Engage Network Diagnosis Tool: Ensuring Optimal VoIP Connectivity
Engage now offers an in-app network diagnosis feature, available on both web and mobile platforms. You can access this tool by
navigating to Engage Settings > Network Diagnosis located at the bottom left of the menu.
From here, you can click 'Run Diagnosis' to let Engage perform tests and display the results. Be sure to speak aloud during this test so we can check for audio quality too!
To help your business better understand the data produced in this diagnosis report, we have provided a quality status ranging from excellent, good, average, poor, to bad next to each data point.
The article below offers practical tips on maintaining excellent network connectivity and how to improve if you're experiencing poor connectivity.
Understanding and Troubleshooting Common Network Metrics
When using the Engage VoIP system, understanding key network metrics can significantly enhance your call quality and overall communication experience. Below, we explain twelve critical data points and provide practical tips on maintaining excellent connectivity and resolving issues when metrics indicate poor performance.
1. MOS Average
Explanation: Reflects average call quality on a scale from 1 to 5.
The score should be greater than 4.
Tips for Excellence:
Ensure high-speed internet connection.
Use wired connections over Wi-Fi where possible.
Troubleshooting:
Upgrade your internet plan for higher bandwidth.
Close unnecessary applications that consume bandwidth.
2. Jitter Average
Explanation: Measures the variability in packet arrival times.
The score should be less than 30.
Tips for Excellence:
Use Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router to prioritize VoIP traffic.
Troubleshooting:
Check and replace outdated networking hardware.
Stabilize your network connection by reducing the number of devices connected.
3. RTT Average
Explanation: Indicates the time taken for a signal to travel to the destination and back.
The score should be less than 200
Troubleshooting:
Perform regular speed tests to check for delays and discuss results with your ISP if RTT is consistently high.
4. Turn Used
Explanation: Shows if a relay server was necessary to bypass NAT/firewall restrictions.
Tips for Excellence:
Ensure your network is properly configured to support direct peer-to-peer connections.
Troubleshooting:
Configure or disable firewall settings temporarily to improve connectivity.
5. Edge
Explanation: Refers to the edge of the network, where user interactions occur.
Tips for Excellence:
Deploy edge computing solutions to process data closer to the source.
Troubleshooting:
Investigate any edge device for delays or malfunctions.
6. Network Type
Explanation: Identifies whether you're using WiFi, Ethernet, 4G, etc.
Tips for Excellence:
Ethernet connections typically provide more stable and faster internet than wireless connections.
Troubleshooting:
Switch to a different network type to test if connectivity improves.
7. MOS Max
Explanation: The highest observed quality score during the test.
Tips for Excellence:
Aim to replicate the conditions under which the highest MOS score was achieved.
Troubleshooting:
Analyze what changed in your network setup or environment when MOS scores drop.
8. Jitter Max
Explanation: The worst-case scenario of packet delay variability.
Tips for Excellence:
Maintain minimal load on your network during critical calls.
Troubleshooting:
Reset routers or switches to clear up any temporary congestion issues.
9. Packets Lost Fraction
Explanation: Percentage of lost data packets during transmission.
The score should be less than 5%.
Tips for Excellence:
Use applications with built-in error correction.
Troubleshooting:
Increase redundancy in data transmission or ask your ISP about enhancing packet prioritization.
10. Signaling Duration
Explanation: Time taken for setting up the network connection.
Tips for Excellence:
Pre-test your setup before important calls to ensure quick connectivity.
Troubleshooting:
Check for updates or patches for your VoIP software that may improve signaling efficiency.
11. ICE Duration
Explanation: Time to establish a connection using ICE.
Tips for Excellence:
Regularly update your network configuration to support faster ICE processing.
Troubleshooting:
Consult with technical support to optimize ICE configuration settings.
12. Protocol
Explanation: Type of protocol used, affecting data handling.
Tips for Excellence:
Choose protocols like UDP for real-time communications, which is generally faster than TCP for VoIP.
Troubleshooting:
Switch between TCP and UDP to determine which offers better performance under current network conditions.
By monitoring these metrics regularly and following the provided tips, you can ensure a high-quality VoIP experience with Engage. If problems persist, contacting our support team will provide you with specific guidance tailored to your network environment.