VICIdial Call Timeout: Complete Optimization Guide

Quick Reference

Setting Name

call_timeout

Default Value

30

Recommended

20 to 30 seconds

Impact Level

High

Location in VICIdial

Admin > Campaigns > [Campaign] > Dial Settings

What Call Timeout Does

The maximum number of seconds VICIdial will let an outbound call ring before hanging up and marking the lead as a No Answer (NA). Setting this too high wastes agent-attached time on unanswered calls; too low misses contacts who need extra rings to answer.

Center Size Recommended Value Notes
10–25 Agents 20 to 30 seconds Start conservative, monitor for 48 hours before adjusting
25–100 Agents 20 to 30 seconds Scale gradually — larger operations amplify effects of misconfiguration
100–500 Agents 20 to 30 seconds Consult ViciStack optimization team for enterprise-scale tuning

How to Change This Setting

  1. 1 Go to Admin > Campaigns
  2. 2 Select campaign
  3. 3 Find Call Timeout field
  4. 4 Enter seconds as integer (e.g., 25)
  5. 5 Consider local ring patterns — US landlines ring ~6 seconds per cycle
  6. 6 4-5 rings = 24-30 seconds is industry standard
  7. 7 Submit changes

Common Problems

Values above 40 seconds dramatically reduce dials-per-hour

Values below 15 seconds miss genuine contacts on mobile phones

Must align with dial_timeout which controls Asterisk-level timeout

dead_trigger Dead Trigger Campaign dial_timeout Dial Timeout Campaign drop_action Drop Action Campaign wait_for_silence Wait for Silence Campaign

ViciStack Module

How ViciStack Optimizes Call Timeout

ViciStack's Dialer Tuning & Auto-Configuration module automatically monitors and optimizes call_timeout based on real-time performance data from your operation. Instead of manual tuning, ViciStack continuously analyzes call outcomes, agent performance, and contact rates to recommend and implement optimal values — often catching configuration drift before it affects your numbers.

Learn About Dialer Tuning & Auto-Configuration →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does call_timeout do in VICIdial? +
The maximum number of seconds VICIdial will let an outbound call ring before hanging up and marking the lead as a No Answer (NA). Setting this too high wastes agent-attached time on unanswered calls; too low misses contacts who need extra rings to answer.
What is the recommended value for call_timeout? +
The recommended range for call_timeout is 20 to 30 seconds. The out-of-box default is 30. Note that optimal values vary by operation size, campaign type, and carrier — use ViciStack's automated tuning to find your exact optimal configuration.
Can ViciStack automatically optimize call_timeout for me? +
Yes. ViciStack's Dialer Tuning & Auto-Configuration module monitors call_timeout continuously and alerts you when the value drifts outside optimal range. On qualifying plans, ViciStack can automatically adjust this setting based on real-time performance data — no manual intervention required.

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