MagicJack
Last week I purchased a new toy that I find very useful. My cousin Larry, KD5MAF bought a MagicJack about a year ago and kept telling me about how useful it is and though I believed him I did not see the need for buying one myself. That was before this weekend when I bought my own when I began to have problems with my own cordless phone adapter for Skype. What is this MagicJack and why is it worth the purchase? The MagicJack is a small device that plugs into your universal serial bus (USB) that allows the user to make or receive unlimited phone calls from the United States (USA) and Canada. This device is small enough to fit in one hand and has all the required software and drivers installed on the inboard flash memory. The MagicJack has an RJ-11 socket allowing the user to plug in any regular household telephone. In my case, I use a 5.8 GHz cordless phone. The MagicJack only costs $39.99 and this includes the first year of service. The service is only $19.99 per year after this. I know this sounded too good to be true but it is not. This device autoruns on both the Apple Mac, and the PC. Once it runs, it takes you through a sign up process that asks the user to choose an area code. This allows you to choose virtually any area code in the USA. Once the MagicJack is setup, it shows the following screen.
This screen allows you to add as many phone numbers to your address book as you like. It also shows a list of all calls made or received. The nice thing about this is that when you remove the MagicJack and install it on another computer, all the information is still there. The information is stored on their servers so nothing is lost. There is no chance of someone using it illegally because when you remove the MagicJack from the USB, it closes down the software. The information is not accessible without the MagicJack installed. I immediately started calling my relatives out of state and found that it allows you to dial the number right from your phone. On my cordless phone, I just dial the area code and the number and it rings on the other end. When someone calls me, my phone shows their number on my caller ID. If I have their number already programmed in, then the caller ID shows their name listed as it is stored. On the bottom of the image above, you can see the 911 information. During the registration process, it asks for your address. This address is registered with the local telephone company so that if you dial 911, the emergency personnel, will know where to go. This 911 drop down window allows you to register other locations as well so if you take the MagicJack with you, it allows you to select your 911 information for the location where you actually are. The MagicJack also allows three way calling. If two people call you, then you can just enter pound pound, (##) and it will put both calls together allowing all three parties to speak with each other. It also allows you to use call forwarding. If you know you are going to be away from home or from the computer where this device is installed, you can log into the MagicJack web site and set up a call forwarding. This way anytime someone calls your MagicJack, then it will ring on the number you forwarded your calls. The MagicJack does not even have to be hooked up for this to happen. Another unique feature is that this device runs the TigerJet driver that also works with Skype. If you kill the MagicJack software but leave the USB plugged in, you can set up Skype to use the MagicJack as an interface on your phone. This allows you to walk around your house or lawn while talking to people on Skype. I am not sure about what codec the MagicJack uses but I have found the audio quality to be amazing. I have had three hour conversations without losing a single word of the conversation. I cannot say enough good words about it. I mentioned it to a few people at work and they all said they saw the commercials on TV but they were skeptical. I can understand the skepticism after we have all been scammed on TV. I have to admit the MagicJack is well worth its money. In fact, once you join, you can see the advertisements on the software. One of them is to buy more MagicJacks to give to others for only $29.95. Another advertisement on there is to extend your service for five more years for $59.95. I plan on taking this upgrade after the New Year. Since I do not work for the company, I can say without any guilt that the MagicJack is absolutely amazing and I plan on using it as long as the company is in business. Since it only costs $39.99 to order one and this includes a whole year of service, there really is nothing to lose. I really would recommend this purchase. It took me longer to open the box than it did to get it working. I really think you should try it.
Did you get to keep your phone number, or are you keeping your phone service?
Hey Marian,
It is more of an automatic setup where they assign you a number based on your area code. I am not sure if there is anyone to be able to talk to about selecting a specific number. I am glad we had a chance to try it out this evening. I love to use it when calling long distances.
“Most users that are having “trouble” with their magicJack® dongle are usually having connection problems with their computer’s USB ports and its power supply to those ports!”
This is the least expensive and probably the best telephone service that I have EVER used!
This service ONLY costs $19.95/year and with a 5 year license extension it costs only $12.00/year! $1.67/month 1st year then $1.00/month each year thereafter.
Don’t believe any of the BAD PRESS you may hear about the service. I discovered what the “technical” problem was, because it actually happened to me. I was having audio and connection problems until I solved the technical problem of my computer’s USB bus drawing over 500 mA, actually 580 mA, with everything plugged into the bus.
My eMachine computer, Model T2882, only has a 250 Watt power supply and that was working at its limits with all the computer cards and USB devices that I had plugged into the machine were demanding current.
The attached article is how I solved the problem for less than $20.00!
http://drbray.blogspot.com/2008/12/magicjack-reality.html
Thanks for the input Drbray. I hope that answers some questions. I for one have had no problems at all. I absolutely love Magicjack. I cannot say enough good things about it.
