How to Test to See if Primus VoIP would work for you

hugh · 2005-09-20, 10:38 PM

Are you interested in Primus VoIP Service?

From a computer that is hardwired to your router (no wireless connections), goto this link and click on the Test to Primus button.

While the test is being performed do not use any other applications!

Check your score.

Repeat the test at different times of the day (when you would typically use your phone) throughout the week.

If you continually get excellent scores, then Primus Talkbroadband should work well for you.

If you don't get good scores, try a similar test at testyourvoip.com. If the scores there are poor also then its your ISP that is the problem.

honkanen · 2006-01-28, 05:08 PM

These tests won't work if you don't already have VoIP service, right? Each site just says the test failed. I'm thinking that's because I just have a regular Shaw high-speed connection with no VoIP right now.

hugh · 2006-01-28, 05:29 PM

Either you're doing something wrong or Shaw is blocking the port because it should work. It simulates a VoIP connection so you don't need to have the service.

keithc · 2006-02-03, 05:24 PM

Is there anyway to test it if I connect to a wireless router?

Thanks

hugh · 2006-02-03, 05:38 PM

keithc, what do you mean? A VoIP gateway needs to be hardwired to your router so to test you will need a computer that is hardwired to your router.

If you're using a wireless laptop, just hardwire your laptop to your router and test.

pinuz · 2006-05-04, 04:24 AM

That's BS......
I tried the test several times at different time of the day before signing up with TBB! and I got excellent scores, everytime close to "best".........
Well....I received the box two days ago and "only" I hear pretty well but on the other side people keep saying "you're breaking up, what's up with your line?"
I'm on shaw with xtreme and I can only say that the primus test is BS! just to attract customers.

I bought the CD kit @ futureshop plus when I signed up I bought the router for 69.99 (got a sipura spa2100), with the kit I receive 2 months free.

Now the question is.....can I ask for a full refund since my number landline number will be ported not before 2 weeks and at this point I don' want that crappy service just to save 20$ a month!

I hope someone has the answer

hugh · 2006-05-04, 09:09 AM

Before freaking out. Have you contacted Primus? Have you contacted Shaw? Shaw peforms traffic shaping in order to get users to buy QOS.

The primus test is not crap, it's a genuine attempt by them to deter consumers who may not be suited to their service.

Skippy31 · 2006-05-29, 04:23 PM

I'm using primus at home, and I can almost never get these tests to pass. And yet my primus works awsome. I'm not sure what's up with this test, but I'm not convinced this test is a really good indication that primus will work. I presume that if these tests pass your OK, but I'm not convined that if they do not pass that your system will not work.

Skippy31

hugh · 2006-05-29, 04:39 PM

I met with the VP of Engineering at Primus (who informed my of the URL) and we discussed the application at length.

The test is the same as the one as testyourvoip.com except it's been changed to give results specifically for people who are considering Primus.

Its also used as a diagnostic tool for Primus tech support folk in order to get a better handle on a specific customers problem.

At the bottom you'll see "When calling, reference ticket" and a number. The results are recorded by Primus and you. They actually review the results in order to look for problems.

Since this replicates using Primus Voip, I really find it difficult to believe that you fail the tests and yet your Primus service works great.

Styvas · 2006-05-29, 04:57 PM

There has been some debate as to whether or not the Primus test uses a server that is actually the same server that is used for their TBB VoIP. If it is not, then the path the test takes may not be the same as the path that your VoIP packets take when actually making a TBB call. As we all know by now (hopefully!) the path makes an incredible difference as the delay and jitter is affected by which servers the packets are routed through.

I have a feeling that the test does use Primus' VoIP servers, in which case my point is moot, but I've never heard for sure that this is the case. The test itself is provided by a company called Brix, and they may host the testing server.

Steve

Skippy31 · 2006-05-31, 02:18 PM

That was my guess as well (not the same server). I've gotten funny results as well, where for example the low bandwidth codec would fail and yet the high bandwidth codec passed.

I can only tell you that I pretty much never have issues with the phone, but the test was failing almost all the time. I have not tried it for a month or so since it would not work for me, but I'll try the test again over the next week or so to see if I can now get it to pass.

Skippy31

Skippy31 · 2006-06-06, 07:11 PM

I ran the test a few times over the last couple of days (5 times) and now I get good results since I pass. The odd thing is that the high voice quality test always gave me green results while the conserved bandwidth test always gave me yellow results. Weird. I got pretty much the same result on each of the tests I ran at various times iof the day.

Skippy31

coghlan · 2006-08-16, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugh

Are you interested in Primus VoIP Service?

From a computer that is hardwired to your router (no wireless connections), goto this link and click on the Test to Primus button.

While the test is being performed do not use any other applications!

Check your score.

Repeat the test at different times of the day (when you would typically use your phone) throughout the week.

If you continually get excellent scores, then Primus Talkbroadband should work well for you.

If you don't get good scores, try a similar test at testyourvoip.com. If the scores there are poor also then its your ISP that is the problem.

You might have plenty of bandwidth, but still experience problems with echo, hiss, muffled voices etc.

I suggest asking someone with the service if you could try a few calls. Try phoning your office voicemail with it and listen to the quality of your greeting, then leave yourself a message and check it from your work phone.

hugh · 2006-08-16, 03:56 PM

Bandwidth is seldom a problem with VoIP. The big problems are typically latency and jitter.

Tests from Primus and others typically use latency and jitter scores when determining an overall score.

The primus is essentially the same test as used elsewhere, except that it better captures what your service with Primus will be like because it flows through the Primus network.

mustardman · 2007-01-18, 12:08 PM

If you look in the URL when you are performing the test you can see that it is testing with, at least in my case, IP 207.112.37.22 which appears to be a server in the Primus NOC in Ontario.

