Bandwidth Usage

[PunchDrunk]

I am considering getting VoIP (VoicePulse, maybe). But I was wondering how much bandwidth VoIP uses. I have a typical cable connection (2-3K down, 256up). I run a webserver on this connection, and also play lots of internet games, sometime hosting a gameserver (Halo for instance). My webserver gets very few hits. Its mostly a family site, so perhaps 3-4 hits a day. But I also play alot, particularly when my wife is on the phone.

So, I was wondering how much Bandwidth VoIP uses, and if it will affect these other activities, or if call quality will suffer if someone else is using bandwidth. So, for instance, what if my wife makes a call while I am playing an internet game, and at the shortly thereafter, someone hits the webserver? The likelihood of this is low, but it will happen on occasion.

[c_montoya]

Taken from http://www.voicepulse.com/learn/howitworks.aspx
"We recommend at least 256 Kilobits per second in both directions."

Yes, It will affect the conversation if you are playing / Downloading. You need a router with QOS. A cheap solution is a Linksys WRT54g with sveasoft firmware (Google sveasoft wrt54g).

[PhoneBoy]

The biggest thing that will affect bandwidth utilization is the codecs the provider uses. VoicePulse can be configured to use one of the G.726 variants, which take less bandwidth than G.711 (around 90k). A router that does QoS is also considered a good thing.

[PunchDrunk]

That is what I expected. We use internet alot, so I had some concerns. I have read that VoicePulse might work on lower bandwidth, so that might be good. I will still likely try it out, but not drop the POTS line for a while. At least we might be able to get a cheaper long-distance plan for the traditional line, and just use whatever phone is better at that time.

I have a linksys router that is about 3-4 years old. It is either a BEFSR41 or an older equivalent. I am not sure, but I dont think it has QoS. Need to read up on what that is, though. It has been acting slightly funny recently (Loses clients, so that I have to turn it off/on), so I might consider getting a new one if the VoIP gives me a good reason.

One last question. Is the call quality even better between two VoIP phones verses VoIP vs. traditional. I guess the adaptor converts both to analog, but I might guess that if not a completely digital transmission would be better, if you have the bandwidth to support it. Just thinking out-loud.

Thanks for the answers.

[PhoneBoy]

VoIP calls between clients of the same provider should be fairly good quality in most cases, though there are a number of factors to consider. Even for VoIP (originating) to PSTN calls, you're most likely only going analog at the CO of the destination of the call.

[rizsher]

VoIP is very much dependent on Bandwidth, specially if U plan to have Gaming/webserver/P2P.

You have a few options. Get an ATA which suppors Bandwidth management intrinsically, Motorola MTA offers this, though the various reviews I've read havent been that great. There are one of 2 more which do the same, do a search on the web and you'll find them.

Second option is to get a Router which supports Bandwidth management. I think the ONLY SOHO (read cheap, subUS$100) routers which supports this are Linksys WRT54G and GS models, coupled with a modified firmware sold by www.sveasoft.com for US$20 (the firmware is free, you pay 20$ for 1yrs subscription to support). I can personally recommend it; it works very very well, and adds a host of extra features that the stock linksys firmware doesn't offer.

Lastly, Linksys has also started offering a firware supporting very basic QOS for its 54G model; but at the moment its in beta, and is fairly rudimentary. If you have to buy a new router, might as well but the newer 54GS model which is only about 20 $ dearer, but has double the processing power n memory. Linksys does not yet offer a QOS enabled firmware for 54GS.

A very INelegant last option is to use a program like netlimiter, and statically assign maximum bandwidth to each program.