Nexus One VoIP sound quality is very poor

MountainX · 01-06-2010, 04:38 PM

I have both a Droid and a Nexus One. I have both of them set up for VoIP calls, and both are set up the same way. Here's how I set them up:

How To Set Up VoIP on the Nexus One Google Phone using Sipdroid for Free Calls | Dave's Tech Shop

How To Set Up VoIP on the Motorola Droid on Verizon Wireless using Sipdroid for Free Calls | Dave's Tech Shop

The call quality on the Nexus One is much worse than the Droid. I did repeated tests with both. And I used WiFi, so it can't be a difference between VZW and T-Mobile.

Anyone else tried VoIP on the Nexus One yet? I wonder if I have a defective phone or if this is a bigger issue.

EDIT - The VoIP call quality problems are worse when using a headset on the Nexus One! VoIP quality on the Nexus One is marginal to poor without a headset, but with a headset it is unacceptable. I have tested four different headsets now. I have also tested those headsets on the Droid, and they are good. So the problem is the Nexus One, not any particular headset. My first thought was that I had a bad headset jack. However, after more trouble shooting I tend to think its not as simple as that. Music sounds fine through the headset. It is only VoIP sound that sucks when using a headset. The problem is so bad that phone calls using a headset are not workable.

Summary of Nexus One and VoIP:
* VoIP sound quality is marginal on WiFi with no headset.
* Music sound is good with headset on Nexus One.
* Headsets I'm testing with are good with VoIP and music on Droid.
* VoIP on Nexus One with a headset has poor sound quality.

rubi76 · 01-06-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainX

I have both a Droid and a Nexus One. I have both of them set up for VoIP calls, and both are set up the same way. Here's how I set them up:

How To Set Up VoIP on the Nexus One Google Phone using Sipdroid for Free Calls | Dave's Tech Shop

How To Set Up VoIP on the Motorola Droid on Verizon Wireless using Sipdroid for Free Calls | Dave's Tech Shop

The call quality on the Nexus One is much worse than the Droid. I did repeated tests with both. And I used WiFi, so it can't be a difference between VZW and T-Mobile.

Anyone else tried VoIP on the Nexus One yet? I wonder if I have a defective phone or if this is a bigger issue.

EDIT - This happens only when using a headset! VoIP quality on the Nexus One is OK without a headset. I have tested two different headsets. The problem is the phone, not the headset.

Please clarify your last sentence?
Without a headset quality is good.... so the problem would be the headset not the phone no?

MountainX · 01-06-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubi76

Please clarify your last sentence?
Without a headset quality is good.... so the problem would be the headset not the phone no?

Without a headset the VoIP sound quality is not as bad. But with ANY headset, the sound quality is very bad. The headsets give good sound on the Droid (or on other phones such as my Panasonic home phone). So the problem is the Nexus One -- something in the headset connection maybe.

sooper_droid12 · 01-06-2010, 05:30 PM

I think he's saying that he's tried the headset on both phones FIRST and they were fine. Then he took the headset off and found that the N1 quality was good without it. Correct? If that's the case, are you using bluetooth headset? Or wired? If it's wired, see if it's not something to do with the jack. If it's bluetooth, you may have a bad antennae. It's not unusual to have some production defects.

MountainX · 01-06-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sooper_droid12

I think he's saying that he's tried the headset on both phones FIRST and they were fine. Then he took the headset off and found that the N1 quality was good without it. Correct? If that's the case, are you using bluetooth headset? Or wired? If it's wired, see if it's not something to do with the jack. If it's bluetooth, you may have a bad antennae. It's not unusual to have some production defects.

They are both wired headsets.
Music sounds good through these headsets, so the jack is OK.

MountainX · 01-06-2010, 05:47 PM

I just tested a 3rd headset: v-moda vibe II (wired). Works OK for VoIP on Droid, but the Nexus One has the same problem on VoIP calls. Very poor sound quality. (Again, music sound is excellent with this 3rd headset on the Nexus One.)

I also tested a 4th headset now. Same poor results on the Nexus One, but good sound on the Droid.

If you want an Android phone for VoIP calls, I don't think the Nexus One is looking like a good choice. The Droid is much better. (But even the Droid isn't perfect for VoIP with a headset. See open issues at Sipdroid for more info.)

t-mizzle · 01-06-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainX

If you want an Android phone for VoIP calls, I don't think the Nexus One is looking like a good choice. The Droid is much better. (But even the Droid isn't perfect for VoIP with a headset. See open issues at Sipdroid for more info.)

