Hard to hear me?

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » Fri May 16, 2008 4:50 pm

Why don't you guys stop quibbling? In a way, you are both right. If you are using MJ with a telephone, then if you want to set volume from Control Panel, you must select the USB Internet Phone by TigerJet. Likewise, if you are using a headset, you must select your sound card, Bluetooth audio, etc. It is also true that you can make the same adjustments from the softphone, which automatically selects the appropriate device for adjustment.

However, this all misses the real point of this thread, which is that thousands of users have inadequate outbound volume on their MJ when using a telephone. This is especially true with the latest MJ hardware, and with certain cordless phones. The problem is compounded by two problems in the MJ software. First, there is a mapping between the softphone sliders and the underlying hardware volume levels that limits the hardware setting to between 30 and 70 percent. This limit is enforced even if you try to set volume (for the USB Internet Phone) from Control Panel, if MJ is running. To add insult to injury, whenever the softphone is restarted, e.g. as a result of a reboot, it arbitrarily sets the sliders for the telephone back to about 65%, if they were previously set higher. That limits the actual hardware setting to about 55%, until the user manually turns the volume back up.

Now, the funny mapping and the startup limit are controlled by scripts in the softphone, which I have patched to correct both undesired behaviors. Unfortunately, there is a non-technical problem preventing me from releasing this simple patch: the scripts are encrypted. For obvious reasons, I don't want to release details about the encryption scheme, so the only way to distribute a patch would be to post a modified complete script (re-encrypted, of course). Now, although this script is only about 0.25% of the complete magicjack.exe file, I am concerned that someone at YMAX might object to my distributing material that is covered by their copyright. So, I have written to Dan asking for permission, offering him the options of pre-reviewing the patch, taking the source and incorporating it in an official release, etc. He has not yet replied; I'll keep you posted on any developments.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:21 pm

Stewart,

Yes I am aware that are argument was essentially where to make the volume settings at. Sorry for letting it get this out of hand but I took great offense at someone telling me (other than the boss, you) telling me what I should and shouldn't say.

Now back to to problem. I don't remember this problem from pre March 8th. But since then it is all over the place. At first I thought is was the way people were setting up their units, but after seen my suggestions fail a couple of times I had really pretty much put this issue to bed on my end. My approach did nothing nor did any other that I know off.

Then I started having nightmares about it being a quirk between certain system hardware setups and the new MJ hardware. Which is a place I didn't want to go, you have the keys to treasure chest and can get in and do things that mere mortals will never have access to. So until MJ came out with a fix I was pretty much thru with this particular issue until someone kicked me out of the wrong side of the bed.

Issue again - Stewart, I know that most people with the problem don't care how MJ gets it fixed whether it is your patch or a correction of the source cause. BUT is there a possibility that MJ or you can fix the Cause?

All of my units and the ones I have setup for other people have left out of hear with the telephone volumes set to about 25% speaker and microphone and on occasions I still have to turn down the Handset volume. I don't use the headset/microphone combination so I just always set those to zero and zero. So from what you are saying am I right in that the problem is with the new MJ units and a given systems hardware and software configuration. And as long as I don't leave the world of HP Compaq Thin Clients and my personal computers that I have already used MJ on I will never see the problem but step outside my secure little world and I am liable to walk right into this "Low Volume" ambush? Yuk!

teyong · Post by **teyong** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:32 pm

1) purchased a uniden phone with a mic volume control - helped some
2) went to control panel:
Sounds and Audio Devices:
Voice:
Voice Recording:
Selected "USB internet phone by TigerJet"
adjusted the volume control

This seems to have worked the best for me.

David

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:39 pm

Dave,

Does the computer volume setting hold thru a reboot for you?

And what kind of phone did you find that had a microphone volume controls on it. They have to be scares as hens teeth.

PS - Do you have a link to this phone, I have looked for such in the past withe absolutely no luck.

teyong · Post by **teyong** » Fri May 16, 2008 9:48 pm

HolmanGT wrote:Dave,

Does the computer volume setting hold thru a reboot for you?

