How to Troubleshoot and Fix Avigilon Two-Way Audio Delay
Two-way audio is a critical feature for real-time communication and security intervention. However, a significant delay or lag can render it ineffective and frustrating. If you are experiencing a noticeable delay with your Avigilon system's two-way audio, this guide will walk you through the common causes and solutions to restore clear, real-time communication.
### Understanding the Cause: Network Latency
The overwhelming majority of audio delay issues are not caused by the Avigilon hardware or software itself, but by the underlying network. Audio data, like video data, has to travel from the camera, through the network to the Avigilon Control Center (ACC) server, and then to your client device, and vice-versa. Any bottleneck in this chain will introduce latency.
Key network factors:
- Bandwidth: The total capacity of your network. Insufficient bandwidth means data packets get queued up, causing delays.
- Latency (Ping): The time it takes for a data packet to travel from its source to its destination and back. High latency is a primary cause of audio lag.
- Packet Loss: When data packets are lost in transit and need to be re-sent, causing choppy audio and delays.
- Jitter: The variation in latency over time. High jitter can make a conversation feel disjointed.
## Steps to Diagnose and Resolve Audio Delay
Follow these steps methodically to identify and fix the source of the lag.
### 1. Analyse Your Network Environment
Start by assessing the network segment where the camera is located.
- Wired vs. Wireless: A wired Ethernet connection is always superior to Wi-Fi for real-time data like video and audio. If your camera is on Wi-Fi, the first and most effective step is to switch to a wired connection if at all possible.
- Run a Network Speed Test: Use a network analysis tool to measure the bandwidth and ping time from a computer on the same network segment as the camera. This will give you a baseline of your network's performance.
- Check for Network Congestion: Is the delay worse at certain times of day? This could indicate that other high-traffic devices (like computers downloading large files or streaming high-definition video) are congesting the network. Consider implementing Quality of Service (QoS) rules on your router to prioritise traffic from your Avigilon cameras.
### 2. Update Firmware and Software
Avigilon frequently releases updates for its cameras and the ACC software that include performance improvements and bug fixes. An outdated component could be the cause of your audio issues.
- Update Camera Firmware: Log in to the camera's web interface and check for the latest available firmware version.
- Update Avigilon Control Center: Ensure your ACC server and client software are running the latest version. Mismatched versions between server and camera can sometimes cause unexpected behaviour.
### 3. Review ACC Server and Camera Settings
Incorrect configurations can impact performance.
- Check Server Load: Open the Windows Task Manager on your ACC server. If the CPU or RAM usage is consistently high (over 80-90%), the server may be underpowered for its workload, leading to processing delays for audio and video streams.
- Audio Quality Settings: Within the camera's settings in ACC, you may find options for audio bitrate or encoding. While higher quality is better, it requires more bandwidth. As a test, try lowering the audio quality setting to see if the delay improves. If it does, this strongly points to a network bandwidth limitation.
- Time Synchronisation: Ensure your camera, ACC server, and client workstation are all synchronised to the same NTP (Network Time Protocol) server. Time discrepancies can sometimes cause issues with stream synchronisation.
If you have followed all these steps and the delay persists, it may be time to engage with Avigilon technical support or a certified Avigilon partner. They can provide more in-depth network analysis and diagnostic support to resolve the issue.