Can't set volume to max or min when switched to headset

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ChairMaster
magicJack Apprentice
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2011 2:06 pm

Can't set volume to max or min when switched to headset

Post by ChairMaster »

This is not a big problem but rather an annoyance.

Normally I have the MagicJack switched to telephone so I never noticed before but now that I have it switched to headset (using my computer speakers and microphone) I can't slide my volume slider on XP all the way to the bottom or all the way to the top. It only lets me slide in the middle 50% range, not the lower 25% or upper 25%.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is this a known issue? I did a quick search on Google but didn't find anything relevant.
bitstopjoe
Future magicJack CEO
Posts: 2844
Joined: Sat Sep 13, 2008 5:25 pm
Location: North East Pennsylvania

Post by bitstopjoe »

Try going into control panel, sounds and audio devices, click on the audio tab, then change the default device to tigerjet, then click on volume. You can adj it there. Of course this is for XP, not sure how to make the adj in any other OS.
Joe Sica
ChairMaster
magicJack Apprentice
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2011 2:06 pm

Post by ChairMaster »

Thanks, I tried this but when I have tigerjet as the default device my computer speakers don't work anymore (all sounds are diverted to the tigerjet device I assume). But I was able to slide the slider to 0 and 100%, but that only adjusts it for the tigerjet device I think.

So the magicjack software is mucking with the master volume when I have my sound card as the default device. When I unplug the magic jack, or when I switch to telephone then the master volume goes back to normal. Seems like they are trying to prevent support calls, but it is starting to get too intrusive when the muck with system settings like master volume.

Also a small correction to your instructions, I had to hit "Apply" before clicking on volume.
ChairMaster
magicJack Apprentice
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2011 2:06 pm

Post by ChairMaster »

I don't necessarily need a fix for this, I was just wondering if other users have experienced the same thing and see how reproducible it is.
tahwos
MagicJack Newbie
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2010 2:55 pm

Inaccurate PC volume sync, when headset selected.

Post by tahwos »

ChairMaster,

I have the same problem - and have yet to find a solution.

In fact, I came here today, to see if anyone else had posted since I started having the problem a few months ago. It appears to go hand in hand with the last really big update, that deleted our offline address book. (used to be an XML file on the dongle - now it's online @ magicjack.com)

Live Chat was absolutely no help, and tried to get me to do all the uninstall/re-install BS that they always do. They have no technical knowledge of VoIP or PC/USB for that matter. So beyond anything posted here or as a fix on the MJ site, it looks like we are SOL for now.

It's a bug in the software, that apparently puts the headset volume and PC volume out of sync. The headset slider actually moves from zero to full, but limits the PC slider to a much smaller range of movement.

I pretty much gave up, and just make sure I switch it back to telephone, after listening to my voicemail or using automated phone services, like the bank, weather, etc...
ChairMaster
magicJack Apprentice
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2011 2:06 pm

Post by ChairMaster »

Nice to see I'm not the only one with this problem, but I think MJ has screwed us again. I pretty much gave up too after a bit of fiddling around. At least it's still usable, just annoying.
tahwos
MagicJack Newbie
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2010 2:55 pm

Post by tahwos »

I don't feel they screwed us... $20 a year for dependable phone service - who can complain about that?

I went ahead and paid for the next 5 years... essentially one phone bill, that amounts to a savings of over $3600, that I will not have to pay, and that's just for phone service...

I think of all the money I would have saved, if this was around 10 years ago, and it makes me cringe. There's a reason the big companies charge so much... they're putting it away, for when they're obsolete. And... when people realize the peer to peer potential of their PCs, MJ will be obsolete too... think about it... you already have a high-speed digital phone number - your IP address ;-)

"NetMeeting is not dead, it's just waiting for us to catch up!"
ChairMaster
magicJack Apprentice
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2011 2:06 pm

Post by ChairMaster »

You're right it's not so bad, but I wouldn't call it dependable.

Since they ask for 5 year's worth of fees up front they have no incentive to help me solve my persistent outbound audio problem besides going through the scripts which aren't even remotely related. A better way would be to gradually reduce the yearly fee based on how many prior years you've had them, or heck even charge monthly (like voip.ms), that way they will have to improve their service in order to keep customers or else next month I'd be gone. But now I'm stuck and have paid for service that I essentially won't use.

The magicjack was given to me as a gift, but since I started looking around for myself, there are so many better options out there. Leaving my computer on 24/7 costs $100 alone in electricity costs, getting an ATA is way better, and no annoying software that screws with your PC.
tahwos
MagicJack Newbie
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2010 2:55 pm

Post by tahwos »

Wow... "persistent outbound audio problem", is a far cry from your original post of, "rather an annoyance".

Aside from the topic of this thread, all audio problems are with the PC, not MJ.

Given the rarity of the "headset volume problem", what is your default sound device? I've been combing the registry, and I think it may be accessing the wrong driver, or maybe even the mode of the driver... just want to compare it with my setup.
morphingmolecules
MagicJack Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed May 04, 2011 9:02 pm

Magic Jack limits Windows Volume Settings

Post by morphingmolecules »

Hi,

I ran into the same problem. I fixed mine this way.

Click on MagicJack Menu Button (upper left)
Select Volume/Headset Control
Select Telephone
Move Speaker and Microphone sliders to max value
Select Headset/other
Move Speaker and Microphone sliders to max value
Exit out

Hope this works for you.
morphingmolecules.etsy.com
tahwos
MagicJack Newbie
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2010 2:55 pm

Post by tahwos »

Dude, that doesn't solve anything - don't spam the topic!
lancetb
MagicJack Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2011 7:54 pm

Re: Magic Jack limits Windows Volume Settings

Post by lancetb »

[quote="morphingmolecules"]Hi,

I ran into the same problem. I fixed mine this way.

Click on MagicJack Menu Button (upper left)
Select Volume/Headset Control
Select Telephone
Move Speaker and Microphone sliders to max value
Select Headset/other
Move Speaker and Microphone sliders to max value
Exit out

Hope this works for you.[/quote]

Thanks. The volume on my PC wouldn't go all the way down, or all the way up, after I installed a Magicjack, but I did what you suggested and it corrected the problem.
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