It's only been out one day. Maybe it's just your unit or maybe it's a problem that can be addressed?

MountainX · 01-08-2010, 12:36 PM

More testing and more calls to HTC tech support -- and more news to report. The Nexus One call quality on VoIP calls is very poor without or without a headset. The problems are different in each case, but both ways of using the phone for VoIP calls suffer from poor quality. The Droid offers much better sound quality on VoIP calls.

I added a new comment with more details here:
How To Set Up VoIP on the Nexus One Google Phone using Sipdroid for Free Calls | Dave's Tech Shop

LADude · 01-08-2010, 01:26 PM

Is anyone else having VOIP quality issues?

jpw · 01-08-2010, 04:20 PM

My VoIP over WiFi (Nexus One) sounds like garbage with static and sound cutting in/out. I have tried it at two WiFi spots and will be trying a third today (a public one) as well as trying it over 3G.

MountainX, there is a small error in your Sipdroid / Gizmo5 tutorial. Under Call Options for setting up Sipdroid, there is no "check for voicemail" setting in Sipdroid 1.2.4

MountainX · 01-08-2010, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpw

My VoIP over WiFi sounds like garbage with static and sound cutting in/out. I have tried it at two WiFi spots and will be trying a third today (a public one) as well as trying it over 3G.

You're using a Nexus One, right? It would be great if you could borrow a second phone and compare. That's what I've been doing with the Droid and Nexus One. Where the Droid has good VoIP quality, the Nexus One sucks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpw

MountainX, there is a small error in your Sipdroid / Gizmo5 tutorial. Under Call Options for setting up Sipdroid, there is no "check for voicemail" setting in Sipdroid 1.2.4

Thank you!

jpw · 01-08-2010, 04:48 PM

Yep, Nexus One. I don't have another phone to try VoIP but I have been using Google Voice / Gizmo5 on my PC for a long time and have never had any quality issues whereas the Nexus One + Sipdroid is terrible on the very same internet connection. It may be my wireless router but the other WiFi spot gave me the same results. I'm on to try a public WiFi but my hopes are not high.

MountainX · 01-08-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpw

Yep, Nexus One. I don't have another phone to try VoIP but I have been using Google Voice / Gizmo5 on my PC for a long time and have never had any quality issues whereas the Nexus One + Sipdroid is terrible on the very same internet connection. It may be my wireless router but the other WiFi spot gave me the same results. I'm on to try a public WiFi but my hopes are not high.

OK. That's good feedback. I can also tell you that the problem is not Sipdroid.

Y314K · 01-08-2010, 08:35 PM

Not sure when this was added over @ Dave's... But here it is...

Quote:

Headphones:

On both the Droid and the Nexus one, if you are using Sipdroid for VOIP calls, headphones can be a problem (as of 1.2.4 beta of Sipdroid). Outgoing calls are OK. But you may not hear any sound on incoming calls (the other person can hear you). This is because the media volume gets muted. There are steps for a workaround at

this link:

Issue 241 - sipdroid - Sipdroid sound problems when using a headset (on Motorola Droid) - Project Hosting on Google Code (Vote for this bug to help get it fixed.)

The workaround is:

1. when the phone is ringing, but before answering, adjust ringer volume down then up.
2. after answering the call, adjust media volume down then up.
You must change media volume up to unmute it. If you know an easier way to unmute the media volume, you can use that. All you have to do is umute the media volume and your incoming VoIP call will work with headphones.
Another possible workaround, on the Nexus One only, is simply to install the official Google Voice application. I tested build 0.3.0. None of my other settings, as listed above needed to change. But it appears that the Google Voice app corrects the forced-mute on incoming VoIP calls with a headset. Unfortunately, the same workaround doesn't resolve the issue on the Droid.

So the main prob should be SipDroid + Nexus...

MountainX · 01-09-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y314K

So the main prob should be SipDroid + Nexus...

I just tested Fring on the Nexus One with Gizmo as the SIP provider. The Nexus One still has very poor VoIP calling quality. So I don't think the problem is Sipdroid on the Nexus One. Fring is actually a bit worse. I still think the problem is the Nexus One phone. It's especially bad with a headset.

Y314K · 01-09-2010, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainX

I just tested Fring on the Nexus One with Gizmo as the SIP provider. The Nexus One still has very poor VoIP calling quality. So I don't think the problem is Sipdroid on the Nexus One. Fring is actually a bit worse. I still think the problem is the Nexus One phone. It's especially bad with a headset.

