The VoIP Guys: Ray & Dave Explain Why VoIP Routers are Worth Their Cost

While most reputable VoIP providers strongly recommend you use a router specifically designed for VoIP traffic, you might wonder if a VoIP-ready router is worth the extra cost. If your business depends on your phone, the answer is yes, and here’s why.

The router is a critical component to call quality. Most routers you get from the cable company or the clearance bin at the local electronics store are simply not capable of effectively handling VoIP. VoIP-ready routers provide the following benefits:

1. QoS – Quality of Service
2. SIP Server Survival Mode
3. WAN Link Redundancy

1. Quality of Service, or QoS: On a network that shares voice and data, a QoS-capable router gives priority to voice traffic. This is vital when you’re talking on the phone while someone on your network is sending or receiving a big file or downloading a video; without prioritizing the traffic, your call quality might suffer. When there’s no voice traffic, the full bandwidth is available to data traffic. The router applies QoS mechanisms to upstream and downstream traffic independently. This is especially useful when downstream bandwidth is greater than upstream bandwidth and limiting downstream data to the slower upstream rate would be undesirable.


2. SIP Server Survival Mode: A VoIP router can re-route calls locally or over the ‘regular’ phone lines (the PSTN) during WAN link failures. You can rest assured that when disaster strikes, you’re covered; even if your primary Internet connection goes out, you can still get calls on remaining phone lines.


3. WAN Link Redundancy: Many organizations have two Internet connections – one primary, and one backup. By default, voice and data traffic go through the primary connection. If the primary link fails, a VoIP router will route traffic through the backup path and, when possible, automatically return it back to the primary path once it’s back up and running. The network administrator can also manually switch the traffic when necessary.

VoIP routers are often more expensive, but the peace of mind they bring in QoS, survivability, and redundancy are well worth it if your business relies on always-available phone service.

Do you have any other advice to share on what to look for in a VoIP router? Share with us in the comments.

Ray Pedroso and Dave Schall specialize in Voice over IP (VoIP) systems at Apptix. The Apptix VoIP solution delivers the standard features you have come to expect in a corporate-level phone system, including number portability, extension dialing, find me/follow me service, voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding, etc. In addition, Apptix includes Web-based system management tools to provide a quick and easy way to make changes to your phone system from any browser. You can contact them at voipguys [at] apptix.com.