And what kind of phone did you find that had a microphone volume controls on it. They have to be scares as hens teeth.

PS - Do you have a link to this phone, I have looked for such in the past withe absolutely no luck.

Yes it did. However the magicjack failed usb did not find it. so I hooked up the short usb cable from MJ and bingo I'm on. Both receive and talk are clear and loud.

www.uniden.com

tru9280 series

hopes this helps.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Sat May 17, 2008 3:19 am

teyong wrote:
HolmanGT wrote:Dave,

Does the computer volume setting hold thru a reboot for you?

And what kind of phone did you find that had a microphone volume controls on it. They have to be scares as hens teeth.

PS - Do you have a link to this phone, I have looked for such in the past withe absolutely no luck.
Yes it did. However the magicjack failed usb did not find it. so I hooked up the short usb cable from MJ and bingo I'm on. Both receive and talk are clear and loud.

www.uniden.com

tru9280 series

hopes this helps.

Well I am going to have to find one of these phones in the store, I couldn't find anything about Microphone Volume Control, but most of these manuals are pretty lean.

I am very glad that for your sake the setting held, but this thing about the short cable I have heard you story several time but in both flavors. One say I remove it and boom, the next guy says I added it and boom it worked - "Go-Figure".

I would like to ask one more question if you don't mind. If you double click the speaker icon in the system tray, then select option in the volume control window, then select advanced, then select properties and Recording and scroll down and make sure the microphone is checked, then click OK and the next window that pops up should have a slider for the microphone. On the window will be the Microphone volume slider, set it all the way to the top if it not already and then there should be a mute (unchecked) and an advanced button. Click on the advance button and you should see an option to turn on "Microphone Boost" check it if is not already.

Then go back and she how your MJ far-end volume is. The microphone boost can make a whole heck of a difference int microphone sensitivity. I set all min that way and I am just trying to figure out what is different between the folks that have far-end low volume and they way I set up my units.

There just has to be a simple solution to this problem and it could be possible that not having microphone "Boost" turned on the the culprit.

Dave - I just don't want to believe that MJ has released some units that are system dependent. That is a very ugly trap and even the Great and Mighty M$ has been bit by that one. I am just hoping desperately that is not the case here.

I apologize Dave, it sound like a lot of work I am asking you to do but the truth is it will take long to read my not so crystal clear instruction than to actually do it.

Anyway if you would try that and let me know what happens I will be eternally grateful - well OK I'll be grateful for at least and hour - promise.

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:40 am

HolmanGT wrote:If you double click the speaker icon in the system tray, then select option in the volume control window, then select advanced, then select properties and Recording and scroll down and make sure the microphone is checked, then click OK and the next window that pops up should have a slider for the microphone.

On the Properties screen, in addition to selecting Playback or Recording, there is a Mixer device field where you choose the device you are setting the volume for, either USB Internet Phone, your sound card, or something else. On all my systems, if I select USB Internet Phone (and Recording) before clicking OK, there is no Boost option. If I select the sound card, the Boost option appears, but it only affects use with a computer headset, as one would expect. I just confirmed (on one system) that setting Boost for the sound card does not affect outbound volume when using a telephone connected to MJ.

Which device are you setting Boost for? If you are on a call, does changing Boost take effect in real time? If not, what is needed (new call, reboot, etc.)?

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:02 am

Stewart,

No you are 100% correct I only have boost for the sound card also (of course) but I had no one at this time of night to test with. Like I said I was just shooting in the dark hoping that the boost was used across the board but now that you have tested it that is obviously not going to solve anything.

The Mic Boost is usually off by default and I just have a knee-jerk habit of always turning it on and was hoping that as remote a chance as it may be that M$ used that across the board even though it does not show up in any of the MJ or YMax stuff.

Appreciate you testing it - now all you have to do is explain how you test stuff like that by yourself in the middle of the night.

Normally I conscript my daughter over in CA to assist me. She likes to try an out do her Pap by learning as much computer stuff as she can, the horrible part is she has managed to walk right by me when it come to dinking with new computer toys. i.e. I sent her a MagicJack and a thing client then sat back waiting for the help call that I never got. The call I did get was from a working thin client and MJ. Their is just no glory left for old hackers anymore.