Glad I decided to wait on getting it then..lol

Gonna wait will Feb. to make a decision on my next phone... Been waiting for over a year now... Guess a couple of months for HTC/Google to either fix the Nexus many bugs or for HTC to release the HTC Bravo in the states to upgrade...

Maybe HTC used better hardware on the HTC Bravo... Or I might just wait for Nexus 2.. With a dual core snapdragon chip...

Has anybody tried this same setups on G1 or MyTouch to see if it's a HTC hardware prob...

jpw · 01-09-2010, 02:57 PM

Update: I have tried a total of 4 different WiFi spots with my N1 + Sipdroid / Gizmo5 and they all sound terrible. Sound cuts in and out for me and the person I'm calling. I'll try 3G later today but I will be shocked if it works. I've tried Sipdroid 1.2.4 as well as 1.1.8 and I also tried GUAVA.

If I was set on T-Mobile's $40/mo data only plan this would be a deal breaker.

donalgodon · 01-09-2010, 05:39 PM

How about Skype calls via Fring? How is the quality?

Y314K · 01-09-2010, 06:00 PM

Hey Nexus guyz... Try this VoIP free soft.. And let u know how it goes..

NimbuzzOut | Cheap international mobile calls to mobiles & landlines worldwide

Seems to be a pretty sweet piece of free soft... You only pay to make international calls...

Hopefully that setup is better with Nexus One hardware...

MountainX · 01-09-2010, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y314K

Hey Nexus guyz... Try this VoIP free soft.. And let u know how it goes..

NimbuzzOut | Cheap international mobile calls to mobiles & landlines worldwide

Seems to be a pretty sweet piece of free soft... You only pay to make international calls...

Hopefully that setup is better with Nexus One hardware...

I downloaded Nimbuzz from the Android market and installed it on my Nexus One. It looks like Nimbuzz is not a true VoIP client. It doesn't support SIP. So no Gizmo, no Sipgate, etc.

As far as I can tell, of the services I have, it only supports Skype.

I was going to test Skype, but Nimbuzz won't let you call an offline contact. My friends usually appear offline even when they are not, so I couldn't call anybody right now to test Nimbuzz. But it doesn't look that interesting if it doesn't support SIP.

Here's a link I found helpful:
Android VOIP - voip-info.org
I tried a bunch of those apps, including RF.com.

RF.com allowed me to connect a call through Gizmo, but the segment of the call from my Nexus One to Gizmo is connected via the PSTN (T-Mobile cellular in this case). I did some tests and the Gizmo calls with RF.com had good quality. This is yet more evidence that the problem with VoIP quality on the Nexus One is related to the VoIP functionality of the phone itself, not Gizmo. (In other words, a call routed through Gizmo but using the cellular connection on the Nexus One is good quality, but a call also routed through Gizmo but using WiFi always has poor quality: therefore, Gizmo is not the problem. Hope I explained that clearly...)

I'll try to keep testing stuff...

MountainX · 01-09-2010, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donalgodon

How about Skype calls via Fring? How is the quality?

Good question. I decided to test this. Every Skype Out call is immediately terminating. Thinking maybe Nimbuzz was causing a conflict, I uninstalled Nimbuzz. Now the only downloaded VoIP app on my Nexus One (since I did the reset) is Fring. But all Skype Out calls are immediately terminated. I think I'll have to trouble shoot this and report back later...

MountainX · 01-09-2010, 07:02 PM

I was able to call Skype's call testing service with Fring. Fring does a very funny thing. When you have a headset plugged in, you hear the call ringing, but as soon as the other party answers, the call is switched to the phone's mic and speaker. When you hang up, you momentarily hear sounds through the headset again as the call is terminated.

MountainX · 01-09-2010, 07:08 PM

I did some more testing and I was able to get Skype Out working with Fring, and to make a test call using a headset. I have the phone in airplane mode and on WiFi, so I know the call is going out over WiFI. The sound was actually decent quality both ways. It was the best VoIP test on the Nexus One so far.

Y314K · 01-09-2010, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainX

I downloaded Nimbuzz from the Android market and installed it on my Nexus One. It looks like Nimbuzz is not a true VoIP client. It doesn't support SIP. So no Gizmo, no Sipgate, etc.

As far as I can tell, of the services I have, it only supports Skype.

