If you use VoIP phone service, chances are you've experienced jitter and know how frustrating it can be. Not being able to hear the person on the other line or experiencing choppy audio can be a significant setback in personal and professional communication.
While leveraging VoIP's cost-effective and flexible features can be an advantage for many businesses, jitter can spoil the experience. And it's bound to happen occasionally because VoIP technology relies on internet connections, which can sometimes be unpredictable.
Before you decide on a VoIP provider or solution, it is best to know how jitter can affect your communications and what better solutions are available.
What is VoIP Jitter?
VoIP jitter refers to fluctuations in the time it takes for your voice data packets to reach the person on the other line. Those packets arrive at different intervals and produce choppy or garbled audio.
In other words, instead of your voice delivering smoothly in real-time, the packets arrive out of order and create a disruptive experience for both parties on the call. With this, you can only have a clear, efficient conversation.
Imagine this happens during an important business call or family conversation. The frustration caused by jitter can be significant, resulting in lost productivity and missed opportunities.
Common Causes of VoIP Jitter on VoIP Calls
Jitter doesn't happen randomly – it's usually the result of a few common culprits.
1. Poor Internet Connection
The most common cause of jitter is a slow or unreliable internet connection. If your network cannot handle the amount of data, it can cause delays and disruptions in delivering your voice data packets.
2. VoIP Provider
Although some VoIP providers have lower-quality networks and may not be able to handle high call volume, jitter is a common issue for all VoIP providers. So, even if you find the best VoIP provider, there is still a chance that you may experience jitter on your calls.
3. Network Congestion
Network congestion occurs when network nodes become overloaded with data, causing delays in the transfer of information. This traffic can also result in jitter on VoIP calls.
If your network is being used for multiple purposes simultaneously, such as streaming videos or downloading large files, it can cause congestion and result in jittering on your VoIP calls.
How to Fix VoIP Jitter Issues
All hope is not lost – there are ways to fix or minimize jitter on your VoIP calls.
1. Use Ethernet
One way to reduce jitter is using an Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi for your VoIP calls. This wired connection will provide a more consistent and secure network for transferring your voice data packets.
2. Upgrade Your Internet Connection
Your VoIP calls are only as good as your internet connection. Check that you have a reliable and high-speed connection; otherwise, you may experience jitter or other disruptions on your calls. It will cost you more but likely save you some frustration and lost productivity in the long run.
3. Upgrade Your Hardware
Old or outdated hardware can also create jitter issues on your VoIP calls. You may need to upgrade your router or switch to a modern one that can handle the demands of VoIP technology. The same applies to your ethernet cables – make sure they are high quality and can handle data transfer.
4. Minimize Network Bandwith Use
As mentioned earlier, network congestion can also contribute to the jitter on VoIP calls. To minimize this, limit the use of bandwidth-heavy activities such as streaming and downloading during your calls.
Also, avoid installing updates or large software downloads during peak hours; it can contribute to network congestion.
The Best Solution: Get a Jitter-free Landline Service With Community Phone
The best solution to jitter on VoIP calls is to switch to a reliable business landline service, Community Phone.
What is Community Phone?
Community Phone is an alternative landline service that doesn't rely on the internet or cellular service. You won't have to deal with the frustrations of jitter or poor call quality – your calls will always be clear and consistent.
How is this possible? Cell towers have dedicated bandwidth and are not subject to the same network congestion as internet connections, resulting in a consistently clear call experience. They use local cell towers to route your calls, providing a reliable and jitter-free call experience.
Even the best VoIP providers can't compare with this superior landline service. So, say goodbye to jitter by switching to Community Phone and enjoy the benefits of a reliable landline service. And when you choose Community Phone, installation is a breeze (complete in 30 seconds).
Benefits of Community Phone Landline
Here is a breakdown of some benefits that you will enjoy with Community Phone:
1. It Doesn't Need an Internet Connection
No internet? No problem. You can still make and receive calls with Community Phone during internet disruptions.
2. Unlimited Nationwide Phone Calls
There is no limit to the number of nationwide calls you can make with Community Phone. Enjoy top-notch call quality for all your personal and professional conversations.
3. Unlimited Text Messages
Texting is also unlimited with Community Phone. Send as many messages as you want without worrying about broken communications or hidden fees.
4. Easy 30-second Setup
No need to schedule a technician or wait for installation – you can install Community Phone in just 30 seconds. How easy is that? All you have to do is plug in the device and begin the 30-second setup.
5. Works During Power Outages
Unlike other landline services, Community Phone is not reliant on power and will continue to work during power outages. You are always able to make and receive calls, even in emergencies.
6. Free 14-day Trial
Still, trying to figure out if Community Phone is right for you? Give it a try with their 14-day trial to see the benefits. You won't go back to traditional landline or VoIP services after experiencing the superior call quality and reliability of Community Phone.
Features of Community Phone Landline
Some features of Community Phone's landline service include:
1. Call Routing
As a business owner, you can manage call routing with Community Phone. You can transfer calls to the appropriate staff members, and your customers will always speak with the right person. You can also customize the dial menu.
2. Call Forwarding
It is easy to forward calls with Community Phone, allowing you to receive calls on any number – even your cell phone.
3. Simultaneous Ring
Never miss an important call with the simultaneous ring. This feature allows incoming calls to ring on multiple devices simultaneously, ensuring you never miss a call.
4. Live Call Transfer
Need to transfer a call to another staff member or department? With live call transfer, you can easily do so during the call without disruptions or confusion for the customer.
5. Voicemail to Email
Don't have time to listen to voicemails? Community Phone's voicemail-to-email feature allows you to receive your voicemails as audio files in your email so that you can listen to them at your convenience.
6. Ring a Second Line if Busy
Never miss a call by having incoming calls ring on a second line if you are already on the phone. This feature allows for seamless communication and efficient call management.
7. Custom Dial Menu
Customize your dial menu to fit your business's needs and make it easy for customers to reach the right person or department.
8. Spam Call Blocking
Are you tired of pesky spam calls? Community Phone's spam call blocking feature will block unwanted or unsolicited calls, allowing you to focus on essential calls.
FAQ
How to Test VoIP Jitter?
You can test VoIP jitter by using a speed test tool, such as the one provided by Speadtest. You can also use a network monitoring tool like Logic Monitor and Datadog.
What Are the Effects of Jitter on VoIP?
Jitter can cause audio delays, skipped words in a conversation, and overall poor call quality. It can also result in dropped calls.
What is Acceptable Jitter for VoIP?
Generally, an acceptable jitter for VoIP is under 30 milliseconds.
How to Improve Jitter in VoIP?
You can improve jitter in VoIP by using ethernet, investing in a high-speed internet connection, upgrading network hardware, and minimizing network bandwidth.
Conclusion
VoIP phone service is good, but it can be unreliable due to jitter. Community Phone, on the other hand, offers a reliable landline service because they don't depend on the internet. So you can make clear calls without any worries about jitter.
Give Community Phone's landline service a try with their 14-day free trial by visiting /business or talk to a landline specialist at (512)-402-6914.