What is the best router to use?

[seasideskippy]

Hi Guys, i need a bit of advice.
The company i work for are starting to do more and more vpn links across adsl with IP Phones on the end. We are getting problems with speech quality, we have upgraded the broadband links and have also tried different routers (Linksys & Draytek)but we still have quality issues. What other hardware are people using to create links between IPO and remote sites.

regards Skippy.

 

[amriddle01]

VPN links will nearly always give some quality issues, It's not the router that's the weakest link here it's the fact it's running over the web. How bad is the speech quality?

ACS - IP Office Implement

"I'm just off to Hartlepool to buy some exploding trousers

 

[seasideskippy]

If its an incoming call on sip or while doing a data transfer which is using the same adsl its very clippy so much so that you cant understand any of the conversation. but we have sites setup with vpn links just for voice and they seem to be fine. we always try to use a decent adsl with a good contention ratio.

 

[IPOfficeIreland]

Zyxel routers have excellent QoS for the money.

 

[amriddle01]

Qos doesnt work through ADSl though. You have no control once it leaves your network. Unless it's Lease line of course

ACS - IP Office Implement

"I'm just off to Hartlepool to buy some exploding trousers

 

[IPOfficeIreland]

Correct mr riddle unless you use Bitstream which gives QoS on ADSL.

In skippys case it's obviously down to the data on the same link so QoS is needed here and will solve the problem.

 

[amriddle01]

How does that work then? Does it simply prioritise what you output rather than the Qos it sets being honoured across the Internet?

ACS - IP Office Implement

"I'm just off to Hartlepool to buy some exploding trousers

 

[IPOfficeIreland]

It allocates part of the bandwidth for voice. The local exchange has Bitstream routers in series.

 

[amriddle01]

Ah, so it's more traffic shaping than actual Qos.

ACS - IP Office Implement

"I'm just off to Hartlepool to buy some exploding trousers

 

[AdminGreg]

We use WatchGuards and our 5610s and Softphone users have excellent call quality.
Our remote offices use the X10e or X15e models and our Main Facilities use the X750e model.

 

[HairySupportMonkey]

I also find using a decent ISP as well. we use easynet where ever possible on both and / or all sites - less routing and cross network issues.

eg - Head Office (IP Office) - 4Meg SureStream - Watchguard X750e --- VPN --- 2Meg SDSL - Watchguard X55e -- Remote Office (5610 etc)

 

[amriddle01]

SDSL..bet that aint cheap

ACS - IP Office Implement

"I'm just off to Hartlepool to buy some exploding trousers

 

[seasideskippy]

We Normally use Griffin as the ISP and use linksys or draytek routers.

 

[Pepp77]

We generally use Netgear DGFV338 routers for connecting sites together and for customers who want VPN phones. Absolutely no complaints with them so far.

 

[scottjc]

Griffin may be your problem, There network is up and down like a whores knickers.

We like the netgear range, easy to set up and so far very good quality.

 

[DavidCT]

seasideskippy,

Is your IPO behind a firewall? If so, what model?

You can also try to set a value of 30 in "binding refresh" which can be found on the Network Topology tab on LAN1 (or LAN2 if you are configured that way).

 

[HairySupportMonkey]

griffen is absoulte SHIT

we have been using them and they drop radius sessions sbout once a week and give you 2 minutes notice (if you are lucky) about load balancing work. load of old cobblers.

SDSL isnt that badly priced now with easynet.

their network is as stable as a rock. taxi companies love it. we remove all he call forwarding charges for them by bringing all their remote offices over to SIP and shoving the calls out over vpn / ip to 5610 handsets.

 

[seasideskippy]

who do you recommend we use as our ISB?

 

[seasideskippy]

ISP i mean.

 

[Pepp77]

We have been using Murphx here recently and have not had any quality issues or complaints.