Call Quality: VOIP/SIP versus Skype

Tech, TV, Mobile, Internet and Geek Corner
1
I use a stand-alone Skype phone (plugs directly into a router) but lately i've been experiencing dropped calls and sometimes only one side can hear and the other is "deaf" when calling Skype-to-Skype. I'm not sure if it's the internet connection or something with Skype itsself. I'd like to buy a VIOP/SIP phone and compare the difference.

Has anyone out there used both a VOIP/SIP phone and a Skype phone side-by-side? Is there really any major difference? Or for VOIP/SIP I suppose the quality depends on the VOIP/SIP provider?

(PS- When I say VOIP/SIP I mean "open source". I know Skype also uses VOIP/SIP, but it's a proprietary version)

2
SIP is session initiation protocol, skype does not use this.

The Skype protocol is closed and uses peer to peer technology as well as being routed through skype servers, SIP phones use SIP to make the connection with the person you are trying to call then the media (voice) is sent direct. It will be hard for Skype to achieve the same low latency of Sip alternatives.

My experience of Skype has been good to average, but average is not good enough where it means echoing etc etc. My experience of SIP has always been good. I put this partly down to being able to set packet prioritation to SIP, since it is an open protocol so I know what to prioritise.

3
Ah, yea, you're right, I thought Skype used SIP also, but it doesn't. Hmmm. Do the calls really get routed thru Skype servers tho? I thought P2P means Peer-to-Peer, and not Peer-to-Server-to-Peer?

If so, then yea, a direct connection ala SIP should definitely provide a lower latency and hence better connection. Maybe it's time to drop Skype and look into SIP. I like the simplicity of Skype, but prefer quality over simplicity

4
Only when using skype out or skype in, obviously the same applies to SIP.

You are right though, a supernode in Skype can be any client (I had to check this) I had assumed it would be a skype server.

5
No because with SIP you make a direct connection, with skype you are routed through the swarm P2P styleee.

6
i tried sipcall.ch it is a nightmare.

they sell a software called eyebeam. purchased it bought the headset recommended.

does not work

placed a ticket since 10:00 friday. at 18:00 no answer still

so not will have to wait until next week if they do not have a technical support during the weekend

they do not publish any phone number on their site.

thus terrible service.

i brought my vonage usb from the USA and works everytime on same line without any problem.

i needed a swiss number thus i tried sipcall but terrible mistake

no way to get someone on the phone . and waiting 8 hours without even a ticket support answer is just incredible (unless this is the way in Europe )

7
I tried JAJAH, but it didn't work for calls to Poland - I hear the other party with about 5-10 seconds delay, and vice versa. This happened on almost all couple of calls I tried over several days.

Now I use raptel.ch. Easy to use and cheap, but the quality is always good - no echo, no fade outs.

8
I used Skype in the past, and it worked reasonably ok.

Since i came to Switzerland, I used Voipbuster. Free calls to some countries, but cut off after a few minutes of conversation. I sent 10 Euros, as it was not worse, than i could live with it, and calls to US and Denmark are totally free. No Issues with the connection anymore.

Since i sent 10 euros 2 months ago, I have only used 2.50 euros for my UK and Germany Phone calls.

Call quality is never an Issue, unless i start browsing the internet while having a phone call. but as that is my own "fault" I will not blame voipbuster for that.

Semi-negative experience at first, but after i sent money, no problems, i would blame them for.

Doc.

9
...does it really matter who the SIP provider is for call quality tho? The SIP provider just sets up the call, and then are out of the picture, since the RTP connection is just between the 2 end users...right?

Check if your router supports QoS (quality of service) that will prioritize voice connections over web browsing.

10
You're right Esto.

For QoS, I use a QoS enabled router ( and a DI-102 http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keat...ccelerator.asp ) and all of my 3 SIP accounts ( Australian, Swiss and Malaysian ) have flawless quality ( if the codecs are properly chosen ).

11
I use Skype at work and whilst travelling via a PC and at home via a Philips Skype phone (can't remember the model). I very rarely have call quality problems and I would recommend the Philips phone. I also have Skype In numbers in Switzerland and UK so family can call me cheaply.

Skype's a bit more expensive than other solutions I think, especially when calling mobiles, but very easy to set up and use, so I'm happy.

I also use Fring (to Skype) and Truphone on an iPhone, but I'm not very impressed. Calls don't seem to connect most of the time.

I've never used other VOIPs/SIPs, so I couldn't make a comparison.

12
Update: I just got the Siemens S685ip phone last week, and it is EXCELLENT!! The Skype is still giving me problems to cretain countries, but the Siemens VOIP/SIP phone is flawless everytime. And it's one of the few (or only) SIP phones with the G.722 "High Defenition" codec. I thought it was just a marketing gimmick at first, but when I made my first call it was a very noticeable improvement in clarity/quality. The only catch is the other end also has to have a SIP phone that supports the codec, but that's ok for me, since the other end I call also has got the same phone