Really, really bad static

[Just_Me]

I use Skype and various other online VOIP apps on my PC. I am now trying to make a few calls using the windows based app and not only did I have issues where my audio device was simply not working with the "freephoneline.ca" app but the sound quality is atrocious. I did manage to get the app to recognize the device by rebooting and playing with the settings but I had no issue with the other apps like Skype or VOIPBUSTER.

The main problem is the sound quality of the cracks and static when making calls. My connection is fantastic and superfast otherwise and I have no issues whatsoever with the other apps that I previously mentioned. I am on Shaw and I have Shaw Extreme. And just to give u an idea how bad things got, I was logged into the freephoneline.ca" app and I could hear continuous short bursts or pulses of loud static. This was when I wasn't even in a call. As soon as I disconnected the app (closed it), the pulsing disappeared.

Is what I am experiencing normal behavior for this app and what if anything can be done to resolve the issues I am experiencing?

[bridonca]

From a technical standpoint, your Internet connection is to blame. As a side effect of it's traffic shaping technology, or possibly even intentionally, your ISP is adding jitter to your connection, which messes up the audio on your VOIP. You might ask why that does not effect technologies such as VOIP buster and Skype? Well the answer is that those providers use different voice codecs which are much more tolerant to jitter than the voice codec freephoneline's current soft phone uses. So why doesn't freephoneline use those codecs? The answer is because the programming language used to program the freephoneline client, JAVA, is not particularly robust when it comes to common voice codec selection. Traffic shaping is a rather recent technology, so I doubt intentionally munged Internet connections were factored in when deciding on a programming language. JAVA does cut down on development time, so it seemed like a good choice at the time.

So where does that leave you? You should have a firm talk with your Internet provider. Other than that, you could buy the SIP settings for freephoneline, which supports a really good jitter resistant voice codec called g.729

[Just_Me]

Umm. No. It's quite easy and typically the first excuse given to blame the internet connection. I have Shaw Nitro and monitor my connection.

As a reminder, I have absolutely no issue with ANY other VOIP: Skype, Nonoh, Voipbuster, etc or any online VOIP app even when connecting to a landline. Clearly, the issue was with freephoneline.ca. At the present time, freephoneline.ca seems to be ok with the few test calls I made the other day; otherwise, I use it only for call forwarding only as I don't find the quality consistent nor reliable.

[FONGO_steve]

Umm. No. It's quite easy and typically the first excuse given to blame the internet connection. I have Shaw Nitro and monitor my connection.

As a reminder, I have absolutely no issue with ANY other VOIP: Skype, Nonoh, Voipbuster, etc or any online VOIP app even when connecting to a landline. Clearly, the issue was with freephoneline.ca. At the present time, freephoneline.ca seems to be ok with the few test calls I made the other day; otherwise, I use it only for call forwarding only as I don't find the quality consistent nor reliable.

PM me some details of how you find the quality inconsistent and unreliable, I'd like to run a few tests with your account to see what's up. That should be the case. If I can test here then we can get a better idea of where the problem may fall and what/where to troubleshoot.