Need help and suggestion before I give up!

[grumpy]

Internet Connection

Speed Test #61520237 by dslreports.com
Run: 2008-11-21 14:49:47 EST
Download: 4802 (Kbps)
Upload: 530 (Kbps)
In kilobytes per second: 586.1 down 64.6 up
Boost: 4826
Latency: 36 ms
Tested by server: 9 flash
User: 1536229 @ dslreports.com
User's DNS: bell.ca
Compared to the average of 414 tests from bell.ca:
* download is 55% better, upload is 5% worse

Setup

I use Lylix Hosted PBX, equipment consist of Astra 57i CT, 2 Snom m3, Linksys WRT54GL router with Gargoyle based on OpenWrt firmware, and a Linksys ata Spa 3102 for pstn transfer to pbx. DID providers are 2 X Les.net (sip and iax) and voip.ms tried both sip and iax. Also use tollfreegateway.com, and google 411. Just recently signed up with Fonicatec but have not tried it yet.

The problem is wife approval, calls can have a heavy echo or silent spots in conversation. All incoming calls are voip as pstn calls are transferred to Lylix then back to the house. (Unless we pickup the bell phone and hangup on the voip phone which is exactly how my wife does it)

Goal

My goal is to have a better working PBX and I need your help in finding the best solutions to that goal, I have surfed and read many many forums looking for that elusive ingredient that I'm missing. PSTN is the real culprit as it is also the line used the most, but the voip DID's do not escape these problems either.

Suggestions on hardware, setup and voip providers for a SOHO location would be greatly appreciated, what works for you.

First question, would I be better off with a local box with a card installed then an ATA for PSTN?
Second, would a local box and hosted PBX combination work better then just one or the other?
Third, what services features would be appropriate to a SOHO, as their are many that I personally have no need for; but I would like to find the most used by the majority?

Yes I know that these are noobs question and I have been doing this for a while (> year) but without the success that I need for wife approval. There is no option for Internet connection and I have had bell improve it as much as possible. If I can not find a better solution within the next 30 days or so I will just go with a hybrid solution from Panasonic or someone else as I obviously do not have the skills to improve on it. Oh and if any one knows of a good hybrid solution that supports PSTN and voip please let me know.

Thank You
Grumpy

 

[Alex728]

I would definitely suggest using a local box and a line card (doesn't need to be an expensive one either, the Openvox ones will work well especially if you use OSLEC). You need a reasonable motherboard which will work well with the thousands of interrupts per second a line card generates.

just use a standard PiAF build (rather than the Orgasmatron) and FreePBX has all the features you would need..

 

[jmullinix]

I agree with Alex. Your DSL connection does not have enough upload bandwidth to support many calls. I would build a box for your home, put a line card in it. I like the Sangoma A200 with hardware echo cancellation (because they just work) and use voip phones in the house. You can then set up a VOIP carrier for your toll calls and your DSL connection would probably stand voice calls to it.

Right now, every call you make is using your Internet connection and PSTN calls are taking two channels, one to Lylix and one back to whatever extension answered the call. Moving the server inside your house will eliminate some of this Internet usage.

 

[tshif]

Your DSL Up speeds are on the edge of use-ability, especially if you are using a fatter codec.
(http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-Bandwidth+consumption)

[FONT=monospace] Codec            BR            NEB [/FONT]
[FONT=monospace] G.711          64 Kbps       87.2 Kbps [/FONT]
[FONT=monospace] G.729           8 Kbps       31.2 Kbps [/FONT]
[FONT=monospace] G.723.         16.4 Kbps     21.9 Kbps [/FONT]
[FONT=monospace] G.723.         15.3 Kbps     20.8 Kbps [/FONT]
[FONT=monospace] G.726          32 Kbps       55.2 Kbps [/FONT]
[FONT=monospace] G.726          24 Kbps       47.2 Kbps [/FONT]
[FONT=monospace] G.728          16 Kbps       31.5 Kbps [/FONT]
[FONT=monospace] iLBC           15 Kbps       27.7 Kbps [/FONT]

BR = Bit rate
NEB = Nominal Ethernet Bandwidth (one direction)

SO minimizing your DSL "up" usage is important. Having the PBX in house will also mean it can grab your copper line locally and not need a trip up to Lylix. This being the case - all calls from your copper lines through the PBX should be excellent quality.

With luck - using the thinest codecs (Id think about getting g729 if your VoIP provider supports it.) you might get reasonable voip service - but not more than a couple of simultaneous calls at the very, VERY best.

 

[jbh]

Perhaps a broadband accelerator might help

Perhaps using a broadband accelerator (something like this http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/voip/dlink-di102-broadband-internet-voip-accelerator.asp ) to give some Q0S for the VoIP traffic might help? I don't know about the echo though.

 

[grumpy]

tshif

Ok I have installed the learning G729 codec and I think it is working. I only have 1 call on the pstn so far so not really sure.

Attached tomatoe real time graph, notice the spikes when line is released! (Ability for upload of png's would be nice)

jbh

That looks like a QOS device which I could do with my router, but I use a simpler QOS as there is only 1 computer normally on I just block all internet activity when the phone rings, not perfect but effective in removing outside interference from the VOIP call.

Alex John

I will build a local box again, went with hosted for the fat pipe trying to remove local interference. Any thoughts on hardware echo canceling as compared to software? (yes I'm looking for cost effectiveness, but not at the cost of quality)

Anybody tried VOIP with MLPP? Multi line dsl looks interesting just not sure how voip would behave with the different routes.

Thank you for the comments and keep offering more suggestions please.

Grumpy

 

[Alex728]

A sangoma card with HWEC appears to be about $750 CDN !

The cheaper USB sangoma FXO adapter (surprisingly I couldn't find a reseller for it in CA) doesn't have HWEC and they even suggest you use OSLEC (although MG2 which is built in to Asterisk might be OK)

what do you mean by "interference?" electrical interference? or network problems?

I've used OSLEC in production with an Atcom AX-400P card (similar to a TDM400) for several months now and have had no complaints. You have to compile OSLEC manually but its worth it...

I did try using the SPA3102 before but found it was either plagued by echo or rising/falling audio levels.

 

[grumpy]

http://www.gentek.com/html/productdetails.asp?MakeID=12&MakeTitle=Sangoma&ProductID=843&offset=0

Cost wise it is not bad, any one use this with results good or bad?

Interference as I'm using it is just a general term, lan/wan, hardware etc (Lylix is better setup then I am)

Nice to see you had the same problems with the 3102. (not just me)

 

[Alex728]

there is a thread about the U100, although the guy who used it was connecting to a FXS port on a cable modem so there isn't a long tail and echo cancel isn't required!

Sangoma are supposed to be well rated for support and you'd be supporting your nations local industry so i'd give it a try..

http://pbxinaflash.com/community/threads/sangoma-u100-fxo.3342/#post-20153