Guide
VoIP Troubleshooting Tools: Call Quality, Ports and Audio Problems
Use this page when a VoIP call sounds poor or fails to connect. Start with the call-quality scorer, then check the port reference and follow the symptom guide. These tools provide practical starting points; your provider’s documentation and call records remain authoritative.
Call-quality scorer
Enter the approximate worst-case values measured during a call. Lower latency, jitter and packet loss are better.
Likely acceptable
Continue monitoring and investigate if users report a problem.
Common VoIP ports
| Purpose | Typical ports | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SIP over UDP/TCP | 5060 | Signalling; confirm the provider’s transport requirements |
| SIP over TLS | 5061 | Encrypted signalling; certificate and DNS configuration matter |
| RTP/RTCP | Provider-defined range | Allow the exact media range required by the PBX or carrier |
| STUN | 3478 | Helps endpoints discover public addressing; implementation varies |
| TURN over TLS | 5349 | Relays media when direct connectivity is unavailable |
| HTTPS provisioning | 443 | Used by many phones for configuration and firmware retrieval |
Symptom guide
No audio
- Confirm the call connects and inspect SDP for private or unreachable media addresses.
- Check that RTP ports are allowed in both directions where required.
- Review NAT behaviour and disable or correctly configure SIP ALG.
- Confirm the phone, PBX and provider agree on at least one codec.
One-way audio
- Compare the working and missing RTP directions in a packet capture or provider trace.
- Check firewall state, NAT pinholes and advertised contact/media addresses.
- Test from another network to separate endpoint issues from site issues.
Calls drop after about 30 seconds
- Check whether the BYE or timeout is generated locally, by the provider or by a firewall.
- Review SIP session timers and refresh messages.
- Confirm that return signalling can reach the registered endpoint.
Registration fails
- Verify the username, secret, realm, registrar and transport.
- Check DNS resolution and whether the provider restricts source IPs.
- Use the SIP response code and provider logs to distinguish authentication, routing and policy failures.
Related reading
See VoIP tools, voice-ready network planning and VoIP fundamentals.