When they work correctly, VoIP systems can greatly enhance your Orange County small business’s productivity and communication. But when they start producing inconsistent quality calls or simply don’t work right, they can be downright distracting. Most of the common VoIP issues can be easily remedied, though. Let’s continue discussing some of the typical VoIP problems you may encounter and how to troubleshoot them.
Dropped Calls
We usually think about dropped calls in the context of inconsistent cell phone service, but they can happen in your office VoIP network, too. Dropped calls usually occur due to overloaded bandwidth or faulty equipment. If you’re experiencing more than an isolated incident of dropped VoIP calls, try these basic troubleshooting steps:
- Look at your router settings and make sure your QoS is set to prioritize VoIP calls.
- Make a practice of turning off devices that aren’t in use and closing unneeded applications that may take up unnecessary bandwidth.
- Try your calls using another phone. If this solves the problem, you have a faulty phone.
- Consider upgrading your Internet service for additional bandwidth, if needed.
Phone Static and/or Jitter
Occasionally, you may experience inordinate static or jitter in your VoIP phone calls. There may be various causes for this symptom, so you’ll need to isolate the cause through a process of elimination. Here are the steps to take to do so:
- Check electromagnetic interference. Try separating your router, computer, and power strip if any of these are close together. Try disconnecting splitters and caller ID devices from the system. If these steps improve sound quality, your problem was electromagnetic.
- Check your power supply. Faulty or shorting power supplies can cause static and pops. Try replacing your phone’s power supply and see if that helps.
- Check your bandwidth use. Overloaded bandwidth can occasionally cause static and jitter. Close unused applications and shut down unnecessary devices to give yourself more bandwidth. Also, be sure your router is set to prioritize bandwidth for VoIP calls.
While the troubleshooting steps we’ve discussed will solve most of the common VoIP issues, occasionally you may still hit a dead end trying to isolate the problem. The experts at NetServ can step in to help identify problems with configurations, faulty equipment/connections, and other issues you might not have thought of. To learn more, call 1-877-NetServ.