Making the Most Out of Your VoIP Connection: 5 Tips For Optimal Performance
VoIP is a great alternative to traditional landlines as it not only saves money but also is a much more reliable communication method. This helps elevate business and reduces the chance of customers not having their queries answered.
But even though VoIP is an advanced communication technology and has many features not offered in traditional landline networks, it is not foolproof. VoIP networks, just like any protocol technology, need optimal working conditions to perform at their best.
There is always a lot of tweaking we can do to make our VoIP connection faster and more reliable because the factory settings are more universal, but not optimized for specific needs. Failing to optimize your VoIP network can cause dropped or choppy calls. It is why you must make the most out of your VoIP connection. Here are 5 ways you can do this:
1. Use Modern Hardware
Most VoIP services are highly compatible, so they run on a wide variety of hardware brands. But sometimes, if your hardware has gotten a bit too old, it is better to replace it to avoid network delays.
If you have a large organization, it can be hard to maintain several devices without a few of them needing replacing. So while your IT staff is busy upgrading servers or running security checks, instruct them to check if any devices need to be upgraded.
Usually, these things go unnoticed but it can cause unoptimized performance, call delays, noise, and overall poor call quality. These are all bad for business, which is why immediate upgrading is a good idea. Make a general rule of replacing old hardware every 5 years, as it is the general life expectancy of network devices.
Check with your router first since most businesses use default routers when they sign up for VoIP. Go for a medium-tier router as you often get laws of diminishing returns when you go for the most expensive ones. You can also check your VoIP provider’s website for the optimized hardware.
2. Prioritizing Network Traffic for VoIP
Another thing you can do is to change your network settings in a way that they prioritize network traffic. This means that your internet network will automatically give priority to VoIP traffic, allocating more resources such as bandwidth and hardware accessibility.
Be careful not to overestimate your bandwidth so that the rest of your business network-reliant operations get affected. Run a network assessment test to ensure your current Internet bandwidth and speed are sufficient to handle your clients’ calls.
Once you have run the test, ensure that your network doesn’t have latency, jitter, and packet loss issues.
Latency shouldn’t exceed 150ms because this delay feels cumbersome and impacts the natural flow of conversations. The jitter should be as low as possible to remove its negative aspects from every call. If the audio is jittery, it causes the conversation to be quite unpleasant as it causes audio cuts, noise, and feedback.
Packet loss is when your network bandwidth is fully maxed out and it has to drop bits from each call to ensure the traffic is freed up. This also causes choppy audio, delays, and even dropped calls.
So check the bandwidth demand and allocate resources accordingly. If there are more users on the network, then obviously you will need to upgrade your network bandwidth to accommodate more calls.
3. Create a VLAN
A VLAN (virtual local area network) is a great option for organizations with heavy traffic. As the name suggests, a VLAN helps create a virtual LAN network in your organization.
This allows you to route all important data, minimizing delay and maximizing the allocated bandwidth. This is possible as all the trafficked data has its own resources and space to navigate through.
This ensures that your calls get priority and none of them get dropped or suffer from packet loss when someone from outside the network is working on heavy bandwidth-draining activities.
You will need the expertise of highly skilled IT staff as they need to closely monitor incoming traffic and network resources to ensure there are no hang-ups. Plus, the team will have to evaluate the entire network infrastructure to ensure that your VLAN isn’t affecting the rest of the hardware and software being run on your network.
4. Get Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology that allows electrical power and data to be transmitted simultaneously over a single Ethernet cable. This eliminates the need for separate power cables and simplifies the installation of devices such as IP cameras, wireless access points, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones.
With PoE, VoIP phones can be installed in locations where it may be difficult or impractical to run separate power cables. This simplifies the installation process and makes it easier to deploy VoIP systems in various environments.
PoE allows for flexibility in the placement of VoIP phones since they are not restricted by the need for a nearby power outlet. It also makes it easier to scale and modify the VoIP system as additional phones can be added or moved without the need for additional power infrastructure.
