What Is VoIP Jitter and How to Fix It?

66% of employees think working from the office will be fully eliminated by 2030. It means that the reliance on digital communication technologies is more pressing than ever.

VoIP technology is leading the way in modern communication. However, despite its advantages, VoIP encounters a significant obstacle when it comes to call quality: jitter.

In this article, we delve into what jitter is, what causes it, and how you can fix it.

Key takeaways:

• VoIP jitter refers to the irregular arrival of data packets during a call, causing disruptions in communication, such as delays, echoing, and audio/video distortions.
• VoIP jitter is caused by issues like network congestion, slow internet, and misconfigured settings, which affect call quality.
• Solutions to mitigate the impact of jitter on VoIP calls include upgrading internet speed, configuring routers for optimal performance, and employing jitter buffer tools.

What is VoIP Jitter? 

Imagine you’re sending a series of letters to your friend, each containing a part of your conversation.

Ideally, these letters should arrive at your friend’s house at regular intervals so that the message is understood correctly.

But what if some letters arrive earlier and others later? Well, the message would be very confusing.

VoIP jitter operates along the same lines. 

In VoIP, voice is converted into digital data, then divided into small packets (like letters) that travel through the Internet to their destination, where they are reassembled to reproduce the original sound.

If the packets arrive too late or in the wrong order, it can cause interruptions or distortions in the conversation. As a result, the receiver might hear you speaking in a choppy or broken manner, like parts of the conversation are missing or repeated.

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What Causes Jitter on VoIP Calls?

If you’re experiencing VoIP jitter, these are the probable reasons:

• Network congestion: When an excessive amount of data congests network nodes, it results in congestion, impeding the flow of information. This causes delays and fluctuations in data packets. If your internet connection lacks stability, consider upgrading it to obtain more bandwidth and a steadier connection.

• Internet speed: A slow internet connection can cause similar issues, as the network may struggle to efficiently manage real-time communication. To assess the quality of your connection, you can use speed testing tools.

• Insufficient bandwidth: Not having enough transmission capacity can disrupt the flow of data packets. Remember, while a VoIP call might squeak by with around 100 kbps of bandwidth, it’s wise to estimate your bandwidth needs based on the number of simultaneous calls you are anticipating. Then, add a 5 to 10 times buffer (a buffer is extra capacity to prevent interruptions for good measure).

• Misconfigured Network: Neglecting to configure Quality of Service (QoS) settings to prioritize VoIP traffic can lead to jitter as the network gives preference to other types of data. Thus, it’s crucial to dial in those QoS settings just right, following the guidelines laid out by your provider.

• Faulty hardware: Faulty hardware, like a busted Ethernet cable, can directly sour call quality. To enhance network stability, consider replacing old or faulty hardware. 

How Does Jitter Affect VoIP Call Quality?

VoIP call quality is essential for keeping your customers satisfied. In fact, you may never hear from 42% of your customers again due to poor call quality.

But how do you determine if it’s too high?

The average jitter level is typically measured in milliseconds (ms), and an impact on VoIP call quality is particularly noticeable when its levels exceed 30-50 milliseconds.

Jitter can cause a series of problems that negatively affect communication, including:

• Call delay: Jitter can cause packets to arrive later, causing delays in voice transmission. That’s why sometimes parts of the conversation might suddenly disappear.

• Echo or choppy voice: Another result of delayed voice packets is echoing or choppy voice during calls.

• Audio and video distortion: Jitter can cause distortions in audio and video, which can be particularly problematic in case of real-time communication, such as video conferencing.  As a consequence, in video calls, jitter can make the picture look strange, such as pixelated or freezing.

How Can You Measure Jitter?

There are different ways of measuring jitter:

#1 Run Online Speed Tests

Before committing to a new high-speed internet contract, it’s essential to understand your current internet speed and the severity of your jitter issue. 

One effective method to assess both is utilizing online speed testing tools like CloudTalk’s. This quick test provides valuable insights within seconds, including your download and upload speeds, as well as ping and jitter levels measured in milliseconds.

Download and upload speeds indicate the capability of your internet connection, with higher numbers signifying faster data transfer. 

Ping, or latency, measures the delay between data transmission and reception, crucial for tasks like VoIP calls. Elevated ping (above 150 ms) and jitter (above 30 ms) suggest connectivity issues that could disrupt VoIP communication.

#2 Use Advanced Network Monitoring Tools

To utilize advanced network monitoring tools for measuring jitter:

1. Choose a tool like SolarWinds VNQM or Smokeping tailored for advanced network monitoring.
2. Follow the instructions to configure the tool and set it up for your network.
3. Monitor network performance, focusing on jitter metrics to identify and analyze issues.
4. Adjust network configuration based on analysis, continuously monitoring its effectiveness and keep an eye on potential new issues.

#3 Conduct a Terminal-Based Ping Jitter Test

To conduct a Terminal-based ping jitter test, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal application on your computer.
2. Type the command “ping” followed by the IP address or domain name of the target.
3. Monitor the round-trip times displayed in the Terminal to observe network latency.
4. Calculate the jitter by finding the average difference between consecutive round-trip times.
5. For accuracy, repeat the test multiple times and calculate the average jitter across tests.

How to Fix Jitter?

If the speed test showed that you have an unusually high jitter level and pretty long delays, it’s time to do something about it. 

Here are some action steps you can take to troubleshoot and lower your Jitter to acceptable levels:

#1 Upgrade Your Internet Connection Speed

You may notice that your ping and jitter levels, as well as download and upload speeds, aren’t adequate. 

In this case, the easiest way to improve the call quality is to upgrade your plan or switch providers. If your employees regularly complain about having a slow internet connection, it might be the right moment to switch your Internet plan.

#2 Check Your Router

Even the fastest internet connection won’t help much if the router you are using is outdated or misconfigured. 

Check your current router specifications to see whether or not it can handle increased bandwidth and if it has the newest drivers installed. 

You may get a modern router that has a “Quality of Service” feature. As we mentioned, it allows you to prioritize certain types of internet packets over others, such as voice calls.

Additionally, knowing how to fix err_connection_reset can help address connectivity issues that may arise from router problems.

Doing so ensures that voice packets will be delivered in order even if the network is crowded. 

#3 Use a Jitter Buffer

As a temporary measure, you can use a jitter buffer tool. Jitter buffers store incoming packets as they come in, sorting them out and putting them in the correct order before sending them on to the user. 

That does not fix the actual cause of the jitter problem, but it might help with connection issues when you are, for example, searching for a new internet provider.

#4 Contact your VoIP Provider

If the problem persists despite speed tests showing your jitter and latency levels are normal, the issue might lie with your VoIP provider. 

Check user reviews of the provider to see if any other users have complained about the speed or quality of the service. 

Then, it would be worth researching the average connection metrics for other providers – reputable platforms should have such information included on their websites.  

Conclusioni

In summary, VoIP jitter poses a significant challenge to call quality, arising from various factors such as network congestion, internet speed, insufficient bandwidth, misconfigured networks, and faulty hardware. 

Understanding these causes is crucial for addressing them and learning how to fix them.