Call waiting

WTCAMB · Post by **WTCAMB** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:25 pm

I am having problems with my call waiting feature on Magic Jack. I can see on my caller id who the first caller is, but I only get a couple of tones when someone beeps in. On U-verse, I could also see the id of the person calling on call waiting. I talked to several high tech chat operators on MJ site and one even took control of my computer, but they didn’t get it resolved. They said to try chat later. I am using Panasonic cordless phones.

redpepper · Post by **redpepper** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:50 pm

Your finding is actually correct. Call waiting caller id delivery is not supported at all on a basic MJ or MJ+ installation.

You can add this feature and others like call blocking by downloading and installing the Magicfeatures Plugin. The full version is free to try for up to 7 days.

For more information see the "magicJack related items For Sale / Wanted" section of this forum.

beard6 · Post by **beard6** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 12:57 am

Am I correct that you're saying that magicfeatures call waiting caller id ONLY works if the magic jack plus is plugged into the computer?

If so, that totally defeats the great addition to magic jack plus which is being able to NOT use a computer and plug directly into the internet. That was my reason for passing on the first magic jack and now buying plus. I was excited only to find that the caller id call waiting feature does not work. That is HUGE to me......and no, i don't want to rely on a computer always being on.

Am I correct in all of this?

bitstopjoe · Post by **bitstopjoe** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 6:45 am

beard6 wrote:Am I correct that you're saying that magicfeatures call waiting caller id ONLY works if the magic jack plus is plugged into the computer?

If so, that totally defeats the great addition to magic jack plus which is being able to NOT use a computer and plug directly into the internet. That was my reason for passing on the first magic jack and now buying plus. I was excited only to find that the caller id call waiting feature does not work. That is HUGE to me......and no, i don't want to rely on a computer always being on.

Am I correct in all of this?

Yes you are correct.
Think about it, Magicfeatures is a SOFTWARE based product requiring an OS to work. So unless you can find a router with it's own OS no way can MF work without the MJ being in the USB port of a PC. They had no plans on MF working with the Plus, but there was a demand for it, so they made one work with the Plus ( albeit in the USB port).

beard6 · Post by **beard6** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 4:26 pm

Ok, then if I must deal with my MJ plugged into a pc, my next question is can I plug the MJ into the USB on the pc simultaneously with the ethernet plugged into the MJ so that if my power goes off for a minute and my pc powers down, it will still be connected to the router when the power goes back on hence calls still being able to come in even though the pc is off?

bitstopjoe · Post by **bitstopjoe** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 5:20 pm

You can use an ORIG MJ in the USB port while the PLUS is plugged into the Router. Not sure if you can have a Plus plugged into the USB and the Router at the same time. Something tells me no, but hey with MJ one can never be sure...

beard6 · Post by **beard6** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 11:18 pm

But then wouldn't the original MJ have to have the same phone number as the MJ plus in order for the magicfeatures to work with my MJ plus line?

bitstopjoe · Post by **bitstopjoe** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 6:51 am

beard6 wrote:But then wouldn't the original MJ have to have the same phone number as the MJ plus in order for the magicfeatures to work with my MJ plus line?

You would need to have purchased two Magic Features, as only one MF license PER MJ dongle... So regardless if the phone numbers are the same or different, if you use two MJ's you need to purchase two MF's...

redpepper · Post by **redpepper** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 9:50 am

This is just to share experience in case it helps you find a way forward.

I have a regular computer battery backup system connected to my computer and other critical hardware like my router to cover minor power outages that only last a few minutes. Aside from that when there is an extended power outage, I set up the computer to automatically restart when the power comes back up.

The MJ dialer (along with the Magicfeatures plugin) is set up on my computer to automatically start up when the computer restarts. Overall the setup has been pretty dependable.

Here are some example instructions on how to set up your computer to automatically restart after a power outage http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows7/ ... dows-7.htm .

beard6 · Post by **beard6** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:11 am

Thanks redpepper. No offense bitstopjoe, but your explanation does not help. If you have 2 magic jacks, they don't work off the same phone number. Therefore, if the plus is connected only to the router and the other MJ is connected to the pc, how would 2 magic features work if only one would be active to the MJ connected to the pc?

Correct me if I'm wrong redpepper.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:14 am

beard6 wrote: No offense bitstopjoe, but your explanation does not help. If you have 2 magic jacks, they don't work off the same phone number.

