Inbound CID ...Possible fix.

snafu2 · Post by **snafu2** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:01 pm

For what it's worth:

My situation may be unique, but most of the time my inbound CID would not display on my various phones (five mixed Uniden models) whole house setup, but did show correctly on the softphone.

I put a 100k ohm resister across the line and now all work great.

Poo619 · Post by **Poo619** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 11:39 pm

good to know. For us less intelligent

would you mind explaining what that does and how you got the idea to do it

snafu2 · Post by **snafu2** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:01 am

My observations. With one phone only, CID worked. As soon as I hooked up the whole house it would not. So I disconnected all house phones leaving just the one phone (located at the MJ) and the in-house wiring connected to MJ. Still no go.

I checked the wiring for resistance and foreign voltage and all looked good. My guess was that the capacitance across the line was the culprit...if so, this may be a design error in the MJ....although I do have long runs of house phone cable.

I started at one meg ohm and got an improvement and kept lowering resistance until I got off-hook. . Got off-hook condition at about 20k as I recall...Settled at 100k.

Just a tinkerer looking for an easy cure.... engineer I am not.

prackjack · Post by **prackjack** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:17 pm

Sounds like something I might need, but could you spell it out in layman's terms as far as "How To" physically integrate the resistor?

Thx

snafu2 · Post by **snafu2** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:57 pm

Use a phone cable with modular RJ-11 connectors (standard phone plug) and cut off a piece a few inches from one end. Strip out the red and green wires and connect one end of resister to the red and the other end of resistor to the green. If you have only two wires, or ones that are not color coded, use them. Get a modular phone coupler, one that converts a single modular jack into two modular jacks.

Plug the resistor cable into one jack and connect the MJ to the other. Plug the coupler into your wall jack and that should do it. If you have a telephone interface box, it will have screws so you could put the resistor in it. I would make sure any connections to the outside world are unplugged.

I hope this isn't oversimplified, but better more than less info....Good luck.

prackjack · Post by **prackjack** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:24 pm

Snafu2 -- That's just the right level for me... Off to Radioshack, will report back on my experience.

Thx

prackjack · Post by **prackjack** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 3:03 pm

Well, I went out and bought some resistors and then I remembered I had a powered USB hub sitting downstairs. I tried that first and voila, it worked. Caller ID is now working and the calls also seem to be a bit clearer (that part could be my imagination). I'll keep the resistors on hand for the next project

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 9:55 pm

My MJ does not display incoming CID for my cordless phone but displays CID fine on the PC. I may have to try the 100K resistor trick. I currently rely on the PC display to know who's calling. I want to run MJ as a service so working CID on the phone is important to me.

Anyone knows if MJ has an official fix for this bug?

BTW, I connected my MJ directly to my PC's USB, no CID on phone. Tried to connect it to the powered USB hub, still no dice! And that's with only one cordless phone hooked up directly to the MJ.

Emdev2 · Post by **Emdev2** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:11 am

LikeMagic wrote:My MJ does not display incoming CID for my cordless phone but displays CID fine on the PC. I may have to try the 100K resistor trick. I currently rely on the PC display to know who's calling. I want to run MJ as a service so working CID on the phone is important to me.

Anyone knows if MJ has an official fix for this bug?

BTW, I connected my MJ directly to my PC's USB, no CID on phone. Tried to connect it to the powered USB hub, still no dice! And that's with only one cordless phone hooked up directly to the MJ.

I have a wierd thing happen to me with caller ID. I tried to use a dedicated Gateway Laptop for my first atempt. It was a P-III 750Mhz with 256meg Ram and 20 Gig harddrive, USB 1.1, Fresh install of Windows XP Pro. I loaded everything fine and was making calls on it. Seemed to work ok. Then with incomming calls I noticed that the caller ID wasn't showing up on the cordless phone but was showing up on the softphone. I tried a different corded phone, I tried a different USB port on the laptop, I tried a power usb hub, I even tried a Pcmcia usb 2.0 card in the machine no dice. I then unplugged the laptop charger from the laptop and just then the phone rang and the caller ID came up. So I said cool it fixed itself. Then I plug the AC Adapter back in and call the phone, caller ID doesn't show up agin. Uplug the adapter, caller ID works. I tried different outlets. Tired plugging in the laptop to a surge protector and a UPS thinking it might be some kind of AC noise in the line. Same result no CID. So I thought it was the laptop itself. I had another laptop a Dell. This one was a P-III 1.0Ghz, 512meg Ram, 20Gig Harddrive, Windows Xp Pro, USB 1.1. I get the exact same results with this laptop. Anybody have this experience or any insite on this? I'm stumped. For my last atempt I moved over to a regular computer with similar specs as the Dell laptop and everything works fine. Any idea's on this?

