Area Codes Affected/Not Affected with 30 min cutoff

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 5:28 pm

Here is a List of my Friends and Family who use MagicJack.
Maybe we can find out what areas are affected with the 30 min limit.
Everyone on this list has the latest MJ update.

City/State - Computer Type - Operating System.
Area Code - Can/Cannot make calls over 30 min.

Pensacola, Fl - Thin Client w/XPe
850 area code CAN make and receive calls over 30 min

Columbus, Ohio - Desktop w/WinXP SP3
614 area code CAN make and receive calls over 30 min

Fayetteville, NC Desktop w/winXP SP3
910 area code CAN make and receive calls over 30 min

Radcliff - Ky Laptop w/Win Vista SP1
502 area code CAN make and receive calls over 30 min

Tacoma, Wa - Desktop w/win Vista SP1
206 area code CAN make and receive calls over 30 min

San Antonio, Tx - Desktop w/WinXP SP3
210 area code CAN make and receive calls over 30 min

Lawton, Ok - Laptop w/Win Vista SP1
580 area code CAN make and receive calls over 30 min

Colorado Springs, Co - Desktop w/Win Vista SP1
719 area code CAN make and receive calls over 30 min

Soldona, Ak with El Paso Tx area code - Desktop w/WinXP SP3
915 area code CAN make and receive calls over 30 min

DanD · Post by **DanD** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 10:02 am

Pennsylvania - Laptop w/ Vista SP1
717 area code CANNOT make calls over 30 min CAN receive calls over 30 min

docooo · Post by **docooo** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 10:45 am

209 = 30 min's

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 10:47 am

Docooo

What state/city are you in? I'm useing a USA map and I'm going to attempt to see if this 30min deal is localized to certain areas.

FredFriendly · Post by **FredFriendly** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 11:13 am

Amherst, MA - Desktop w/WinXP Pro SP3
413 area code CAN make and receive calls over 30 min

BUT my call was cut off at exactly 60 minutes.

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 11:16 am

Hmm I called my son in Ohio this morning and we talked for almost 2 hrs then hung up....I'm glad you posted the 1hr limit, I'll add that to the map.

FredFriendly · Post by **FredFriendly** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 11:50 am

ret27m wrote:Hmm I called my son in Ohio this morning and we talked for almost 2 hrs then hung up....I'm glad you posted the 1hr limit, I'll add that to the map.

I actually called the telephone sitting next to my magicjack phone, a Verizon landline phone with the same area code, both with an actual Amherst prefix (though different). At exactly 60 minutes (1:00:00 in the logs) it hung up automatically.

My magicjack was updated last night, 12/24/08 7:32pm, with loader version 1.80.4663.3272 and exe version 1.80.466.3. It had actually become unusable sometime during the afternoon when I was out (error code 3) because it apparently wanted to update, but I had blocked both render.talk4free.com and upgrade.talk4free.com in my hosts file. I had to unblock them both and let the upgrade go ahead before my magicjack became usable again.

I did try re-blocking the talk4free website and downgrading to my previous version of the magicjack software, but it only wanted to upgrade again.

Other than the minor cosmetic differences in the softphone, and the 60 minute limit, I haven't yet noticed any other changes in performance or service.

FredFriendly
========

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:02 pm

I just unblocked the website that gives the upgrades, it gave me a new update, my wife is getting ready to call her sister in Ga I'll report if it shuts her off at the 60 min mark.....

One thing I did notice with this update...I had to turn down the vol on my phone, the dial tone was REALLY loud, and I have artillary ears (bad hearing due to years of LOUD booms from a howitzer) lol.

UPDATE wife on the phone just reported that the quaility of of call is crystal clear even better than befor the update, she even had to lower the phone vol even further, her hearing is much better than mine....

