Why Is Voip Telephony So Faint?

[Trevor]

I use VOIP Stunt and VOIP Discount on a fast 2 Mbps cable connection, although even a slow 300 Kbps Thai is the same. I can always hear the dialled party clearly but they complain I am very faint, and often just hang up because they think it's a dud call. VERY frustrating.

My volume (set to max.) and Internet settings are all fine and the computer is virtually flawless. Newish headset with controls set to maximum. The 'free' and €0.01 per minute calls are equally bad. Some days the service is fairly good, other days it is terrible or un-usable, despite paying for it! Bandwidth does not seem to affect the service; even a slow server can be equally good or bad.

Are there any remedies, especially to boost the volume of my speech to the called party? Thanks.

[OlderButWiser]

I use Nonoh, they have an Audiowizard help facility and a bandwidth test

website at nonoh.net

It is nearly always a good connection both ends, only fails when internet is very busy

only on a 1 Mg connection

Make sure nothing else is running in the background

Run MSconfig and stop all unnecessary programs in the startup section

[LivinLOS]

If your voice is faint then setting the 'volume' to max isnt your issue.. Its setting the mic to max, or the line in depending on what your using.. If that fails buy a better mic (I had a cheap headset that was low volume).

Test your own recordings to see if you can record at an acceptable volume.

[lor]

I had the same problem even with the mic volume set to full, but on the mic volume setup page I found a small box called "Boost Mic Volume" I ticked this and the volume nearly doubled!

Chris

[munirkn]

Troubleshoot it like this:

1. Check your mic/headset by recording and playing back as other friends said if ok.

2. Check your upload speed. 2MB is your download speed but I don't think this your bandwidth problem.

3. More 2MB connectivity is between you and your ISP NOT between you and rest of the world. Problem can be with your ISP bandwidth maybe its chocking or VoIP service provider. To find out where problem exists trace the route to destinaiton (write down in command prompt: "tracert destination ip or address" and find out where the times jumps. It will tell you which segment is problamtic.

[Guest Reimar]

If you use Skype, you can do test calls and listen what you had talked and adjust the volumes as needed. Most of the time is a problem with the microphone and you should use an good one.

Cheers.

[Trevor]

I'm using 3.5 mm jack plugs for mike and headphones. Would that make any difference? I found USB headsets just did not function properly with VOIP telephony.

I pointed this out to one headset supplier and he replied ...

"Well I am afraid I have to beg to differ, USB with a Digital Sound Processor is the absolute way to go and that is from experience of dealing with call centres using exclusive VoIP systems. But we are all entitled to our preferences and as such the Sennheiser PC30 would be a good recommendation @ £17.02"

Am I missing a 'digital sound processor' on a high-spec 2006 Toshiba laptop?

Edited December 16, 2008 by Trevor