magicJack and magicJack Plus Support, Reviews, FAQs and Tricks

I would like to know if it is possible to use the 56k modem to run a regular phone also? I would like to get away from the USB adaptor that magicjack gives to you. It seems to be giving me trouble when it is plugged in for several days.

I have the output of the magic jack plugged into one of my phone lines to run all of the phones in my house. (I disconnected the line goinging outside of my house, since I only use my cell phone) After a couple of days it seems to hang up and needs to be restarted. It would be awsome if someone could figure that out.

ansonosmond wrote:I would like to know if it is possible to use the 56k modem to run a regular phone also? I would like to get away from the USB adaptor that magicjack gives to you. It seems to be giving me trouble when it is plugged in for several days.

I have the output of the magic jack plugged into one of my phone lines to run all of the phones in my house. (I disconnected the line goinging outside of my house, since I only use my cell phone) After a couple of days it seems to hang up and needs to be restarted. It would be awsome if someone could figure that out.

as far as I know, you need the dongle in order to use the physical phone

just try it. be adventurous

johnnyboy, any chance you can help us macbook users?

I too want to be dongle free - with a handheld phone.

I am running out of USB ports - the dongle already broke one USB port, the second one is now loose and wobbly - anytime I want to use my digital camera I have to remove the dongle - when I switch from MJ dongle to digital camera and back to MJ again everytime I connect or disconnect anything to the USB port it gives off sparks - I am sure it is going to quit working soon.

Please somebody find a way to make MJ dongle-free work with the modem port - somebody with more technical knowledge than myself.

30secs wrote:johnnyboy, any chance you can help us macbook users?

sorry, I'm an anti-mac guy...

Jhonnyboy, this works like a charm. It's really awesome. I got my first MJ a while back, and have been sifting through this forum for many days now.
I travel frequently and this is the greatest tip I've used so far. Much obliged!

Question:
Everything worked fine till I rebooted my notebook. Now, when I click on the new shortcut I created for the hard drive MJ, the MJ window tells me to "Please activate you MagicJack to continue..." at the bottom.
Even though I'm still allowed to make calls normally, I was wondering if that's normal, a glitch or will it become a problem later on?
Again, much obliged.

P.S. I'd also like to reiterate my thanks to jhonnyboy and all the techies on call

I don't think this tip was stated previously in this particular forum, please excuse if it is>>>

After following all instructions stated in the previous posts:

If you copy the shortcut to magicJackLoader.exe in your startup folder, MJ will start automatically at computer boot up. Startup folder is located at: c:\Documents and Settings\"user login"\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Just copy shortcut in this folder.

Also, If any of you have the same problem I had with having to unplug/plug the MJ after you reboot your computer, copying that shortcut
in the startup folder solves that problem. Meaning, follow all instructions for dongle-free MJ but leave MJ plugged in with phones attached.

Hope I stated this correctly and that this helps....

thanks for the trick! excelent post. any trick to rewire a modem mack to work with magicjack?

I'm using MJ without the dongle after following instructions. BUT:

1. I was never asked to log in by providing email address and password

2. My softphone now has a message saying "Please activate your magicJack™ to continue..."

Aside of that, all is working fine.

Now... for those of us that actually need the phone to RING when a call comes, is there a way to get a some kind of a ring with this setting?

I did happen to get this working on my vista system... now that its working with this setup like a softphone... Is there a way to copy this over to linux from its working state and make it work under wine? I just thought that would be so cool if it was possible. Just and idea

To johnnyboy--Thanks a million for the tip. I tried for days to get the dongle working on my work computer, without any luck.
It worked fine on my laptop and on my WinXP 64bit machine, but not on the machine I use for work. Your tip works beautifully. I only wish my speakers would ring, when a call comes in
Thanks again.

Thanks, johnnyboy. This is a great tip. It took me about 10 minutes. Works great on my laptop. I can now use the USB dongle at the same time on my desk PC.

Don't seem to have the problems others have described.