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 2:21 pm

My wife finished her call to Ga and talked for 1:10 min, and no termination, that being said it was a MJ to MJ call. I wonder if the MJ to MJ calls are even affected by this update that limits the call time? I'd like to do a test from MJ to land/cell line but pretty much everyone we know has switched to MJ except my wife's mother and father and they live in Germany and when we call them on our MJ there is no limit as we are paying .02 cents a min.

lcompton · Post by **lcompton** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 2:25 pm

Good afternoon and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I just now completed an outbound call test and discovered that it was forcibly terminated at 60 minutes.

I live in Exton, Pennsylvania, which is a western suburb of Philadelphia. The area code is 484 and my exchange is actually allocated to a neighboring town, West Chester.

Thank you.

Lisa

lcompton · Post by **lcompton** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 2:32 pm

ret27m wrote:My wife finished her call to Ga and talked for 1:10 min, and no termination, that being said it was a MJ to MJ call. I wonder if the MJ to MJ calls are even affected by this update that limits the call time? I'd like to do a test from MJ to land/cell line but pretty much everyone we know has switched to MJ except my wife's mother and father and they live in Germany and when we call them on our MJ there is no limit as we are paying .02 cents a min.

Good afternoon, ret27m.

The call test that I just completed was magicJack to magicJack.

I performed a call test late on Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning going from magicJack to my T-Mobile wireless telephone. That call test was forcibly terminated at 30 minutes.

So, in answer to your question, the call restriction phenomenon absolutely affects magicJack to magicJack calls.

I can only run test calls to my T-Mobile wireless telephone at late hours or weekends without consuming precious wireless minutes.

I like this demographic data collection effort that you've initiated. The fact that some people are unaffected leads me to believe that this may be a regional (meaning switching office) network capacity problem. Perhaps, there is hope that magicJack will lift the restriction once they work through the traffic management issues.

Thank you.

Lisa

dbarber · Post by **dbarber** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 4:34 pm

lcompton wrote:
I just now completed an outbound call test and discovered that it was forcibly terminated at 60 minutes.

Lisa

Hi Lisa,
I live in then borough of West Chester. I have a 610-340-xxxx number. Yesterday, a call was cut off at exactly 30 minutes. Today, a call was cut off at exactly 40 minutes. I guess you are getting a bonus with 60 minute calls.

Donn

lcompton · Post by **lcompton** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 4:43 pm

dbarber wrote:Hi Lisa,
I live in then borough of West Chester. I have a 610-340-xxxx number. Yesterday, a call was cut off at exactly 30 minutes. Today, a call was cut off at exactly 40 minutes. I guess you are getting a bonus with 60 minute calls.

Donn

Good afternoon, Donn!

Fancy encountering someone who lives in the next town over on here. That's awesome! I live up on the north side of Exton (right off of PA-113 West).

Wow, I guess I am lucky with my 60-minute forced call terminations. I'll try a magicJack to T-Mobile wireless telephone outbound call test this evening (after 2100) when my unlimited nights window opens.

It's great to see you!

Thank you.

Lisa

AlaninKY · Post by **AlaninKY** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 4:47 pm

502 area code Louisville, KY using various versions of XP all with service pack 3 no forced terminations so far this month using 4 magicJacks.

Merry Christmas!

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 4:51 pm

I just finished a MJ to landline call FROM here in Pensacola Fl to Coco Beach Fl and talked 1:04 min, I had to beg my buddy not to hang up lol, he said his ear was tired. We ended the call ourselves.

I have map tacs EVERYWHERE on my map board, to date 63 people have contacted me about call ternination/no call ternination and still no rhyme or reason to the demographics of this thing.

It is however running about 75% no termination 25% termination.

My wife and I are also trying to hit 5000 min this month to see if we can get terminated for excessive use...WOW its hard to use 5000 min in a month but it looks like we are going to make it.

emiliomcol · Post by **emiliomcol** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 5:17 pm

i asked one of the chat tech supervisor if they have any kind of minutes limit per month and she told they not, we have to see if that is really true or just another story... rigth now im talking with a few friend testing the minutes limits and so far my limits is in 60 minutes ...

