magicJack and magicJack Plus Support, Reviews, FAQs and Hacks

redpepper · Dan Should Pay Me Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 501

When we were designing the "Magicfeatures" software plugin, we uncovered a big issue with the Caller ID transmission implementation on the magicJack.

Here's the real underlying source of the problem and how we fixed it in the plugin:

1. The Caller ID is transmitted sort of like modem tones between the 1st and 2nd physical rings. The standard ringing cadence is 2 seconds on and 4 seconds off. That part is implemented correctly.

2. Here's the BUG !!! The magicJack blasts a loud inband ringing tone on the audio channel toward the phone at 1 second on and 2 seconds off. Unfortunately, the cadence does not line up with the physical ringing and that horrible loud inband ringing tone masks out the Caller ID transmission. Some phones can filter it out but most fail.

3. If you go to MENU/SWITCH TO HEADSET and switch the audio to your speakers (and turn up the sound on your speakers) and place an incoming call to your phone, you will hear the horrible ringing tone that is normally sent toward your phone. Chances are that when you do this, you will also finally see the caller id number correctly display on your phone.

In the "Magicfeatures" software plugin, we fixed the problem by making the very 1st physical ring only 1 second long so the Caller ID transmission does not get interrupted by the inband ringing tone. Once we got that part fixed and working, it only seemed fitting to add Caller ID name display and Caller ID for call waiting calls.

newtoncd · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:55 pm Post subject:

Your plug-in fixed the caller ID issue, but more importantly for me, I really missed not having call waiting with caller ID ... with the plug-in, I now have that feature again.

I am still playing around with the voice mail ringer settings, but so far so good.

Also, the speed dial, return call, voice mail speed dial and call forwarding works nicely.

Good add-in for $10.

joevv · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject:

Where does it get the caller name from?

Joe

redpepper · Dan Should Pay Me Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 501

An online White Pages lookup is attempted if the name cannot be located within the Speed Dial (or Contact) entries.

For cases where a White Pages lookup will not work (i.e. private numbers, mobile phone numbers, international numbers) the caller's location (state or country) is looked up and displayed.

sabresfan · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject:

Just had the call waiting caller id work for the first time. I have to say thats a feature you miss until you have it again.

TNewton · magicJack Apprentice Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 23

My caller ID still does not work with the MagicFeatures Plugin. I don't know what is going on. Good thing I downloaded the trial version and not paid for it yet Wink

Am I still the only one with this issue?

redpepper · Dan Should Pay Me Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 501

The caller id is sent as a modem tone like transmission to your phone between the 1st and 2nd ring.

In regards to caller id, the Magicfeatures plugin removes the audible ringing sent down the phone line at the same time the caller id is being transmitted. This is the underlying bug in the magicJack dialer that inhibits even very basic caller id transmission for the majority users with caller id problems.

For reference, Magicfeatures also provides the following additional capabilities:

Caller ID with Name (Including Google Phonebook Lookup)
Call Waiting Caller ID
Talking Caller ID

As your caller id display is not working with Magicfeatures, you definitely ALSO have a further external problem that is not related to magicJack or the Magicfeatures plugin at all. This can be caused by not enough power on the specific USB port you are using to power the phone line properly toward your phone. A phone that is slightly out of spec or too rigid to spec can also cause caller id display issues.

With Magicfeatures running (that removes the primary problem that causes caller id transmission problems), you can try the following to try to troubleshoot the remaining external problem that is only within your control to resolve that is still causing you issues:

1. Go to Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager/Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Right mouse click on ALL the USB Root Hub entries and select "Properties" from the menu. Make sure the option "All This Computer To Turn Off This Device To Save Power" is NOT checked.

2. Plug your magicJack USB dongle directly into a USB port on your computer WITHOUT using a USB hub or extender cable. Only plug in one phone to it using a telephone cable that is no longer than 6 feet in length.

3. Make sure you do not have the "Double Ringing" or "Priority Ringing" features enabled for the purposes of testing and troubleshooting.

4. Right mouse click on the magicJack dialer icon and select Volume/Headset Control from the popup menu. Make sure "Telephone" is checked and set BOTH the Speaker and Microphone settings to their middlemost settings.