Question: is there any way to shut down MagicJack without resorting to the task manager? My machine will not hibernate with it running.

grw wrote:Question: is there any way to shut down MagicJack without resorting to the task manager? My machine will not hibernate with it running.

Check out this link.

sbw07 wrote:

grw wrote:Question: is there any way to shut down MagicJack without resorting to the task manager? My machine will not hibernate with it running.

Check out this link.

Thanks! Works great!!!!

I discovered that microphone quality is not very good for some reason. I have tried both an external mike/headset and the built in notebook mike.

Any thoughts??

I just used the dongle-less version on my laptop from Berlin Germany over a 128KB connection - worked great!! Many thanks.

Great tip i discovered today --

You CAN use MJ dongle-free with a phone -- all you need it to buy a cheap USB voip phone from any local store! Works like a dream. now i can use MJ anywhere i go w/out the dongle.

if you're looking for a cheap usb voip phone:

http://www.amazon.com/VoIP-USB-IP-Inter ... 724&sr=8-3

But I want to be able to connect a phone line to my house wiring. Would this work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-Internet-VOIP-S ... 286.c0.m14

30secs wrote:Great tip i discovered today --

You CAN use MJ dongle-free with a phone -- all you need it to buy a cheap USB voip phone from any local store! Works like a dream. now i can use MJ anywhere i go w/out the dongle.

if you're looking for a cheap usb voip phone:

http://www.amazon.com/VoIP-USB-IP-Inter ... 724&sr=8-3

couch-potato wrote:But I want to be able to connect a phone line to my house wiring. Would this work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-Internet-VOIP-S ... 286.c0.m14

This is a joke question right?

laserjobs wrote: This is a joke question right?

No joke.

I want to use MJ with my whole house wiring, and I would like to be able to do it without the USB dongle.

I would prefer if I could connect the phone cord to the modem port, and not have to use a USB port.

I'm not sure why you think it is a joke. Perhaps there is no possible way that it would work, and I don't have the technological knowledge to understand that, in which case, as simple "no" would suffice.

Or, you might think that it is kind of ridiculous that I want to replace the MJ donlge and small box, that runs from the USB port to the phone line - with a different box, that runs from the USB port from the phone line. Well that is what I want to do. The MJ USB dongle sticks out too far, and is too heavy, it has already destroyed one USB port, and the second one is about to blow (there are sparks there every time something is connected or disconnected). It would be nice to find something with a longer cord that could sit on the desktop, the cord could go to the back of the computer, or maybe this could work on a USB hub, where MJ won't?

couch-potato wrote:No joke.

I want to use MJ with my whole house wiring, and I would like to be able to do it without the USB dongle.

I would prefer if I could connect the phone cord to the modem port, and not have to use a USB port.

I'm not sure why you think it is a joke. Perhaps there is no possible way that it would work, and I don't have the technological knowledge to understand that, in which case, as simple "no" would suffice.

Or, you might think that it is kind of ridiculous that I want to replace the MJ donlge and small box, that runs from the USB port to the phone line - with a different box, that runs from the USB port from the phone line. Well that is what I want to do. The MJ USB dongle sticks out too far, and is too heavy, it has already destroyed one USB port, and the second one is about to blow (there are sparks there every time something is connected or disconnected). It would be nice to find something with a longer cord that could sit on the desktop, the cord could go to the back of the computer, or maybe this could work on a USB hub, where MJ won't?

Short answer is no. Connecting the MagicJack to your whole house wiring is certainly possible but probably way more trouble than it's worth. The MagicJack I received came with a 6" USB extension cord. Mayhaps, you could use that? If yours didn't come with one, you can buy something similar.

ilovejedd wrote: Short answer is no. Connecting the MagicJack to your whole house wiring is certainly possible but probably way more trouble than it's worth. The MagicJack I received came with a 6" USB extension cord. Mayhaps, you could use that? If yours didn't come with one, you can buy something similar.

MJ is already connected to my whole house wiring. No problem. That info is available in other posts.

I am using the 6" extension cord, but it is too short.

I have tried connecting to a hub, but MJ doesn't work with a hub.

