Skype Dual-Mode Phone Setup
In this example, we configure a NETGEAR SPH200D Dual Mode Skype Phone for optimal voice quality, using a Buffalo WHR-G125 Router flashed with Tomato Firmware. Your configuration may be different, but the concept is the same:
1) Configure Base Station
The Base Station has a Administrative Login. Use the IP address assigned by the router ( Example: http://192.168.1.148). The default User Name is “admin”, the default Password is “password”.
Below is a view after login (defaults to System Information):
- Verify your Firmware Version is the latest. For the SPH200D check here. Download the newer version to your desktop.
- Click on the “System” page. Upgrade the new firmware to the NETGEAR base station, click upgrade, do not interrupt this step! After rebooting move to the next step
- Click on the “Network” page. Verify that your Ethernet link speed is set to “Auto (default is 10mb).
- Using your Hand Set, go to Menu–>Settings–>Advanced–>App. Port. Write that number down for the next step.
Without port forwarding the phones default "App Port" at the router, the phone will use the Web Ports. This can be problematic with problems like short or no rings, problems with connecting and making calls. You can see this setting under “Alternate Ports”. (leave it default just in case)
2) Configure Port Forwarding
After logging in to your router:
- Select “port triggering”.
- Add the port from the handset. You can also use “port forwarding” with src/dst set, if you prefer.
3) Configure QoS
- Select QoS Settings. This may be the most important step of all.
- You need to create a “rule” that gives highest priority to the MAC or IP address of the phone, and depending on the firmware, assign a bandwidth “limit”. Here is and example on a router running Tomato Firmware:
Without QoS, you will experience poor voice quality including echos, and digital noises.
There can be other steps when configuring QoS depending on the firmware. If the router the Skype Dual Phone connects to doesn’t have QoS, you may want to consider a router or firmware change. Read the GazGuzla Choosing a Home Router Article. Review Current Router prices Here. Current Skype Dual Phone prices can be found Here.
December 8th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I have networks that share one 10mbps/600kbps connection among 20 to 30 users. I use tomato qos, no inbound qos.
I can give skype the priority, but it works like crap. Your advice is just what I tried before seeing your advice. It makes things worse. Even when the network is calm, it works like crap. I even tried a socks proxy to another router that had it’s own internet gateway to itself. It still worked like crap. How much traffic was your connection managing when this worked for you?
December 9th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I use the Netgear SPH200D as my home phone. I have several computers that hog bandwidth at different times. 90% of the time its perfect. There will be times where the performance is not so good, like the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, where both the local broadband network and Skype (where ever the actual server is located in the world) did not perform too well. I had scratches and data sounds while talking that weekend, now they are gone.
Before I say that’s not enough outbound bandwidth for a Skype Dual Mode Phone to operate properly, I need to ask more questions. There may be other variables that are impacting your performance.
1) Just to be clear, its the same phone I’m using? If its a WiFi phone forget it. I returned mine. Some day he technology will be there, but not yet.
2) Your trying to share 600k outbound with 20 to 30 users? What type of connection do you have? 600k is a DSL type number. How did you arrive at the outbound number? I have a broadband connection, which has similar characteristics of a large network, meaning that my ISP claims 16mb in/2mb out throughput, but depending how many users are on the segment near my house at a given time, I have seen that number lower and higher, so I set QoS to the lower worst case.
3) You opened the default port on the router for the phone via trigger or port forwarding?
4) You and gave the MAC of the phone the highest priority, moved it to the top of the list, and are not using any L7 packet filtering? (L7 packet filtering changes bandwidth priorities scheme)
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:44 pm
hello
i have the phone sph phone and a netgear router that has been badged by sky (so not sure of model). I am experiencing as you say a bad time when making calls when i or my wife is busy ont eh internet, missing words etc fromt eh other person while speaking. I called sky and they said they can only help with the braodband connection side of things and netgera told me to send the phone back and get another one (and that was netgear tech support tonight !). Can you help in anyway, i can email snap shots of the screens i have access to.
Many Thanks
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Ian,
What model Netgear router do you have, need to know, and does that model allow QoS?