Newbie with poor quality reception

[doonboggle]

Joined with Magicjack Plus a couple of weeks ago. Today we got our first long distance call from daughter. During the chatting, there was what seemed to be blurring of the speach. Phone being used is in the kitchen about 30+- ft. from the plugged in jack itself ... in our office. We stood close to the place where the phone being used is plugged into the wall, with no notable improvement.

I have the jack installed as a 'non computer' usage, and rather into the router of our home network as the instructions indicated.

Our internet, TimeWarner, is rated at 3 mbps, or high speed; not as high as upper speed of course, but sufficient for jack from what I've found so far in searching.

Any and all tips ect. will be appreciated.

[crackerjack]

these tests will evaluate the quality and quantity of your 'net connection as well as its suitability for VOIP


http://voiptest.nuvio.com/

(Java required)

[doonboggle]

THANKS!
Shows that all is OK (green buttons) except 'consistency of service', at 83% , while acceptable ... indicating "could be broken at times"; which is what we experienced yesterday.

Is there anything we can do to improve that?

Thanks again.

these tests will evaluate the quality and quantity of your 'net connection as well as its suitability for VOIP


http://voiptest.nuvio.com/

(Java required)

[Bill Smith]

Are you downloading something or using your internet connection for something else at the same time as using the MJ+? If so, don't. I have a slower connection speed than what you have reported. My MJ+ works fine if I'm not surfing when talking.

[cell14]

Is there anything we can do to improve that?

Yes, there is. Get rid off Magic Jack. The problem is most likely not with you ISP, but with MJ and it's servers. nI had the same problems with MJ and they magically disappeared once I got an Obi.
If you want to recycle your MJ without selling it on Craig's list, get a GV jack application for $ 12.95.

[notdeadyet]

83% COS isn't really that bad, so could just be the MJ servers as noted between you and your daughter....have you tried any other calls to see?
Try the MJ test # for testing as well: 909-390-0003...you will here your own voice repeated back to you when you speak. Having the right router too can make a difference....maybe search your model and MJ on the net to see if there are any references. Getting MJ to work the way you expect can be alot of trial and error till you get it right (try different phone, router, etc), but when you do, it can be a real money saver. I haven't spent a dime on Long Distance since I got it 3 years ago, and unlike Cell and the rest of the naysayers, mine works flawlessly within the MJ limits (ie: 90 minute call limits, etc). I have my Linksys router flashed with Tomato, but have QOS turned off and still works great even way up here in Canada using a deep south server

Good Luck!!!!

[doonboggle]

Bill Smith:
Are you downloading something or using your internet connection for something else at the same time as using the MJ+? If so, don't. I have a slower connection speed than what you have reported. My MJ+ works fine if I'm not surfing when talking.

No; at the time the call came in, we were at the kitchen table, and while the computer was on and connected to the internet, no activity at our end was being conducted.

Cell14:
I had the same problems with MJ and they magically disappeared once I got an Obi.

I have no idea what the Obi reference is; sorry but am a 'rookie' at all of this.

Notdeadyet:
have you tried any other calls to see?

1. No; that call coming in was the first since we connected a couple of weeks ago (now).

Having the right router too can make a difference

2. That thought has occurred to me as a possibility; along with perhaps only using the phone in our network room where the MJ is plugged in.
The router we are using comes highly recommended ... Cradlepoint ... and is only about 2 years old at the moment.
3. Being retired and on SSI, experimenting I try to avoid.
Sounds to me, based on all the good comments being received, is that perhaps we just need to 'go with the flow'. Our purpose was to get rid of the TimeWarner phone cost ... since our usage is very minimal (perhaps 4 incoming calls a month; and outgoing of perhaps 6-7 ... so the "$1.70 monthly fee" was, and still is, appealing.

Thanks to all the responses; they were informative to this 'rookie'.

[SteveHC]

2. That thought has occurred to me as a possibility; along with perhaps only using the phone in our network room where the MJ is plugged in.
The router we are using comes highly recommended ... Cradlepoint ... and is only about 2 years old at the moment.

- Given everything you've said, it's *possible* that your router is the problem, but it's certainly possible that the problem's with your ISP and/or the MJ server that your MJ phone number connects to.

Cradlepoint specializes in routers designed for use with mobile broadband (cellular data) services, not cable or DSL broadband service (although they do have products for the latter, *I* do not recommend them). If you are using a mobile (cellular data) broadband service, in order for you to receive decent VOIP service on it it MUST be via a "4G" network, not 3G.

If you are using a cable or DSL broadband service, you may need to go into your router's settings to make sure that they are set for optimal VOIP usage. If you feel that you are not knowledgeable enough about such things, I suggest that you consult with someone who is; Cradlepoint's customer service/technical support should be of some help (or a nearby friend or relative who is knowledgeable about routers). Depending on the specific characteristics of the Internet service in your specific location, it *may* also be that your router model has too little "buffer" memory.

If you're using a cable or DSL Internet service (as opposed to a cellular Internet service), try this first - Try connecting your MJ+ DIRECTLY to your MODEM (rather than the router) via the Ethernet cable and then placing and receiving a few calls. If the problem no longer exists, then it's the router (and/or its settings) that is the problem; if the problem still exists, then the problem's with your ISP and/or the MJ server that you connect to. If the latter turns out to be the case, you can - if you wish - contact MJ customer support (via their online " live chat") to describe the problem to them - they *may* be able to correct the problem at their end, but if they can't you can (if you wish) request to be reassigned a different phone number with a different area code (which in all probability will get you connecting with a different proxy server)... they may charge you a small, one-time fee for this though.

[cell14]

I have no idea what the Obi reference is; sorry but am a 'rookie' at all of this.

Obi= a VOIP adapter from Obihai.
Google is your friend.
The same thing with GV jack.

[Bill Smith]

"No; at the time the call came in, we were at the kitchen table, and while the computer was on and connected to the internet, no activity at our end was being conducted."

Try turning the computer off when using the MJ. It is possible that unbeknownst to you, the computer was updating something when you were making/receiving a call.

Try plugging the MJ+ directly into the modem. If that clears the problem, your router needs setting changes (search the forum for possible solutions) or replacement. Replacement is not an expensive proposition; $25-$35 should do it.