Dropped Calls

[GallopingGhost]

I justed started with a new company that deployed an Inter-tel VoIP system and occasionally calls get dropped which sends everybody jumping up and down, screaming and hollering. When I say occasionally, I am talking less than 2 per month.

The previous network admin was terminated, the phone provider blames the service provider who in turns blames the phone provider. Meantime I am checking my own network since I have seen some strange wiring (network cables on top of florescent ballast), power blips, as well as we are now logging problems.

What I am trying to do is:
1. Determine if anybody has found a particular area that causes dropped calls and what gave you the key clues?
2. Find any objective report that outlines voip performance in a business setting. Do we have a real problem or is this just normal voip behavior?

I would appreciate any suggestions - advice - or words of wisdom.

 

[ISDNman]

Are the calls that are dropped VOIP to VOIP calls or VOIP to PSTN (publis switched network) calls

Hom many users. 2 per month is not very many if it is lots of users. This may be a case where the customer is noticing the problem sbecaus ethe system is new.

 

[GallopingGhost]

We have 30 voip phones in use and we have 5 people effectively in a call center. Most of our connections are to pstn devices.

The last dropped called were from us to a call bridge where we where conducting a pay to listen tax advice seminar. None of the 180 participants got dropped - just my boss

 

[ISDNman]

Well, I can see why the pressure is on you. Still not convinced that if it really happens are rarely as you say (and maybe it happens more but most people are not reporting it) that it might not be at the PSTN side.

It would help immensely to know what your setup. You have a VOIP PBX, or a VOIP dial tione provider, or both.

Also, who made the decision to go with VOIP? Were they aware that it probably wouldn't be as good as circuit switched in one way or another, or did they buy the lien it will be just as good only cheeper?

Anyway, if you can give us a better idea of the general layout of the system we can then look at what points can be examined to troubleshoot further. Note that troubleshoting a problem that only occurs a few times a month is going to take time - tha ti sa given.

Best of luck