I wanted to make a small PSA. Hotspots are great and easy to use and allow everyone to enjoy all things digital voice. However, when using them, please be sure to use a wired connection when possible and avoid cellphone connections unless you have no other means. On the backend, digital voice uses UDP to communicate and UDP is very susceptible to packet loss and latency. This quickly adds up in a conversation, especially when there is a round table discussion. Even though you may have a solid full signal on your 4G LTE phone, it may still incur major latency and packetloss. The same goes with a home wifi connection.
If you are in an area with decent repeater coverage, please use the repeaters. Most of them have solid, stable, low loss internet coverage and will typically yield a better experience than your hotspot on a cellphone connection. If you are at home with your hotspot, try and use an Ethernet cable when possible, even if that means relocating your hotspot near your wifi/router.
In short:
- Use local repeaters if available, even when traveling
Use an Ethernet cable for your hotspot at home
Turn to your cellphones internet if there are no more options.
-N5AMD