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 5:34 pm

I have never personally met or chatted with anyone that was shut down for excessive use but I have read a few posts stating that someone did get cut off for excessive use after 2500 min. So We figured that since we had a MJ given to us by a friend that prayed it would work with Sat VOIP and didnt, we would see how far we could push the excessive use envelope.

StrobeWylan · Post by **StrobeWylan** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 7:35 pm

dbarber wrote:
lcompton wrote:
I just now completed an outbound call test and discovered that it was forcibly terminated at 60 minutes.

Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I live in then borough of West Chester. I have a 610-340-xxxx number. Yesterday, a call was cut off at exactly 30 minutes. Today, a call was cut off at exactly 40 minutes. I guess you are getting a bonus with 60 minute calls.

Donn

I have a 484 area code and a Bethlehem exchange, but I am in Montana and route through Seattle. How's that for a mess! Don't know where you'll want to put this pin in the map, lol.

Anyway was out most of the day, but apparently my wife called Seattle for 50 min and no cut off. Mabey we'll get a chance tomorrow to try to break the 60 min barrier.

Keep smiling.

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 7:38 pm

lol I have you mapped, let me know if you break the 60 min barrier.

vegasman · Post by **vegasman** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 11:03 pm

i was upgraded without requesting--------imin las vegas,nv area code 702.------my outgoing calls were disconnected after 30 minutes on the head.------after over an hour with their tech chat person,getting nowhere,they handed me off to a higher level tech person.--this person acknowledged the 30 minite cut off and did something on their end.--this now is allowing me 1 hour before i get cut off.---an improvement,but still not as advertised.-------other than this cut off issue,magicjack is still the best game in town.---ive had it for almost a year and its 99% of perfect for me---some of the posts ive read are clearly either an exaggeration or a flat out lie.---lets hope magicjack gives us back our promised unlimited talk time----pardon my spelling---

broker1k · Post by **broker1k** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:29 am

area code is 706

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:29 am

hmm this is an interesting twist, I got a PM from a guy in Elizabethtown Ky who was having the 1 hr limit on his calls dialed or received, he had just finished a call this evening and the call lasted 1:40 min and he hung up and was not terminated. He did state that he didnt dial out it was a received call, he also informed me that the call was from a T-Mobile cell phone...just for your information. I hope this is good news for the folks that are battleing the call limits, I'll try and pass any info I get PM'ed to me on this thread. The demagraphics are still to scattered to make any type of educated guess weather or not its certain areas affected. But it still looking like 70-75% unaffected 25-30% affected.

lcompton · Post by **lcompton** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:41 am

ret27m:

ret27m wrote:He did state that he didnt dial out it was a received call, he also informed me that the call was from a T-Mobile cell phone...just for your information.

I've done a couple of inbound call tests and have found no upper limit. There doesn't seem to be any evidence of inbound call restrictions.

ret27m wrote:The demagraphics are still to scattered to make any type of educated guess weather or not its certain areas affected. But it still looking like 70-75% unaffected 25-30% affected.

Have you noticed anything interesting about your ratio reports? They're increasing toward those affected by the call restrictions. Your first report was 80/20 in favor of unaffected. Your second report was 75/25 in favor of unaffected. Now, we're at 70-75/30-25 in favor of unaffected. These ratios certainly appear to be moving in the wrong direction to me.

Thank you.

Lisa

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:53 am

As of 20 min ago I have had 94 people contact me 71 are unaffected 23 are affected so at this point its right at 75/25 but thru out the day it has varied from 80/20 to 70/30 but has stayed within those parameters. Sorry about my spelling...its getting late...lol plus I'm a terrible speller.

FredFriendly · Post by **FredFriendly** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 9:05 am

FredFriendly wrote:I actually called the telephone sitting next to my magicjack phone, a Verizon landline phone with the same area code, both with an actual Amherst prefix (though different). At exactly 60 minutes (1:00:00 in the logs) it hung up automatically.

