Upgraded internet, still have softphone problems!

[TheHardy]

When I was previously using FPL (and also a DV acct) over my mobile internet (Wind datastick) I just put all the issues I was having down to a crappy internet connection. Although the calls were more or less useable, there was some audio drop out (especially at the beginning of some outgoing calls, and ALWAYS at the start of INCOMING calls). I lived with this as I had a crap set up and knew that my internet was not optimum.

Last two weeks, however, I have upgraded my internet to Telus Optik highspeed ... and I still have many of the same problems. My ping & jitter, as well as up/download speeds are all far superior to what I had before, but yet the problems persist.

I even thought that it might have been my computer, but I borrowed an "almost brand new out of the box" machine to try out and had the same problems.

Specific problems I still encounter: all IVR systems requiring TT input are useless over FPL; inbound calls have one-way audio for the first 10-15 seconds of me saying HELLO HELLO and the other side not hearing anything -- this clears up, but only 10-15 seconds into the call.

Telus Optik router is an Actiontec V1000h with firmware 31.30L.55

As I say, the service is still functional, but far from optimal.

I should restate that I am using the SOFTPHONE (v3.0.3.0/FPL)

[dibsmft]

I have the PC version of FPL on an old laptop running MS Windows Vista and it runs OKish. Calls are very good sound quality but I and not keen on the SIP client itself (there are lots that are better). I have noticed a delay in the call starting when I use DellVoice on my tablet but it is only a few seconds and not near 10 secs. Perhaps your box is having some problems with port routing on possibly codec negotiation. I suppose the other possibility is that although you have better downdload bandwidth you upload band width may be the same (have you checked that?). I used to have about 1000 Mbits/sec down and 500 Mbits/sec up and sip/voip had no problems at all and I suspect that for you it is the "Up to 1.0 Mbps Upload speed†" that is the problem. Check that you have no IP clashes and the ports are correctly routed. I assume that you are the only one using the network and that Windows is not doing anything else at the same time that you call (Vista seems to try to take over the computer rather too frequently .. like it or not).

[Bloodsong]

Hey Hardy, I imagine that this is a hard-line connection from the sound of it?

You've been around long enough to know most of my preliminary testing.
Give us a list of attempts and outcomes, let's see what we can come up with.

[Red89GT]

Specific problems I still encounter: all IVR systems requiring TT input are useless over FPL; inbound calls have one-way audio for the first 10-15 seconds of me saying HELLO HELLO and the other side not hearing anything -- this clears up, but only 10-15 seconds into the call.

Telus Optik router is an Actiontec V1000h with firmware 31.30L.55

I should restate that I am using the SOFTPHONE (v3.0.3.0/FPL)

Are you running on wireless wifi or is the computer hardwired?
I'm assuming you have correctly forwarded the correct ports (UDP and RTP) to the actiontec modem/router combo?
(going from memory they are RTP 13000-13001 and UDP 5050-5051/6060-6061)

http://portforward.com/english/routers/ ... neline.htm
might give you some tips

[TheHardy]

I have the required ports (well those ranges, even though I am not using them all) forwarded correctly ... firewall allowing access to the program, and have tried both hardwired and wireless .... same results.

As I say, I am ata-less -- using the softphone only ... I had the same issues with lower-powered internet (but no router, it was a datastick right into the laptop) ... I would have thought that "bigger pipe" internet would resolve this, but it has not ... :/

[dibsmft]

What audio do you use? Do you use the built-in audio on your laptop or some other arrangement? How is the sound if you use another SIP provider or Gmail phone? I have a friend who calls around quite a bit and has about the same internet speed as mine but has noticed that some people called have problems with their calls. The common factor is MS Windows 7 but so far I have assumed that it was likely much more problems with the users than Windows 7. Perhaps there is something that we are missing? How much memory does your laptop have? Mine with Vista only has 1 Gb and that was never enough but it works OK.

[TheHardy]

I mostly use the built-in mic with wired earbuds (but sometimes without the earbuds...)

Gmail phone works flawlessly (outbound only tho, obviously).

Win 7, 2GB ... happens even after a FRESH reboot with all other TSR etc proggies disabled/not loaded etc.

