Whatsapp Voice Calling - WiFi issues

[MarkD-KZN]

Hi All,

Google has landed me on this forum so many times in the past with a solution to my problem, so I finally joined up and really hope somebody can help me with my current (Billion 400G) problem... (which I have googled, to no avail).

I was hugely disappointed when the long awaited Whatsapp update with Voice Calling arrived recently, and I could not make/receive calls when my phone is connected to my Telkom wifi network. (Works fine with 3G). I gave up and put it down to distance from exchange, attenuation etc. until... I recently borrowed a friends Netgear modem, plugged it in to my own line, and Whatsapp Voice calling works like a charm! Both routers test at exactly the same speed etc. and Skype works perfectly well on my phone using the Billion as well. (She is also with Telkom, 10Gb cap, I have uncapped.. can't see how that could make any difference).

Are there any settings I can tweak on my old Billion 400G modem, or do I have to get a new router to enable Whatsapp Voice calling?

 

[cavedog]

I don't think Whatsapp voice calling needs any special setting router wise.

If you are connected to the wifi and can connect to the internet on your phone via wifi then there should not be a problem with wifi calling.

 

[MarkD-KZN]

Thanks Cavedog, there 'should not' be a problem, but there is... after the call is answered it continues ringing on my phone and eventually gets dropped. Occasionally Whatsapp will offer an error message "couldn't place call because your phone is connected to a WiFi network that prevents Whatsapp calls. Connect to a different network or turn WiFi off". I googled this error, and the only place it comes up is on a Youtube for the UAE, where networks prevent Voice Calling, suggesting a private VPN as a solution. To my knowledge Telkom does not have any such policy in place, and the other router I tested is also a Telkom account. Think I will call them this morning, but I am not expecting too much from the helpdesk....

 

[Tinuva]

It may just be that, that Billion has a really crap WiFi radio in it. Upgrade to a router with a better WiFi radio in it, and you will see a world of difference.

Edit:
Uh yes its only 802.11g, which is crap. Easier to get another router with a better radio, at the very least 802.11n with single radio, preferably one with 2-3 radios.

 

[MarkD-KZN]

Thanks Tinuva, think it's definitely time for an upgrade....

 

[greatwhite]

I'm not expert on such things, but is it not an issue that the port whatsapp uses being blocked/closed on your router perhaps?

 

[MarkD-KZN]

Hi Greatwhite, I'm no expert either, but the fact that Whatsapp itself, including Whatsapp for Web and voice clips, work fine through the router tells me that it is not specifically being blocked, and I have factory settings, apart from the Network name itself. (I have seen a lot of search results about how to block Whatsapp on networks, but this is not the case in my scenario). I was hoping there was a default internet protocol setting on the Billion 400G I could change that would do the trick, but I think maybe the router is just too dated.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Switch on uPNP and try again.

 

[MarkD-KZN]

SauRoNZA, uPNP is enabled, default setting on the Billion 400G.

 

[greatwhite]

Hi Greatwhite, I'm no expert either, but the fact that Whatsapp itself, including Whatsapp for Web and voice clips, work fine through the router tells me that it is not specifically being blocked, and I have factory settings, apart from the Network name itself. (I have seen a lot of search results about how to block Whatsapp on networks, but this is not the case in my scenario). I was hoping there was a default internet protocol setting on the Billion 400G I could change that would do the trick, but I think maybe the router is just too dated.

I believe the port number is different for voice calls, hence the reason WhatsApp voice is charged on cellc. That said, it might well simply be time for a new router although I would have thought 11g would have still been fast enough, unless it is contending with other traffic.

 

[MarkD-KZN]

I believe the port number is different for voice calls, hence the reason WhatsApp voice is charged on cellc. That said, it might well simply be time for a new router although I would have thought 11g would have still been fast enough, unless it is contending with other traffic.

I would also have thought it would be able to handle it, given that it serves four devices and handles Skype video calls without any problem. (Have tested Whatsapp Voice with or without traffic and it makes no difference). Now that I have a slightly deeper understanding of ports and uPNP, I am going to log into my friends computer over Teamviewer and compare settings with her Netgear when she gets back from Joburg at the end of the week.... before I go shelling out ±R500 for a new router. Thanks for all the input! Will update if I have any joy...