Before setting up VoIP how to check whether the bandwidth and network traffic of any internet service is good?

Question

Currently I have TWC, and planning to have ATT High Speed Internet which gives 12mbps down and 1.5mbps up in future. After that I am planning to setup VoIP (Obi 11 + Google Voice). I searched that many factors affect the voice quality on http://voip.about.com/od/voipbasics/a/factorsquality.htm

Out of those factors I couldn't figure how much bandwidth is required for VoIP and how how much amount of network traffic in my area is suitable for nice voice quality. Please help me on this.I am not receiving any specific answers from anywhere, not even from ATT. Hope to receive answer on this site. If my question unclear then you all can ask me. Thanks.

Answer 1

Partition part of hard-drive then test it as you suggested to verify effects.

Answer 2

We should prefer 3G internet connection or Wi-Fi for VOIP calls. You can use 2G internet as well but then the voice quality is bound to suffer. For good voice quality, 3G or Wi-Fi is good. The soft phones that the VOIP providers offer for calling, you have been designed so as to deliver the best possible functionality even at low bandwidth. I have also been using soft phone from The Real PBX and it works fine even if the signal is not so strong. Of course, internet speed matters but it is not the only thing that affects the VOIP quality. Sometimes, the route is not good which delivers distorted voice quality. So, you can figure out the rest only after you get a VOIP service.

Answer 3

I suggest you get something like that if you dont have a high speed router can can do QOS,



There is a switch device called the netgear proSafe Plus GS108E (runs about 80) and you can set the port to push all the bandwitch towards the voice over IP when it is needed.



If you have a router to support QOS or you are using DDWRT firmware, you can do it that way to by putting int he MAC address and making it high priority