magicJack and magicJack Plus Support, Reviews, FAQs and Hacks

snafu2 · MagicJack User Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 35

For what it's worth:

My situation may be unique, but most of the time my inbound CID would not display on my various phones (five mixed Uniden models) whole house setup, but did show correctly on the softphone.

I put a 100k ohm resister across the line and now all work great.

Poo619 · MagicJack Expert Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 96

good to know. For us less intelligent Smile

would you mind explaining what that does and how you got the idea to do it

snafu2 · MagicJack User Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 35

My observations. With one phone only, CID worked. As soon as I hooked up the whole house it would not. So I disconnected all house phones leaving just the one phone (located at the MJ) and the in-house wiring connected to MJ. Still no go.

I checked the wiring for resistance and foreign voltage and all looked good. My guess was that the capacitance across the line was the culprit...if so, this may be a design error in the MJ....although I do have long runs of house phone cable.

I started at one meg ohm and got an improvement and kept lowering resistance until I got off-hook. . Got off-hook condition at about 20k as I recall...Settled at 100k.

Just a tinkerer looking for an easy cure.... engineer I am not.

prackjack · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 9

Sounds like something I might need, but could you spell it out in layman's terms as far as "How To" physically integrate the resistor?

Thx

snafu2 · MagicJack User Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 35

Use a phone cable with modular RJ-11 connectors (standard phone plug) and cut off a piece a few inches from one end. Strip out the red and green wires and connect one end of resister to the red and the other end of resistor to the green. If you have only two wires, or ones that are not color coded, use them. Get a modular phone coupler, one that converts a single modular jack into two modular jacks.

Plug the resistor cable into one jack and connect the MJ to the other. Plug the coupler into your wall jack and that should do it. If you have a telephone interface box, it will have screws so you could put the resistor in it. I would make sure any connections to the outside world are unplugged.

I hope this isn't oversimplified, but better more than less info....Good luck.

prackjack · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 9

Snafu2 -- That's just the right level for me... Off to Radioshack, will report back on my experience.

Thx

prackjack · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 9

Well, I went out and bought some resistors and then I remembered I had a powered USB hub sitting downstairs. I tried that first and voila, it worked. Caller ID is now working and the calls also seem to be a bit clearer (that part could be my imagination). I'll keep the resistors on hand for the next project Smile

LikeMagic · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 9:55 pm Post subject:

My MJ does not display incoming CID for my cordless phone but displays CID fine on the PC. I may have to try the 100K resistor trick. I currently rely on the PC display to know who's calling. I want to run MJ as a service so working CID on the phone is important to me.

Anyone knows if MJ has an official fix for this bug?

BTW, I connected my MJ directly to my PC's USB, no CID on phone. Tried to connect it to the powered USB hub, still no dice! And that's with only one cordless phone hooked up directly to the MJ.

Emdev2 · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 23 Dec 2007 Posts: 9

SpamBox · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:07 am Post subject:

snafu2 · MagicJack User Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 35

Hey emdev2, My setup just about mirrors yours. Also noticed the power adapter affecting cid intermittently. The resistor fix is still working great for me.

LikeMagic · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject:

Just installed a 100K resistor trick and it works, my incoming CID is now displayed after the first ring. Snafu2, ya DA man Laughing

!! Thanks for the tip.

Hopefully, MagicJack is reading this forum to implement this fix for the revised MJ hardware.

SpamBox · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:16 am Post subject:

LikeMagic · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:12 am Post subject:

Here's the picture of my 100K resistor mod in a standard phone jack coupler (MagicJack <---> Coupler <---> Telephone):

Note: if you perform this mod, don't forget to use electrical tape to cover the resistor's exposed wires to prevent short Smile

Ponithog · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Likemagic

Does it matter the type of 100K resistor, I am looking at 1/4 or 1/2 watt choices and I wanted to make sure I get the correct one.

Does it make a difference?

Thanks

Ponti

LikeMagic · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:26 pm Post subject:

It should make no difference. I used 100K ohm, 1/4-watt. 1/2 Watt should work as well.

jonfk2 · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:48 pm Post subject:

Smaller fits better...[font=Comic Sans MS:104cfe49b0] [/font:104cfe49b0]

smaerd58 · MagicJack User Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 49

I just completed one with the 100k 1/2 watt and it works fine. Shortened the ends and it went together with no problems.Thanks again LikeMagic Snafu2

LikeMagic · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:32 am Post subject:

WOWSY! What a HUGE pic! It almost blows me away Laughing

Edit: The picture now is tiny Smile

snafu2 · MagicJack User Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 35

Another way to add resistor. Don't sneeze before you solder the tiny surface mount resistor or you can be assured it will vanish from the face of the earth....snafu2

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i1546291_mj.JPG

SpamBox · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:38 am Post subject:

snafu2 · MagicJack User Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 35

It's the small, black thing at the bottom of pix, across the two pins of the RJ-11 connector. The ends have the fresh, sloppily soldered look.

It's not the conventional round resistor, but a SMD, or "surface mount device" type resistor. Takes up very little space.

LikeMagic · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:49 am Post subject:

snafu2 · MagicJack User Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 35

Don't mind at all. Thanks for the improved post.

