My VoIP experience on LTE

I don't get your statement. Surely G.711 is the best option there is? I can only work within the codecs that Switch Telecom offer:

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1394533090.842272.jpg

One comparison I haven't made to date is Apple FaceTime Audio. Even calls I make to Europe are *crystal* clear. Hmm....




Dear Switch Telecom

Please add a new codec option to my list: Apple FaceTime HD Audio Codec.

Kthxbai
 
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I've checked Telkom Mobile's advertisement on LTE. They mention gaming, video, music and downloads. I guess VoIP is de-prioritised to hell and back...

https://www.telkommobile.co.za/services/lte/

I understand VoIP isn't something that Telkom nor the cellular service providers want to give in to due to lost revenue. But then for Pete's sake, launch a VoIP service and expand your offering!
 
FaceTime uses AAC-ELD and is comparable to Opus. I guess the reason why AAC-ELD isn't used is because of licensing issues and compatibility with other devices.
 
Interesting. It certainly seems to be a golden codec if there ever was one. (Besides this Opus you refer to)

I wonder what codec Whatsapp will go with when they finally offer VoIP calls?
 
While Switch Telecom are investigating my jitter issues, I realised I haven't posted any pingtests yet. This is mostly because there isn't a mobile app and I rarely use a desktop PC.

So for this blog specifically, desktop Pingtest:



Desktop Speedtest:



I'm going to post more Pingtests over time to build a trend.

Edit: here's another set of results 1 hour later





I imagine this is peak time for the cellular tower so should be a good benchmark to measure my service for VoIP suitability.

My service summary via the Switchtel Client Zone says the current ping on my handset is 167ms. :confused: Maybe the issue is really my Siemens A510 equipment...
 
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That VisualWare site looks really great. It's a bit harsh in its pseudo-MoS scoring, but in terms of measuring stats on the actually traffic type it's a step up from most of what's out there!
 
Switch Telecom and I may have solved the problem but I've yet to test and confirm.

I made several calls to several numbers using both my Siemens A510 handset and X-Lite softphone. The results were then compared by Switch and there was no difference - hence no issues with the Siemens handset.

Switch then showed me some other results compared to mine - 50ms for another customer vs 1000ms for my calls. They then theorised that my B593 LTE router was exercising packet flood control from inside and outside the network ie. outbound and inbound calls. I checked my settings and found the DoS setting was on - I think this is the culprit. I'll confirm in a few days. :)

Since all firewall security is now off, I don't know if I need a firewall appliance that can properly handle UDP packets. :(
 
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Report back - Day 119:

Still having jitter issues on calls but no one is really complaining anymore. The service is still more reliable than what Telkom has ever been for us.

Reading another thread I got an idea to ask for the unrestricted APN from Telkom Mobile. Let's see if this improves my VoIP quality issues.

Edit: Unrestricted APN only available to corporates

For the heck of it, I may also start testing again with LPDA antennas since they've never sold.
 
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Very interesting... and thank you for sharing your experience...

Yip this is the monopoly of SA (government controlled)
I agree VoIP should be offered by SPs but they can hardly do constant high speed internet via any network
And all this thanks to a slow government spending development funds on fancy houses and cars.

Oh, I forgot SA is a 3rd world country... silly me :sick:
 
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Azimuth said:
My wife still complains weekly about call dropout and I just don't know what else can be done. She says that while on national calls the line will go dead for a few seconds at a time which causes annoyance on both ends. I tested this myself with a call to friend some 600km away. Over a period of 45m, I didn't have a single issue. It could be that things are simply worse during the day than at night which is a peak vs off-peak issue.

This certainly isn't due to my home LTE network. I've posted before about the horrible latencies for VoIP on LTE *despite* 30ms latency measured via Speedtest. I don't know if I can make this statement conclusively but LTE isn't great for VoIP. For home use it's perfectly fine but for business it won't be acceptable to your customers. Note I've tested both Telkom Mobile and MTN LTE networks with the same result.
Click to expand...

Report back - Day 213

The problem isn't LTE at all, it's the Huawei B593 LTE CPE. It throttles UDP connections/traffic to no end. To date I've not found a way to remedy this. I use a VPN client that also uses a UDP port and have noticed over time that I randomly can't get a connection. When tested without the B593, a connection is obtained every time. And Switchtel use UDP...

I've tried to implement a DMZ but to no avail. I'm now dabbling with port forwarding and will post feedback.

In other news, I got quite a fat account last month. I've said it before but VoIP for home users only saves money if you're an occasional user. If you're a heavy user and subscribe to Telkom's calling plans, stick to that. Home VoIP is for the enthusiast, people without copper, low-medium call volumes and power users (the real-time nature of VoIP stats and billing, dashboard, etc).
 
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Report back - Day 237

While I tested MTN before, the result is now different. Since switching from TM to MTN LTE (Afrihost Mobile), latency on the service has normalised and there are no more spikes on calls.
 
Azimuth said:
I've checked Telkom Mobile's advertisement on LTE. They mention gaming, video, music and downloads. I guess VoIP is de-prioritised to hell and back...

https://www.telkommobile.co.za/services/lte/

I understand VoIP isn't something that Telkom nor the cellular service providers want to give in to due to lost revenue. But then for Pete's sake, launch a VoIP service and expand your offering!
Click to expand...

Both Vodacom and MTN have their own VoIP services ! Its all the other providers they look at as a potential revenue threat.
 
Link to their offerings please? I expect they don't do 011 type numbers though.
 
You expect wrong , they have full Geographic number porting ! http://www.vodacombusiness.co.za/business/solutions/mobile-and-voice/voip https://www.mtnbusiness.co.za/ProductsServices/CallingMessagingSolutions/VoIP/Pages/VoIP.aspx Neotel are doing the same thing ! In fact without knowing it many people are using these services as they offer a white label service branded to smaller providers.

Anyway , here is my 2 cents worth , im not a fan of the monster Tier 1 carrier services as they continue to cut a path to global domination ! I hope we don't look back to 2014 /15 as the year of the perfect storm !
 
Ok wow. Is this new? When the heck did these offerings arrive?

Edit: hang on, aren't these business offerings only? Where's the consumer option?

Perhaps MTN will buy Switchtel like they did Afrihost. :) Or maybe Vodacom beats them to it. :p
 
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Yes they are business offerings , when did they arrive ? cant remember but i do remember putting a couple of lines in for MTN over 4 years ago. Some of the white label boys they carry for offer residential services

PS; Dont think Greg ready to let go of the reigns yet but who know lying on a beach is an attractive thought ;)
 
whahaha... My pale skin on the beach???
Perhaps a shaded bar overlooking the beach... :)
Market consolidation is inevitable, but I think it's still a couple of years off.
 
well we beg to differ on when the ''perfect storm ' coming but promise ill by you a bottle of SP25 and you can lay on the beach
 
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