New MagicJack user - pleased so far - but I have a guestion that I can't see covered in the archives. I've read the posts about the best phones. Here's my issue:
I had (mistakenly) thought that I could use Just a standard phone handset. After trying several I came to the conclusion that a handset alone only sort of works - I can hear other people but they can't hear me. No similar problem with a complete phone.
My brother has Skype, and a USB Skype phone. I'm using MagicJack instead - it seems to be a better value and has more useable features for my purposes - but he has one thing that I hope I can have too - a small portable phone/handset that fits easily into his briefcase when he travels with his laptop.
The posts I've seen about the best phones to use for MagicJack all seem to be for bulky phones, or for cordless phones that require lugging around a base, ac adapter, etc.
Does anyone use a small, portable phone/handset that works without alot of other stuff?
Thanks
Portable Phone
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lonestarmagic
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If you really need a phone to travel with, the Uniden 6.0 is lightweight and compact and would fit in a notebook carry case.
If your traveling to a hotel, you can connect via the room phone and leave yours at home.
If your looking for a compact phone that plugs straight into MJ where you would have to stay put next to your puter, why not just use a good headset?
The advantage of packing a phone such as the Uniden, you can hook it up in the hotel and be able to walk around your room without being restricted to staying near your puter. The base is about the size of a digital camera case and is very light. And if it is a hotel your going to be staying and your room is somewhat near the pool, you can have your phone with you at the pool and still be able to talk via MJ.....just some ideas
If your traveling to a hotel, you can connect via the room phone and leave yours at home.
If your looking for a compact phone that plugs straight into MJ where you would have to stay put next to your puter, why not just use a good headset?
The advantage of packing a phone such as the Uniden, you can hook it up in the hotel and be able to walk around your room without being restricted to staying near your puter. The base is about the size of a digital camera case and is very light. And if it is a hotel your going to be staying and your room is somewhat near the pool, you can have your phone with you at the pool and still be able to talk via MJ.....just some ideas
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Darkman90808
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lonestarmagic... I gather from your post the Uniden 6.0 didn't exacerbate the low outgoing volume issue? I bought mine to work with a wireless router and then switched to a hard wire. I seemed to get more complaints about low volume so it's been in the box ever since. I'm getting ready to connect it to my MJ on my home computer, so I'll find out for myself; just curious if it was an issue for you. TIA
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lonestarmagic
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No probs whatsoever with using the Uniden 6.0Darkman90808 wrote:lonestarmagic... I gather from your post the Uniden 6.0 didn't exacerbate the low outgoing volume issue? I bought mine to work with a wireless router and then switched to a hard wire. I seemed to get more complaints about low volume so it's been in the box ever since. I'm getting ready to connect it to my MJ on my home computer, so I'll find out for myself; just curious if it was an issue for you. TIA
My phone connects to my MJ via my laptop and I'm connected wireless to my router which is located at the other end of my house. No loss of sound incoming or outgoing. People I call say they hear me loud and clear with no static.
I think some have had probs with their routers and/or their ISP's. I use AT&T Uverse as my cable TV and ISP.
Using MagicJack on the road
When traveling I have two different methods for using the MagicJack. One is to use a small headset I received a couple of years ago when I signed up for NetZero. It uses earbuds rather than the typical speakers a normal headset would have and a small microphone built into the wire rather than a boom mic. It looks very similar to a cell phone headset, but with two ear pieces and has two plugs - one for the mic and the other for the speakers. I'm not sure where you could buy one, but I'm guessing someone must sell them.
Another option I sometimes use is a Bluetooth headset. I don't like it as well since it doesn't always work and by the time I do get it working, it isn't worth it. I don't know if I'm getting interference or what, but it isn't very reliable. When it does work, it works very well.
I've also used the hotel phone a couple of times, but as someone pointed out, more of them are going digital. You also have a problem that often the telephone cord jack is behind a piece of furniture or somewhere where it isn't easy to unplug. A solution would be to carry a short phone cord and disconnect the hotel phone cord at the phone rather than at the wall.
Another option I sometimes use is a Bluetooth headset. I don't like it as well since it doesn't always work and by the time I do get it working, it isn't worth it. I don't know if I'm getting interference or what, but it isn't very reliable. When it does work, it works very well.
I've also used the hotel phone a couple of times, but as someone pointed out, more of them are going digital. You also have a problem that often the telephone cord jack is behind a piece of furniture or somewhere where it isn't easy to unplug. A solution would be to carry a short phone cord and disconnect the hotel phone cord at the phone rather than at the wall.
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Darkman90808
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lonestarmagic
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YW...Darkman90808 wrote:Thanks... BTW, when I tested it, it was before the most recent upgrade. Of course, there are so many variables w/ VoIP, unless you're doing an in-depth study, it's hard to know what is related to what. Thanks for the feedback.
You might did it out and try it again since they did this last upgrade....I heard that it did fix some sound issues for some users.
