Microsoft Teams Direct Routing is a powerful feature that allows organizations to connect their on-premises telephony infrastructure to Microsoft Teams. However, like any technology, it can encounter issues that affect call quality and connectivity. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into troubleshooting inbound/outbound call issues, resolving call quality problems, monitoring call traffic, and debugging Direct Routing configurations. Whether you’re an IT admin or a VoIP enthusiast, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to keep your Direct Routing setup running smoothly.
1. How to Troubleshoot Issues with Inbound/Outbound Calls in Direct Routing
Common Issues and Solutions
No Audio or One-Way Audio
This is often caused by improper Session Border Controller (SBC) configuration or firewall issues.
Steps to Resolve:
- Verify that the SBC is correctly configured to route traffic to Microsoft Teams.
- Check firewall rules to ensure UDP ports (3478-3481 and 50000-59999) are open for media traffic.
- Use the Microsoft Teams Network Assessment Tool to test connectivity.
Calls Not Connecting
This could be due to incorrect dial plans or routing rules.
Steps to Resolve:
- Review your dial plans and ensure they match the expected number formats.
- Check the SBC logs for errors or misconfigurations.
- Validate that the PSTN gateway is reachable from the SBC.
Call Drops or Disconnections
This may occur due to network instability or SBC timeouts.
Steps to Resolve:
- Monitor network latency and jitter using tools like Ping or Wireshark.
- Adjust SBC timeout settings to align with Microsoft Teams’ requirements.
2. Common Causes of Call Quality Issues in Direct Routing and How to Resolve Them
Top Causes of Poor Call Quality
Network Congestion
High network traffic can lead to packet loss, jitter, and latency.
Solution:
Implement Quality of Service (QoS) policies to prioritize VoIP traffic.
Incorrect Codec Configuration
Microsoft Teams uses the G.711 and G.722 codecs for Direct Routing.
Solution:
Ensure your SBC is configured to use these codecs.
Firewall or NAT Issues
Improperly configured firewalls or NAT can block or degrade media traffic.
Solution:
Verify that all required ports are open and that NAT traversal is properly configured.
SBC Performance Issues
Overloaded SBCs can cause call quality degradation.
Solution:
Monitor SBC performance and scale resources as needed.
3. How to Monitor Call Traffic and Quality in Microsoft Teams Direct Routing
Tools for Monitoring
Microsoft Teams Admin Center
The Admin Center provides detailed call analytics and reports.
Steps to Use:
- Navigate to Call Analytics in the Teams Admin Center.
- Review call quality metrics such as jitter, packet loss, and MOS (Mean Opinion Score).
Call Quality Dashboard (CQD)
CQD offers advanced insights into call quality trends.
Steps to Use:
- Upload your network topology to CQD.
- Analyze reports to identify problematic sites or users.
PowerShell Scripts
Use PowerShell to automate monitoring tasks.
Example Command:
Get-CsTenantDialPlan | Format-Table Identity, NormalizationRules
4. Tools to Debug Direct Routing Configurations
Essential Debugging Tools
SBC Logs
SBC logs provide detailed information about call setup and media flow.
Steps to Use:
- Enable verbose logging on your SBC.
- Analyze logs for errors or anomalies.
Wireshark
Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer that can capture and analyze SIP and RTP traffic.
Steps to Use:
- Capture traffic between the SBC and Microsoft Teams.
- Filter for SIP and RTP packets to diagnose issues.
Microsoft Teams Logs
Teams logs can provide insights into client-side issues.
Steps to Use:
- Enable logging in the Teams client.
- Review logs for errors related to call setup or media.
Internal and External Links
Internal Links:
External Links:
SEO Keywords and Tags
Primary Keywords:
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Secondary Keywords:
- Inbound/Outbound Call Issues
- SBC Configuration for Teams
- Call Quality Dashboard (CQD)
- Direct Routing Best Practices
Tags:
#MicrosoftTeams #DirectRouting #VoIP #CallQuality #SBC #ITAdmin #UCAdmin #Troubleshooting
Image Links
Conclusion
Troubleshooting and monitoring Microsoft Teams Direct Routing doesn’t have to be daunting. By leveraging the right tools and following best practices, you can ensure seamless call connectivity and high-quality audio for your users. Whether you’re resolving call quality issues or debugging configurations, this guide provides a step-by-step approach to keep your Direct Routing environment running at its best.
For more insights and tutorials, visit UCAdmin and explore our comprehensive resources on Microsoft Teams and Unified Communications.