The instructions say to copy the <magicjackdrive>\magicJack folder to C:\magicJack and optionally to copy the mjusbsp folder under the userprofile to C:\mjusbsp. Sounds good to me. However, if you truly want to make them usable to any user account on that host, you need to watch what permissions got assigned to the destination folders. You might want to share those folders if you are the only user of your host or it is a family shared host. In that case, removed the inherited permissions and add Everyone with full permissions to those C:\magicJack and C:\mjusbsp folders. If you share a host but don't want others to get into your personal data then put Everyone with full permissions on the C:\mjusbsp folder but select permissions on the C:\magicJack folder to allow only you to access it (which means other accounts will need their own copy of this folder, so you might want to use C:\magicJack_<username> or put that folder under their userprofile.

Remember that your personal data (contact list, call history, and login data) is stored in the magicJack folder so decide with whom you are going to share it or not share it. If not sharing your personal data, you'll need separate instances of the magicJack folder, one for each user or group of them. Of course, permissions only apply if you are using NTFS, not if using FAT.

While simply copying the folders from the USB drives created by the dongle worked okay for me, I realized that the permissions for the destination folders on my hard drive might make the setup not function for other accounts on that same host due to permissions. In my setup, I don't run the magicJack processes under the account under which I login. I instead use a scheduled task in Task Scheduler to run them under another admin-level account. That gets their softphone out of my face. Obviously that other account would need permissions to those new folders created on my hard drive. As it was, the other account was also in the Administrators group and had full permissions on those folders but I figured that everyone using my host should be allowed unfettered access to those files. I'm not worried about who else might see my contacts or call history on my own host and anyone else using my host to also use magicJack also needs to know the login credentials so they can fix any problems when they encounter them. I'm lucky that I don't need to share my host and the only person that I might consider letting use it is another smartie, like me.

For Vista, how do I change the properties of the shortcut? It is so easy in XP, but I am lost in Vista. Any other Vista issues to note? Thanks.

asragov wrote:For Vista, how do I change the properties of the shortcut? It is so easy in XP, but I am lost in Vista. Any other Vista issues to note? Thanks.

The original instructions given by Johnnyboy worked fine for me on Vista. The instructions were:

5.open the properties page for the shortcut (right-click shortcut...properties)
6.replace the "Target" entry with:
"C:\mjusbsp\magicJack.exe" /foreground /scf _magicJackPersonalDataRoot "C:\magicJack"
(using drive letters for the drives the folders were copied to)
(notice the use of "magicJack.exe" rather than "magicJackLoader.exe"
7.put "C:\mjusbsp" in the "Start in" entry

johnnyboy wrote:Here's how to use the magicJack service without plugging in the dongle...

1.plug in the magicJack dongle
2.copy the "magicJack" folder from the magicJack drive to a drive on the harddrive
for example, "C:\magicJack"
3.[optional, but so it would be available for any user, and easier to access] copy the
"mjusbsp folder somewhere else
for example, "C:\mjusbsp"
4.if no shortcut to magicJackLoader.exe, make one
5.open the properties page for the shortcut (right-click shortcut...properties)
6.replace the "Target" entry with:
"C:\mjusbsp\magicJack.exe" /foreground /scf _magicJackPersonalDataRoot "C:\magicJack"
(using drive letters for the drives the folders were copied to)
(notice the use of "magicJack.exe" rather than "magicJackLoader.exe"
7.put "C:\mjusbsp" in the "Start in" entry
8.using msconfig, disable the "cdloader2" entry in the Startup tab

start magicJack from the shortcut

for updates, plug in the dongle periodically to let updates occur and re-copy the folders...

Can someone please make these steps more clear so dummies like me can make it work on Vista.

followed the steps to the letter... no softphone at all... could I combine your method of dongle-less functionality with the method used for running magicjack with another softphone? I have no clue what is wrong with this situation... but my dongle is a little off anyway... won't work at all on my desktop, and acts kinda funny on the laptop now and then... would be nice to get this figured out so I can leave the dongle with my mother and take the program with me when I am out of town...


