Troubleshooting Common Ekiga Issues (Audio, Video, and Connectivity)

Ekiga Tips: Improve Call Quality and Configure Advanced Settings

1. Optimize audio/video devices

• Select correct devices: In Preferences → Sound & Video, choose the microphone, speaker, and camera you actually use (avoid default “PulseAudio” fallback if it’s wrong).
• Use USB headsets: Prefer wired USB headsets with built-in mics to reduce echo and background noise.
• Disable unused devices: Turn off unused cameras/mics to prevent conflicts.

2. Adjust codecs and bandwidth

• Prioritize efficient codecs: In Preferences → Codecs, prefer Opus or G.722 for audio and VP8/H.264 for video if available. Move them higher in the list.
• Limit video bandwidth: Set a conservative max bitrate (e.g., 300–800 kbps for 720p, 100–300 kbps for 360p) in video settings to avoid packet loss on slow links.
• Disable video when necessary: For unstable networks, disable video to keep audio stable.

3. Network and NAT settings

• Use a stable wired connection: Ethernet > Wi‑Fi for lower latency and packet loss.
• Enable STUN/ICE/TURN: Configure STUN server (e.g., stun.l.google.com:19302) in Account/Network settings to handle NAT traversal; configure TURN if you need relay fallback.
• Open SIP/H.323 ports if possible: Forward SIP (5060 UDP/TCP) and RTP/UDP port ranges used by Ekiga on your router for best reliability. Use secure alternatives if exposing ports.

4. Echo cancellation and noise reduction

• Enable echo cancellation: Turn on echo cancellation and automatic gain control in audio settings.
• Use noise suppression: Enable any available noise reduction features or use system-level PulseAudio/ALSA modules to reduce background noise.

5. Jitter, latency and buffering

• Increase jitter buffer slightly: If you experience choppy audio, increase the jitter buffer size in audio settings to smooth packets (at cost of a little delay).
• Lower latency for local networks: On low-latency LANs, reduce buffer sizes for more responsive voice.

6. Security and SIP settings

• Use TLS/SRTP where possible: Configure SIP over TLS and enable SRTP for encrypted signaling/media to protect calls.
• Strong authentication: Use strong passwords for SIP accounts and avoid reusing credentials.

7. Advanced account and gateway config

• Configure separate SIP accounts per provider: Keep credentials and settings separate; set priority/order for outgoing calls.
• Use gateway/proxy for PSTN calls: If connecting to the PSTN, set up and test the SIP gateway settings (codec mapping, DTMF mode).

8. Logging and troubleshooting

• Enable detailed logs: Turn on verbose logging to capture SIP and media events for diagnosis.
• Inspect call statistics: During/after calls, check packet loss, jitter, RTT — these point to network issues vs local device problems.
• Test with known-good peers: Narrow problems by testing on a LAN with another Ekiga user.

9. System-level optimizations

• Close heavy apps: Stop large downloads, VPNs, or streaming that consume bandwidth/CPU during calls.
• Update drivers and Ekiga: Keep camera/audio drivers and Ekiga up to date for bug fixes and codec improvements.
• Use hardware acceleration: Enable if your system supports it for video encoding/decoding.

10. Quick checklist before important calls

1. Plug in headset and camera.
2. Run a test call (local echo).
3. Confirm codecs and bandwidth limits.
4. Ensure wired connection or strong Wi‑Fi.
5. Close bandwidth-heavy apps.

If you want, I can produce a one-page checklist or specific recommended settings for a target bandwidth (e.g., 500 kbps).