Showing posts with label Repair and maintain your MagicJack. Show all posts

MAGICJACK - half duplex phone - VoIP Call Quality

This happens often with my mother, and I am aware of the reasons.

So If I tell her, she my mother starts to get abusive and make it sound like I am being malicious. We both do not LISTEN to each other we just want to get the message out

The PHONE = "half duplex" :
The other issue is she is using like myself a "half duplex" phone, and because we are from the Caribbean it is a MUST to talk over the next person. We are both NOT hearing each other. I have recently gotten a full duplex phone and have recognized the different between half duplex vs full duplex.

Phone service = MAGICJACK ::
Yes we are cheap and have gotten a affordable telephone that costed $20.00 AND using a VoIP provider MAGICJACK.

What can we do to have a Rich conversation ?

Half Duplex NIC and No More Stuttering

I'm a new user of MJ and have been having problems with jittery voices. Here are some things I did:

1) disable USB power management
2) hard set MTU of TCP/IP stack (I'm on DSL - set mtu to 1406)
3) set to high the priority of the MJ process
4) disable TCP checksum offloading on the network card. Several times I have seen performance problems with this feature turned on - not all network cards have this feature
5) disable all power management within Windows XP (usb, harddrive, etc)
6) Accept TigerJet update from Windows update. I'm on SP3.

Nothing seemed to help. So I hard set the speed and duplex to 10/half and that seemed to do the trick. No real need for 100mb since DSL is only 3mb. Setting card to half duplex moves the flow control from the nic driver to the nic hardware.

Anyway, this just could be a coincidence and this change did nothing to help. But my packet captures show the stuttering voices arrive to the machine that way untouched by the MJ dongle or software. It's highly likely that the MJ servers are just overloaded and nothing on our end can fix that.

Canadian Experience with magicJack

Karen’s comments were important enough that I thought they deserved their own post front and center for Canadian buyers of magicJack devices. In summary:

magicJack costs more in Canada.
If you want a Canadian Number, you have to pay $10 US per year, (About $13 to $15 Canadian, depending on the current exchange rate)
You can’t pick the last four digits of your Canadian number if you want to.
You can’t pick a Canadian “Vanity” number.
Chat support may be spottier for Canadians.

These are valid enough considerations for most people who live in Canada who think they’re buying a whole package, when in the light of day there are hidden fees not assessed at the time of purchase of the device in a local store.

I may actually have some guesses about why some things are the way they are.

No vanity Canadian numbers – From the point of view of magicJack, since Canadian numbers probably cost more wholesale than US numbers, they’ve probably made it so that all Canadian numbers are considered vanity numbers. Further, if they don’t allow Canadians to choose from among a local list, I’m guessing they only purchase the Canadian number wholesale when you purchase a Canadian number from magicJack.
No choice of Exchange – Again, they probably don’t keep a list of phone numbers handy. They may purchase the number wholesale when you purchase it from magicJack.
The device costs more in stores. The current exchange for $60 US is $73 Canadian. On Walmart.ca and Bestbuy.ca as if living in Montreal, I see prices set at $70 Canadian. There may

How to Fix a MagicJack Download

Fix problems that hinder your MagicJack from allowing you to make calls by upgrading the the original software. MagicJack users sometimes find that they can't get their device to function properly, due to the device not being recognized or calls not connecting. Uninstalling the "mjusbsp" folder from your computer's "AppData" folder, along with the proper registry file, may correct your issues without need for further download. Download the MagicJack upgrade if you still experience problems placing and receiving calls.

Things You'll Need

Internet connection

Alternate phone

Unplug your MagicJack from your computer, then navigate to your computer's "AppData" folder. Go to "Start," "Computer," "C:/Documents and Settings/UserName/AppData."
Delete "mjusbsp" from the list that appears in the "AppData" folder. Right-click the folder file, then select "Delete" with your mouse.
Open RegEdit and delete the appropriate folder. Go to "Start," type "RegEdit" into the search field, then select it from the search results by clicking on it. Delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR\Disk&Ven_YMAX&PROD_MagicJack&Rev_2.00" from the registry by navigating to it, right-clicking, then choosing "Delete" from the pop-up menu.
Close RegEdit and plug your MagicJack back into your computer's USB port. Test out your MagicJack by placing a phone call to a alternate phone line. Call your Magicjack number from anther phone line to test that it is able to receive a phone call as well. Continue reading if your problem remains.
Download and install the MagicJack upgrade software. Visit "http://upgrades.magicjack.com/upgrade/upgrade.exe" and click "Save FIle" when the dialog box appears on your screen. Follow the on-screen instructions that appear to complete the software upgrade. Your MagicJack's drivers and software will be up to date, and your phone calls should no longer be hindered.

