Understanding your VoIP speed test and how it affects your VoIP call quality

VoIP systems require internet, preferably a broadband connection, to work. To find out if your existing Internet connection is sufficient for VoIP phone service, or if you are troubleshooting a VoIP issue, one of the first things you'll need to do is run a VoIP speed test. 90% of VoIP issues, especially poor call quality issues, are related to a poor internet connection. Performing a VoIP test will help you in deciding whether to get a VoIP service or not or in determining the cause of the VoIP issue you may be having. In this article, we'll show you how to use a free online VoIP speed test tool to test your network connection speed.

How do I test my VoIP connection?

There are many different speed test websites available, but we recommend using VoIPLy's Speed Test. Once you're on the website, simply click the "Go" button to start the speed test.

The speed test will then run and provide you with your results. VoIP speed tests typically give you comprehensive and extensive data about your Internet bandwidth, not limited to just the upload and download speeds. Internet speed tests also measure the performance and quality of your internet connection. This is done by stimulating a VoIP session between the server (of the company that conducts the VoIP speed test) and your computer.

What do the test results mean and what are the ideal results to look out for?

After the upload and download speeds and other parameters are tested and results will be generated. These results will help determine if your Internet service provider can sufficiently handle VoIP calls. Here's a quick breakdown of what the results mean:

1. Download Speed: This is the speed of your connection when downloading data from the Internet. For VoIP, you'll want download speeds of at least 1 Mbps.
2. Upload Speed: This is the speed of your connection when uploading data to the Internet. For VoIP, you'll want upload speeds of at least 128 Kbps.
3. Packet Loss: This measures how much data is lost during transmission.
4. Ping: This is the time it takes for your computer to send a request to the server and receive a response. A lower ping is better. For VoIP, you'll want a ping of less than 150 ms.
5. Jitter: This measures the variability in Ping times. A lower jitter is better. For VoIP, you'll want a jitter of less than 30 ms.
6. Service quality of your ISP: This measures the consistency of your bandwidth.
7. Mean Opinion Score: This measures the quality of sound at your receiving end.
8. Max Pause: This measures the longest pauses during an audio break.

What if my Internet speed test results are not ideal for VoIP calls?

While your VoIP system may still work despite poor VoIP connection, you will most likely experience dropped calls, poor voice quality issues, and other VoIP-related issues.

If you're not getting the VoIP test results that you need, there are a few things you can do to improve your speed.

• First, try restarting your modem and router.
• If you are using a wireless connection, try a direct wired connection to your modem or router.

• If there are many active internet users on your network with heavy Internet usage, you may be suffering from network congestion. You can try setting the Quality of Service (QoS) feature of your router to prioritize VoIP calls.
• If these don't help, you may need to upgrade your Internet service plan or switch to a more reliable Internet service provider.

What's next?

Once you have a good understanding of your Internet speed, you can then decide to sign up with a VoIP provider of your choice. You will also be better equipped in troubleshooting any VoIP issues you may be having. If you need any assistance, our Support Team is always happy to help.

If you found this article helpful, be sure to check out our other VoIP articles. We have a wide range of articles that covers everything from setting up your VoIP service to using advanced features.