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:45 am

HolmanGT wrote:Appreciate you testing it - now all you have to do is explain how you test stuff like that by yourself in the middle of the night.

Well, it's 11:45 AM in Paris as I write this, not exactly the middle of the night. Although most of the people I know are in the US, a few friends are in Europe and in the Far East, so there is usually someone to talk to 24/7. For a quick solo test, I call 909-390-0003; everything you say is echoed back. Also, I have a Polycom phone here; calling it from an analog phone connected to MJ (one MJ account to another) gives a fairly good test. Other methods: Call a voice mail system that has an option to review your message. Or, leave yourself a voicemail and open the resulting email attachment with an audio editor. For a more reliable quantitative result, capture the outbound audio packets with Wireshark, save the stream as a .au file, open in an audio editor.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Sat May 17, 2008 11:04 am

Stewart,

You can't be French, are you? Your English is perfect. Actually it kind of pisses me off when I chat with you because I have to run my spell checker and grammar check a couple of times just to make sure my replies are as close to the clarity of your posts. Any way you have to be an American implant in France or the French have much better schools than the U.S.A.

Thank you for the 909 number and the other tips, well all I can say is Duh! should have thought of that my self.

Oh - not to harp on it but on the low volume issue is MJ going to try to fix it at the source or just patch around it. I would sure hate to supply someone with a thin client and have them mad as a wet hen when they stick their MJ in and no one can hear them. I may end up eating a lot of HP Compaq 57xx(s) and have a lot of people very upset with me. Anything you can do to keep us abreast of this issue without violating YMax protocol and confidentiality would be much appreciated.

Regards,

PS - you don't have to answer and you can pretend like I never asked this but are you a YMAX or MagicJack Engineer, I had noticed in a few of your earlier post that you had more MJ knowledge than the average bear. Like I said just ignore this little blurb if I have gone "A [s]bridge[/s] question too far".

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » Sat May 17, 2008 11:35 am

To understand the outbound volume problem, please bear with me through a short history lesson.

In 1937, Western Electric introduced the 302 set.

This is the phone that we had when I was a kid. It had a carbon transmitter and other electrical/magnetic/mechanical components. There was nothing electronic about it. It worked fine for us in the Bronx, but if you were more than about 2 miles from the Central Office, the volume was inadequate, especially outbound. The cause was a double whammy. When the loop was long, its resistance caused the phone to receive less power, so the transmitter generated a smaller signal. The line resistance then attenuated the result, so it arrived at the CO even weaker.

In 1949, production of the 500 set started. This model and its 2500 Touch-Tone successor were Bell System standards for 45 years.

The 500 set featured a more efficient transmitter. It also had a shorter handset, so that when the user held it to his ear, the mic was closer to his mouth. This resulted in good performance on long loops, but would be too loud if you were close to the CO. This was solved by including some varistors (devices whose resistance varies with applied voltage) in the control circuit. If your loop was short, the increased current would cause the varistors to absorb the excess speech energy, so the volume would be the same for everyone. The 500 set was designed to perfom well on loops up to eight miles. However, the volume was sometimes still low: The Bell System had hired celebrity designer Henry Dreyfuss to develop the look and feel for the set (hey, when you're a monopoly, you can afford the best). Dreyfuss made the back of the handset flat, so that you could rest it on your shoulder, leaving your hands free. Though hailed as a great improvement, some who used the phone in this manner placed the mic below their chin, resulting in inadequate outbound volume.

The early 90's saw a huge increase in the number of fixed lines. Some of my friends had four lines: a main line, kids' line, fax line, and a line for dialing up to the Internet. Copper was getting expensive, so the phone companies built many smaller COs and placed them closer to their customers. This reduced the number of long loops.

In the late 90's, broadband became popular. DSL won't work on loops longer than 18,000 feet, and won't perform at maximum speed on loops more than two miles long. The phone companies responded by building Remote Terminals (essentially micro COs) in the neighborhoods. As a result, long loops became quite rare.