Magicjack Plus plugged directly in the router SOLVED!

Magicjack Plus not working when plugged directly in the router SOLVED!

Many people are having issues with Magicjack Plus plugged directly into the router. When your magicjack plus is not working without the computer, you would natrually seek MagicJack's support... Although always available, they are not very tech-savy and it usually requires hours of your time. After 2 hours and giving up on them, I decided to attack the problem myself.

Here is how I solved my connectivity issues (error 42). I hope this helps anyone else having this problem or other connection problems.

The Problem lies with some router's firewalls being too strict as MJ+ tends to work with older routers with original firmware. I have several routers with which I have confirmed this. The newer ones with updated ROMs almost never allow MJ+ to go through; some allow calls to be made out but not receive any. The older ones without SPI firewalls and direct NAT mechanisms almost invariably allow MJ+ to function properly.

The universal way across all routers to solve this lies in the use of a feature called DMZ (De-Militarized Zone) which essentially allows an address on your network to be completely accessible, without a firewall, from the internet.
Please note that skipping steps or doing the all-too-common A.D.D.-based 'I-don't-have-time-to-read-so-let's-skim-ahead' is not recommended here as a misconfiguration can lead to a completely unsecure home network
If you're not comfortable with the DMZ method, you can look up your router model in the list at Portforward.com and use the second guide (Alternate Solution: Using the Port Forward Method). Please note that in many cases, this is not as effective due to factors out of the scope of this article such as SIP and ALG settings on certain routers.

Using the DMZ Method

Step 1 - Get the MagicJack Plus working while plugged into your computer

a) Follow the guide included in the setup box that came with the MagicJack+

b) Confirm that you are able to use your handset to both place and receive calls while MJ+ is plugged into your computer's USB port

Step 2 - Get your MagicJack Plus's MAC Address

a) Create a new folder on your desktop and name it MAC address

b) Download and save this link: DOWNLOAD in the folder you just created

c) Run the downloaded executable. It is a self-extract archive. It will extract a folder named "magicJackGetMAC".

d) From that new folder, run "magicJackGetMAC.exe".

e) Note down the MAC address (looks like 6E:1D:00:07:FA) because you will need it in the next step.

note: Magicjack Plus device must be plugged in to the computer to use the app

note2: ALWAYS run an anti-virus on anything you download before executing it

note3: the term MAC address has nothing to do with apple computers; it is the unique identifier assigned to any network component. (Media Access Control address)

Step 3 - Configure your router's DHCP service for address reservation

This guide is not comprehensive enough to provide information on the hundreds of routers and how to configure them but if you google:

<router model> assign ip to mac

You will find the information you need to follow this step.

Fpr example, a Linksys WRT54GL would require the searches in Google as:

linksys wrt54gl assign ip to mac

a) find the private network addressing you are using (should look like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x or 172.16.x.x)

b) check to see what addresses your router's DHCP assigns (usually 100 -> 150. i.e.: 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.150)

c) find the place where you can assign the MAC address to a specific IP address in your router's setup

d) assign an IP address OUTSIDE the DHCP allocation to the MAC address you found in step 2 (Ex: 6E:1D:00:07:FA -> 192.168.1.200)

e) your router may require a reboot before this takes effect

If this doesn't work for your router model because it won't accept using non-DHCP assigned addresses for fixed IPs you can try this instead: Please note that for many, this doesn't seem to work. It looks like it might not be a fully implemented feature yet.

a) make sure your MJ+ is still plugged into the computer

Install Hardware and Software

Connect MagicJack to the free USB port of the computer, connected to the internet with bandwidth not less than 128 kb/sec. You can use USB extension cord for your convenience and easy access.
Connect regular phone to the magicJack.
MagicJack automatically starts to download software from internet. Wait for 3-4 minutes until the registration window comes up. If it doesn't come up what usually happens on computer with installed Windows Vista, please download software from: http://upgrades.magicjack.com/upgrade/upgrade.exe

GVjack - MagicJack with google voice

In the spirit of trying to plan ahead for D-Day I came across the app GVjack that supposedly allows you to use a expired MagicJack with google voice retaining all the same features. Now I know this requires a PC to use but just wondering if anyone has had any luck with it. My thoughts were just to buy a cheap lower power pc that I can keep running 24/7 and hook this up to it. If what Im thinking is correct and it does indeed work as its supposed to would this not replace the OBI device and provide full G voice after may 15th?

Any thoughts or reviews on the product would be appreciated

GVJack Alternative

The GVJack / GVMate is nothing more than a cloned MJ dongle, working as a USB audio adapter. It has no built-in processing hardware like a OBi or any other ATA product. All it does is make an analog telephone work like a USB-attached headset, with a Touch Tone keypad added. This is exactly how the original MagicJack worked: all the dongle did was interface with MJ's Windows software. PCPhoneSoft's advertising is misleading, to say the least. You'll notice they do more bragging than actual disclosure of how things work.