Hi….I’m glad that the magicjack works as well as you say. I have two Big questions: Is there any way to keep your magicjack phone number from showing up on other people’s Caller ID? Also, if I switch from DSL phone service to a Cable modem, do I have to change any settings with the Magicjack people or with the software?
thx,
Jim
Jim,
I am not sure about hiding the caller ID. I have not seen any information about that. I usually have a policy of not answering any calls that have their caller ID blocked because in my opinion it a person does not want to tell me who they are then I have nothing to say to them.
As far as the DSL, Cable issue, there are not modifications needed. You can go to someone else’s house and plug the jack into their USB and the Magicjack will automatically install and configure it’s self. The only thing that I have seen that may be an issue is that after one hour it automatically hangs up. This is not a problem for me because I can just call back.
You can go to ripoffreport.com and read about how bad the Magicjack is but I can tell you that I have had nothing but good service. Maybe some people are more picky about a $20.00 per year service.
I love it!
Is there any way to keep your magicjack phone number from showing up on other people’s Caller ID
Hi, Jim!
I chatted with one of the costumer service representatives and asked them about it, they said they do not have that feature yet. I don’t know if it will be available in the future, they just said it is not applicable with magicjack calls.
Anyone used magicmojita to fix callerid issues with MJ? MJ works well for me but this seems to be a rip of MJ.. anyone has any experience http://www.magicmojita.com .. seems cheap will try it what the hell…
My MagicJack keeps dialing random numbers when I am talking to someone. Any one know the answer?
I know someone that has that problem with the random numbers. It seems to be when he talks really loud. It is almost as if when it clips the audio, the result is decoding a DTMF tone. This is a minor issue but nevertheless real. I am not sure what causes but maybe someone else may know.
Paul
Paul, after many hours on with MJ tech support thay told me that I should not use my wireless headset. I unplugged it and all of the problems stopped. I miss my wireless headset! Any ideas?
Paul, I figured out the random numbers when I am talking to someone problem. It had to do with the VOLUME being turned up to high on my Plantronics wireless headset. thanks mike
Mike,
One of the possible problems that I can see when using the wireless headset would be due to them using 2.4 GHz frequency. This is the same frequency as wireless home routers. This has been a problem with me when I use to use a 2.4 GHz cordless phone. Whenever someone makes a call, it interferes with the wireless router in the house causing me to lose Internet connection. I confirmed that was the problem by using a non wireless phone in that same jack and no interference happened. My solution was to discard my 2.4 GHz phone and purchase a DECT 6.0 phone that uses 1.9 GHz. A 5.8 GHz phone would have worked just as well.
If your headset is not 2.4, you may check the specs to see what frequency it is because there could be other household appliances causing interference. You were not very specific in what your “problems” were so it is hard to troubleshoot with limited information. That considered, I would certainly look at the frequency and see if you have wireless Internet in your home. Maybe you could describe the issue you are having and I can do some research. I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I do have limited radio knowledge as I am an amateur radio operator, K5GLH.
I am curious to hear more,
Paul
I installed my Magic Jack about 3 months ago, and I just turned off my land line. I have always used my MJ with a cordless phone with out complaint until a couple weeks ago.
I just started receiving complaints when I talk on my MJ phone, that they are hearing random dial tones as we speak. I can’t hear the tones. but I do see the digits appearing on the MJ control panel???
I just bought a Magic Jack and wow…what a great device! I was always told if something seems too good to be true then it “probably” is…well Magic Jack is the exception to that rule. For only $19.99 a year you could buy a bare bones computer just to run Magic Jack if you were having issues with an old PC…great deal!
Did you ever find out why this is. Initially I had no issues and my majicjack worked fine, but then it suddenly started doing the samething. The only way I have found to prevent it from dialing random digets while on a call is to hold down the backspace key. What a pain. It would be nice to stop this from happening. Majicjack tech support had me do a bunch of things, but none helped. Ultimately, they said it was because my cable tv is dialing to update my cable tv guide, but that makes no sense as the digets are random and don’t resemble any phone number.
I bought a new magicJack unit at a major outlet store and apparently it was used and already registered to another person. There is no way to erase that user’s name from your device, as it is made to be nontransferrable as per terms of service. It was apparently used and returned and resold as new again. If you buy one at a store have the store employee plug it into one of their computers. If it says “verify log in” instead of “register” it’s a used one already under someone else’s name. They have 24 hr live help personnel to chat online with to troubleshoot your installation. It took the assistance of 4 help operators to figure out the problem, I was finally advised to return it.. I immediately unplugged it from my computer, wondering if it was giving someone else access to my data. It seems to work ok except that your computer has to be on the internet all the time to receive calls .I also noticed that I was having to install a lot of updates after plugging this thing in, which made me wary. Might just return it and get a go phone insead. Would not advise using this device as your primary phone ,but it works well enough for the money as a landline while you’re alread on the computer.