Callcentric inbound call quality raspy
erkme73:
I cannot find the original thread that provided a tutorial on how to set up two obi boxes with a single GV account. But, this is my setup:
SP1 on both boxes = GV accout (outbound calls)
SP2 on both boxes = each has their own unique Callcentric inbound number
GV is set to forward calls to both callcentric numbers, thereby ringing both obi boxes.
From a call connection and reliability standpoint, it works great. However, about half the inbound calls - picked up on either obi - start off with perfect quality, but after about a min or two, the quality changes to distorted and very raspy. It's only the caller's audio that's affected - they hear me just fine. The only way to "fix" the poor call quality is to hang up, and I call them back (thereby avoiding callcentric entirely).
When I have GV forward to Google Chat and ring either OBi box directly, the call quality is perfect for the entire call.
There seems to be some sort of compatibility between using the callcentric free inbound calling service with the OBi hardware.
Has anyone else experience this type of initially good inbound call quality, followed by an abrupt degradation?
SteveInWA:
Google Voice (actually, it's the Google Chat/Talk/Hangouts browser plugin) can only keep track of one client connection at a time. Whichever client is the last to handshake or otherwise connect to Google's server "wins". Having two clients (OBi boxes in your case) on the same network, competing to connect to the same GV account, may cause issues. Note that only one OBi 1xx device can connect to the same GV account at a time, whereas more than one OBi 2xx device can connect to GV at the same time.
Since you already have INbound calls to your GV number being forwarded to two different CV numbers on SP2, one per OBi, then the first thing to do is to log into your GV account from a web browser, and on the Phones tab of Settings, remove the check mark next to the "Google Chat" forwarding destination. That will stop your OBi(s) from redundantly receiving forwarded phone calls on SP1. Log off of GV on the computer, then power-cycle both your OBi boxes.
If that doesn't improve things, and you want to use SP1 for GV OUTbound calling, then either create a separate GV account and phone number for the second OBi, or turn off one of them when using the other.
Note that this limitation also applies to being logged on to any other Google Chat/Talk/Hangouts client on a computer or mobile device.
erkme73:
Thanks Steve. I'm well aware of the issue with multiple OBi boxes on the same GV account not being able to ring with incoming calls - that only the one with the latest handshake will ring.
As part of the configuration with CC, the GV account must have the Google Chat forward turned off - otherwise, as you stated, there will be contention between the two boxes. However, with it turned off, neither box will ring with an inbound call to the GV number. The CC forward (unique number for each box) is what makes each box ring. The outbound (SP1) is still GV on both boxes, as GV doesn't seem to object to multiple boxes initiating a call on the same GV account.
The problem with having a separate number/GV account for the other box is that callers will need that new number to reach me on that box - something I'm trying to avoid.
The setup as I have it works just fine in terms of both boxes ring with every call to my single GV number. And most of the calls are 100% in quality. It's those that start off fine that suddenly go south on the inbound audio that's frustrating. Fortunately, I can still understand the caller, and they have no idea that they sound horrible - so if it's an important call, I just muddle through.
Was hoping this was a known issue and had a simple fix (i.e. tweaking codecs somehow).
erkme73:
By the way, I meant to add... With the new Hangout version of the old "chat" plugin in Chrome, you do not need to have Google Chat checked in forwarded phones. It must operate on a parallel connection to the Obi. If I get a call to my GV number, both my OBi boxes and my computers logged in on Gmail will ring.
So the days of having either chat on the PC OR the OBi appear to be gone.
SteveInWA:
Short answer: you're doing it wrong. Do what I (and other members) said in previous posts on how to use CC inbound DIDs with GV and OBi.
TL:DR answer:
There are several errors in your conclusions, based on an incomplete understanding of what's going on. True, you can log into Google Chat with as many clients as you like, and make OUTbound calls with any of them. However, as long as you leave call forwarding to your Chat destination enabled in multiple client sessions (as I will explain below), you will have all sorts of unpredictable problems RECEIVING calls on your multiple destinations.
This sentence is one example: "However, with it turned off, neither box will ring with an inbound call to the GV number."
First, your interpretation of the behavior when the Chat box is checked or not is a common (and not obvious at all) mistake. This has nothing to do with Hangouts.
Among all the many confusing and undocumented aspects of GV, one issue is that multiple settings control which "forwarding destinations" will ring when a call to your GV number is made. You can remove the check mark as you did, but that setting is overridden by two other settings, in hierarchical order: Look on the "Groups & Circles" tab of settings, and edit each group or circle. You'll see a list of forwarding destinations. Even though you de-selected Chat on the Phones tab, it's still selected on the settings for any defined group or circle. So, you have to also change it there. Then, settings you may define for any individual contact will further override settings for groups, which override the setting on the Phones tab. Confused yet?
Next: aside from the previously-quoted sentence, your entire paragraph quoted below makes me think you either didn't understand my last post, or you don't understand how to configure your GV and OBi accounts.
As part of the configuration with CC, the GV account must have the Google Chat forward turned off - otherwise, as you stated, there will be contention between the two boxes. However, with it turned off, neither box will ring with an inbound call to the GV number. The CC forward (unique number for each box) is what makes each box ring. The outbound (SP1) is still GV on both boxes, as GV doesn't seem to object to multiple boxes initiating a call on the same GV account.
I tried to explain that, on GV settings, you need to have the GV Chat destination DISabled, and the CC DID destinations ENabled. GV will then forward calls to the CC DIDs defined on your OBi(s), and thus ring the phone attached to the OBi.
Here is how it SHOULD be done (as documented in more detail, several times in other threads):
Disable Chat as a forwarding destination on ALL three of the places I described above.
If not already added on GV Phones Settings, add and verify your Callcentric DID(s) as forwarding destinations.
On your Callcentric account, do NOT forward your CC DID anywhere other than the default (to a SIP client, logged in with your CC SIP credentials). Either disable CC's own voicemail system, or set its ring delay to 35 seconds or longer.
Assuming you have SP2 on your OBi(s) properly configured to answer calls made to the Callcentric DID(s), test this by calling directly to your CC numbers from some other phone. It should ring on your OBi(s). Then, call your GV number from some other phone. GV should forward the call to the CC number, which rings on the OBi on SP2. SP1 should NOT be getting the call at all. In fact, you should (temporarily) disable SP1 to test this.
The benefit of this, as you may know, is that you will receive caller ID name with the calls, a function that GV doesn't support natively.
Sorry this is so long and complex. If you do not understand what I am saying, please let me know.
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