You still need to run their MS Windows software, which is not doing anything remarkable or special to "hack" into Google Voice, other than acting as you would yourself, placing a call on a computer's web browser with Google's own Hangouts system. Now, whether or not they are honestly using XMPP, WebRTC with HTML5, or whatever, to do that, or just doing some sort of force-feeding keystrokes into the actual Hangouts app, is unknown. You won't be able to use a Raspberry Pi or any other low-cost Linux processor, since their product requires their Windows application to work.

There have been years of discussion on the web of similar solutions using MJ dongles plugged into old, cheap "thin client" PCs running Windows XP Embedded, to create a kludge of an ATA. There are guys selling this bundle on eBay. Keep in mind that those thin clients are hopelessly outdated by now, and you can't just load any Windows software of your choice on them...they were designed for use with server-based Windows, via Citrix, for example. If you do want to create a "GVJack" solution, a cheap/used/eBay special laptop would be the way to go, until the processor fan clogs up with dirt or otherwise dies and the thing fries, and you'd have to constantly futz with keeping the software updated. If this turns you on, then happy hacking!

MagicJack email Verification

Check your email and respond to magicJack email Verification

After the registration is done you will receive email from magicJack asking to confirm your email address. Please, do it immediately, so you do not have to worry that your magicJack need assistance from tech support to activate it.
Please, see the sample of the confirmation email below.

Dear MAX COLLIN;
In order for you to continue using your magicJack without interruption, please take the time to verify that the email address we have on file for you is a valid email address.

magicJack, LP uses your email address to communicate with you from time to time about the magicJack telephone adapter and its features.

Please verify your email address using one of the following two methods:

1) Click the following link below which will redirect you to our web site and allow you to complete the email verification process in one click: http://apps.magicjack.com/confirmemail.php?accountid=XXXXXXX&emailaddr=myemail#hotmail.com
or

2) The link below includes your magicJack account number and the email address that was used to register your magicJack. Copy and paste the link into your browser; this will allow us to verify that we did indeed send the letter to a valid email address. (Please note that if you change the email address in the link, the verification will fail because the account number and email address pair will not be found in our system. You will be alerted if this happens so you may correct the email address and/or account number) http://apps.magicjack.com/confirmemail.php?accountid=XXXXXXX&emailaddr=myemail#hotmail.com

Your truly,
magicJack

Email Translation:

Expired MagicJacks Reused As Free Mobile Phone Extension For Home/Office

The "GVJack" App just released by PCPhoneSoft.com is a one time purchase that lets users re-purpose a magicJack dongle phone adapter for Google Voice calling even if the magicJack was owned by a different person or has an expired subscription.

Google Voice continues to offer free phone numbers, long distance calling, texting and voice mail. With over 8 million magicJacks sold, popular online auction sites are now flooded with expired magicJack dongles frequently selling for as little as $3.

By joining these 2 unique opportunities together using the "GVJack" App, users are able to setup what is deemed to be the most economical feature rich free phone service solution on the market today. Users can also set up their Google Voice account to ring their mobile phone at the same time allowing them to answer a call on whichever phone makes sense. This setup basically makes the "GVJack" phone also behave like a fixed home phone extension of the user's mobile phone service that is not subject to poor signal strength issues and does not burn up any minutes.

The "GVJack" App is designed to be used with a physical phone and its keypad to provide a fully featured landline style calling experience. To start placing free calls, just plug an expired/used/new magicJack dongle into the USB port on your computer and sign in using any Gmail e-mail account. Just pick up your phone and dial the number you wish to call using your phone key pad for outgoing calls and answer your phone when it rings for incoming calls.

The "GVJack" App provides over 20 advanced calling features including the ability to block certain callers and even the ability to verbally announce a caller's name when an incoming call arrives. An example of some of the features included are as follows:

7 Digit Local Area Dialing
Caller ID Name / Location
Talking Caller ID
Voice Mail Waiting Indicator
Call Forwarding
Call Waiting
Priority Call Special Ringing
Do Not Disturb
Anonymous Call Screening
Priority Calls Only
Selective Call Number Screening
Per Call Screening
Automatic Call Redialing
Automated Extension Dialing

Users are also able to use the same phone with increasing popular online voice/video chat services like Skype, Facebook, Yahoo and Google+. For further information, please visit http://www.pcphonesoft.com .

MagicJack

Pages

MAGICJACK - half duplex phone - VoIP Call Quality

Half Duplex NIC and No More Stuttering

Canadian Experience with magicJack