New router, now distorted remote transmit audio

John Langdon

Using Flex 6700 at a remote site. I just upgraded my router at the remote site. Router at the control site did not change. Latency is the same, speed test is twice as fast download and I now have 188 down /12 up.  Receive audio when remote sounds good. Transmit audio using the Maestro is very distorted - it is understandable but low quality. Was fine before I changed the router. In local mode with microphone connected directly to the 6700 the transmit audio is fine. 

No real change in anything except the new router required me to change some of the external ports, but the internal ports stayed the same and everything connects fine. 

I will continue to investigate, and set up a receiver at the control site to try to monitor the audio, but has anyone else experienced this? What router parameters may have changed and how do I test them?  What's the standard for 'proof of performance' in the transmit audio link?

73 John N5CQ

Dan-N7HQ

A new router directs me to think the MTU setting is different.  That would be a place to check.

73,
Dan

Jim Gilliam

Have you tried the same test with a computer to compare the transmit audio? Also a too large of MTU setting can cause packet loss.

John Langdon

Router MTU was set to automatic. Reset to manual, value 1500, same as setting on the radio. Will try audio again and update.

73 John N5CQ
 

Mike-VA3MW

John

What make of router is it?   Have you considered using the IQRouter from Evanroute?  We have found that out of the box it handles streaming very well.  You can get them on Amazon.

I use PFSense routers at both ends and it allowed me to learn more about routers than I wanted to know, but to be honest, I was able to tune it.  

Consumer routers are designed / optimized for receiving lots of streaming data - AKA NetFlix, etc.  They are seldom optimized for streaming outbound data.

Also, is your Maestro LAN connected or WiFi connected?  If WiFi is the transmitted auto distorted when you are LAN connected?  This is something you may wish to test.

Let us know,

Mike va3mw

John Langdon

Replaced on old Cisco RV110 100MB unit with a Linksys LRT214 gigabit rated unit.  All wired Ethernet.  What do the IQ units do differently?  Can it be specified and measured?  Some of the highly rated consumer routers are not very flexible for port forwarding.

I plan to try different MTU values to see what happens to the audio versus repeatable measures.  My goal is to have identical routers on each end to facilitate a VPN connection if needed. 

73 John N5CQ

Mike-VA3MW

The IQRouter units dynamically deal with something called bufferbloat and give you a much better streaming experience.  They are well discussed in the Flex community.  You can read  more about them here https://evenroute.com/iqrouter.  I bought 20 for my friends here in Canada and they all loved them (I resold them to them ).  

But, it sounds like your LRT214 is not doing you any favours.  Also, keep an eye on the Gaming communities as they are big low latency.   I searched for some of the reviews and they were 'just ok'.  Any chance you can return it and try something else?  Given that was the only thing you changed out, you might try going back to your other unit and see if you still have the same issue.

73 for now, Mike

Mark_WS7M

Perhaps RF getting into the router?

John Langdon

Same problem with power turned down to zero or 1200 W out, on all bands 160-6, so not likely to be RF.

Tried different MTU values but no discernible change.  

Switching back to old 100M unit makes the problem disappear. Transmit audio sounds much better, despite lower 'speed test' results, and with the MTU at 1500 that sounds so bad on the 'faster' router.

Next steps: (1) setting up a monitor receiver at control site so I can listen critically to what effect changes have (2) trying another router, likely an IQRouter.

Thanks for all the ideas.

73 John N5CQ

John Langdon

UPDATE: Put the Linksys router back in, then tried Maestro on local LAN at transmitter site. Transmit audio okay via LAN on 80, 40, 20, and 10 at full power, so still not thinking its an RF issue. 

Running the "IQ Test" from DSL reports gives me a D on buffer bloat with latency from 19-42 at the transmit site, B and 29-71 at the home location.

Next step is to install IQ Router at transmit site and repeat the "IQ test" and on the air test. 

73 John N5CQ


 

John Langdon

UPDATE: PROBLEM SOLVED BY IQROUTER.  Replaced the linksys router with an IQ at the radio site. Buffer bloat on the "IQ test" went from D to A, and transmit audio quality is now very good.  Although the raw 'speed test' numbers are actually better with the linksys, the audio quality is worlds better on the IQ. The IQ is still doing its "ongoing optimization" routine for a few more days, so not sure what the final results will be. Right now I am a very happy camper. 

Next step is to replace old router at home location with another IQ.

73 John N5CQ

Mike-VA3MW

That is awesome.  The IQRouters have been very good and 'just work'.  Their support is very good as well.

Mike

Clay N9IO

Please would someone give a specific model that you are talking about? Not familiar with them.

Mike-VA3MW

Here you go from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/IQrouter-Self-Optimizing-Router-Improved-Quality/dp/B07Y8TQ5C6/ref=sr_1_3

Here is the main site and any of their routers are good  https://evenroute.com/iqrouter

Mike

Clay N9IO

Thanks Mike

John Langdon

I ordered direct from IQ, as as Amazon is delaying shipment on some "non-essential" items.  Arrived in 4 days from IQ.  IQ support was very good, answering my pre-sales but technical questions in a few hours via email.

I also found the port forwarding in the IQ 'advanced menu' very straightforward and usable.  It had a bunch of other options that I did not understand, but I was able to do everything I needed to get Smart Link and my other remote apps up and running. If you do not need to forward any ports, the automated 'setup wizard' should do everything you need. 

The IQ UPnP did insist on assigning new external ports to the 4993 and 4994 ports for Smartlink, but it works fine. 

Also  the distortion from the previous router was readily apparent in the 'monitor' audio on the Maestro, and the improvement was easy to hear, too.  I still may use the 'transverter trick' to listen to the actual transmitted audio remotely.

73 John N5CQ