I was, for some reason, unable to register whit the forums image hosting site. snafu2

Ponithog · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Another Caller ID fixed with the 100K resistor fix. Thank you Snafu2 for the fix and LikeMagic for the pic.

Uniden cordless

Ponti

HP PSC 950 all in one printer, sends Faxes and receives with Magicjack

Windows XP

smaerd58 · MagicJack User Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 49

Is that the MagicJacks board?

LikeMagic · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:50 am Post subject:

Yup, the end part that houses the RJ-11 phone jack. I guess snafu2 had voided the warranty on his MagicJack device Laughing

smaerd58 · MagicJack User Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 49

Damn I wish MJ would listen to people and fix this problem. I guess they don't want to have to change all there jacks going out right now.Probably a hardware fix next year? Evil or Very Mad

rodstree · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject: Success

Score another win for the "resister fix". I had the "no incomming caller ID on the phone display" on my Acer notebook. I tried disconnecting the charger and callerID started working but quit when I reconnected the charger but the 100k resister apparently solved the problem permantely. Thanks
Rod

LikeMagic · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject:

Don't forget to vote for the CID fix result here

mufon · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject:

The resistor also fixes a problem when a jack is plugged into an FXO port of a Digium (zaptel) board. DTMF is not always decoded properly resulting in wrong numbers or other mis-dialed calls. It is normal for the output of an audio circuit that uses a hybrid to have a high value resistor across its output to normalize the output impedance, particularly in the higher impedence type circuits. (600-900 ohms in this case). It shunts transient voltages that accumulate across the coil's output.

GOOD JOB! Thanks for the post.

Lucky225 · magicJack Apprentice Joined: 07 Feb 2008 Posts: 28

Maybe it's just me, but with them updating the lock down process every month on these devices, why don't they just add a f*ing resistor to the circuit board before shipping them out..

bluemonster · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

One more happy customer. Big thanks to snafu2 Very Happy

ldorgham · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

Great find and fix

LikeMagic · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject:

Don't forget to vote for the CID fix result here Laughing

Image · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 7

snafu2 · MagicJack User Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 35

Thanks, but It's really not that difficult. A Radio Shack cheapo 15 watt iron should do it . Have fun....Snafu2

jnatkinmj · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

I used a 1/4 watt and it worked just as described. THANKS SNAFU2!!

LikeMagic · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 6:46 am Post subject:

Another one saved by snafu2 Laughing

Reminder:

If your Caller-IDs are displaying fine on softphone and NOT on real phone, vote

here

If you used snafu2's CID fix, vote

here

saxman · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject:

Wow-good fix-now for the rest of us idiots that have never done any electrical stuff or soldered anything , what's a good way to get caller ID working? I have MJ with an out of area number, because they had none in my city. So I use Grand Central. The number is local from them. All calls go to that number and then it rings my new MJ number. My phone has talking caller ID. Will this work with MJ and what would be the best way to set it all up.? Do I set this up with MJ or GC?

magicjackfriend · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

picked up the pieces needed

followed directions stated

worked perfect

thanks

chihuahuas · magicJack Apprentice Joined: 28 Feb 2008 Posts: 10

Just added line 4 to a key/pbx with 40 extensions. Raspy audio. I added 100k across the line at the key sounds better. Not using Call ID here. May be the ringer EQ is balanced for 4 phones so it overdrives 1 phone. Neet stuff.
I list on craigslist and post the Grandcentral No to the listing. Relay it MJ. So far all My responce calls are long distance. MJ to the rescue Smile

I did a little 800 number Burnout here is the Video

http://ustream.tv/tZqdPDKC,9wOzBWb.BealE0MZvteE4Pm.usv

forge · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

I have a Uniden phone and it bugged me that the Caller ID didn't work with it. Tried this fix and BINGO!

Caller ID now works on all my phones.

Thanks for posting the fix!

ABRGames · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

I need to use the standard phone coupler fix, but I have a question. I have 2 different types of solder: Rosin-Core Solder (0.50 diameter), and Silver-Bearing (.015 diameter), which one should I use?

LikeMagic · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

magnum68 · magicJack Apprentice Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 27

Hi everyone, I love this site. I have my MJ connected to my cordless phone base which has four hand held units. My outbound CID works fine and my inbound CID shows the number of the phone from where the call is coming from. It does not show the name. Instead of the name it shows their number. So when someone calls me I see their number twice. The top row in my CID display should show the name but it only shows their number. My computer is connected directly to my router using a CAT 5 cable. And MJ is connect to one of my USB ports in the back of my PC. The USB port is 2.0 I am using the small cable extender on my MJ. Do you guys think that that if I add the resistor to a phone extention, like the one picture on this thread, will solve my CID issue? Any feed back will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Magnum68

leons · MagicJack Contributor Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 71

No. MJ does not currently support CID Name.

magnum68 · magicJack Apprentice Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 27

Any word if MJ will support CID name sometime soon?

ikeandcj · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 5

When I do the resistor fix I can make calls but I can't receive calls.
When I call my MJ from my cell, the soft phone pops up and then it disconnects??

massmanjr · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

Thanks to Snafu and LikeMagic for your posts and insights regarding the 100k resistor. I got my whole house up and going with caller id like a charm.

magicJack and magicJack Plus Support, Reviews, FAQs and Hacks

Inbound CID ...Possible fix.