a Linksys RT31P2 the phone light will indicate if the IAD is registered by being lit solid green.

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PROBLEM #2: I have an Internet connection, but not my dial tone.

Loss of dail tone usually indicates a loss of signalling from the VoIP ATA.Check for a corresponding light on phone 1 if you have a Linksys router/IAD.  If you do not have a light, reboot the IAD.  If you do have a light on phone 1, then look at these possibilities:

REASONS:

FIX: Try connecting a phone directly to the IAD without any devices or splitters between the IAD and the phone.  Change phone cords and/or the phone.


PROBLEM #3: My calls are choppy.

Choppy audio is usually caused by lack of adequate bandwidth or from Internet congestion slowing down the connection (latency).  If this is an ongoing problem check the following:

REASONS:

FIX: Check with your ISP for a higher level of service with more bandwidth.  If you find high levels of latency or packet loss, let the ISP check your connection. 

tip1Many VoIP providers offer a more compressed codec, or bandwidth saver setting.  Changing your codec can help in some cases.


PROBLEM #4: I hear an echo.

Echo is the sound repeated of your own voice at a later interval.  It is usually caused by one of the following:

REASONS:

FIX: Adjust the volume of the phones down to low to prevent feedback.  Take out any separate caller ID's or splitters that could be responsible for an impedance mismatch causing near end echo.


PROBLEM #5: I hear static.

Buzzing noise or static is most likely the result of analog interference into the phone lines or phone.  This electrical interference can be caused by any of the following:

REASONS:

FIX: Ensure that cordless telephones are charged and have batteries in the handset that are not weak.  Change channels on the phone to see if one is better than another.  Make sure you are using the correct power supply.  Connect a phone directly to the IAD to see if the buzzing goes away.

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