Testing this morning at 7:00am on Boxing Day, I got the same results: at exactly 60 minutes (1:00:00 in the logs) my magicjack hung up automatically.

FredFriendly
========

tuckertf · Post by **tuckertf** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:29 pm

I am in the 719 ac (Col. Springs). Contrary to what was indicated in the original post for this thread (indicating 719 is not affected), I am affected by this. My limit is 60 mins.

Perhaps this is not a geographical limitation, but rather a 20% or so random sampling of all MagicJack devices / phone numbers.

ret27m · Post by **ret27m** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:32 pm

Thats what I'm seeing, it DOES NOT seem to be geographical at all, I have map tacs scattered EVERYWHERE, My mind is blown as to how its only affecting certain folks. Did some of us get different upgrades, that HAS to be it.

lcompton · Post by **lcompton** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 1:31 pm

Good afternoon.

Okay, I have to admit that I'm slightly perturbed about this call cap business. It wouldn't be so bad except I spent that damn USD60.00 last month to purchase an additional five years for one of my magicJacks. To make matters worse, I purchased a second magicJack a few months ago to add a second telephone line. So, yes, I'm aggravated.

Anyway, I was reading something Mark wrote on DSLReports and it occurs to me that he has a point. Making hour-long test calls is a waste of bandwidth and, more importantly, a pain.

So, I'm going to go with pmdump.exe to see what our friends at magicJack are doing to me.

I ran pmdump.exe on my Thin Client. It's very simple. Here are step-by-step instructions for anyone else desiring to try this:

1. Download pmdump.exe and place the file in a folder on your computer that you can access from a command line.

2. Open a command line session by clicking Start | Run... and then typing CMD and pressing the Enter key. If you saved pmdump.exe to the My Documents folder, then you'll need to change to that folder. Doing so from the default directory in which CMD places you, you'll need to type CD "My Documents" (see Figure 1.)

Figure 1: Changing directories

3. Run pmdump.exe with the -list option to get a list of all processes and their associated process identification numbers (PID) (see Figure 2.)

Figure 2: Finding the PID

4. Run pmdump.exe with the PID and the name of an output file (e.g. magicJack.txt) as arguments. This will take a moment, but when it completes you should now have a file named magicJack.txt (or whatever you named it) in the My Documents folder. CAUTION: This file was 74MB on my computer and it hung Notepad on the Thin Client (see Figure 3.)

Figure 3: Running the memory dump.

I copied the file to my primary desktop computer and opened it with Notepad++, which I highly recommend by-the-way.

5. Now, perform a text search for the phrase MaxOutboundCallDuration=. The first hit in my magicJack.txt file was a useless parameter entry with no discernable value set. However, when I searched for the next occurrence, I hit the section of the memory dump file with the parameter settings. Mine looked like this:

Code: Select all

[MagicJackOptions.CallDurationControl]
MaxOutboundCallDuration=3600

CAUTION: There are a bunch of other settings in this part of the memory dump file that contain, among other things, your SIP credentials. Refrain from posting any of this information.

SUMMARY:
I'm guessing that magicJack is pulling this value when it logs into the network. I didn't receive any updates (at least of which I am aware) to get the time change from 30 to 60 minutes. The version number of the program certainly didn't change.

I'm especially curious about what this value may be for the folks that believe they are unaffected by the call cap. I'm hypothesizing that there is in fact a call cap, but it's higher than the 60 minutes.

OTHER NEWS:
I was awake very early this morning (probably because I'm annoyed by this call cap business) and completed my Skype analysis as a replacement for magicJack. I'm not sure I'll post a major write-up in this forum as I am not entirely certain it would be welcome. In any case, it seems that Skype would run between USD60.00 and USD70.00/annum to get the same level of unlimited domestic inbound and outbound calling that I used to have with magicJack. I can't speak to call quality on Skype since I have never used the service. Reviews on the Internet seem largely mixed. But, the same is true of magicJack. So, who knows...

