First, let's have a look at the basic requirements for ReWired Telecom VoIP services.
The list is short but each item on this list is essential for the proper operation of the service.
Voice over IP needs a certain amount of bandwidth in order to keep your conversations clear and free of disruptions.
Bandwidth is the amount of information which your internet connection can send and receive in a certain period of time.
Your first step should be to use an online speed test to find out what your maximum upload stream and download stream is.
We suggest you do this test using a fixed connection to the internet rather than using your wifi (wireless) connection to get accurate results.
Try to use numerous tests during different times of the day to get a good average of what you can expect from your internet connection.
Bandwidth is normally measured in kbps (kilobits per second) or mbps (megabits per second).
We recommend using Speedtest.net to test your bandwidth from a computer that is connected to your network
via an Ethernet cable.
A typical ReWired Telecom VoIP phone call uses about 90kbps (kilobits per second) of bandwidth.
So for example:
Average DSL connection: 1.5 mbps upload / 5 mbps download = ~16 simultaneous VoIP calls (maximum)
Average Cable connection: 5 mbps upload / 25 mbps download = ~56 simultaneous VoIP calls (maximum)
Typical T1 connection: 1.5 mbps upload / 1.5 mbps download = ~16 simultaneous VoIP calls (maximum)
Low-Bandwidth Option
If you consistently have low bandwidth availability, such as an oversubscribed Internet service provider, or simply do not have
services available to you that provide high bandwidth options we can make adjustments to your service that allow you to use your ReWired Telecom
services and still have excellent service quality. This is accomplished by changing your phone configuration to use a lower bandwidth audio format
which will reduce the bandwidth requirements to ~35 kbps per call. What is the downside? You likely wouldn't even notice the difference. Phones
with HD audio support would be restricted to standard definition audio and that's pretty much it.
Some Internet routers don't support VoIP. If you've purchased the cheapest router you could find then there's a very real chance it might not be compatible.
Are routers that support VoIP expensive?
No.
A suitable router can be purchased for as little as $30.00. The limitation of a compatible router is usually
how many phones it can support at once. This is generally dictated by how fast the processor is inside the router. Slower routers will support 2-3 phones,
whereas faster routers can support hundreds. ReWired offers the Netgear WNR3500L for $69.99 with free shipping
which will support up to 6 phones.
Take a look at our Compatible Equipment list to find out if your router is compatible.
There are quite a few configuration changes that can be made to a router to that mean the difference between compatibility and non-compatibility with VoIP
in general. Here are a few of the most common settings that cause problems and what to do to resolve them.
Firewall Settings: Make sure that your router has UDP ports 5060 - 5100 and 16384 - 32800 open.
SIP ALG: This functionality is poorly designed in most routers. It should be disabled.
QoS: This setting allows you to prioritize VoIP traffic over other Internet traffic.
NAT: Never use more than one NAT gateway between your phones and your Internet modem/connection.
Contact Customer Support for assistance in implementing these settings and others that can improve your VoIP experience.
We support a very long list of VoIP phone manufacturers and softphone applications. To find out if your phones are compatible, take a look at our Compatible Equipment list.