Is it possible that a modified XP installation could be a part of the problem?

Thanks for tip! it works great. I am eager to try the multiple instance running on different computers to see what it does. Also, a cool addition is a program called magicwho.exe. It can make the dial pad transparent and other things.

Anyway Thanks.

I tried the multiple instances and when I plugged in the magic jack on another computer I got a fast busy when I dial on the one where the software only is running. Then When I unplugged the magic jack from the usb on the second computer it didn't change the fast busy problem with the first computer. However, killing the magicjack.exe process in task manager and restarting it worked like a charm again. So I guess we can't use it simultaneously on two computers. I guess that makes sense. However, still cool to not have to plug in the jack. Thanks.

Working on two computers--I use magicjack dongle free on my laptop and with the dongle on my desktop. Both work for dialing out. However, only the one that is booted up first seems to ring and take calls.

Any other similar experiences?

After the recent update, the magicjack folder on the magicjack drive becomes "hidden".

Most novice computer users would not find the magicjack folder in the magicjack drive because its properties are set to hidden.

to unhide it, on vista, do the following:

1. open any folder on your computer.
2. click on "Organize" and go to "Folder and search options"
3. click on the "view" tab
4. make sure, under the "Hidden files and folders" entry, you place the bullet on "Show hidden files and folders".
5. click apply and ok.

now go and open magicjack drive...

viola! magicjack folder appears there.

To gain access to the mjusbsp folder, on Vista, go to the following (Press the "Window" and "R" key simultaneously) and type the following:

** Make sure to replace "xxxxxxxxxxx" in the location below with your user name on your Vista Computer.

C:\Users\xxxxxxxxxxx\AppData\Roaming\

Here you will see mjusbsp folder.

Copy the folder to a location on your C drive and follow the excellent instructions posted in the fist post... works like a Charm!

Thanks to all for the great! help.

Hopefully the above will help.

Hi folks:

I got MJ dongle-free function working on comp-1 with the help of above posts.
I thank all the posters contributed to this effort
I like to duplicate that effort on my comp-2 and comp-3. I have problems in this regard. I need help.
I have all these 3 comp in a LAN hooked to a wireless router.
MJ - dongle plugged into USB never worked on comp-2 ( win XP) We spent several several hours on that and finally gave up on that.

Could someone indicate detailed steps leading into the creation of an icon to launch MJ without plugging MJ into USB comp-2. In other words duplicating the dongle-free functionality in comp-2 w/o plugging MJ into comp-2 USB.

Can I duplicate the dongle-free functionality in another notebook comp-3 in the LAN running Win 2000 where MJ never seem to have worked.

I need help

anant

Hi all:

I made further progress,

I copied c:\\magicjack and C:\\mjusbsp folders from comp-1 to the C: drive of comp-2. and followed all the steps to the letter. When I clicked the icon I got the softphone on screen . and when I double clicked the "Please connect to Internet xxxxxx " msg I got into registration screen with msg No Serial # passed.
I know the procedure requires for the first time to plug the dongle with the MJ running , stop the mj processes in the task manager so that MJ with dongle stops. and now click the icon and dongle-free MJ starts which asks for email etc for registration. I have done all this on comp-1.
Here on my comp-2 I have a limitation that MJ with dongle does not load ( due to various sw conficts on the comp) so that I am unable to proceed further.
I wonder if there any other way of passing the Serial # in the Registration process. I am stuck here. I need help.

anant

Hi all:

I am able to solve my problem.

Here is what I have done. I have plugged the dongle and left it for a few seconds and killed the magicjack.exe process in the task manager hoping the Serial # would have been passed on. Now I clicked the dongle-free icon and the softphone appeared with the Registration sceen to enter the e-mail address and everything is ok now. I never had MJ working on this comp-2. This method helped me to have MJ for use in at least in the headset mode.

I might try to repeat this on the notebook running on Win 2000. I have no evidence of MJ ever worked on win 2000 from our forum. Hope this method works. I shall report later on the progress.

Sorry to bother you folks on my problem.

anant

anant

anant wrote:Hi all:

I am able to solve my problem.

