[WXC/VFX] Can you change the codec used on your ATA (SPA2102) with VFX?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] Can you change the codec used on your ATA (SPA2102) with VFX?

wlgspotter

330 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#22719 6-Jun-2008 09:13

Hi:

I'm an Fusion customer, have been since Feb and am very happy with it, bar some issues with Int'l speeds (but that's another storry..!)

Anyway, I use the SPA2102 as my VoiP ATA, which obviously have the configs locked down. I belive the configured codec is G729. I'm wondering if there's any way for us to change and choose which codec to use? Or do we have to contact xnet and get them to chance it?

Also ntoher question, while in genetal my VFX here is OK, friends and family have commencted thta when talking to us over the phone (via VFX), we sound "very distant", it appears there's some kond of echo. Not sure why, but I'm getting good connection (approx 7.6 Mbps down, 768k up - I'm still on ADSL1 roadside cabinet), with no traffic on my cnnection at all other that VFX.

The interesting tho, I recently went to Singapore and brought my SPA2102 with my, and plugged straight into a broadband router/connection in SG. Tried calling someone in Wellington, and it worked fine. Funny thing is this same friend commented that I sounded much better over the phone that I was at home in Wellington..! No "distant" sound effect at all!

Anyone has any ideas?

marmel

1924 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#135879 6-Jun-2008 09:21

When I had vfx xnet had two codecs, you had to ask for the higher quality codec to be used. One of the reasons I went back to a standard phone line was because of the issues you are having. People ringing us were constantly commenting on the line sounding distant and echoes etc. I was also on the higher quality codec but unfortunately it didn't fix the problem. I was using a PAP2T, maybe the more expensive units could have been better?

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#135882 6-Jun-2008 09:22

The quality of the call and issues such as echo can be affected hugely by the quality of the phone plugged into the ATA - I am assuming this was a different phone in Singapore than what you used in NZ?

IMHO ATA's are fine if you want a cheap entry level VoIP solution but most certainly won't deliver the voice quality that a dedicated IP phone can offer. The problem however is that a cheap IP phone will set you back ~$150ish minimum and if you want 2 or 3 phones in your house or a cordless then you're looking at a rather significant investment!

wlgspotter

330 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#135926 6-Jun-2008 10:58

sbiddle: The quality of the call and issues such as echo can be affected hugely by the quality of the phone plugged into the ATA - I am assuming this was a different phone in Singapore than what you used in NZ?

That's a very valid point I think. I definitely used a different phone in Singapore than the one I used in NZ. In fact, in Singapore, the phone I used was a corded phone, while in NZ I've only used it with cordless phones.

May try and swap phones around the next time and see if this "fixes" the issues.

But any ideas about changing the codecs? Can I change it manually or do I have to get Xnet to change it?

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#135932 6-Jun-2008 11:06

wlgspotter:
sbiddle: The quality of the call and issues such as echo can be affected hugely by the quality of the phone plugged into the ATA - I am assuming this was a different phone in Singapore than what you used in NZ?

That's a very valid point I think. I definitely used a different phone in Singapore than the one I used in NZ. In fact, in Singapore, the phone I used was a corded phone, while in NZ I've only used it with cordless phones.

May try and swap phones around the next time and see if this "fixes" the issues.

But any ideas about changing the codecs? Can I change it manually or do I have to get Xnet to change it?

With phones it's normally a case of fiddling with the gain settings to minimise echo as well as try and maximise the volume as it can vary with every phone. These settings along with the codec selection are locked down by WxC but I believe if you ask nicely they will still create custom configurations which are then downloaded to your ATA automatically.

maverick

3594 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

WorldxChange

#135933 6-Jun-2008 11:10

PM your details,

G729 handles latency and Jitter much better than a G711 codec so is the preferred one for DSl connections, also uses less bandwidth,

The quality of the phone is also a good point, the adapters them selves actually deliver very good quality but can be impacted by the cheap phones, Mics and Earpieces

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

maverick

3594 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

WorldxChange

#135934 6-Jun-2008 11:12

sbiddle:
wlgspotter:
sbiddle: The quality of the call and issues such as echo can be affected hugely by the quality of the phone plugged into the ATA - I am assuming this was a different phone in Singapore than what you used in NZ?

