Isolate bad connections that may cause echoes
Echoes are usually caused by a bad connection, poor inbound line quality or faulty end-user audio equipment on the part of one or more participants. In rare cases, more than one source of audio interference may exist.
To identify the source of echoes:
- Ask if there is anyone on the call who does not hear the echo. The participant who can’t hear the echo is usually the source of it.
- Have the host mute all participants by pressing *96 and choosing option 1. Then verbally roll-call participants one by one, asking each participant to un-mute their line and say their name.
Once identified, ask the participant that is the apparent source of the echo to mute their line by pressing a key. This allows them to continue listening to the conference without disrupting the call.
The participant may elect to disconnect and dial in again to gain a better connection to the call. This may preserve the participant’s ability to talk during the call.
The participant may also try:
- Switching from their cell phone to a landline. Landlines offer better audio quality and sustained connectivity.
- Lowering the volume of speakerphone, cell phone or telephone.
- Turning off speakerphone. Speakerphones can degrade call quality with echo, ambient and white noise.
- Picking up the telephone handset. Handsets usually have better sound characteristics than speakerphones and headsets.
- Disconnecting hands-free devices.
- Moving electronic devices such as PDAs, cell phones and laptops away from the active phone.
If these steps do not resolve the audio conferencing issue you are experiencing, press *0 for operator assistance to isolate and resolve it.
Remember to press *0 if you can’t resolve your situation