OBI202 and Port Forwading
ChristyinManotick:
Hello everyone.
I've been using my Obi202 (voip.ms) for over a year now. Pretty well up to speed on that aspect of it. We starting with a NETFLIX subscription recently and now notice people have a hard time hearing us on the phone (when NETFLIX is streaming). I figured it was a bandwidth issue by my provider (cable) says that I need to Port Forward from our Router. Looking around the internet I can see how to setup for on-line computer streaming .. but not for my Obi.
We're configured ...
Thompson DCM476 Modem ---> Linksys EA3500 Router (Port 3) ---> Obi202
Other notes:
I use a computer hooked up directly to the Router to control the Router inputs.
I also use another separate computer hooked up to LAN port on the OBI to control the OBI inputs.
I can see the OBI IP and MAC addy via the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi setup portal.
Any help would be greatly welcomed and appreciated.
Thank you.
Christy
SteveInWA:
Hi Christy:
As you've discovered, streaming Netflix is hogging your broadband connection, which will cause dropouts on the real-time streaming used by VoIP services such as you are using with your OBi device.
The cable provider gave you incorrect advice. You need to give priority to the OBi via a setting on your router. Technically, it's known as "QoS" (Quality of Service), a technique which gives priority to traffic for device(s) you specify. On your Linksys Smart WiFi portal, it's called "Media Prioritization". Enable the feature on the router's portal page, and add your OBi as a priority device.
ChristyinManotick:
Hello Steve and thank you for your quick reply. I made the change as suggested and
tried a phone call. No joy as it was still breaking up and the other end had difficulty hearing
me. I tried with the base settings - downstream bandwidth 6248, WMM Support ON and No
Acknowledge OFF. I also tried with the WMM support OFF.
Speedtest shows a Down of 5.38Mbps and an Up of 0.22Mbps with NETFLIX running. I think
I might have to go to the next bandwidth upgrade (15 to 30). Netflix is being streamed wireless
with no issues. The Speedtest is done on my main computer that is hooked directly into the
router.
What about a Cat 5 vs. Cat 5e cabling scenario? Would having a Cat 5 cabling cause the slower
speeds/connectivity issues?
Christy
SteveInWA:
Your issue has nothing to do with Ethernet cabling. Cat5 cable, while obsolete, will generally support 100 Mbps, and if it was defective, you would experience other problems (total failure to connect, or horrible performance on Netflix).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_5_cable
VoIP conversations use about 80-90Kbps, well within your speed test. However, that speedtest is pretty meaningless for VoIP, as it doesn't fully test nor display all the factors that impact VoIP traffic.
If you want to try a more accurate test, use the V.711 CODEC VoIP test here: http://myspeed.visualware.com/index.php
This test uses a Java applet to simulate a true, end-to-end SIP VoIP "conversation". It reports the results using a telephone industry measurement called "Mean Opinion Score", or MOS. A MOS of below 4.0 won't provide reliable results. Try the test both with and without Netflix streaming running.
If you've got cable TV/Internet service, I'd suggest that you contact your cable company, and tell them that you're considering leaving, because their service is crappy. If you are persistent in negotiating, they'll likely give you a free or discounted upgrade to the more-current level of service, which is much faster than what you've got now. You also may need to buy a new cable modem to take advantage of the improvements.
ChristyinManotick:
Hello Steve.
Thank you again for all of your help yesterday with tracking down my issue.
I could not run the visualware test as there was a missing plugin that was not
identified. Also tried with Chrome (NPAPI) that seems to be discontinued.
I spoke again with my provider this afternoon and was presented with a test to measure if it
was the bandwidth -or - the router itself.
I went ... Modem ----> OBI202 ----(LAN)---> Wired Computer
Streamed NETFLIX and made a phone call with absolutely no issues. Crystal clear
was the reply on the other end. It probably helped that it was to a wired computer
and not a wireless laptop.
Because I'd prefer to have the OBI behind the router it looks like I'll be digging around to find
one with a few more bells and whistles. The EA3500 I have now was selected for range plus
it had a dual input.
Steve, again thank you very much.
Christy
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