That's a very valid point I think. I definitely used a different phone in Singapore than the one I used in NZ. In fact, in Singapore, the phone I used was a corded phone, while in NZ I've only used it with cordless phones.

May try and swap phones around the next time and see if this "fixes" the issues.

But any ideas about changing the codecs? Can I change it manually or do I have to get Xnet to change it?

With phones it's normally a case of fiddling with the gain settings to minimise echo as well as try and maximise the volume as it can vary with every phone. These settings along with the codec selection are locked down by WxC but I believe if you ask nicely they will still create custom configurations which are then downloaded to your ATA automatically.

Gain settings are under user control Steve

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

marmel

1924 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#135936 6-Jun-2008 11:15

maverick: PM your details,

G729 handles latency and Jitter much better than a G711 codec so is the preferred one for DSl connections, also uses less bandwidth,

The quality of the phone is also a good point, the adapters them selves actually deliver very good quality but can be impacted by the cheap phones, Mics and Earpieces

I appreciate what you are saying here about the phone affecting call quality but if the phone provides excellent quality with a standard line and average quality with voip via vfx wouldn't that mean that the adapter itself is affecting the overall quality of the line? This is what I have expierienced anyway, if I could guarantee my call quality would be as good as a standard land line I would consider voip again because I love the extra features it provides.

coffeebaron

6197 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#135972 6-Jun-2008 13:30

maverick:

Gain settings are under user control Steve

Do you have some advice on which way to tweak these gain control settings? I.E. if there is echo problems, tweak the x-gain from -3 to ?? etc.

I've played with these a little bit, but was very hard to determine what effects they have; so knowing which direction to tweak would be useful advice.

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

coffeebaron

6197 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#135976 6-Jun-2008 13:45

marmel: I appreciate what you are saying here about the phone affecting call quality but if the phone provides excellent quality with a standard line and average quality with voip via vfx wouldn't that mean that the adapter itself is affecting the overall quality of the line? This is what I have expierienced anyway, if I could guarantee my call quality would be as good as a standard land line I would consider voip again because I love the extra features it provides.

When mixing new and old technology, there are many variables in play. The best solution is end-to-end IP phones; but we are not their yet. So here's a little example of best to not so best (won't say best to worse, as that gives the wrong idea)

IP phone to IP phone = best call quality, lest chance of issues
Phone - ATA to ATA - phone (e.g. two VFX callers using ATA's). Excellent call quality, and with good phones no real issues
Phone - ATA to PSTN - (e.g. VFX call to some one on analogue line). Good call quality, but more prone to issues

Over the next few years as more people move to VoIP, the middle scenario will be much more common, then eventually the top scenario.

I personally notice the best call quality is when on calls to other VFX users. I have the odd customer that when they call with some VFX issue, they comment "bit talking to you is very clear".

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

GEOMAX

450 posts

Ultimate Geek

#135997 6-Jun-2008 15:08

the codec to use depends on the quality of your DSL connection. The g729 is probably the best considering the variable upload speeds etc experienced through the NZ DSL network. When DSL2+ is launched soon the 90k guaranteed upload option used with g711 codecs will deliver top quality voice. Meantime if you have 128/FS.....STICK WITH G729. cheers George

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#136080 6-Jun-2008 21:12

marmel: I appreciate what you are saying here about the phone affecting call quality but if the phone provides excellent quality with a standard line and average quality with voip via vfx wouldn't that mean that the adapter itself is affecting the overall quality of the line? This is what I have expierienced anyway, if I could guarantee my call quality would be as good as a standard land line I would consider voip again because I love the extra features it provides.

An ATA designed to have a phone plugged in directly will strictly follow the rules for phone line signals. An exchange designed to have a phone plugged in many km from it will tolerate a lot more incompatibility. So a phone that does not strictly conform to the phone line standard may not work properly in an ATA even though it works properly on an exchange. (Hope you get the idea, it's been along day...).

You can never have enough Volvos!

richms

27972 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#136117 7-Jun-2008 00:45

I found on all my ATA's with analog phones connected that the crappy sound the other person heard back of themselves could largly be sorted by changing the impedance on the config of the analog port.

600 works best on a couple of my phones, one worked better on one of the other options (cant look right now) - basically if you call yourself you cant tell, if you call another phone and go out of the room and talk into the other phone to someone on the analog phone which you changed, its quite apparant when there is the weird echo thing happening.

Richard rich.ms