Optimal iTalk configuration for Bria iPhone Edition

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moosemeat

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#89280 30-Aug-2011 07:59

Hi,

I've done a lot of Googling but I've not been able to find any reference to recommended iTalk configuration for Bria iPhone Edition. I've tried most of the major SIP apps for the iPhone and in my opinion Media5 and Bria are the standouts. I'm switching from Media5 (better call quality) to Bria because the current version of Media5 is a sluggish memory hog. I use VoIP on my iPhone daily for my business, so it is imperative that the app works fast and the call quality is good.

I've previously done a whole lot of Googling to find recommended configurations for iTalk and have not really found a reference I could follow, so I hoped if I ask a bunch of questions, this might become that reference. A lot of the following configurations are quite technical, so for me, I'd be guessing the best configuration. I'd be very grateful if an iTalk expert could make comments on the optimal set-up. I've marked the configurations I'm unclear about in bold underlined and have provided any support information I have found (that's not to say anything that is not in bold underlined is absolutely correct... as I say, I'm not an authority).

Account Advanced (SIP):

Account Additional:
Out. Proxy: wlg.italk.co.nz:5060
Auth. Name: 644384xxxx
Send DTMF using: default = RFC2833 (other options are: SIP INFO, Inband DTMF)

Also Send:
Inband DTMF: default = on

Network Traversal:
Global IP: default = on
Global IP 3G: on (default = off)

Call Dialing:
Use Tel Uri: default = off

Transport and Security:
SIP Transport: UDP (other options are: TCP, TLS)
Encrypt Audio): default = never (other options are: if possible, always). Encryption requires TLS SIP Transport. I understand iTalk is UDP only.

SIP Registration:
Incoming Calls: default = on
Single Register: default = off
Refresh Interval: default = 900 (what is optimal? I understand this setting is important to battery life; the higher the setting, the better the battery life)

UDP Keep Alive:
WiFi Interval: default = 30
Cell Interval: default = 9

Advanced:

Network Traversal Strategy: (It would be good to know the best option of the 4 offered)
Current Strategy: Option #1 = default:
Use STUN: = on
STUN server: stun.2talk.co.nz (I used this as have never been able to find one for italk)
ICE: default = off
DNS SRV: = on
STUN 3G: = off
ICE 3G: = off

Current Strategy: Option #2 = Application Managed:
Use STUN: = on
STUN server: stun.2talk.co.nz
ICE: default = on
DNS SRV: = on
STUN 3G: = off
ICE 3G: = off

Current Strategy: Option #3 = Server Managed:
Use STUN: = off
STUN server: = off
ICE: default = off
DNS SRV: = on
STUN 3G: = off
ICE 3G: = off

Current Strategy: Option #4 = User Specified: (my choice)
Use STUN: = on
STUN server: = stun.2talk.co.nz
ICE: default = off
DNS SRV: = on
STUN 3G: = on
ICE 3G: = off

VPN Support:
Use VPN if Active: default = off

Media Options: (would be good to know optimal settings for the following)
Voice Activity Detection: default = off
Noise Reduction Tx: default = on
Noise Reduction Rx: default = off
Quality of Service: default = off
RTP Port Start:default = 5004 [iTalk use UDP ports 5004 and 5060, refer http://www.slingshot.co.nz/italktechfaq)] (default = 4000)

Audio Codecs Selection:
Cell Audio Codecs: G711a, G711u, iLBC, GSM, (G729a in-app purchase)
Cell Audio Codecs: G711a, G711u, iLBC, GSM, G722-HD, (G729a in app purchase)

From this post: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=4288, I understand that iTalk supports the following codecs: G729, G711a, G711u, iLBC, GSM. Am I correct that the order of quality would be: G711a, G711u, G729, iLBC, GSM? Does iTalk support G729a? I bought the G729 codec for my Media5 app, so I know it is worth having.

TLS Cert Management:
Verify TLS Cert: default = on (as iTalk uses UDP, should this be off?)

SIP Miscellaneous:
Support RPort: default = on
Support PRACK: default = on

Application Logging:
Verbose Logging: default = off

That's about the lot for the configuration. For more details on Bria iPhone Edition configuration, refer to the user guide: http://counterpath.s3.amazonaws.com/doc ... ide_R7.pdf.

One final question, Bria supports Gmail & Facebook 'Presence and Messaging' (in-app purchase) if the VoIP service provider supports SIP SIMPLE. Does iTalk support SIP SIMPLE?

Thanking you in advance for your help.

Cheers,
Bruce

webwat

2036 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#515976 2-Sep-2011 22:47

You have UDP Keep Alive on so I don't see that SIP registration refresh will make much difference, VoIP will chew through batteries anyway because it constantly keeps wifi/3G alive.

Voice Activity Detection is handy but creates silence if you aren't talking, which sounds to other people like you have disconnected if their phone doesnt insert background noise.