I also did some study on Ooma and PhoneGnome. Neither of these options look appealing. Ooma's network access device is way too expensive at USD250.00 and the company's stability is worrisome. They received an influx of USD16MM in additional venture capital in September to help them stay afloat while they attempt to develop a business model capable of generating more revenue.

Skype looks to be the most appealing alternative to magicJack so far from what I can see.

Thank you.

Lisa

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 2:02 pm

lcompton wrote:I'm especially curious about what this value may be for the folks that believe they are unaffected by the call cap. I'm hypothesizing that there is in fact a call cap, but it's higher than the 60 minutes.

Nice write-up. I bookmarked it.

What's surprising to me is how the first people to report this value (and the 30-minute cap) had 1800 (the number of seconds in 30 minutes). Now it's changed to 3600 (one hour). But, there wasn't another "Lucky You" upgrade.

That means MJ has some way to push these values to the softphone dynamically. They're either stored in the magicjack.dll file as a packaged resource. Or, they're being obtained with each new connection. But, it wasn't hardcoded in the program (which I assumed was the case because it started with the new program). I think it was "magichack" who pointed out the packaged resources contained in the .dll file.

Anyway, like I said about the irony of not communicating this limit causing people to use more resources to see if they have a limit, people are poking around in MagicJack files and memory trying to find something they wouldn't have cared about if this episode had been handled with more consideration to the customers. If it had just been announced, with a link to the reasons why it was necessary, few would have felt the need to consume minutes to test the limit, or poke around in memory trying to find interesting things.

Mark

FredFriendly · Post by **FredFriendly** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:34 am

FredFriendly wrote:Testing this morning at 7:00am on Boxing Day, I got the same results: at exactly 60 minutes (1:00:00 in the logs) my magicjack hung up automatically.

It's been a couple days since I tried this, and the limit is still at 60 minutes. I have also not received any new updates since my magicjack was updated on the 24th.

FredFriendly
========

Kokkos · Post by **Kokkos** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:13 am

I was cut off today in a Go To Meeting call at 60min. Area code 713

And the call was a dial out from MJ to a 215 Go To Meeting area code.

This is very frustrating!

How does MJ think anyone who values their phone conversations will put up with a 60min time limit?

Obviously they don't advertise it. I am considering setting up a .org site to make the public aware of how LUCKY they will be with Magic Jack.

Kokkos

StrobeWylan · Post by **StrobeWylan** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:26 am

Just called my cell phone and was cut off at exactly 1 hour.

Wonder if this will end?

DrStrange · Post by **DrStrange** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:30 am

Area code 203.

A call was dropped at exactly 30 minutes on 12/24.

A call to the same number was not dropped and lasted 35 minutes on 12/27.

I haven't tested for a 40 or 60 minute limit here.

Trebuin · Post by **Trebuin** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:26 pm

614 has a 1 hour limit outbound confirmed

pagemen · Post by **pagemen** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:08 pm

for anyone who are affected, can you try a different softphone or an ATA to see if the limit is still there?

currently, u can use dukadial.com to workaround the issue if you need some long talk----in fact, if you don't mind a non-local number, ipkall+gizmo5(many many will work as well)+dukadial==completely free voip phone, plus you have the freedom to use an ATA without playing cat and mouse game.

JigoLigo · Post by **JigoLigo** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:47 pm

My MJ is using a 630 area code. Calls to all landlines and cellphones are dropped exactly after 1 hr.

maxjivi05 · Post by **maxjivi05** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:04 pm

Pikeville, KY - 606 = No Limit Seen So Far

twobit · Post by **twobit** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:26 pm

cut off calling local 619 san diego at 60 mins mj to land line

xxM5xx · Post by **xxM5xx** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:40 am

az2008 wrote:.... had 1800 (the number of seconds in 30 minutes). Now it's changed to 3600 (one hour). But, there wasn't another "Lucky You" upgrade.

