Re:Inside Apple's Thunderbolt to Ethernet Adapter
by ghshephard on Monday June 25, 2012 @05:24AM
(#4155757)
VOIP? You just identified the _single_ example of an application that has minimal requirements for bandwidth (on the order of 30-40 kbits/sec is fine). I live, eat, breath on Skype, have never had a single Skype call over a wired connection. Ironically, the one persistent flaw in my recent Skype calls have been my comcast line that periodically starts dropping 3-5% of it's packets so I've had to switch over to tethering over my iPad with Verizon's Data (also wireless - so, Wireless WIFI from my MBAir over Wireless LTE) - Rock solid.
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Re:Inside Apple's Thunderbolt to Ethernet Adapter
by mixmastamyk on Tuesday June 26, 2012 @02:48PM
(#4163537)
Bandwidth isn't the problem, rather dropped packets and increased latency. Neither are fatal, but add to poor experience voip has been compared to a pots connection.
Re:Inside Apple's Thunderbolt to Ethernet Adapter
by ghshephard on Tuesday June 26, 2012 @05:55PM
(#4164374)
So - I will agree that dropped packets are a problem (I'm having them myself with Comcast Cable - argh!!) - but WiFi connections, except under the most _extreme_ circumstances, don't ever drop packets unless you have a RF/hardware problem that is unusual. (Or Contention - which is why I don't like to share WiFi on a consumer Wireless router) Latency over WiFi is < 1ms - which should be imperceptible to VOIP.
I should set up a Skype call from my MacBook Air tethered to my iPad over Verizon LTE to you - this really is a much worse scenario than WiFi - 35ms latency, about 1% packet loss - than my WiFi connection - but I still bet you would hear stellar voice quality (over my MBAir's Mic, no less!)
Honestly - WiFi really, really is not a problem with VOIP unless you have some contention, RF disturbance or really poor connectivity - something else is going on with you - I've done lots of Voice Tests ahead of important meetings when I'm presenting just to be 100% certain that my call/voice quality was 100% - and it's always been with Skype over WiFi.