recommended routers?

[sqyttles]

What are some routers you wouold recommend for a 10-20 person call center that has good QoS and would not cost a lot of money (sub-300, if possible)? My organization is running into problems with an off-the-shelf linksys router such as low volume, both sides breaking up, etc. Testing the dialer system with just one user connected to the router everything is OK. As more users get on the network, the call quality decreases tremendously. Also, this may be related to the network throughput as we can receive 15mb down through our cable connection with one user connected to the router but only 6 down more multiple users (yet everyone not using the Internet, just one person.)

Any optimization tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[williamconley]

1) Welcome to the party!

2) when you post, please post your entire configuration including (but not limited to) your installation method and vicidial version with build.

this IS a requirement for posting along with reading the stickies (at the top of each forum) and the manager's manual (available on EFLO.net, both free and paid versions)

You should also post: Asterisk version, telephony hardware (model number is helpful here), cluster information if you have one, and whether any other software is installed in the box. If your installation method is "from scratch" you must post your operating system and should also post the .iso version from which you installed your original operating system. If your installation is "Hosted" list the site name of the host.

If this is a "Cloud" or "Virtual" server, please note the technology involved along with the version of that techology (ie: VMware Server Version 2.0.2). If it is not, merely stating the Motherboard model # and CPU would be helpful.

Similar to This:

Vicibox X.X from .iso | Vicidial X.X.X-XXX Build XXXXXX-XXXX | Asterisk X.X.X | Single Server | No Digium/Sangoma Hardware | No Extra Software After Installation | Intel DG35EC | Core2Quad Q6600

3) Any router will do, normally, but you'll need to turn off all internet surfing for your agents. If possible, you should get your Vicidial server its own IP address that does not go through a router. This will remove the need for QoS entirely (but require the firewall in the Vicidial server to be working properly! Full lockdown!). Then you can turn off internet for your agents by unplugging the router and see if that improves call quality. If it does, your problem is agents on the internet and/or infected computers.

4) I also note that you say "15mb down through" ... which is only 50% of the information regarding the internet connection, and it's not the "necessary" part! You need to have fast Upload. Use http://speakeasy.net/speedtest/ or http://www.broadband.gov/qualitytest/about/ to test your speed in both directions. And test it a lot, because if it varies you could have equipment problems.

5) 10-20 person call center ... isn't very informative. How many simultaneous calls do you have going through your ISP at the most? That's the bandwidth requirement. Multiply each call by 100k and you'll find your number. If you have less than that, you have a problem. LOL (g729 allows for about 30k instead of 100k, but it's not free!)

[DomeDan]

I recommend using pfsense or similar on stable hardware (any cheap proliant server basically, the one I brought cost me 400 SEK, thats about 55 USD)
it works on a regular PC too but the capacitors usually breaks and I have experienced problems with the network-interfaces.

[williamconley]

Too complex for most newbies. But a good point to show that those cool routers are really just tiny computers running a linux os and software similar to pfsense in the first place. But a reliable router can easily cost $55 us ... and has NO setup time at all. And many clients have been using one for years after "plugging it in" and don't even know how to log in to it ... much less what any of the settings are. Just like I'd have NO idea how to program the EPROM on a chip on a component of my dashboard of my car. Probably easy ... but not gonna happen.

[sofcall]

Hi all;

you'll need to turn off all internet surfing for your agents. If possible, you should get your Vicidial server its own IP address that does not go through a router. This will remove the need for QoS entirely (but require the firewall in the Vicidial server to be working properly! Full lockdown!). Then you can turn off internet for your agents by unplugging the router and see if that improves call quality. If it does, your problem is agents on the internet and/or infected computers.

I often read this in vicidial forum.sorry but how can i get my server its own ip address that does not go through a router
By the way this is my network configuration would appreciat any comment about it:

I have two internet connections.two routers ofcourse:192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.2
and my vicidial server 192.168.1.3 has as its default gateway ip:192.168.1.1
the agents computers have as their default gateway ip:192.168.1.2
so even if they get to the WEB they only use one connection "192.168.1.2"
and the other one is fully dedicated to the voip.
and ofcourse all the computers .the routers .and the server are connected to a local switch.
Thank you.

Well i ve just found this by WILLIAMCONLEY

If your server does not have both an internal IP and an external IP ... put another network card in your server and set up one external (that does not go through a router, direct to the internet with an ISP provided IP address and NOT connected in any way to your local network!) and one internal that is connected to your internal network for agents to directly access the server without interference from your router. The only time the agents use the router is to get to the WEB, not the Vicidial box.

Of course, if you cannot have two network cards (or you do not have two IP addresses from your ISP), you can use a private IP for your Vicidial server just like you do for all the other workstations. This requires port forwarding through your router in some cases, but not all.

I have only one static ip address from my ISP.(one network card)
if i put a second network card in my server and set up one external ip .would this network card be connected to the router