That means MJ has some way to push these values to the softphone dynamically. They're either stored in the magicjack.dll file as a packaged resource. Or, they're being obtained with each new connection. But, it wasn't hardcoded in the program (which I assumed was the case because it started with the new program). I think it was "magichack" who pointed out the packaged resources contained in the .dll file.

Mark,

Dan doesn't need to push anything dynamically to the Dongle to terminate a call at 30 or 60 (or whatever duration) minutes. This can all be done at the server end (his equipment).

I read a post regarding these limits. I cannot recall if it was DSL reports, or here but what was stated was that Dan was having a problem with call disconnects...what he called phantom calls. This was where a call was completed, the parties hung up, but Dan's equipment didn't properly disconnect the call. It was a run away kind of thing, which consumed resources on the MJ network. This was a problem Dan's people were trying to fix. The 30 minute cutoff was invoked as a temporary patch until they found the cause and fixed it. I am just repeating what I read. It might all be hogwash, it could be someone's fabrication, but it sounded believable to me. Furthermore, in mid-December I had seen where one of my calls dragged on as a "phantom" after I hung up. My call was approx 40 minutes long, but this phantom ran almost 3 hours before I noticed it. I pulled my Dongle, counted to ten and reinserted it, and all was cured (that time). FWIW, I believe there may be a bit of truth to the story that there was a disconnect problem occurring @ MJ's equipment. I can understand why Dan would be reluctant to make a public statement confirming this. It doesn't look good to admit your phone network has bugs.

AlaninKY · Post by **AlaninKY** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:27 pm

I can confirm using my Jacks all with 502 area code that there is a 60 minute cutoff. If you are on a webinar/teleseminar, I have a work around solution! Before the 60 minute cutoff have a 2nd magicJack on another computer up and running with a wireless telephone. Dial the phone number to get into the webinar/teleseminar before the cutoff. When it's time for the cutoff grab the wireless phone and listen to the teleseminar or take it to the computer the has the visual presentation on the computer screen.
Enjoy!

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:32 pm

AlaninKY wrote:I have a work around solution! Before the 60 minute cutoff have a 2nd magicJack on another computer up and running with a wireless telephone. Dial the phone number to get into the webinar/teleseminar before the cutoff. When it's time for the cutoff grab the wireless phone and listen to the teleseminar or take it to the computer the has the visual presentation on the computer screen.
Enjoy!

It would be easier and less expensive to just open a pay-as-you-go account with Skype or vbuzzer.com. $10 to pre-fund it. They don't charge for calling 800 numbers (which must teleconferences are).

Mark

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:13 pm

Area Code 435 is Capped at 60 minutes.

davrow · Post by **davrow** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:08 pm

HolmanGT wrote:Area Code 435 is Capped at 60 minutes.

Nah, George, that is just you.

Dan left the rest of the area code uncapped.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:18 pm

davrow wrote:
HolmanGT wrote:Area Code 435 is Capped at 60 minutes.
Nah, George, that is just you.

Dan left the rest of the area code uncapped.

Well now that you have brought it out of the closet, I was pretty sure that was what was going on.

Who's paranoid, they really are out to get me.

magicJack and magicJack Plus Support, Reviews, FAQs and Tricks

Area Codes Affected/Not Affected with 30 min cutoff

Area Codes Affected/Not Affected with 30 min cutoff

Affected Area Code

Re: Area Codes Affected/Not Affected with 30 min cutoff

Outbound Calls Forcibly Terminated At 60 Minutes...

My Call Test Was magicJack to magicJack...

Re: Outbound Calls Forcibly Terminated At 60 Minutes...

Re: Outbound Calls Forcibly Terminated At 60 Minutes...

Re: Outbound Calls Forcibly Terminated At 60 Minutes...

area code 702

cut off at 60 min

Nope, It's Not Good News To Me...

Have You Received A Call Cap? Another Way To Find Out...

Re: Have You Received A Call Cap? Another Way To Find Out..

CutOFF at 60min (713)

Re: Have You Received A Call Cap? Another Way To Find Out..