Experiencing VoIP call quality issues can be frustrating and distracting. But the good news is that most of these problems are easily fixable with some help from your VoIP provider.
The key to VoIP sound clarity is network prioritization. To get the most out of your VoIP system, bypass any intermediary equipment like splitters and caller ID devices and connect your router directly to your phone. Here’s VoIP devices to help you through the process.
Check Your Internet Connection
Choppy sound quality is one of the most common VoIP issues, and insufficient data resources often cause it. If you notice this issue, run a bandwidth test during your office’s peak Internet usage to see how much of your capacity is being used up by online activities. If your results show that you don’t have enough data to support VoIP, consider upgrading to a business-class Internet bundle or decreasing your online activity to ensure better VoIP performance.
Another way to keep your VoIP connections working smoothly is by checking the firmware of all devices that carry voice traffic. Keeping firmware up to date can help prevent outdated software from interfering with calls, so it’s important to update your phones as needed. You should also check the quality of service settings on all VoIP devices to ensure they prioritize voice packets over other types of information.
Update Your Phone’s Firmware
Unlike twentieth-century business phones that relied on flash-hook-and-button sequences to transfer calls, VoIP uses data packets over the internet to communicate with other users. It’s important to update your phone firmware for bug fixes and new features.
These can include anything as granular as making it easier to search for contacts by partial names and numbers on your high-end phones’ home screens to things as wide-ranging as faster all-over operation. Security updates are also necessary to guard against hacks that steal user credentials and allow unauthorized people to use your VoIP account.
To update your phone firmware, start by power cycling your devices (unplug the modems, routers, and phones for over a minute).
Update Your Software
It may sound like a no-brainer, but checking that your routers and phones are updated with the latest software can help prevent many common VoIP issues. This includes updates for the device’s firmware, quality of service settings (QoS) in your router, and the phone’s software.
Aside from the technical aspects, there are also security concerns that should be addressed regularly. As with any computer system, VoIP is susceptible to hackers and malware that can affect call quality and place customer data at risk.
Keeping your VoIP system up-to-date and secure will ensure that you have a smooth and efficient communication solution for your business. And it will save you the headaches of dealing with multiple vendors for your communications.
Restart Your Devices
If your VoIP telephone system isn’t working correctly, it could be due to a simple issue. Whether caused by a network router firewall blocking VoIP signals or a power outage, these common issues can often be fixed by restarting your devices.
To perform a factory reset on most VoIP phones, you must unplug it from power and then plug it back in a while holding down several buttons. Many VoIP phone manufacturers have online resources detailing how to do this for their specific models.
It’s also worth checking your network equipment to ensure everything is properly plugged in. A stray power cord could easily knock your device offline.
Check Your Network Cables
While this may seem like a no-brainer, ensuring all your network equipment is properly connected is important. Even a stray power cord could cause your VoIP calls to be interrupted or to experience poor quality.
Check that all your routers and adapters are plugged into each other directly. It’s also worth upgrading to a dual-band router, which can separate 2 GHz and 5 GHz networks, allowing you to give your VoIP system dedicated bandwidth while keeping other devices on the same frequency (like thermostats and guest WiFi) free of latency and jitter.
Finally, ensuring that all of your switches have quality of service enabled is a good idea. This will ensure that your voice data is prioritized over other traffic and delivered cleanly to your phone.