[jim@itstod.se]

+1 for echo cancellation in the 3CX Phone.

We just had to replace all 3CX softphones with eyeBeam on a recent install because there was a big problem with echo when using the 3CX Phone. I don't know why but when using same headset and eyeBeam the sound was great.

We really like the 3CX Phone and would like to use it for all customers that want softphones but for now the lack of echo cancellation prevents us from doing this.

[KerryG]

Jim,
Your echo was NOT from the softphone, the eyeBeam simply solved the problem but your echo problem is elsewhere and using a softphone with echo cancelation only masks the symptom, it didn't cure the problem.

[Kris2k]

Actually, that's false; 3CXPhone is missing a software-based echo-can filter on it's soft-phone for hands-free operation.

eyeBeam, Zoiper, heck, even Skype, all have built-in software-based echo-can's in their products, in order to mitigate loopback echo caused by the microphone picking-up the speakers audio.

It's in the nature of telephony to not necessarily like hands-free; so therefore its important to use headset with microphone (or any other setup that makes sure the microphone doesn't pick-up the remote-caller).

However, if you have echo and you are using a headset, there are a few possibilities:
1. Your hybrid loop (analogue line) is misbalanced, and your transmit/receive gain does not balance-out at the far-end.
2. Youv've got a very latent voip transport > 100 ms, and you're using an analogue line for termination combined with point #1.
3. Your caller is using a cheap handsfree soultion and the echo is originating on their side
4. Your caller is on a cell-phone with bad coverage, causing excessive voice latency on the cellular network.

Out of experience; I don't advise terminating on the Hybrid-loop if your VOIP installation extends beyond your local area network. Because just the packet delay from your IP Phone to your FXO gateway combined with an improperly-balanced hybrid loop, and too much distance, on the hybrid, between you and the central-office will be cause for endless call-quality frustrations regarding echo, and that initial 3-6 second training.

Cheers