How to run a network assessment test before ordering Digital Voice for Business
Digital Voice for Business is a digital phone service that makes and takes calls over the internet – this is known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
To ensure you can fully benefit from Digital Voice for Business, you’ll need to run a network assessment test.
The network assessment test will check:
- Your local area network (LAN).
- Your broadband connection.
- Your VoIP service and supporting voice network.
After you’ve run the test, we’ll show you voice quality measures and let you know if your network is suitable for Digital Voice for Business.
You’ll need to pass the network assessment test to order Digital Voice.
How to run a network assessment test
- Connect your computer to your router using an Ethernet cable.
- Open our Network Assessment Tool URL in Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Edge.
- Download the testing app (bcs.app) on the screen to test your service.
- Enter the number of calls you want to make or receive at one time.
The network assessment test usually takes about three minutes. You’ll be able to work normally while the test runs – simply leave the page open and go back to it once the test has finished.
If you have any issues, try troubleshooting the network assessment test.
Troubleshooting for the network assessment test
To run the test, you’ll need to make sure your firewall has these ports open:
- UDP 20000.
- 20001.
- 8090.
If any of these ports are closed, your test will fail within seconds. Refer to the Firewall and LAN guide for configuration changes.
You’ll also need to make sure SIP ALG is disabled on your router. Refer to the SIP ALG guide for instructions on how to do this.
What to do if we display this error message
'Initialising is taking too long, please try again, and if you have further issues please report them to BT.'
- First, refresh the test and run it again.
- If the test still hasn’t worked, go to your computer's Downloads folder and find the BCS.exe file. If you can't find one, you'll need to download the app again.
- Once you’ve found it, double click the BCS.exe file.
- A new screen should appear – tap Run.
- If you see a Visualware BCS Setup screen, simply follow the on-screen instructions to set up the test. Or, if you see a screen confirming BCS is already running, just tap OK.
- Run the test again.
If you’re still not able to run the test successfully, please contact us.
Voice quality measures for the network assessment test
Running the network assessment test will show you the voice quality measures that your network must pass for you to use Digital Voice successfully.
Jitter
May result in echo or voice distortion, and can impact the overall voice quality.
Loss
Can severely impact voice call quality by making calls break up and sound choppy.
RTT (Round Trip Time)
High RTT can cause gaps in the conversation.
MOS (Mean Opinion Score)
A standard measure for voice quality, estimated from the Jitter, Loss and RTT results.
Bandwidth (the speed of the broadband service)
The amount of usable bandwidth that would support Digital Voice. Please note that this will always be lower than any total bandwidth test.
If your network doesn’t pass the network assessment test
If your network doesn't pass these voice quality measures, here are improvements you can try:
- Stopping any major downloads or programmes while running the test.
- Making sure all cables and ports are connected and installed properly.
- Only using an Ethernet connection – you cannot run the test on a wireless connection.
- Restarting your routers and hardware – this can resolve many technical faults or bugs.
- Making sure all software is up to date.
- Using QoS settings to prioritise voice on your network traffic.
- Replacing outdated or faulty hardware.
If you continue to fail the network assessment test due to voice quality measures or bandwidth, please contact your existing service provider so they can resolve any issues.