Magic Jack Plus - using and comments?

[FJRMGM]

thinking about getting one of these units and was wondering what experiences you have had with it?

I've read a lot of comments about the older version that had to be plugged into the computer but would like to hear from those who are using the Plus version that plugs into the router.

Buehler? Anyone? Buehler?

 

[Bounce]

How costly is your current service?

How reliable is your internet?

Can you live with knowing you won't have local 911 and will need to make sure they know where you're located in an emergency. Some reports of people having VOIP service and the provider's records not being accurate so a 911 dispatch was made to the wrong city.

 

[kaitsdad]

Voice is a very latency sensitive environment.

There is no class of service in the public internet.

Most calls will be fine - but there is a very good chance that voice quality will be marginal, even unusable.

And then as Bounce says, there is the 911 issue -

A POT line (Plain Old Telephone) is battery powered from the central office. If you lose your local power, you may not have phone service.

In 2009 our block lost power for 27 hours due to a drunk driver. I had phone service. Many neighbors did not.

How much will you save?

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Here is a nice independent review of this service:

https://askbobrankin.com/magic_jack_good_or_evil.html

Go to the bottom of the Page and Read all the User's remarks/reviews.

If I recall correctly, you would have to Dial the Area Code for Local Calls.

Also, depending on your computer system, you may have to Shut Down Majic Jack periodically to release the built up Page Faults for the program that over time, would slow your system down. At least this is what we had to do with Majic Jack on my Sister's computer.

 

[azitlies]

The one I use is called Net Talk Duo.

Have had great experience with it. This is the first one that connects to your router, MJ created one after that. In the end do you save? You bet you do. iirc, the service is 29 a year, includes long distance to US and Canada.

I rarely have issues with connections. And one thing you can do (there's doc on this somewhere, can't remember where ) you can set the device up in your router to be in the demilitarized zone. There's some other settings involved so best to find the doc. These settings would be for any phone device so that the router doesn't mess up the connection.

I've set up the 911 to work on mine, it has my exact address for the number, pretty sure that should work okay...

 

[Cibrd0wn]

I use an ooma. One time purchase and you only pay local taxes $3.00 a month in ca. Quality is excellent and there are premium services that can be added for a price.

 

[FJRMGM]

The one I use is called Net Talk Duo.

Have had great experience with it. This is the first one that connects to your router, MJ created one after that. In the end do you save? You bet you do. iirc, the service is 29 a year, includes long distance to US and Canada.

I rarely have issues with connections. And one thing you can do (there's doc on this somewhere, can't remember where ) you can set the device up in your router to be in the demilitarized zone. There's some other settings involved so best to find the doc. These settings would be for any phone device so that the router doesn't mess up the connection.

I've set up the 911 to work on mine, it has my exact address for the number, pretty sure that should work okay...

I like the looks of this, especially the "live" technical support, which the lack of has always been a real negative about the Magic Jack.

It also supports faxing, which MJ+ does not do.

We may have a winner here. Thanks for the comment.

 

[Willie]

thinking about getting one of these units and was wondering what experiences you have had with it?

I've read a lot of comments about the older version that had to be plugged into the computer but would like to hear from those who are using the Plus version that plugs into the router.

Buehler? Anyone? Buehler?

We picked one up for my girlfriend to have a phone at home. At the time she did not have a cell. For the most part it worked OK. Ours was plugged into the computer. If she was using the computer, and the app was somewhat intensive, it would interfere slightly on incoming calls. I have since upgraded the computer and the old one may have had some issues, so the previous comment may have been biased based on a bogged down put or dying pute. On the 911, they do have a workaround on this and glad I never had to test it. We ended up with voice via our internet company. I had to pick up the voice to reduce my bill by 20 a month. When the promotion period is up and they jack the price of voice, I will go back to MagicJack. We did not throw out the lil whatchie callit you get.

It is also my understand you could take the MJ along with you on a trip, plug it into the PC you have taken and make phone calls from you number while you are on the road, as long as the internet connection is strong enough in your hotel room. Simply use the unplug the phone in the room and plug it into the MJ. I never tested it, but I don't see why this wouldn't work.

I would NOT use MagicJack for a business phone, simply becasue of the potential interuption from your inet service, or application overload in the computer.

My 2 cents

Willie

 

[Bounce]

If I recall correctly, you would have to Dial the Area Code for Local Calls.

live in a large enough city.state and you have to do that anyway.

 

[Hudson]

I use an ooma. One time purchase and you only pay local taxes $3.00 a month in ca. Quality is excellent and there are premium services that can be added for a price.

+1

I've used this for 2 years and very happy. A few issues with connectivity, but it is Comcast, not ooma, that is to blame. Only issue is when we have a power outage usually in the winter, and we lose Internet access on our block.

Call quality is very good, I never heard or had complaints.

It took about 5 months to recoup the cost of the device, but since then, saved over $600

 

[FJRMGM]

update on this topic.

Bought a Net Talk Duo II and have been using it for over a month now with great success and no issues at all. Excellent sound clarity with no noise.

This version plugs directly into your router so there is not software on the computer to muck things up. Free for the first three months then $29/yr after that.

 

[Geezer]

Ooma for me as well. It provides the same quality of service I used to get from the internet phone service I was paying a monthly fee to my cable company for. I recommend it.

 

[jmdaniel]

I'm with the Ooma folks here, have had one for at least a couple of years, and see that the price at Costco has now dropped to around $130, making the ROI quicker.

 

[TheZsdad]

And then as Bounce says, there is the 911 issue -

A POT line (Plain Old Telephone) is battery powered from the central office. If you lose your local power, you may not have phone service.

Call me suborn but I'll always have a land line and a phone that does not need AC.

Being a retired Bell switching engineer I have spent many hours testing and trouble shooting 911.

Once during the early 80's I found a major problem with the way E911 was being provisioned.

I did some research and determined it was a city wide issue. I had to go over the heads of

a few levels of management to get the attention it needed. Turned out to be a state wide issue.

Cost the company big bucks to correct. I made some enemies and earned a reputation in the process.

I miss the old XBAR days.

 

[SnowAviation]

I like the looks of this, especially the "live" technical support, which the lack of has always been a real negative about the Magic Jack.

It also supports faxing, which MJ+ does not do.

We may have a winner here. Thanks for the comment.

I have been using a Magic Jack for 3 or so years mostly for the convenience of having a phone next to the computer. My sound quality has been great, as to faxing the Magic Jack will indeed fax, they do not claim that you can use a fax machine on the jack but it does work. I was reading up on the Nettalk Duo and it sounds like a similar but interesting device, however their FAQ's on Faxing says: "Yes, you can use a fax machine. If you are keeping a land line just for your fax, get rid of it! Keep in mind, you must have fax machine that supports VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)"