No offense beard6, but you can have it set up that way, if you so wish.

beard6 · Post by **beard6** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:16 pm

Ok, then would you mind helping me by explaining how that is set up? Just to be clear, my goal is to be able to use magic jack plus connected to the router and be able to use magic features, bottom line. So if that means setting up 2 magic jacks, one connected to the router and one to the pc working off the same phone number, that's fine. Please explain how that is et up. Thanks.

bitstopjoe · Post by **bitstopjoe** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 2:23 pm

beard6 wrote:Ok, then would you mind helping me by explaining how that is set up? Just to be clear, my goal is to be able to use magic jack plus connected to the router and be able to use magic features, bottom line. So if that means setting up 2 magic jacks, one connected to the router and one to the pc working off the same phone number, that's fine. Please explain how that is et up. Thanks.

As I said before you can have ONE MJ plugged into your PC's usb port and the Plus plugged into your router. ONLY the MJ plugged into your PC will work with Magic Features ( since it is software based).
Now that being said, not having a Plus and if it is the same number as your orig MJ ( yes they both can have the same number) I would "assume" both phones ( one plugged into the MJ and the other plugged into the PC) will ring at the same time. What I would do if it were me, is use your orig MJ with MF running on the PC and when you have to turn off your PC then plug your Plus into the router with it's own phone. Of course your MF will not work at that point.
Best I can come up with.

beard6 · Post by **beard6** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 4:42 pm

Thank you. If both magic jacks can run off the same phone number as you say, then that should make it work. Can you please tell me how to set up another MJ to run off the same number? I currently have a MJ plus set up. I don't see any instructions on how to set up another MJ on the same number.

bitstopjoe · Post by **bitstopjoe** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 4:55 pm

I know you can go from an Orig MJ to a Plus with the same number. When you first get your Plus and register it there is an option of adding it to an existing account using the same number. So therefore I would "assume" if you bought another Plus you would have the same option. I do not know if you bought an Orig MJ if you can do the same. That being said, I would contact online support PRIOR to plugging in the new MJ into your PC and let them walk you through it. MAKING SURE they know you want the same number. As I said I only know about having the Orig MJ and adding a Plus to the same number. Since your situation is a tad different I am not 100% sure if you can add another Plus to the same number, but I don't see why not.
To me it seems like overkill, but if you got the $$ to play with it, I guess if one MJ ever crapped out you will always have a backup right there.

beard6 · Post by **beard6** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:55 am

Hi again......question. If I get magicfeatures, should the caller id call waiting work on my handset or just the softphone on the pc? Should I see the caller id on my handset while I'm on the phone and call waiting comes in? I ask because I downloaded a trial of MagicFeatures and the caller id did NOT show on my handset as it did with my landline. I only get the normal call waiting beep. Please advise.

bitstopjoe · Post by **bitstopjoe** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:56 pm

beard6 wrote:Hi again......question. If I get magicfeatures, should the caller id call waiting work on my handset or just the softphone on the pc? Should I see the caller id on my handset while I'm on the phone and call waiting comes in? I ask because I downloaded a trial of MagicFeatures and the caller id did NOT show on my handset as it did with my landline. I only get the normal call waiting beep. Please advise.

Not sure why but yes, if you have your MJ dongle plugged into your USB port ( not your router as with the MJ Plus) the yes you will see the caller ID number and name ( providing the name is in MF speed dial section) When you get another call you will hear a tone and the person whom is calling you shows up on your handset too.
Now some handsets seem to not show caller ID with MJ. There is a section in this forum talking about just that. There is a simple fix which is discussed there as well which has worked for many.

beard6 · Post by **beard6** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:29 pm

But I thought the point of magicfeatures is to get caller id call waiting automatically rather than having to plug in the names manually. I can easily plug in the names on my cordless handset without the software. I want the names to come up of people I DONT know.

bitstopjoe · Post by **bitstopjoe** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:45 am

beard6 wrote:But I thought the point of magicfeatures is to get caller id call waiting automatically rather than having to plug in the names manually. I can easily plug in the names on my cordless handset without the software. I want the names to come up of people I DONT know.

Prior to the MJ 2.0 release over a year ago, MF would get their info from the MJ contact list. After MJ updated to V2.0 that was no longer possible, so the name info has to be entered in the MF speed dial section. MF also does a lookup on the net to get the name from anyone not on the list, but that does not always work and all you will get is the number and location, not number and name.