[dibsmft]

I normally use Linux Mint for voip and on my laptop everything works faultlessly and fast, but with MS Windows Vista the poor thing struggles but usually works as long as I am not in a hurry. As I think I mentioned here before that I tried to run the FPL client under Wine but it would not work but the Spokn client does and runs just fine and does essentially the same things but that is connected with the nature of the FPL client software. Perhaps the FPL softphone really is buggy as you claim and is causing the problem somehow. If that is the case I guess there is not much that you can do. In my experience the built in microphones in laptops do give poor audio for voip calls and a full headset gives better results but your symptoms sound like something else. The IVR does work for me with the FPL client on my laptop but I have often to switch between the two options before it works and I certainly would not use it by choice.

[TheHardy]

I think it is a "crap client" to be totally honest. I wish they would re-write it ... (lets not even get into the java issues.....).

The earbugs (vs speaker) with the built in mic actually gives GOOD audio (when it is not dropped out!) -- I have left voicemails to myself and retrieved them from landlines, and am actually amazed at the quality. Had some one call me from THEIR FPL app the other day on my work cell and the quality was no worse than a cell to cell call ... after THEIR "hello hello hello" session (first 8 secs about).... _I_ know about the delay ... but it is generally long enough that OTHER ppl will hang up ...

[Bloodsong]

@Hardy It's never been the best client that's for sure. You likely saw my comment in another thread recently for people who have complaints about the softphone to call support. I liked their original softphone more than the gaudy green one, but I understand they needed to make some changes for the advertising aspect. Either way there are many more SIP/VoIP APIs in the opensource realm now that Fongo's devs could look at as a basis for a new softphone. So now that you have an ideal set-up available to you plug into your modem directly, and then call Fongo support.

Let's get all of the softphone users to start making some noise in the corporate ear over this subject. Squeaky gears, oil, all that.

@dibsmft, seriously, Vista on 1GB? *pats you on the back* It'll be okay. (Win7 has a smaller memory footprint than Vista, it can do 1GB 'okay' Vista has always been hurting on 1GB in my experience)

[TheHardy]

The "official party line" from calling support, is that "our software solutions are constantly being evaluated and updated as needed"; complaints about issues are referred back to this forum ... so it seems that there is a vicious circle a-brewin'.

I know that Steve et al have forwarded our grievances, as he has said that he has, but the movement of anyone to actually DO something is making glacial creep look supersonic!

[Bloodsong]

The "official party line" from calling support, is that "our software solutions are constantly being evaluated and updated as needed"; complaints about issues are referred back to this forum ... so it seems that there is a vicious circle a-brewin'.

I know that Steve et al have forwarded our grievances, as he has said that he has, but the movement of anyone to actually DO something is making glacial creep look supersonic!

I agree, when was the last significant version release of the FPL soft-phone? It's aging while the technologies it's based on are rapidly growing-up (Primarily referring to Java here.)
And don't get me started on Windows 8 phones and the "interface formerly known as Metro." Which has it's own APIs that should be considered for new development of the application as well. I understand all of this requires time and resources, but if FPL isn't willing to open-source even portions of their API so that we the fans can fix stability issues. (Even if the auth and network codec sections are kept as a non-visible import), then they need to take the onus of ownership and dedicate some developer cycles to the app.

I understand the app is 100% free other than the time my eyes are rented out to the ad banners, but completely eschewing support to the forums when the forums are officially unofficial is a bad idea. While I know Steve and others have attempted to get our voices about the applications heard, it unfortunately is little solace when we know that real numbers about the need to update these applications likely aren't getting to management's heads.

And we can't ask Steve/Mike et al to be a broken-record at Management's office door every day for us. "Hey boss, 3 more unique requests for the app to be worked on today. 4 more yesterday, 50 the day before that. 12 the day before that. We're up to 13,476 requests now. When will we take this seriously?" After all, PHBs don't like to be annoyed, and we like our techs that have been around for the last 4 years growing this community with us.

[TheHardy]

Uh, tried to come up with something to add to that one Bloodsong, but it is so well put, all I can do is +1 ....