I was going to test Skype, but Nimbuzz won't let you call an offline contact. My friends usually appear offline even when they are not, so I couldn't call anybody right now to test Nimbuzz. But it doesn't look that interesting if it doesn't support SIP.

Here's a link I found helpful:
Android VOIP - voip-info.org
I tried a bunch of those apps, including RF.com.

RF.com allowed me to connect a call through Gizmo, but the segment of the call from my Nexus One to Gizmo is connected via the PSTN (T-Mobile cellular in this case). I did some tests and the Gizmo calls with RF.com had good quality. This is yet more evidence that the problem with VoIP quality on the Nexus One is related to the VoIP functionality of the phone itself, not Gizmo. (In other words, a call routed through Gizmo but using the cellular connection on the Nexus One is good quality, but a call also routed through Gizmo but using WiFi always has poor quality: therefore, Gizmo is not the problem. Hope I explained that clearly...)

I'll try to keep testing stuff...

Did u try this:

Quote:

How do I make a NimbuzzOut call?

If you want to make a call to your phonebook contacts while logged in to Nimbuzz:
Go to the "Call" tab > Click on the top bar on the "Call" tab > Select NimbuzzOut as your VoIP provider > Go back to phonebook > Select a contact from your Nimbuzz phonebook and click on it. The call will start immediately!

Make sure that all the phone numbers in your phonebook are in international format. To avoid any formatting problems, always start the number with "+" followed by the country code and the phone number.
If you want to dial a number that's not in your phonebook while logged into Nimbuzz:

Go to the "Call" tab > Click on the top bar showing "Dial a number" > Do not forget to start with a "+" followed by the country code (e.g.: + 44 and phone number if you are calling UK)

To avoid any formatting problems, always start the number with "+" followed by the country code and the phone number.

To make a call using NimbuzzOut for PC, select the "Dialpad" tab and enter the number you wish to call. Remember to include the international dialing code.

To change your VoIP provider, click on your NimbuzzOut balance, select "VoIP provider settings", choose the "SIP provider" button, select your SIP provider from the list and enter your username and password.

MountainX · 01-09-2010, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y314K

Did u try this:

As far as I could tell, Nimbuzz for Android doesn't have that feature. Maybe that is a feature of the PC client only? Anyway, I uninstalled Nimbuzz now.

Y314K · 01-09-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainX

As far as I could tell, Nimbuzz for Android doesn't have that feature. Maybe that is a feature of the PC client only? Anyway, I uninstalled Nimbuzz now.

Thanks for testing it out & sharing.....

jpw · 01-12-2010, 08:45 PM

Quick update, many people are reporting the exact same poor quality VoIP calls on the Nexus One phone compared to other phones (like the Droid, for example):

VoIP quality on the Nexus One is terrible. - Google Mobile Help

If anyone has similar problems please post so people don't get misinformed that a data only T-Mobile plan will allow them to to use VoIP calls on the Nexus One. The VoIP quality on the Nexus One is terrible.

tenchi155 · 01-15-2010, 10:21 PM

One of my main reason to get this phone is VOIP such as calling people using voip. I will not use the headset with VOIP. Does Nexus one disconnect alot when using VOIP without the headset.
My main reason of getting android phone: Google Navigation turn by turn for free, android apps, VOIP.
so should I just go with motorola milestone for better VOIP quality or wait for google nexus one to release a fix for this VOIP problem? (I will be using it with T-mobile Network (USA) )
VOIP on nexus one seems to be hardware issue. Might be software issue due to OS 2.1. I don't know.

briangnyc · 01-18-2010, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LADude

Is anyone else having VOIP quality issues?

I am so dissapointed in the NEXUS ONE for VOIP quality. It is terrible! My G-1 had excellent VOIP quality through headset, ear speaker and regular speaker. The Nexus is terrible through ear speaker, regular speaker and a headset! Regular phone calls sound just fine so I don't think it is so much the phone but the voice compression being used. I am setup using Sipdroid and the incoming volume is very low and tiney sounding. Outgoing voice is very low on the other side too so I am 99.9% sure it is the compression technology built into the software.

