If a delay in conversation is occurring, the network or equipment is typically the culprit. While calls are connected, the audio sounds delayed and it seems as if both parties are talking over each other. Causes range from faulty wiring or hardware to network instability. Common symptoms of delays on VoIP devices include:
- Callers hear their voice through the device
- Audio arrives late
- Calls appear to drop and reconnect
- Parties talk over each other
To begin troubleshooting delayed audio, verify the integrity of the local network. VoIP devices require an upload and download speed of 0.1 Mbps each. Computers and connected devices such as wirelessly connected cellular phones, printers, etc. need an upload and download speed of 0.3 Mbps each. Jitter must be less than 15 – 20 ms, and packet loss must be 0%. To run the Nextiva Network Quality Speed Test, click here. Compare the results with the chart below.
Recommended Network Quality Speed Test Results
Firewall Access Rules control the flow of inbound and outbound Internet traffic from the local network to the public Internet. Improperly configured networking equipment is a common cause of delays experienced with VoIP call audio.
Nextiva recommends that a local Network Administrator whitelist the following rules in the firewall:
Nextiva’s Firewall Access Rules