Integrated Voice and Video Bandwidth Requirements
Roll20's Integrated Voice and Video utilizes WebRTC. WebRTC can only be used in web browsers that natively support it. Roll20's officially supported browsers, Chrome and Firefox, are both compatible.
Integrated Voice and Video runs on a peer-to-peer framework which means that every additional player in a call will add to the bandwidth requirements for that game for a stable experience. For reference, Integrated Voice and Video should be able to handle a 5 person call on most systems.
Browser Settings
At present, Roll20 only fully supports the most recent versions of Firefox and Chrome web browsers for our VTT. Other browsers may be able to handle Integrated Voice and Video with little to no issues, but we can't guarantee you will not encounter any issues.
Check if the site/tab is muted
While on the VTT, right-click the tab to access the context menu. Ensure that the Mute Site/Tab option is not enabled. If it IS enabled, you will need to select the option Unmute Site/Tab.
Check your browser audio and video permissions
Check your browser version
Updating Chrome
- Select the More Button (vertical row of three dots icon) in the upper right hand corner.
- Select the Help option from the resulting drop down menu.
- Select About Google Chrome option from the secondary drop down menu that appears.
- Allow Chrome to update then relaunch the browser
Updating Firefox
- Select the Menu Button (three horizontal lines icon) in the upper right hand corner.
- Select Help at the bottom of the drop down menu.
- Select About Firefox from the resulting menu.
- Firefox will tell you your current browser version and automatically prompt an update to the latest stable version if you're not using it. Click the Restart to Update button if necessary.
Clear your browser's Cache
Chrome Cache
- Select the Menu Button (three horizontal lines) in the upper right hand corner.
- Select More Tools from the dropdown.
- Select Clear browsing data from the new options.
- From the "Time range" drop down select All time option.
- Check both Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
- Select Clear Data button.
Firefox Cache
- Select the Menu Button (three horizontal lines) in the upper right hand corner.
- Select Settings from the drop down menu.
- Select Privacy and Security from the left side menu
- Scroll to the Cookies and Site Data section
- Select Clear Data
- Check both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content
- Select Clear
Unblock WebRTC (VPNs/Browser)
Roll20 utilizes a peer-to-peer WebRTC system to enable Integrated Voice & Video. If you are having trouble connecting, it may be that you are hiding or preventing WebRTC from accessing your IP address. In order to properly connect to everyone within a call you must ensure that WebRTC is not blocked.
VPNs
If you are using a VPN, we recommend trying the following:
- Ensure that roll20.net and app.roll20.net are allowed within your VPN for WebRTC access
- Disable WebRTC blocks within your VPN
- Disable your VPN
Browsers
If you are using Chrome and are blocking WebRTC, it is most likely through the use of an extension such as "WebRTC Leak Prevent" -- in such cases we recommend disabling this extension while attempting to use Roll20's Integrated Voice and Video.
If you are using Firefox, you can do the following:
- Navigate to "about:config" via your address bar
- Click "Accept the risk and continue"
- Click "show all"
- In the search bar, enter "media.peerconnection.enabled"
- Ensure that the setting is set to "true" via the toggle on the right hand side
Hardware Acceleration and Video Encoding
First, we recommend making sure that Hardware Acceleration is enabled within your browser, you can do that by following these steps:
Enable Hardware Acceleration within Chrome:
- Navigate to "chrome://settings/system" in your URL bar
- Ensure the setting "Use hardware acceleration when available" is enabled
Enable Hardware Acceleration within Firefox:
- Navigate to "about:preferences#general" in your URL bar
- Scroll to the "Performance" section
- Ensure the setting "Use hardware acceleration when available" is enabled
- To check this, you may need to check/uncheck the "Use recommended performance settings" option.
If you are still having issues, you may need to check and toggle your browsers Video encoding settings.
To check Chrome:
- Navigate to "chrome://gpu/" in your URL bar
- Under "Graphics Feature Status" at the top, check the "Video Decode" and "Video Encode" settings -- they should both say "Hardware accelerated"
- IF "Video Decode" says "Disabled" go to chrome://flags/#disable-accelerated-video-encode and toggle the setting.
To check Firefox:
- Navigate to "about:support" in your URL bar
- Search for "HARDWARE_VIDEO_DECODING", "VP8_HW_DECODE" and/or "VP9_HW_DECODE"
- Ensure they are set to "Default" and/or "Available"
- IF they are not available, Navigate to "about:config" via your address bar
- Click "Accept the risk and continue"
- Click "show all"
- In the search bar, enter "media.hardware-video-decoding.enabled"
- Ensure that the setting is set to "true" via the toggle on the right hand side
Network and Bandwidth Settings
Perform a Bandwidth Test
Bandwidth usage for Integrated Voice and Video can vary based on a variety of factors (Browser, hardware, connection, etc.). Roll20 recommends that you use high-speed internet (Cable or better) while utilizing Integrated Voice and Video.
You can take a bandwidth speed test from OOKLA’s Browser-based Speedtest. You will want to run this test in the usual environment you normally play your games on Roll20 and have a Roll20 game currently open.
- Once Speednet's home page loads, click the central "GO" button.
- Allow the test to run. This process can take a couple minutes to complete.
- Once it's finished, Speedtest will give you your download and upload rate in megabits per second (Mbps).
If you are noticing that your bandwidth is low or you are still seeing some general slowdowns you may need to try the following:
Change your settings
In cases where performance or bandwidth are a problem, a quick solution is to disable the video portion of the call. You can do this by navigating to the Audio and Video section under the My Settings tab of the Right-side Menu; From here select Voice for both Others can hear or see and I can hear or see. This will limit the amount of bandwidth that Roll20 will attempt to use at one time.
Attempt via a different connection
Sometimes using a different device or connecting via ethernet as opposed to wireless can make a large difference.
Check security or VPN settings
Some VPN services can have an impact on internet speeds which may impact your experience while in a Roll20 call. We recommend experimenting with these settings to find what works best for your game.
Contact your ISP
If your speeds are lower than advertised or you simply don't have enough to meet the requirements for Integrated Voice and Video it may require reaching out to them directly for a solution.
WebRTC Compatibility Test
- Check browser and network configuration with: https://networktest.twilio.com/
Alternatively is to run a test of your webcam and mic through whereby.com. This website is also a Peer-to-Peer WebRTC service that can have up to four users in a conference call.
Filing a Bug Report
If none of the above helped to resolve your issues, please contact our customer support here being sure to include information onw the steps you have taken thus far so we can pick right back up with you!
Further, please provide the following information as well
- Operating System
- Browser and Version
- Any VPNs Currently Enabled
- Description of the Issue
- WebRTC Debug Log (Click the "Download WebRTC Debug Log" button under the Audio and Video section of the My Settings tab)
- Your average Download and Upload speeds from the above Bandwidth Test.