Most of my calls are through VOIP so this sucks big time! Hope a developer can maybe figure out a fix....but maybe this is not something that can be fixed?

mi_canuck · 01-18-2010, 09:38 AM

@OP - why not try a different app... Fring for instance...

i personally don't use VOiP... however I do wish UMA was an option on the Nexus...

blisk · 01-19-2010, 12:36 AM

Using gizmo and google voice on my brand new nexus one I had at least 3 or 4 conversations.. one lasting 20 minutes. This is without a headset and through the ear piece. Both incoming and outgoing.. and the 20minute one was driving on I4 60-70mph in Florida. I had a spot where it dropped... and another couple spots where it got a little broken up, but the voice quality using sipdroid 1.3.3 (which was just released) was only slightly worse than the mytouch 3g i bought to test the 3g quality in my area for 2 weeks. This could easily be due to my settings on sipdroid, and its mostly just that the volume for both hearing and receiving (for the other person) seemed low. I have since upped the mic and the earpeice gain in the advanced settings and I'll let everyone know how it goes. This again was over 3g, although the one call with wifi sounded about the same.. and without compression as this version does not allow me to enable compression.

Just to recap: Its pretty much the SAME as the myTouch3g which i previously owned. Your voice quality over 3g/wifi is not going to be as good as your normal voice calling.. but it works and i'll take it.

willymcd · 01-19-2010, 12:52 AM

so how do you get into the advance settings to change the mic gain?

blisk · 01-19-2010, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willymcd

so how do you get into the advance settings to change the mic gain?

Hit the button to the right of the <- (back) button which is all the way on the left. Gives you 4 choices.. go to settings... its under advanced options. Test it out with someone first as it says it might cause an echo. With the mytouch3g i had to lower the gain cause of echo.. so increasing might cause one.. so like i said test it out. I think there's a gizmo test number, which is basically just a loopback.

Also I forgot to mention background noise is pretty apparent on the phone with sip droid. For instance the other person said it was noisy when i went over a bridge/overpass (was going 60-70mph and this is on 3g) so it seems the noise canceling mic is just disabled with sip droid.

loganss · 04-10-2010, 07:56 AM

The Nexus One call quality over VOIP is not poor. It actually sounds better than my Samsung Alias depending on the configuration I use. SipAgent, SipDroid, Fring, and Nimbuzz all had ok to good call quality.

The comparison made between Droid and N1 on the topic of VoIP call quality so early in the N1's life on the market isn't a fair comparison. Droid was out for 2 months and VoIP software was updated to work better for Droid. If you were to compare now, I don't think the difference would be as noticeable.

blisk · 04-13-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loganss

The Nexus One call quality over VOIP is not poor. It actually sounds better than my Samsung Alias depending on the configuration I use. SipAgent, SipDroid, Fring, and Nimbuzz all had ok to good call quality.

The comparison made between Droid and N1 on the topic of VoIP call quality so early in the N1's life on the market isn't a fair comparison. Droid was out for 2 months and VoIP software was updated to work better for Droid. If you were to compare now, I don't think the difference would be as noticeable.

This is a good point. Sipdroid i know I've looked at their change long and seen plenty of patches come through that fix issues specifically with the nexus one. It also doesn't help that it was the first phone with 2.1. Even though its not much different than 2.0.1 it's still somewhat different on the back end.

outoffocus · 05-26-2010, 08:00 AM

anyone find (and wanna share) a better VoIP recipe with 2.2? straight up fring seems a bit better on wifi but i have yet to really test it.

fingernailX · 05-26-2010, 09:20 AM

I have a Google Voice and Gizmo5 account and I live in the US. Not sure of the status of invites or accounts but you could buy a Voice invite and a activated but unused Gizmo5 account on ebay. Once you setup your gizmo5 account you can put no money on it and forget it. Then in Google Voice just make all calls ring back to your Gizmo5 number. Follow one of the many guides to setup Sipdroid to get a green dot on the staus bar of your N1. Then set a bookmark in the N1 browser to the Call and SMS page of the desktop version of Google Voice. When you start putting in a number it prompts you for the contacts you have in Voice. Once you hit call it rings your N1 via sip (incoming Sip calls are free on Gizmo5) and then connects to the number you entered. The cost is free in the US for calls placed through Voice. The quality is excellent, with minimal lag (much better than Skype out and fring) and the price is right. For incoming calls give out your Voice number. I always wait for the transcribed text of the voicemail before I callback.

damageinc · 06-02-2010, 09:37 AM

I don't have to pay at all but the call quality sucks.
I am using silver lite,GV,Sipdroid voip,sip sorcerer.com and Gizmo5.
Let rephrase that- my call quality is so poor on 3G that you cannot effectively communicate. On Wifi it is crystal clear.
just a FYI