SpamBox · Post by **SpamBox** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:07 am

Emdev2 wrote: I then unplugged the laptop charger from the laptop and just then the phone rang and the caller ID came up. So I said cool it fixed itself. Then I plug the AC Adapter back in and call the phone, caller ID doesn't show up agin. Uplug the adapter, caller ID works. I thought it was the laptop itself. I had another laptop a Dell. I get the exact same results with this laptop. Anybody have this experience or any insite on this? I'm stumped.

You're right - that is weird! Was it the same person calling you each time?

snafu2 · Post by **snafu2** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:07 am

Hey emdev2, My setup just about mirrors yours. Also noticed the power adapter affecting cid intermittently. The resistor fix is still working great for me.

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:06 pm

Just installed a 100K resistor trick and it works, my incoming CID is now displayed after the first ring. Snafu2, ya DA man

!! Thanks for the tip.

Hopefully, MagicJack is reading this forum to implement this fix for the revised MJ hardware.

SpamBox · Post by **SpamBox** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:16 am

snafu2 wrote: I hope this isn't oversimplified, but better more than less info....Good luck.

Nah - you did a great job explaining it. Had my 10 year daughter read it, and she understood what too do.

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:12 am

Here's the picture of my 100K resistor mod in a standard phone jack coupler (MagicJack <---> Coupler <---> Telephone):

Note: if you perform this mod, don't forget to use electrical tape to cover the resistor's exposed wires to prevent short

Ponithog · Post by **Ponithog** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:08 pm

Likemagic

Does it matter the type of 100K resistor, I am looking at 1/4 or 1/2 watt choices and I wanted to make sure I get the correct one.

Does it make a difference?

Thanks

Ponti

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:26 pm

It should make no difference. I used 100K ohm, 1/4-watt. 1/2 Watt should work as well.

jonfk2 · Post by **jonfk2** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:48 pm

Smaller fits better...[font=Comic Sans MS] [/font]

smaerd58 · Post by **smaerd58** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:23 am

I just completed one with the 100k 1/2 watt and it works fine. Shortened the ends and it went together with no problems.Thanks again LikeMagic Snafu2

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:32 am

WOWSY! What a HUGE pic! It almost blows me away

Edit: The picture now is tiny

snafu2 · Post by **snafu2** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:49 am

Another way to add resistor. Don't sneeze before you solder the tiny surface mount resistor or you can be assured it will vanish from the face of the earth....snafu2

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i1546291_mj.JPG

SpamBox · Post by **SpamBox** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:38 am

snafu2 wrote:Another way to add resistor.
http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i1546291_mj.JPG

I most be an idiot - where's the resistor?

snafu2 · Post by **snafu2** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:21 am

It's the small, black thing at the bottom of pix, across the two pins of the RJ-11 connector. The ends have the fresh, sloppily soldered look.

It's not the conventional round resistor, but a SMD, or "surface mount device" type resistor. Takes up very little space.

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:49 am

SpamBox wrote:
snafu2 wrote:Another way to add resistor.
http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i1546291_mj.JPG
I most be an idiot - where's the resistor?

Here it is (I hope you don't mind Snafu2):

snafu2 · Post by **snafu2** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:54 am

Don't mind at all. Thanks for the improved post.

I was, for some reason, unable to register whit the forums image hosting site. snafu2

Ponithog · Post by **Ponithog** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:09 pm

Another Caller ID fixed with the 100K resistor fix. Thank you Snafu2 for the fix and LikeMagic for the pic.

Uniden cordless

Ponti

HP PSC 950 all in one printer, sends Faxes and receives with Magicjack

Windows XP

smaerd58 · Post by **smaerd58** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:36 am

Is that the MagicJacks board?

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:50 am

Yup, the end part that houses the RJ-11 phone jack. I guess snafu2 had voided the warranty on his MagicJack device

smaerd58 · Post by **smaerd58** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:05 am

Damn I wish MJ would listen to people and fix this problem. I guess they don't want to have to change all there jacks going out right now.Probably a hardware fix next year?

rodstree · Post by **rodstree** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:15 pm

Score another win for the "resister fix". I had the "no incomming caller ID on the phone display" on my Acer notebook. I tried disconnecting the charger and callerID started working but quit when I reconnected the charger but the 100k resister apparently solved the problem permantely. Thanks
Rod

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:32 pm

Don't forget to vote for the CID fix result here

mufon · Post by **mufon** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:30 pm

The resistor also fixes a problem when a jack is plugged into an FXO port of a Digium (zaptel) board. DTMF is not always decoded properly resulting in wrong numbers or other mis-dialed calls. It is normal for the output of an audio circuit that uses a hybrid to have a high value resistor across its output to normalize the output impedance, particularly in the higher impedence type circuits. (600-900 ohms in this case). It shunts transient voltages that accumulate across the coil's output.

GOOD JOB! Thanks for the post.

