> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.dialbird.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Call quality problems

> What to try when calls are choppy, echoey, one-sided, or dropping.

If your calls sound choppy or echoey, cut out in one direction, or keep dropping, the cause is almost always your internet connection. Dialbird makes calls over the internet, so a weak or busy connection means poor calls. The good news is that most of it you can fix yourself in a minute.

## Try these first

1. **Get closer to your router**, or plug in with a cable if you can. Wi-Fi that's fine for browsing can still be too shaky for a live call, especially from the far end of the yard or a metal-sided unit.
2. **Use a headset** rather than your laptop's speaker and mic. That's the single best fix for echo, because it stops the other person's voice leaking back into your microphone.
3. **Close things that hog your connection**, like big downloads, video calls, and streaming, whether that's on your device or someone else's on the same network.
4. **On mobile, check your signal** before blaming the app. One or two bars is often the real problem.
5. **Reload Dialbird** if a call has just gone bad. A fresh start clears up a lot of one-off glitches.

## Checking your microphone

If people say they can't hear you, or only catch every other word, your mic may be the culprit rather than your connection. Go to **Settings**, then **Preferences**, and watch the level bars under **Audio settings** while you talk. If they don't move, Dialbird is on the wrong microphone, so pick the right one from the list. See [Dialbird can't hear you](/troubleshooting/mic-access-issues) for more.

## If Dialbird says the device isn't ready

Now and then you might see:

> Device not ready. Please try again in a moment.

Wait a few seconds and try the call again. Dialbird reconnects itself in the background, and it usually only takes a moment.

<Note>
  **Needs checking:** if there are specific internet speed or bandwidth requirements you'd like to publish, add them here. The app doesn't state any.
</Note>