The power for VoIP phones is provided centrally from the network switch or midspan, allowing for more efficient power management. This centralization makes it easier to monitor and control power usage for all connected devices.
Because of these reasons, PoE can enhance the reliability of VoIP systems by reducing the number of points of failure. With a single cable for both power and data, there are fewer connections that can potentially fail, leading to more reliable communication.
5. Ensure Your Firewall Isn’t Blocking VoIP Traffic
A lot of the time when you’re facing VoIP issues, it might be because your firewall isn’t allowing incoming VoIP traffic. You need to first understand the ports and protocols used by your VoIP system to ensure none of your VoIP traffic gets blocked.
Commonly, VoIP uses protocols such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol). SIP typically uses port 5060, and RTP uses a range of ports, such as 10000-20000.
You might also need to change your firewall rules. Log in to your firewall management interface. Create inbound and outbound rules for the necessary ports and protocols used by your VoIP system.
Make sure that the firewall allows traffic on the specific ports used by SIP and RTP. Also, If possible, create rules that allow traffic only from trusted IP addresses. Some firewalls have deep packet inspection features that may interfere with VoIP traffic.
Check if your firewall is inspecting VoIP packets and adjust the settings accordingly. Disable any features that might block or interfere with VoIP traffic.
Implement Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your firewall to prioritize VoIP traffic. This ensures that VoIP packets are given higher priority over other types of traffic, reducing the chances of packet loss and latency.
Now that we have discussed different ways to optimize your VoIP connection, there is a better way for it. You don’t always need such technical know-how to optimize your VoIP. You can always go for a reliable service that has already taken care of the unnecessary complexities. This is where Axvoice comes in.
Why Axvoice?
Axvoice is a well-known brand within the VoIP sector, The business has been fighting alongside industry titans for over a decade, operating from the US. With its safe call management interface, where customers can easily log in to view information about their call history and manage their accounts, Axvoice beats out the competition.
The service is easy to use, even though it offers many advanced features, including a sophisticated settings section where you can optimize the service to your liking. The service comes preoptimized for most networks which appeals to the majority of its broad audience. But you can still tweak it easily from its control panel.
Free unlimited in-network calling is included with every AXvoice Residential or Business VoIP subscription, and free unlimited international and off-network calling is available with the AXvoice USA/Canada Unlimited Plan.
Additionally, this service’s only Enhanced Voicemail feature allows you to view your voicemails via email or your AXvoice web account. Thus, Axvoice has numerous strategies under its sleeve that would satisfy
While the majority of VoIP providers provide a variety of plans and deals, Axvoice has concentrated its efforts on a single business strategy and is charging $15 per month for the full suite of services. Additionally, the company offers its clients in North America 200 outgoing minutes and enables numerous phone lines under one package.
Businesses that subscribe to the plan can receive free hardware and activation, and conference calling is supported. Some VoIP services operate on a pay-as-you-go model and may not offer as extensive features. This implies that every call you make will incur costs. As a result, Axvoice completely outperforms the competition thanks to its excellent plans and rates.
Axvoice’s Features:
- Caller ID Blocking: You can hide your Caller ID so it doesn’t show up on other people’s devices.
- Three-Way Calling: Add a third person to your call and drop them without disconnecting the original call.
- Music On Hold: Plays music when you keep the other person on hold. This way they know they are on hold and won’t drop your calls.
- E911 Support: Enhanced 911 support automatically calls emergency services when you press 911 without needing to speak.
- International Call Blocking: Block international calls outside North America so you don’t get charged extra.
- Alternate Caller ID: Assign multiple numbers to your plan so you can use different lines to make calls.
- Blacklist: Block multiple numbers from calling you when you add them to the blacklist.
Summing Up
With these tips and tricks, I’m sure your VoIP service will be much more robust and reliable, minimizing disconnections and maximizing your business profitability. But if you want a simple solution without all the technical hassle, go for Axvoice.
