Can't use internet while using skype

[iceman (Mike)]

I'm hoping someone can help me.

I've got one of those Oricom VOIP Skype phones, that lets you use it as a normal cordless phone, or using Skype but again as a cordless phone and not with the webcam on the computer.

The problem I have, is that whenever we're using the phone, it seems to consume the whole internet connection and I can't use the internet at the same time.

It's like being back on dial-up, because when someone is on the phone, the internet is effectively dead.

I've got 1500/256 ADSL broadband, so I would've thought it would be enough bandwidth to allow both skype and internet at the same time.

I'm not sure if there's any settings in Skype where you can tell it to use less bandwidth? Or if it's a problem with the Oricom thingo?

Any suggestions?

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Hi Mike

That should be ample bandwidth I am only on 256/64 and I can have a voice conversation and use the net at the same time I would be thinking there is something wrong with either the phone or some software settings. Unfortunately I don't use a skype phone so I can't help with proper settings I just use headphones and a mic.

Hope this helps to discover the problem

[erick (Eric)]

Yes, something wrong there, Mike. I have similar set up in my house where two children live. I think I have a Philips Skype phone there. Similar speed internet to yours. A couple of computers doing intensive stuff - Skype phone works well at the same time.

Sorry, don't know the solution.

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Hi Mike,

I am a PABX/Voice engineer and use VOIP all the time and ADSL1, especially at that speed, isnt the best when it comes to VOIP calls and keeping some bandwidth available for internet use. Like Warren and Eric suggest, it works for some, but my experience is no two ADSL links are the same, even faster ones sometimes dont perform when you put VOIP on them.

It could be that the Oricom router/phone is set to use a high bandwidth compressor like G711 (which uses 100k/100k per call). Check the compression algorithm the tools options or the configuration menu and set it to something more efficient like G729 or G723.1 if they are available and / or supported. This should bring the bandwidth per call down to a more acceptable 30K per call.

This may help. Also, it could be there are Quality of Service (QOS) settings in there which effectively prioritise the voice traffic over the data traffic and these are probably doing their job as voice needs to be realtime and data doesn't.

As for the 1500/256 link speeds, check this at www.speedtest.net whcih will measure your ACTUAL throughput speed and you might find that you could only be running at 1.1M/128K for example, which means ANY voice call will have a significant impact on data speeds.

Check with your internet provider (and maybe do a competitor's estimated speed check on your phone line from their websites) to see if you can be upgraded to ADSL2+ speeds if its available on your exchange as this is MUCH better with coping with voice. You will probably also find the price would be similar to the price you are currently paying for ADSL 1.

The whirlpool forums will also probably have a similar situation to yours answered there, so check these out for any other tips on your setup.

Good luck, hope you can sort it out.

Cheers

Chris

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks for the help guys, especially Chris.

I'll give some of those settings a try.

The speedtest results are attached below - looks to be ok?

I'll also try the whirlpool forums.

Cheers

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by iceman

Thanks for the help guys, especially Chris.

I'll give some of those settings a try.

The speedtest results are attached below - looks to be ok?

I'll also try the whirlpool forums.

Cheers

hmm.... Seems a bit slow. Unless i"m missing something. I'm in the styx when it comes to ADSL coverage and well over the recommended distance from the nearest exchange. So I have what I would have thought would be a very average connection. Here's my result using the same service. Which carrier are you using?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Hmm.. interesting test. I'm also way out in the sticks.

I get decent Skype performance downstream (as expected), but my upstream sucks. I constantly hear people saying to me "I can't hear you very well".

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Hi Mike,

For a quoted 1500/256, thats pretty good, considering 1.9M is better than you are paying for, technically.

This should be OK, try the other settings in the router/phone to tweak it a bit, then give it a burl.

By the way, is the computer you are browsing on connected via LAN cable or Wireless Lan to the network? Sometimes wireless underperforms based on where you are in the house and this could be causing the dead spot when you make the call on the phone at the same time. Even though it may show full signal strength, my wireless often trickles the internet through if I am in another room. If this is the case, turn off the wireless on the laptop and try again when connected to a LAN cat5 cable and see if this is causing it.

Speculation, but all things needs consideration.

Cheers

Chris

[xstream (John)]

That's not the first time I've heard of someone having that problem with skype.

Quite often we're out of range with our mobiles but can still get nextG reception on our modem with an external aerial which allows us to use voip. We use MyNetFone on the super saver plan and find it excellent.