Comments on: VoIP For Dummies with MagicJack

By: Al

Al — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:43:21 +0000

I just went through a major hassle trying to get a downloadable manual for the magicjack. Turns out, there isn’t one. Their FAQ has a ton of questions, but I don’t have time to go through them one at the time, waiting for the page to open, and then finding the list of questions have changed. It is a pain the behind.

By: Stan

Stan — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:14:53 +0000

In a reply from Coey I read” MJ uses the G.729 codec for VoIP.” Other places say G.711 ulaw …do you know which? I want to run MJ on a Win2K box (which MJ says unsupported)

Thx,

Stan.

By: Mel

Mel — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:01:08 +0000

Cory: Thanks for all your help. Will try your directions! Thanks again.

By: Cory Andrews

Cory Andrews — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:40:41 +0000

Mel - here are instructions on installing MJ. Plug the cord of a regular telephone into the magicJack. Then plug the magicJack into a USB port on your computer. It is recommended that you be running Windows XP on your machine machine. It’ll automatically install itself in under a minute. Now reboot your machine. Once your PC comes back to life, unplug the magicJack and then plug it back in again. When prompted, you’ll need to authorize the magicJack to access the Internet through your firewall obviously. Then you’ll be prompted to enter your email address and set up a password. Once completed, you’re good to go.

By: Mel

Mel — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:31:15 +0000

Thanks for clarification Cory. I plugged it in ubs port without connecting a phone to it. I contacted mj support to help with connection and after giving info about my computer and browser they had me go to the broadband measure site. After I gave them measures they told me I need to upgrade to use the mj. Have not tried to install or otherwise use mj. Is there a source of manual for a walk through on self installing. Sure would like to use it. Would like to replace my home phone with it. Do you recommend this. I don’t use it much. But guess it goes without saying I need a phone. I don’t have a cell phone.

By: Cory Andrews

Cory Andrews — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:42:45 +0000

Mel, MagicJack is a bit of a mystery in terms of the nuts and bolts of how their service works, but from what I have read it does utilize SIP, and uses the G.729 codec for VoIP.

What this means to you, is that you should really only be using 10-30KBPs of bandwidth on an MJ phone call.

You DSL connection, although not fantastic, should be more than sufficient to support MJ.

Can you use the service at all? If so, what type of problems are you having?

By: Mel

Mel — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:23:19 +0000

Thanks for responding! Not sure what isp is. Att is my porvider. When mj support was helping to connect they sent me to a web site that measured my up and down bandwidth to i believe 240 up and 125 down or vise versa. Tried to save dialog but didn’n go to my email.

By: Cory Andrews

Cory Andrews — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:24:25 +0000

Mel - can you tell me who your ISP is, and what you current average upstream and downstream bandwidth are?

By: Mel

Mel — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:39:14 +0000

Told by mj support that my dsl doesnot have enough speed to carry signal. Is there another option than upgrading DSL to 1.5?

By: michael graves

michael graves — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:05:17 +0000

It’s got to have a PC turned on. That’s a down side. Also, it’s not doing anything really innovative. Lots of cheap minutes, but that’s not uncommon these days.

One can quibble about cost/minute, but once it’s below a certain point does any retail consumer need to care? It’s not like they use call center quantities of time.

Soft phones don’t really count an innovation anymore…do they?