'Best VoIP performance' router tips

Homeowners and small businesses must configure their internet router to get the best out of their VoIP services, it has been claimed.

In an article for PC World, Jon Jacobi stated VoIP is the "trickiest application" to optimise because the data flows in both directions.

"Serious lags" are a problem for coherent conversations, he continued, even though calls do not take up a particularly large amount of bandwidth.

Many VoIP hardware set-ups use a dedicated device between the application and the main router, but experienced users may want to bypass this option, Mr Jacobi added.

The specialist also named forwarding one or several ports from the router to the VoIP phone as a good way to ensure call quality.

"If your router doesn't support port forwarding, get a new router," he added.

David Carr recently detailed the small business benefits of VoIP in Forbes magazine, including disaster recovery and deploying a mobile workforce.