If I travel and stay at a hotel, I'll be packing my 6.0 and taking it with me incase the hotel phone is digital....plus I'll be able to roam around the room, etc.
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Darkman90808
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Darkman90808
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georgiejr.... are you sure about that? If you are referring to the Innovage, take a closer look. You'll see a cord at the bottom of the phone to plug into the MJ. Others have mentioned this phone in the past. Apparently, it was once sold at Walgreens. I think it would make a perfect addition to the MJ, but I really don't have a use for it at the moment.georgiejr wrote:check this out...magicvoicephone.com..they have a cellular phone...but no speaker phone for hands-off
Portable Phone
Thanks for the feedback.
I've never been a headset user, so that solution isn't appealing. I'd like to think that when I travel I could use the hotel phone, but I think many of them now are phone system phones, and may not work properly plugged into MagicJack - in any case I don't want to wait until I get there to find out I have a problem. A cordless Uniden phone, or some other equivalent, is appealing despite the cost, but not so easy to pack for light travel, and if I am going overseas now I need another plug gizmo or ac adapter power converter to charge the phone battery.
I think I've found a solution that works for me. On Ebay I bought an inexpensive phone referred to as a hospital bed phone. Backlighted easy to read touch-tone buttons. Unlike standard corded "princess" phones this one has an on/off hook switch on the side of the handset, so you don't need to carry along a cradle. That makes it very easy to pack, and, as a bonus, it has a removable cord. It came with one that is 11 feet long, but I could get a longer one, or a retractable one. Sound qualtity is fine. It cost $ 15 from Future Call LLC.
I've never been a headset user, so that solution isn't appealing. I'd like to think that when I travel I could use the hotel phone, but I think many of them now are phone system phones, and may not work properly plugged into MagicJack - in any case I don't want to wait until I get there to find out I have a problem. A cordless Uniden phone, or some other equivalent, is appealing despite the cost, but not so easy to pack for light travel, and if I am going overseas now I need another plug gizmo or ac adapter power converter to charge the phone battery.
I think I've found a solution that works for me. On Ebay I bought an inexpensive phone referred to as a hospital bed phone. Backlighted easy to read touch-tone buttons. Unlike standard corded "princess" phones this one has an on/off hook switch on the side of the handset, so you don't need to carry along a cradle. That makes it very easy to pack, and, as a bonus, it has a removable cord. It came with one that is 11 feet long, but I could get a longer one, or a retractable one. Sound qualtity is fine. It cost $ 15 from Future Call LLC.
Darkman90808: Yes, I was aware of that cord, meaning that it is hardwired. but this is the smallest one to carry. I didn't intend it to work like a regular cell phone that is wireless, but that flip phone is the most portable, if you have to go to internet cafe's...at least is is disguised as a cell phone but actually hardwired to the magicjack..
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Darkman90808
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lonestarmagic.... I finally got around to unpacking my Uniden DECT 6.0 and connecting it to my home computer. The quality was awesome!! I recorded a fairly lengthy conversation with Wireshark so I could play it back and listen for dropouts, etc.lonestarmagic wrote:YW...Darkman90808 wrote:Thanks... BTW, when I tested it, it was before the most recent upgrade. Of course, there are so many variables w/ VoIP, unless you're doing an in-depth study, it's hard to know what is related to what. Thanks for the feedback.
You might did it out and try it again since they did this last upgrade....I heard that it did fix some sound issues for some users.
If I travel and stay at a hotel, I'll be packing my 6.0 and taking it with me incase the hotel phone is digital....plus I'll be able to roam around the room, etc.
My only complaint is that I don't like listening to the sound of my recorded voice...
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lonestarmagic
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Glad to hear it's working for you....
I have gone back and tried some other phones I had laying around the house just to see if I could find a difference in sound quality.
Out of all the phones I tried, the Uniden had the best sound quality out of all of em. I have a Panasonic 5.8 which is my landline phone....the sound quality is good, but the Uniden was still better.
I tried getting close to my TV with it to see if I could produce any kind of static, but there was none. I even took the phone outside and walked to my neighbors and it still worked well.
My Panasonic has antenna's sticking out of the top of the base unit and the Uniden has none and it still works better.
I have gone back and tried some other phones I had laying around the house just to see if I could find a difference in sound quality.
Out of all the phones I tried, the Uniden had the best sound quality out of all of em. I have a Panasonic 5.8 which is my landline phone....the sound quality is good, but the Uniden was still better.
I tried getting close to my TV with it to see if I could produce any kind of static, but there was none. I even took the phone outside and walked to my neighbors and it still worked well.
My Panasonic has antenna's sticking out of the top of the base unit and the Uniden has none and it still works better.
Uniden Dect 6.0
I'm looking for a phone that I can pack in my laptop case when I travel. Will the Uniden phone work if not plugged in? There will be times when I will be at locations receiving Internet service, but no 110v available.
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JohnnyFreightTRAIN
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