VOIP Issues

[caerickson]

I use VOIP to connect my repeater to a worldwide network. My system was operating without a problem for over a year and a half until Cox Communications upgraded their internet service on March 7, 2016. On that date I started to experience distorted audio going over the network that sounded like I was talking under water. I found out that other amateurs in the Phoenix area were having the exact same problem that started at the same time as my issue. I contacted Cox Communications and worked with their technical teams to resolve this issue. They have replaced all the cable from their tap to my modem. I have replaced the modem, router and node without making any difference in the quality of the audio. This problem has continued to spread across the county as Cox installs their internet upgrade. My repeater has been down for three weeks and I don't see a solution in sight. If you are a Cox customer and you experience this issue don't look for it to be resolved by simply calling the Cox technical assistance group.

I have been a Cox customer for over 35 years and I have never experienced this type of inaction on their part.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

I use VOIP to connect my repeater to a worldwide network. My system was operating without a problem for over a year and a half until Cox Communications upgraded their internet service on March 7, 2016. On that date I started to experience distorted audio going over the network that sounded like I was talking under water. I found out that other amateurs in the Phoenix area were having the exact same problem that started at the same time as my issue. I contacted Cox Communications and worked with their technical teams to resolve this issue. They have replaced all the cable from their tap to my modem. I have replaced the modem, router and node without making any difference in the quality of the audio. This problem has continued to spread across the county as Cox installs their internet upgrade. My repeater has been down for three weeks and I don't see a solution in sight. If you are a Cox customer and you experience this issue don't look for it to be resolved by simply calling the Cox technical assistance group.

I have been a Cox customer for over 35 years and I have never experienced this type of inaction on their part.

I've heard similar complaints. Unfortunately, It may be necessary to switch to another provider.

 

[caerickson]

Finding another provider who will guarantee that their system will not have a similar problem hasn't been easy. The FCC requires internet companies to allow use of another manufacturer's products on their systems. The FCC calls this Net Neutrality and it is covered under their rules. I have already filed with the FCC to bring this situation to their attention and Cox is required to respond to my complaint with actions that they are taking to correct this issue. Time will tell if it does any good.

 

[sswcmw]

I use VOIP ...

I have been a Cox customer for over 35 years and I have never experienced this type of inaction on their part.

I am curious what the point of your post is? You are not asking for help, but instead seem to be just complaining without offering any information that can help anyone else.

Is Cox your VoIP provider? Or do they just provide the Internet access at your site and you use a 3rd party VoIP service?

 

[caerickson]

The purpose of my post wasn't to complain about COX. My purpose was to inform other Amateurs that connect to IRLP using Cox internet that if they haven't already experienced distorted audio it is probably on the way to their area. The problem started in Phoenix when Cox upgraded their internet system and it has spread to Tucson, Las Vegas and other points East and North as the upgrade is rolled out in new areas.

I have been working with Cox Technicians since March 7th. They have now assigned the problem to their Engineers but there doesn't appear to be a time line of when this issue will be resolved.

I hope this clarifies why I posted this information on the Forum.

 

[caerickson]

I apologize for not answering the second part of your question. I'm a residential user and I have Cox Cable High Speed Internet. I use a standard node that connects to IRLP over the internet to a network data center in Los Angles and then out worldwide to other repeaters on the system.

 

[BC_Scan]

Have you tried experimenting with your QOS in the router you are using, how about portioning part of your DSL (I assume) only for the VOIP, I have noticed a trend here where bye companies are switching the anaolog phone sets they use to newer VOIP style sets requiring RJ45 direct from the router, many of them find that if they dont have a solid 6 MPBS minimum, that their network suffers, many of them from the advice of their IT is put the VOIP on its own 2nd DSL connection,
what does speed test show for your speed? Its sounds like its a service provider issue, have teh check the QOS on their end , release the bindings on their end, ask for a change of port on their end either from CO or DSLAM, but I agree you have done due diligence on your end, the possible rest is up to them.

 

[K5MPH]

We Node providers are always at mercy of the internet providers,has your internet speed gone down would like to know what are you connected to when using your IRLP for voip ham radio good luck on your problem.....

 

[caerickson]

The Cox technician tried numerous configurations, but he couldn't clear up the distortion on the audio. The IRLP Node was plugged directly into the modem and it didn't make a difference. We tried two different modems and three different routers. I don't have DSL. We are using a cable modem. The Ping Test was 14 MS, Download 59.44 MBPS and Upload 6.84.MBPS.

The audio was perfect for over a year and a half and only started to distort after Cox upgraded their system.

 

[Thunderknight]

Can you try encapsulating the traffic inside a VPN?

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I know of a WISP in Pheonix (who actually tried to get me to move out there and work for them) but I do not know how ham friendly they are. I've known several WISPs who are hams and as a result anything like providing internet access to a repeater and/or a club house they do at next to no cost. Anyway, worth seeing if it's something on the LAN side of the network as well.

 

[shmget]

In CT, we connect our NXDN systems over OpenVPN. We started to do this because of dropouts that we saw connecting to the larger NXDN Amateur network. It isn't 100%, but I find that while there are disadvantages to a VPN, you typically don't have to open ports, since most routers are capable of keeping a UDP session open with keepalive packets, which is something that OpenVPN supports.

I do have Cox where I live, and while I haven't noticed anything different recently, I do sometimes wonder how well the UDP streams get to me.

If you choose to go the VPN route, make sure that if you use OpenVPN, that you use the VPN over UDP, not TCP. That caused problems, likely because of the acknowledgment overhead with TCP.

 

[accardmi]

Cox has fixed the issue

Cox fixed the issue with IRLP and radio over VOIP in Arizona and Nevada today. You shouldn't experience the issue anymore.

Thanks to Chuck and Mark for their help in identifying the issue and testing the solution.

Mike
W7MFA

 

[caerickson]

After conducting online tests, Cox Engineers have identified the issue and will be implementing a change to their system nationwide within the next 7-10 days. This change should correct the distortion on the VOIP audio for amateurs using IRLP nodes.

Thank you for your suggestions and support.