Our goal is to enable you to be your own resource in a pinch. This VoIP troubleshooting Q & A will be a helpful overview!
Most of the time with Internet services, it's something simple. Someone may have unplugged the router accidentally, the network cable connecting the router to your LAN is unplugged, your ISP is experiencing an outage, or your provider is experiencing an outage. It is also possible your IT department is updating some critical systems.
In situations where you are experiencing a loss of service or call quality, do not panic! To ease your suffering, this VoIP troubleshooting cheat sheet just may have your answer.
Q: Is there actually a problem? A good site to check is http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/ to see if it's just you. often, it's not.
A: Yes, there is a problem. What next?
Q: "Have you tried turning it off and turning it back on again?" Did you wait 10 seconds before turning it back on?
A: This often the first point of call for IT support, because it is often the issue. Someone unplugged the router. Doing this step before reaching out to client services is effective at minimizing the range of issues to consider, as well as potentially solving your problem quickly.
Q: Is your network cable/Ethernet cable plugged in? Is your router on? Is the light signaling Internet connectivity on? Is your Internet connectivity good?
A: Yes everything is plugged in, the Internet is working fine. It's just the phone services that are the issue.
A: The Internet is out! If your Internet is out and you are using VoIP, your phones will be out too. Reach out to your Internet service provider to find out if they have technicians working in your area. Often, when services are down, they are actually fixing an issue and there is some sort of reset or power cycling on their end to reboot the system.
A: The Ethernet cable is not plugged into my router and to our LAN (local area network). Plugging it in has fixed our problem!
Q: Is there an internal software update? A hardware update? Have you checked with your resident technology expert or IT department?
A: Our IT department is updating the firmware on all of our computers and the system will be momentarily unavailable
A: Our IT department is installing new hardware and as such the systems will be down.
A: We don't have an IT specialist or department, what next?
Q: Is it your phone only, or everyone's phones? What are the details of the issue? Sound quality? Loss of functionality?
A: It's just my phone. Go ahead and reach out to client services! As your Internet is still working, and everyone else phones are functioning, this is an issue for your VoIP providers client services.
A: It's everyone's phones. Double check step's 1-4. Make sure your Internet is up and running. If all the phones are experiencing issues after this second check, reach out to client services from your VoIP provider. Often you will not be the only business experiencing wide issues if all of your phones are affected.
A: Intermittent sound quality: try calling different numbers through different call paths - is it only from your physical device, or are certain call paths affected? The more specific your answer, the better a client services expert can assist you.
Q: Is it a hardware issue? Is your phone old or on its last legs? Do you need a replacement?
A: My phone is held together by duct tape and super glue. Get a new phone!
A: My phone is brand new and didn't work out of the box - Call and often your VoIP provider will replace it.
A: My phone stopped working after a couple months of use, and there is nothing to determine the cause that we can understand. Reach out to client services and see if you simply need to reset your phone/system.
Q: Is the issue localized? Is it only certain phones in a certain area? Is it totally random?
A: Floor X has a total phone outage, everything else is working? Double check that you do not have different VoIP providers on different floors. If an entire floor is out chances are the Internet connectivity for the building is fine, but the network for that floor is the issue. Time is also important - is it an old system or a new system on that floor? Was there a new installation?
A: It's totally random. Call client services. toll free: 804-412-7283 toll free: 855-247-8686 24/7/365.
If there is no common thread in any of the issues you are experiencing, your best bet is to call your VoIP provider client services team.
Now this is a non-exhaustive, slightly colloquial list of troubleshooting tasks you can go through with your team in the event of VoIP outages or other issues. When in doubt, call a specialist. At Simplicity VoIP we are on call 24/7/365, and do not use phone prompts or systems that try to automate our troubleshooting with you.
We are interested in speaking to people at their point of need. By enabling you to walk yourself through some easy, common issues, the time from the beginning of the problem to the end a resolution will be expedited immensely.