Voip Internet Accelerator Intelligent Packet Priority Engine by D-Link
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Digital camera reviews of Voip Internet Accelerator Intelligent Packet Priority Engine
Digital camera Review: Easy to install, fixed our VOIP problems....
Summary: 5 Stars
When I initially came across the D-Link DI-102 (and the Hawking HBB1) I must admit I was skeptical of these "Broadband Internet Accelerators". After a little research, I decided on the DI-102 (based on my previous good experience with D-Link products). Both devices use the same StreamEngine technology from Ubicom.
We switched our home phone over to VOIP a few months ago, and although our ISP has infrastructure which is well optimized for VOIP, the call quality could be patchy when either of the Windows XP PCs in the house was using the shared DSL connection. However, when my wife's used her Apple Mac to FTP files, the VOIP connection was simply unusable. Unlike Windows XP, OS X 10.4 does not support Quality of Service (QoS), so it severely disrupts the VOIP packets.
Once I received the DI-102, I turned off all of my other equipment, plugged in the DI-102 between the DSL modem and telephone VOIP adapter, turned everything back on, that's it....
The device is very easy to install, and once installed it automatically goes to work. Basically it has two Ethernet connectors and a power connector. The built in browser based configuration is also very simple, providing status information for the device and four configuration options (for data rate, connection type, and static I/P information). Automatic data rate detection is already set by default.
We have noticed a substantial improvement in our VOIP call quality (and now even the Apple Mac can't disrupt our calls).
By the way, connecting this device (and any other networking/VOIP devices you own) to an uninterruptible power supply is essential for protection from "power nasties" such as surges, brownouts, etc.).
Digital camera Review: Great device, if you get good ping time.
Summary: 5 Stars
Ha ha ha. I'm a kid. LOL!
Listen,
I bought this device to use with my asterisk server and it appears to do exactly what it should: give higher priority to VoIP (read: SIP and IAX2) traffic and allocate traffic as bandwidth needs change. I hooked up the device, changed my on-hold music to "Harvard Sentences", which are recognized by the ITU as a good method for determining telephone audio quality.
I immediately noticed a difference for the better, After baselining the quality level with full bandwidth, I tried downloading a few demos from Microsoft, and again, it seemed to work marvelously- no discernable packetloss.
This device won't help in all situations- I have two VoIP accounts, one has ping times around 180ms, and another with a ping time around 75ms. The 75ms VoIP had better call quality in virtually all regards, but the 180ms account still showed a few quality issues, that I've always had.
I noticed in multiple forums that people are having trouble using these types of devices on Comcast. This may be a cable issue, and because your sharing your connection, QoS probably needs to be setup on the head-end. My experience (with DSL) is 180-degrees of what the previous reviewer said.
I'm impressed. Compared to some of the more complex packet prioritization/QoS devices out there, this is the easiest to use out-of-the-box. It's truly PnP. It lacks in some aspects- virtually no end user configuration required, but when you stack it against other $1,000 QoS devices, It gets two thumbs up (way up.) It beats getting a dedicated DSL line for asterisk!
Long story short, if your getting a reasonable pingtime, this will enable you to still use a majority of your bandwidth for your browsing, without having voice quality issues.
Digital camera Review: Abolutely useless
Summary: 1 Stars
I have typical residential cable bandwidth - 5Mbps down and 384kbps up. So, whenever I have massive uploads going on or my son is on bittorrent the VoIP quality degrades terrible (testmyvoip.com calls it "As bad as a crummy cell phone call" and they are right). Which is exactly what this device promises to fix. I assumed that it provides QoS, although I was a little irked that it never gave any technical information. It touts easy installation and promises "intelligent prioritization". It was easy to install all right - but it has intelligence of a straight pass-through wire. There was no difference in performance. Either I upload - or I talk.
The configuration screen looks very skimpy, so I decided to call support if there is any parameters that I can configure. I spent 50 minutes on hold (with most annoying advertising in long time), during which Tier 1 operator asked me for model and serial number of my router and cable modem, not to mention this device itself - before telling that I need to talk to "product specialist". By the way - unlike what the web page says - this device is *not* supported 24/7, since product specialists only work 8am-5pm Pacific.
Once I talked to product specialist - he essentially said "don't fool yourself, you won't get any QoS improvements; just return the device". What I am about to do tomorrow.
Shame on you, D-Link!
Digital camera Review: Great - when it works
Summary: 3 Stars
My work requires periodic sessions of massive downloads and when it's working, this device makes good use of my broadband connection. My connection averages about 13 MPS, and the download sessions generally run at 1.5 to 2 MPS. That might not seem like much, but without this unit, the download sessions run at less than half that speed. No one on the network has noticed any erosion in performance during download sessions, so I'd say it was a success in that regard.
The problem is that that whenever there's a hiccup in the connection (brownout, router or switch reset, unknown gremlins) the unit does not reset itself, as does the router, the switch and all my other network equipment. It must be manually disconnected, the broadband feed restablished in the router, then manually reconnected. This is not anything that the DLink suport staff seem to be aware of. Nor is it particularly intuitive (or logical for that matter).
If you can live with this and need focused broadband, place the unit in an easily accessible place and go for it.
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