Who this is for: Offices using a home or consumer mesh Wi-Fi system for Wi-Fi phones, handsets, or the Cannon VoIP app.

What goes wrong

Calls cut out for a second or two, then come back.
Audio is clear near the main unit and choppy farther away.
Calls drop when people move between rooms.

Why it happens

Many home mesh systems send traffic wirelessly from unit to unit. Each hop adds delay and shares the same airtime, so a far unit can be much slower than it looks.

They also move devices between units and bands on their own, often in the middle of a call. Most have few settings to control this.

How to fix it

Connect each mesh unit to the main unit with a network cable if you can (often called wired backhaul or Ethernet backhaul). This is the single biggest fix.
Keep mesh units close enough that each has a strong connection to the next. A unit that shows a weak or fair connection will cause trouble.
If you have another router, put the mesh system in bridge mode or access point mode to avoid double NAT.
Plug desk phones into a network cable instead of using Wi-Fi wherever you can.
Turn on any setting for prioritizing calls or video, and see band steering and roaming for the rest.
If calls still cut out, a business Wi-Fi system with wired access points is the reliable fix for an office.

Notes for common router types

On most mesh systems, wired backhaul turns on by itself when you plug units into each other or into a network switch.
Look in the mesh app under Advanced or Network for Bridge Mode, Access Point Mode, and any QoS or device priority setting.

How to tell it worked

The mesh app shows a strong or wired connection for every unit.
Walk the office on a call. The audio stays clear.
Run the free Net Checker from the farthest part of the office.

Still having trouble? Contact Cannon VoIP support at 888-973-0515 or support@cannonvoip.com.

More router settings that affect call quality

See all router settings · What makes call quality good or bad