Rave2 is a software solution that allows users to make phone calls over the Internet.
Calls can be made to any Rave2 user worldwide, allowing long-distance calls for the price
of dialing your ISP, often a local call. Designed to work with ICQ (pronounced “I
seek you”), an AOL-owned Internet service that enables connected users to chat with
other connected users, Rave2 can place calls to other registered ICQ users who have the
Rave2 software. By providing the framework for users to make long-distance calls for the
price of a monthly Internet service and the cost of the call to the ISP, Rave2 has the
potential to save money for anyone making long-distance calls.
INSTALLATION
Installation of Rave2 requires the user be a registered user of ICQ. Since we were not registered, we decided to sign up,
and be able to communicate with other users worldwide in real time. We went to their Web
site and downloaded the software. Navigating their page and downloading the software
proved easy, as did the install. We downloaded version ICQ 99b Beta, and we installed it
on our Windows 98 PCs.
ICQ is installed through a standard wizard, and we stayed with the defaults for the
most part. The one odd part came when a multi-lingual message text support window popped
up, with the default checked “I’m using a non-English or English-enabled
OS,” and not “I’m using an English system.” Since we are an
English-speaking shop, we went with the non-default, second choice. After the installation
was complete, an “ICQ Now!” window popped up. This window had links to various
pages on the ICQ Web site. Registration is free for ICQ, and they also have a free e-mail
account available (similar to Hotmail), which allows users to access their mail messages
from any Internet-connected computer, without having to configure the settings for e-mail,
pop servers, etc.
We registered as users on the ICQ page, and received our ID numbers — eight-digit
numbers — plus profiles to fill out, similar to the profile for AOL Instant
Messenger. We filled out the minimum on the profile, and configured our preferences. We
did not allow other ICQ users to randomly be able to instant message (IM) us, as we
certainly didn’t want to be distracted by people seeking “random chat
partners.” The ICQ GUI was somewhat cluttered, but manageable.
Having established ourselves as ICQ users, our next step was to download and install the
Rave2 software (we found that the ICQ page has a link to the Rave2 site.) We downloaded
the installer (version 2.00) and launched the software. Again, we were guided through the
setup with a wizard, but this time the installer was quicker and we didn’t have as
many defaults to contend with.
A simple install for both products — both easy to deal with, and no hidden
surprises. The wizards were quick, didn’t have any tricky defaults, and went well. A
good call on the part of ICQ and Rave2 to keep things simple, since most users of this
product would not be technical professionals.
We used fairly good PCs to do our testing (Windows 98, 366 MHz, 128 MB of RAM), though
the minimum requirements to run Rave2 aren’t nearly that high. Obviously, a sound
card is required, as is access to the Internet, whether it’s via a modem, T1, or ISDN
line.
DOCUMENTATION
There is no hard copy documentation for Rave2. In fact, there is no physical medium to
install the software from, as it’s downloaded from the Web. After the install, a
“Hints For First Time Use” window appears, which is part of the help document.
The help file is very organized and well put together. Each topic (Overview, Connecting,
Communicating, Encryption, Problems, and Reference) has a set of subtopics below it, all
of which are relevant and helpful. All pages have the option to go forward or backward,
print the page, go to help topics, and a find feature.
Overall, it’s a better than average help file, well organized. As the product is
somewhat intuitive, and without a lot of unnecessary features, the help files are not too
complicated. They are mostly text-based, with few graphics, and have important options
including bookmarking and annotating. The documentation doesn’t get bogged down with
technical jargon, and those wishing to see the more in-depth specifications are encouraged
to visit the technical page on Rave2’s
Web site.
FEATURES
ICQ is a program that allows Internet users to chat with other connected users, regardless
of what ISP they use. More powerful than standard chat software, ICQ has features that
make it more than a simple chat program, including the ability to transfer files. Rave2 is
feature rich, and contains many important items, including:
- Encryption. Rave2 uses an encryption scheme (512 bits in length), used by
governmental and private banking industries.
- Audio Compression. The audio compression uses a fast and efficient compression
codec. It compresses 160 samples (8000 Hz/16-bit, 320 bytes, 4800 bits per second) down to
12 bytes. Rave2 claims their software uses from seven to 12 percent of CPU processing
time, as compared to Microsoft’s NetMeeting, which uses between 15 to 18 percent.
