How to ensure quality remote work?

Working remotely allows you to work flexibly, on the go and on the move while remaining productive. 

In this guide, you will learn how to set up your connection, test your network performance and choose the right equipment to ensure optimal call quality with Ringover from home.

1. Set up your network connection 

To guarantee the stability of your business communications, always opt for a stable wired connection: 

1. Connect your computer directly to your broadband router using an Ethernet cable. 
2. Use a USB-to-Ethernet adapter if your computer does not have a built-in Ethernet port. 

Using a Wi-Fi connection

If you have no choice but to use a Wi-Fi network:

• Set up your workspace in the room where your broadband router is located. 
• Move as close as possible to the router to limit obstacles and signal loss. 

2. Test your connectivity with Ringover servers 

Regularly check that your home internet connection meets the prerequisites for VoIP: 

1. Open your usual web browser. 
2. Go to our diagnostic tool: speedtest.ringover.com. 
3. Run the speed test to measure your performance. 

Here is how to analyse the results obtained to ensure good connectivity: 

• Download (Download speed): This is the stream of data received from the internet. The value must be greater than 30 and the slider should be as far to the right as possible. 
• Upload (Upload speed): This is the stream of data sent to the internet. The value must also be greater than 30 to ensure that your callers hear you without dropouts. 
• Latency (Ping): This is the response time (in milliseconds) for a data packet to reach its destination. It must be less than 50 ms. Beyond 150 ms, a noticeable delay will occur in your conversations. 
• Jitter: This measures the consistency of data packet transmission. It must imperatively be less than 50 ms (the ideal limit being under 20 ms). Beyond this threshold, your callers' voices will become inconsistent, sped up, or "robotic".

3. Choose suitable equipment for your calls 

Using suitable and high-performance peripherals is essential to isolate your voice and ensure optimal listening comfort: 

Your headset

• Recommended option: Opt for a headset with a USB connection. It guarantees clear digital transmission and better background noise management. 
• Alternative option: You can use a headset with a 3.5mm jack plug, but be aware that ambient noise filtering and microphone quality will be significantly reduced. 

Your computer or mobile device

Adjust system resource usage on your devices: 

• RAM (Memory): Choose a computer with 6 GB of RAM or more (the absolute minimum being 4 GB). Ensure that your RAM usage does not exceed 70%. 
• Processor (CPU): Ensure that the processor load does not continuously exceed 50% (temporary spikes are acceptable for short periods). 
• Mobile phone: If you make business calls using the Ringover mobile app, you must disable power-saving mode to keep the application active.

4. Manage the impact of your VPN network 

Some Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can disrupt real-time voice traffic: 

1. Check the compatibility and configuration of your company VPN with Ringover servers.
2. Temporarily disable your VPN if you experience persistent connection issues to test whether quality improves. 
3. Contact your IT department or our technical support team to configure routing exceptions if necessary. 

5. Going further: Preparing the telephony transition 

To anticipate changes within your company and continue improving call quality, we recommend consulting our additional resources: 

• Read our full article: 5 simple steps to improve your VoIP call quality. 
• Check the specific section "How will the telephony transition work?" located at the bottom of this article to manage your transition smoothly. 

🎉 You now know all the best practices to optimise your homeworking environment and conduct your remote calls under optimal conditions!