Lucky225 · Post by **Lucky225** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:36 am

Maybe it's just me, but with them updating the lock down process every month on these devices, why don't they just add a f*ing resistor to the circuit board before shipping them out..

bluemonster · Post by **bluemonster** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:59 pm

One more happy customer. Big thanks to snafu2

ldorgham · Post by **ldorgham** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:12 pm

Great find and fix

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:29 pm

Don't forget to vote for the CID fix result here

Image · Post by **Image** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:09 pm

snafu2 wrote:It's the small, black thing at the bottom of pix, across the two pins of the RJ-11 connector. The ends have the fresh, sloppily soldered look.

It's not the conventional round resistor, but a SMD, or "surface mount device" type resistor. Takes up very little space.

Snafu2-- you got soldering skillz man!

what type of soldering rig did you use to do this?

snafu2 · Post by **snafu2** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:37 pm

Thanks, but It's really not that difficult. A Radio Shack cheapo 15 watt iron should do it . Have fun....Snafu2

jnatkinmj · Post by **jnatkinmj** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:24 pm

I used a 1/4 watt and it worked just as described. THANKS SNAFU2!!

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 6:46 am

Another one saved by snafu2

Reminder:

If your Caller-IDs are displaying fine on softphone and NOT on real phone, vote

here

If you used snafu2's CID fix, vote

here

saxman · Post by **saxman** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:31 pm

Wow-good fix-now for the rest of us idiots that have never done any electrical stuff or soldered anything , what's a good way to get caller ID working? I have MJ with an out of area number, because they had none in my city. So I use Grand Central. The number is local from them. All calls go to that number and then it rings my new MJ number. My phone has talking caller ID. Will this work with MJ and what would be the best way to set it all up.? Do I set this up with MJ or GC?

magicjackfriend · Post by **magicjackfriend** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:07 am

picked up the pieces needed

followed directions stated

worked perfect

thanks

chihuahuas · Post by **chihuahuas** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:00 pm

Just added line 4 to a key/pbx with 40 extensions. Raspy audio. I added 100k across the line at the key sounds better. Not using Call ID here. May be the ringer EQ is balanced for 4 phones so it overdrives 1 phone. Neet stuff.
I list on craigslist and post the Grandcentral No to the listing. Relay it MJ. So far all My responce calls are long distance. MJ to the rescue

I did a little 800 number Burnout here is the Video

http://ustream.tv/tZqdPDKC,9wOzBWb.BealE0MZvteE4Pm.usv

forge · Post by **forge** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:20 pm

I have a Uniden phone and it bugged me that the Caller ID didn't work with it. Tried this fix and BINGO!

Caller ID now works on all my phones.

Thanks for posting the fix!

ABRGames · Post by **ABRGames** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:00 pm

I need to use the standard phone coupler fix, but I have a question. I have 2 different types of solder: Rosin-Core Solder (0.50 diameter), and Silver-Bearing (.015 diameter), which one should I use?

LikeMagic · Post by **LikeMagic** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:18 pm

ABRGames wrote:I need to use the standard phone coupler fix, but I have a question. I have 2 different types of solder: Rosin-Core Solder (0.50 diameter), and Silver-Bearing (.015 diameter), which one should I use?

If you have to ask, maybe you shouldn't try

JK, either one will work, just use a little bit of solder, just enough to join the connection.

magnum68 · Post by **magnum68** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:05 pm

Hi everyone, I love this site. I have my MJ connected to my cordless phone base which has four hand held units. My outbound CID works fine and my inbound CID shows the number of the phone from where the call is coming from. It does not show the name. Instead of the name it shows their number. So when someone calls me I see their number twice. The top row in my CID display should show the name but it only shows their number. My computer is connected directly to my router using a CAT 5 cable. And MJ is connect to one of my USB ports in the back of my PC. The USB port is 2.0 I am using the small cable extender on my MJ. Do you guys think that that if I add the resistor to a phone extention, like the one picture on this thread, will solve my CID issue? Any feed back will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Magnum68

leons · Post by **leons** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:53 pm

No. MJ does not currently support CID Name.

magnum68 · Post by **magnum68** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:58 pm

Any word if MJ will support CID name sometime soon?

ikeandcj · Post by **ikeandcj** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:30 pm

When I do the resistor fix I can make calls but I can't receive calls.
When I call my MJ from my cell, the soft phone pops up and then it disconnects??

massmanjr · Post by **massmanjr** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:26 am

Thanks to Snafu and LikeMagic for your posts and insights regarding the 100k resistor. I got my whole house up and going with caller id like a charm.

magicJack and magicJack Plus Support, Reviews, FAQs and Tricks

Inbound CID ...Possible fix.

Inbound CID ...Possible fix.

layman's terms

Success

Thanks!

Waw I doubt I'll sleep tonight

It works perfect!!

100k on Key

Thanks!

100k resistor