- Variable Sound Quality. Rave2 gives users the ability to change sound quality
on the fly (in real time during a conversation). Two different compression schemes are
available, a proprietary CELP, and GSM, which sacrifices network speed for quality.
- Voice over switch technology (VOX). Allows the user to use Rave2 hands free
(like a speakerphone), so sound is only transmitted when spoken. This helps eliminate
sending background noise and silence, and taking up more bandwidth than necessary.
Furthermore, Rave2 does not require a high-end PC (a 486DX machine will suffice), and
contains a log file, which helps technical support in the event there is a problem with
the software.
OPERATIONAL TESTING
We set up two PCs with both sets of software. To practice, we couldn’t resist
engaging in a few random chats, which got us familiar with ICQ. We got the hang of it
fairly quickly, and reluctantly signed off all of our chats, before we became ICQ addicts.
So when it came time to actually test the Rave2 software, we signed on ICQ (disallowing
any random users from instigating a chat, not to disappoint any of our newfound friends).
We configured each PC to connect to a different ISP, simulating a “real-world”
scenario. The test was to see if the software would work well and hopefully seamlessly,
and whether the dreaded echo, jitter, and latency would override the usefulness of the
product.
Before we continue, we have to clear the air on one thing: There are not many Internet
telephony products that comfortably balance the quality of the call along with a low level
of latency. With that in mind, we went in not looking for a miracle solution, but for an
acceptable balance. We dialed in to our respective ISPs and connected to the Internet.
After connecting, we launched ICQ and Rave2. We dialed our eight-digit ICQ ID number,
and were able to talk between the two computers on the Internet. Of course, we had to wear
headsets that included a microphone, the style favored by call center employees. The
option to talk on a standard telephone isn’t available, unless you use a product like
the INT100CS Internet Telephony Phone by Riparius
Ventures, Inc., which is really a telephone-shaped headset and microphone combination.
Overall, the results were… fair to average. The sound quality was acceptable, but
the latency was below expectations. However, to be fair, the latency for all similar
products we’ve tested has been about the same or worse than we found here. We did a
ping test, and all results came back in the neighborhood of 400 ms, with occasional spikes
into the 1000 ms range. This is standard latency for computers connected to different (or
even the same) ISPs.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
With products that allow users to call over the Internet (or LANs or WANs for
that matter) there are five factors that are important: Latency, echo, jitter, distortion,
and packet loss. Obviously, in a SOHO environment, users are most concerned with good
sound quality, minimal latency, echo, and jitter — in that order. Packet loss
wouldn’t be a factor in those situations. With Rave2, the sound quality is passable,
but the latency is bad, due to the 400 ms average time for packets to reach the other
computer. It’s the same problem with every other similarly-priced product (both
hardware and software) we’ve seen, including NetMeeting and CU-SeeMe. Making the
calls using a microphone and speakers or a headset is required with Rave2. (Our experience
tells us to go with the headset/mic combo.) Because this is a software-only package, there
is no possibility for hardware improvements, only software fixes. But having an option of
a touch-tone phone would be a logical next step, to further close the gap, and make
calling others over the Internet more mainstream telephony-oriented and less
computer-based, which unfortunately still reeks of novelty.
The only other issue we would consider improving would be the GUI. There really
isn’t much to it, no menus or anything to easily change preferences, etc. The only
interface is a small window with a dial button, two sliding controls, and a window which
allows a direct dial to IP, provided the users know the IP addresses of the people
they’re calling. By right-clicking on the title bar, a menu for Rave2 appears, which
allows the user to change settings and preferences. A more standard menu would probably be
a help to the less technically oriented user.
CONCLUSION
As far as “phone calls over the Internet” go, Rave2 is equal to anything else
available in the same price range, both in hardware and software solutions. This is not to
say there isn’t a long way to go in improving any of these products, because they all
have less-than-acceptable latency issues, although most of the latency improvements are
out of their control and in the hands of the ISPs. It’s the latency that drags VoIP
products down, and Rave2 is equal to any of the other options available. It gets the job
done, as well or better than other similar products available. |
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