Interested in discovering the best VoIP monitoring tools? Here’s all you need to know.
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a system that can manage, monitor, track, and report data and voice transmissions over the internet. Also known as broadband phone service, web telephone, IP technology, and broadband telephone, it aims to address potential issues.
However, this system requires high-maintenance networking and cannot tolerate poor performance leading to packet loss and latency. Subpar performance can also impact voice or audio quality, necessitating the resolution of choppy audio.
VoIP technology offers numerous advantages, including the ability to make calls and cost-effectiveness. It is widely used in telemarketing, customer service, and tech support teams that prioritize call quality. Devices such as tablets, computers, and phones with data capabilities can easily make calls.
Nevertheless, in some areas, poor call quality is a concern, making it crucial to choose VoIP monitoring solutions that encompass VoIP traffic tracking, VoIP troubleshooting tools, and VoIP traffic analyzers.
Popular VoIP applications include WhatsApp, Google Group Chat, Google Voice, Skype, and more. This technology allows traditional telephone services to use packet-switched protocols to operate on networks, retrieving individual packets with the support of voice signals transmitted to the appropriate network.
Finding the right VoIP monitoring tool in the dynamic market is essential. Various options, including closed-source, open-source, free, and enterprise-grade services, are available.
Here are some of the top VoIP monitoring tools for your consideration.
Paessler PRTG Network Monitoring
If you aim to enhance VoIP performance, commence with Paessler PRTG Network Monitoring to identify issues. This tool assists in monitoring traffic, acts as a troubleshooter, mitigates VoIP errors, reduces latency, packet loss, or jitter, and enhances overall performance. The advantages of using PRTG VoIP monitoring software include:
- Troubleshooting to identify any malfunctioning switches and routers,
- Enhancing VoIP performance to prevent call crashes or drops,
- Traffic analysis to understand the load, monitor data, and analyze the outcome.
The online tool features five sensors to initiate VoIP troubleshooting. Paessler PRTG Network Monitoring includes the Ping Sensor to measure packet loss, Round Trip sensor to assess the quality of service, Ping Jitter sensor to examine jitter value, Cisco IP SLA sensor to measure QoS, and One Way sensor to monitor the quality of the connection.
Site24x7
If you are in search of VoIP monitoring software with a trial version, Site24x7 can put an end to your quest. The 30-day trial period utilizes Cisco Internet Protocol Service Level Agreement (IPSLA) to access VoIP services. It makes it easier to rectify quality issues in real-time, with performance metrics and available statistics providing profound insights.
Site24x7’s VoIP monitoring tool generates instant alerts and prevents devices from any failures. It tracks various factors such as latency, jitter, and packet loss that affect the quality of a call. It monitors round-trip time (RTT), mean opinion score (MOT), and metrics from destination to source (and vice versa).
VoIP calls often encounter issues like frequent call drops, audio delays, voice compressions, choppy voices, and echoes. The troubleshooting feature analyzes all call transmissions and the network to rectify issues. It encompasses metrics like packet loss, jitter, missing managed internet access (MIA) packets, packet late arrival, and more.
SolarWinds
SolarWinds VoIP and Network Quality Manager can provide performance insights and detailed critical call Quality of Service (QoS) metrics. The tool offers a 30-day trial period followed by a subscription starting at $963. Users focusing on IP SLA tracking and management, VoIP quality monitoring, WAN monitoring, Cisco Call Manager support, and network jitter monitoring can opt for this tool.
SolarWinds analyzes call detail records to examine records generated using Avaya Communication Manager and Cisco CallManager. It helps identify any distortion, noise, and latency while resolving issues. The tool provides control and central visibility to users, offering historical and real-time data reporting. It utilizes IP SLA-specific network statistics and accelerates troubleshooting for CUBE calls and Cisco SIP failures.
VoIP Spear
VoIP Spear monitors voice quality to assess and address issues effectively. The software continuously monitors VoIP quality 24/7, providing real-time status updates on potential problems. VoIP Spear utilizes a scoring system, presenting call quality as the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) through a graphical representation.
The tool efficiently tests major cities, providing detailed insights through its servers. Additionally, email alerts simplify the process of monitoring voice quality.
Riverbed UCExpert
Riverbed UCExpert is a user-friendly VoIP monitoring tool that enables easy engagement and collaboration with clients and teams. Designed to enhance performance by reducing support desk calls and facilitating effective collaboration, this tool improves voice and video collaboration applications, messaging capabilities, social media, and mobile apps.
Through continuous monitoring of the quality of unified communication, Riverbed UCExpert addresses primary issues, aiming to reduce response time, implement intelligent policy-based traffic control, resolve end-user impact issues, and scale video applications for enhanced accessibility.
ExtraHop
As the name implies, ExtraHop takes an extra step in video and VoIP performance monitoring. It is the optimal solution for addressing issues like jitter, dropped calls, or lag. ExtraHop efficiently monitors all data to comprehend potential IT activities impacting quality. It also identifies and assists in resolving user-related issues, providing insights into conditions. The software supports compliance and auditing, associates traffic, analyzes traffic, and enhances visibility.
Manageengine OpManager
ManageEngine OpManager is a top-notch tool designed to ensure flawless call quality. It unifies the network, offers service monitoring, and manages performance, fault efficiency, and network traffic analysis. The tool proactively monitors VoIP performance and quality across WAN infrastructure.
OpManager is capable of addressing performance issues for both users and VoIP, providing QoS trend charts and detailed destination or source performance reporting. Users can access comprehensive VoIP performance reports, including metrics such as Jitter, Packet Loss, MOS, Maximum RTT, and Maximum SLA violation.
Conclusion
Typically, businesses may not opt for free tools due to their relatively limited features. However, in some cases, free tools can meet user requirements, while other times, users can explore ideal options before making a final decision.
Users can configure VoIP tracking tools that suit their needs to ensure no packets are lost. So, choose your best fit and get started with VoIP tracking.