2005-09-20, 10:38 PM	#1
hugh Digital Home Founder Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 39,012	How to Test to See if Primus VoIP would work for you Are you interested in Primus VoIP Service? From a computer that is hardwired to your router (no wireless connections), goto this link and click on the Test to Primus button. While the test is being performed do not use any other applications! Check your score. Repeat the test at different times of the day (when you would typically use your phone) throughout the week. If you continually get excellent scores, then Primus Talkbroadband should work well for you. If you don't get good scores, try a similar test at testyourvoip.com. If the scores there are poor also then its your ISP that is the problem. __________________ Advertise \| Digital Home Help Forum \| Member Feedback \| Search

2006-01-28, 05:08 PM	#2
honkanen Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6	Don't work These tests won't work if you don't already have VoIP service, right? Each site just says the test failed. I'm thinking that's because I just have a regular Shaw high-speed connection with no VoIP right now.

2006-05-04, 09:09 AM	#7
hugh Digital Home Founder Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 39,012	Before freaking out. Have you contacted Primus? Have you contacted Shaw? Shaw peforms traffic shaping in order to get users to buy QOS. The primus test is not crap, it's a genuine attempt by them to deter consumers who may not be suited to their service. __________________ Advertise \| Digital Home Help Forum \| Member Feedback \| Search

2006-05-29, 04:39 PM	#9
hugh Digital Home Founder Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 39,012	I met with the VP of Engineering at Primus (who informed my of the URL) and we discussed the application at length. The test is the same as the one as testyourvoip.com except it's been changed to give results specifically for people who are considering Primus. Its also used as a diagnostic tool for Primus tech support folk in order to get a better handle on a specific customers problem. At the bottom you'll see "When calling, reference ticket" and a number. The results are recorded by Primus and you. They actually review the results in order to look for problems. Since this replicates using Primus Voip, I really find it difficult to believe that you fail the tests and yet your Primus service works great. __________________ Advertise \| Digital Home Help Forum \| Member Feedback \| Search

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2006-01-28, 05:29 PM	#3
hugh Digital Home Founder Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 39,012	Either you're doing something wrong or Shaw is blocking the port because it should work. It simulates a VoIP connection so you don't need to have the service.

2006-02-03, 05:24 PM	#4
keithc Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1	Is there anyway to test it if I connect to a wireless router? Thanks

2006-02-03, 05:38 PM	#5
hugh Digital Home Founder Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 39,012	keithc, what do you mean? A VoIP gateway needs to be hardwired to your router so to test you will need a computer that is hardwired to your router. If you're using a wireless laptop, just hardwire your laptop to your router and test.

2006-05-04, 04:24 AM	#6
pinuz Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 5	That's BS...... I tried the test several times at different time of the day before signing up with TBB! and I got excellent scores, everytime close to "best"......... Well....I received the box two days ago and "only" I hear pretty well but on the other side people keep saying "you're breaking up, what's up with your line?" I'm on shaw with xtreme and I can only say that the primus test is BS! just to attract customers. I bought the CD kit @ futureshop plus when I signed up I bought the router for 69.99 (got a sipura spa2100), with the kit I receive 2 months free. Now the question is.....can I ask for a full refund since my number landline number will be ported not before 2 weeks and at this point I don' want that crappy service just to save 20$ a month! I hope someone has the answer

2006-05-29, 04:23 PM	#8
Skippy31 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 241	I'm using primus at home, and I can almost never get these tests to pass. And yet my primus works awsome. I'm not sure what's up with this test, but I'm not convinced this test is a really good indication that primus will work. I presume that if these tests pass your OK, but I'm not convined that if they do not pass that your system will not work. Skippy31

2006-05-29, 04:57 PM	#10
Styvas VoIP Forums Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: Waterloo Posts: 461	There has been some debate as to whether or not the Primus test uses a server that is actually the same server that is used for their TBB VoIP. If it is not, then the path the test takes may not be the same as the path that your VoIP packets take when actually making a TBB call. As we all know by now (hopefully!) the path makes an incredible difference as the delay and jitter is affected by which servers the packets are routed through. I have a feeling that the test does use Primus' VoIP servers, in which case my point is moot, but I've never heard for sure that this is the case. The test itself is provided by a company called Brix, and they may host the testing server. Steve

2006-05-31, 02:18 PM	#11
Skippy31 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 241	That was my guess as well (not the same server). I've gotten funny results as well, where for example the low bandwidth codec would fail and yet the high bandwidth codec passed. I can only tell you that I pretty much never have issues with the phone, but the test was failing almost all the time. I have not tried it for a month or so since it would not work for me, but I'll try the test again over the next week or so to see if I can now get it to pass. Skippy31

2006-06-06, 07:11 PM	#12
Skippy31 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 241	I ran the test a few times over the last couple of days (5 times) and now I get good results since I pass. The odd thing is that the high voice quality test always gave me green results while the conserved bandwidth test always gave me yellow results. Weird. I got pretty much the same result on each of the tests I ran at various times iof the day. Skippy31

2006-08-16, 03:56 PM	#14
hugh Digital Home Founder Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 39,012	Bandwidth is seldom a problem with VoIP. The big problems are typically latency and jitter. Tests from Primus and others typically use latency and jitter scores when determining an overall score. The primus is essentially the same test as used elsewhere, except that it better captures what your service with Primus will be like because it flows through the Primus network.

2007-01-18, 12:08 PM	#15
mustardman Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 153	If you look in the URL when you are performing the test you can see that it is testing with, at least in my case, IP 207.112.37.22 which appears to be a server in the Primus NOC in Ontario.