Audio Codecs: G711a, G711u, iLBC, GSM -- I would say iLBC is fairly good quality but the G711 options will use lots of data for little improvement. GSM would also be good for a mobile because it responds to the connection quality. If connection isn't great then G711 might not handle it as well since transmission is important too, although not sure how sensitive the codec is to packet loss. G729 is low quality but useful if you have a really slow/expensive connection.

Time to find a new industry!

moosemeat

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#516086 3-Sep-2011 11:19

Thank you for your reply.

I've been happy with the performance of Bria with these settings. Battery life is totally acceptable and way better than Media5, which sucked so much juice, I had to disable backgrounding. Bria works well backgrounded; no problem picking up incoming calls.

I've not had such great experience with iLBC on either WiFi or 3G. Bria has great call quality on G711a. If I was going to use it over 3G, I'd probably go for the G729 option. I've not had any experience with the GSM codec so far.

moosemeat

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#573033 25-Jan-2012 08:11

I found these CounterPath battery saving tips, so thought I'd post them here as they maybe very useful (I've not tested them yet):

For UDP accounts.
Since the operating system cannot aid Bria with keeping UDP connections alive, Bria must continue to run when in the background.
So if you want to get incoming calls while in the background, you need to enable the Keep Awake (=Run in Background) setting (this results in increased battery usage).

The biggest hit for the battery is data transmission, so it is important to minimize number/frequency of sent packets.
(BTW: even bigger battery hit is keeping the Wifi connection active).

Tips:
- less battery is used when Bria is left in the background rather than foreground
- the fewer enabled accounts the better
- increase account SIP Registrationr Refresh interval, e.g. to 3600s, if it does not impact operation
- disable STUN if you can operate without
- disable ICE if you can operate without
- disable the verbose logging if enabled

Refer: http://forums.counterpath.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=17234

moosemeat

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#582582 16-Feb-2012 21:55

I've got some updates (bold italics) to my optimal config:

Account Advanced (SIP):
Account Additional:
Out. Proxy: wlg.italk.co.nz:5060
Auth. Name: 644384xxxx DTMF Type:
Send DTMF using: default = RFC2833 (other options are: SIP INFO, Inband DTMF)

Also Send:
Inband DTMF: default = on

Network Traversal:
Global IP: default = off
Global IP 3G: default = off

Call Dialing:
Use Tel Uri: default = off

Transport and Security:
SIP Transport: UDP (other options are: TCP, TLS)
Encrypt Audio): default = never

SIP Registration:
Incoming Calls: default = on
Single Register: default = off
Refresh Interval: default = 3600

UDP Keep Alive:
WiFi Interval: default = 30
Cell Interval: default = 9

Advanced:

Network Traversal Strategy:
Current Strategy: Option #1 = default: Use STUN: = on
STUN server: stun.2talk.co.nz (I used this as have never been able to find one for italk)
ICE: default = off
DNS SRV: = on
STUN 3G: = off
ICE 3G: = off

Current Strategy: Option #2 = Application Managed:
Use STUN: = on
STUN server: stun.2talk.co.nz
ICE: default = on
DNS SRV: = on
STUN 3G: = off
ICE 3G: = off

Current Strategy: Option #3 = Server Managed: (I'm using this option)
Use STUN: = off
STUN server: = off
ICE: default = off
DNS SRV: = on
STUN 3G: = off
ICE 3G: = off

Current Strategy: Option #4 = User Specified:
Use STUN: = on
STUN server: = stun.2talk.co.nz
ICE: default = off
DNS SRV: = on
STUN 3G: = on
ICE 3G: = off

VPN Support:
Use VPN if Active: default = off

Media Options: (would be good to know optimal settings for the following)
Voice Activity Detection: default = off
Noise Reduction Tx: default = off
Noise Reduction Rx: default = off
Quality of Service: default = off
RTP Port Start:default = 5004 [iTalk use UDP ports 5004 and 5060, refer http://www.slingshot.co.nz/italktechfaq)] (default = 4000)

Audio Codecs Selection:
Cell Audio Codecs: G729a (in-app purchase), SILK, iLBC, GSM
Cell Audio Codecs: SILK HD, G711a (ANZ, EU), G711u (US)

From this post: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=4288, I understand that iTalk supports the following codecs: G729, G711a, G711u, iLBC, GSM. Am I correct that the order of quality would be: G711a, G711u, G729, iLBC, GSM? Does iTalk support G729a? I bought the G729 codec for my Media5 app, so I know it is worth having.

TLS Cert Management:
Verify TLS Cert: default = on (as iTalk uses UDP, should this be off?)

SIP Miscellaneous:
Support RPort: default = on
Support PRACK: default = on

Application Logging:
Verbose Logging: default = off

That's about the lot for the configuration. For more details on Bria iPhone Edition configuration, refer to the user guide: http://counterpath.s3.amazonaws.com/doc ... ide_R7.pdf.