Here is what I have done. I have plugged the dongle and left it for a few seconds and killed the magicjack.exe process in the task manager hoping the Serial # would have been passed on. Now I clicked the dongle-free icon and the softphone appeared with the Registration sceen to enter the e-mail address and everything is ok now. I never had MJ working on this comp-2. This method helped me to have MJ for use in at least in the headset mode.

I might try to repeat this on the notebook running on Win 2000. I have no evidence of MJ ever worked on win 2000 from our forum. Hope this method works. I shall report later on the progress.

Sorry to bother you folks on my problem.

anant

anant

great!
I believe all it needs is to be able to get the serial # from the dongle itself...
As for win2000... would like to know if it works, but I bet it can be made to work if it doesn't by copying and installing missing files (dlls, etc) from Xp.
Honestly, I haven't even SEEN win2000 in maybe or couple of years.

I'm using MJ with the USB dongle. I'm having some intermittent issues with low volume and choppy sound (breaking up).

Can someone tell me if switching to dongle-less will improve the above issues especially the choppy sound? I running the fastest DSL available. In other words, are my issues dongle related instead of network?

Thanks guys.

jucaso wrote:I'm using MJ with the USB dongle. I'm having some intermittent issues with low volume and choppy sound (breaking up).

Can someone tell me if switching to dongle-less will improve the above issues especially the choppy sound? I running the fastest DSL available. In other words, are my issues dongle related instead of network?

You could try it. Maybe also try the "menu" option to adjust volume. Maybe try a powered USB hub.

For choppiness, try going into task manager, right click on the magicjack.exe process, and set the priority to High.

If you're connecting to your router using wireless, try a wired connection.

Look into flashing your router with the free Tomato firmware, and enable QoS. It made a big difference for me.

Mark

How do I remove "Upgrading; please wait before selecting your location."

When working on a Mac with the dongle and a PC laptop with the copied files, the PC always rings, no matter which one starts up first. When the PC is shut down the Mac will not ring until the program is restarted.

dt314 wrote:When working on a Mac with the dongle and a PC laptop with the copied files, the PC always rings, no matter which one starts up first. When the PC is shut down the Mac will not ring until the program is restarted.

so much for mac...

I have done all the instructions. I Start it with the shortcut and it starts. But when I unplug dongle it shuts down and when I try the shortcut w/o the dongle it says I need to plug in. Any thoughts??

ftudino wrote:I have done all the instructions. I Start it with the shortcut and it starts. But when I unplug dongle it shuts down and when I try the shortcut w/o the dongle it says I need to plug in. Any thoughts??

be sure to rename your shortcut (or make a new one) and change the paths in its properties

did it all over again and it worked. thanks all

Johnny Boy,

Followed your instructions to the T and it works Perfectly! Job Well Done My Friend!!!!!!!!

Great instructions! Everything is up and running fine except the add-in for dialing from Outlook doesn't work. Does anyone know how to correct this?

johnnyboy wrote:

LisaD wrote:Thanks for the tip!! Worked for me and what a difference!! Took me a whole 3 minutes to do..
One question..could it be possible to use your telephone modem in the pc so you can use your handset telephone?? you know what I mean??

Sorry lisaD, I did try plugging a phone into the phone modem of my computer but it didn't work
I noticed the headset mode is the only option available...

maybe somebody reading this would know how to point magicJack to the modem port...?

Someone would have to write a driver that virtually connected the magicjack software to the TAPI instance of the MODEM in your pc.
Instead consider getting something like this:
http://www.von-phone.com/
NOTE: This is not an endorsement of any product, just an idea.
What you would do is set that as your audio device in the magicjack gui. Assuming the phone is software neutral and acts like a media/audio device you should be good to go.
-SuperDad427

Since our divorce, my ex-wife has had to use a dongle.

Buttafuoco wrote:Since our divorce, my ex-wife has had to use a dongle.

ROFL
That is funny.
The question is -- powered or unpowered?

Can this be done on a MacBook Pro as well?

Thanks,

WJ