5. Try your call again and if the caller id still does not display by the 2nd ring, try plugging your magicJack USB dongle directly into a different USB port on your computer. Try each one as necessary and re-test. Different USB ports on even on the same computer can have different power levels - believe it or not.

6. If all the latter steps above fail, you will need to try the above steps again using a different phone. Get one from your local department store, open the box carefully and keep the receipt in case you need to take it back. Make sure the box says "Caller ID" and "Call Waiting/Caller ID" support on it. If it is a new cordless phone, be sure to charge it for 6-8 hours before testing.

If all the above fails with your USB ports and trying a different phone, you either need an external powered USB hub because your USB ports are simply underpowered and/or a replacement magicJack USB dongle as the one you have has a subtle hardware problem.

TNewton · magicJack Apprentice Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 23

I send you a message, but was wondering if anyone else could help. I have done all the above except getting a new phone. My phone is new and I will not be getting another.

I would like to know why only RARELY does the caller ID work and only 99% does not work. I have called MJ I have tried downloading MagicFeatures, still nothing.

Got hooked up with internet and MJ on Mar 2
First CID was on Mar 3 at 12:03PM - came up with number with spaced then an X at the end
Second Mar 10 at 1:39PM - Showed nothing but the date
Third Mar 17 at 4:12PM - showed number where the name supposed to be, no X
final last night @11:14PM - when I was on the phone with my mother, my father called through, but I could not switch to the other line, because MJ would not let me....

I am still trying to find a resistor that is sold in our area, and figure out a way I can set it up without a solder. Any Ideas, please PM.

Also anyone uses Cantalk9000 here what is that like? Is there any issues there?

TIA

redpepper · Dan Should Pay Me Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 501

When you pick up the phone you should hear crystal clear dialtone that is generated directly from the magicJack USB dongle hardware.

Based on the additional critical information you sent by PM, "Every time I pick up the phone I get a loud noise, and now I am getting a beeping noise". If dialtone is not being cleanly sent through, the caller id transmission does not stand much of a chance in getting through either without being severely twisted or garbled up.

You need to use an externally powered USB hub OR your magicJack USB dongle has developed a very serious hardware fault. It is not something that will be sorted with an inline resistor. Your Dad's issue needs separate troubleshooting.

Good Luck !!!

Nobody beats the Whiz! · Dan Should Pay Me Joined: 26 Oct 2009 Posts: 559

I wonder if he is somehow feeding his MJ back into his DSL line.

TNewton · magicJack Apprentice Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 23

bitstopjoe · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:57 pm Post subject:

Wireless can be hit or miss. Try connecting directly and see if that makes a difference. ALSO if it wasn't a POWERED hub then that can cause more problems..

Joe Sica

redpepper · Dan Should Pay Me Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 501

The troubleshooting for your Dad's issue has to be done separately. Joe is definitely spot on with his comments regarding his setup.

You can see the following link for some recommended externally powered USB hubs that have sorted out problems for others with similar problems http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/MagicJack/Support_Resources/FAQ#Why_do_I_keep_hearing_so_much_about_.22powered_USB_hubs.22.3F . For clarification, these have their own power supply.

On a separate subject, you should be able to get the "during call" beeps off your phone line by going to Start/Control Panel/Sounds and Audio Devices and set the both the default Sound Playback and Sound Recording device to your computer sound card. It sounds like it is currently pointing to your magicJack at the moment so all computer related beeps are getting sent down your phone line.

bitstopjoe · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:10 pm Post subject:

redpepper · Dan Should Pay Me Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 501

Right - you mean like random DTMF touch tone beeps sometimes.

That's where a DTMF touch tone detector mistakes voice for phone keypad presses and the telephone exchanges message it through and it gets re-generated as a full volume DTMF touch tone at the far end toward the other person. Digit collection during a call is mainly supported for PIN dialing during a call but has this kind of side effect.

It's happened to me as well as it definitely catches me by surprise in the middle of a conversation.

TNewton · magicJack Apprentice Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 23

magicJack and magicJack Plus Support, Reviews, FAQs and Hacks

The Real Underlying Bug With Caller ID Transmission