The early 2000's saw tremendous competition in the cordless phone market, with manufacturers offering longer range, higher frequencies, digital transmission, and of course, low prices. To save a few bucks, some makers decided to eliminate the automatic loop length compensation, simply setting the mic gain to be suitable for loops less than two miles.

2006 saw the introduction of the magicJack. Its outbound gain is intentionally set quite low; this reduces any echo that the remote party might hear. (The latest model appears to have even lower gain. Why, I don't know.) The magicJack doesn't need much gain. Why? As you know, the USB cannot supply much current. The MJ provides a loop current of only about 20 milliamperes. This is approximately the current that you get from a POTS line if you are eight miles from the CO. So, your 2500 set will transmit at its maximum level. But since the actual loop is very short (typically just a few feet from phone to Jack), all that signal reaches the Jack, and your remote party hears you well.

Unless, you happen to have one of the new phones that doesn't have automatic loop compensation, and also doesn't have a mic volume control. Then, you have a major shortfall, and if you put the mic under your chin, it's even worse.

The fix should be simple -- just turn up the volume in the software. Unfortunately, as has been discussed here ad nauseam, MJ made some design decisions preventing that. There is a simple solution; I'm just waiting to get approval from MJ to release it.

Thanks for taking the time to read this long explanation.

FreeRange · Post by **FreeRange** » Sat May 17, 2008 12:15 pm

Stewart,

Is your solution something that could be applied to an external device so as not to change MJ settings? If not, I would think it would certainly be an advantage for MJ to re-set their MJ device just for the simple fact that they would probably eliminate about 90% of their returns which are costly to them and the returnees. Don't hold your breath for a MJ answer, however.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Sat May 17, 2008 1:03 pm

FreeRange & Stewart,

Free, I don't know for sure but if Stewart is not a shill for MJ I will eat my MJ USB extender and all. And Stewart I am using the term shill in a flattering sense, If you are not YMAX you damn well should be. The short of it FreeRange IMHO I think Stewart has MagicJack's and YMAX's ear full time. He does occassionally make slips like in his tour down memory lane of telephone (thanks I have not seen those ... well I won't tell you how long

).

TMikk · Post by **TMikk** » Sat May 17, 2008 6:05 pm

Stewart,

If you're in need of any beta testing on varied platforms (CE, XP, Vista, Linux boxes) I'd be happy to help

As is, I ordered one unit for a trial run, with the intent of purchasing a half dozen more for family and business associates in Japan, but with the low tx volume cap, I already put in for, and received my RMA authorization a couple of days back. I now have 2 weeks to return it for credit. If there's some type of ready fix I would keep it, but as it stands, and seeing that this has been an ongoing, fairly widespread issue, I can't see paying for something that "may" work "sometime" in the distant future.

I don't know if it would lend any sense of urgency for MJ (or… Dan? I take it he is affiliated with MJ in some capacity?), but if so, please feel free to forward the sentiment from an MJ owner.

Cybersys · Post by **Cybersys** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:02 pm

Keeping in mind that MagicJack is a beta product, our expectations shouldn't be at their highest level.

The main issues I have are...

1) the microphone (output) volume control is flawed
The script that controls volume is locked at about 60%.
Nothing you do to change settings in the MagicJack control panel, OR in your system's control panel, will increase the output volume to an acceptable level.
A simple fix is to hack the script, however when you receive updates, the script will most likely be overwritten.

2) the volume settings in the MagicJack's control panel are not retained when the system is rebooted.

3) I don't have a clue what MagicFix is supposed to be doing?
http://www.magicjack.com/magicfix/
Mine never gets past: Checking network access to the magicJack servers ...

4) It is impossible to locate the "Customer Care/Live Person"
their web site will just run you in circles!
What good is 24/7 if there's no way for customers to link to it???

5) the outbound volume issue seems to be the most talked about problem in various forums.
However, at the magicjack.com "FAQ's/Knowledgebase" it's not even recorded.

If they can fix the volume issues, we will buy a dozen units for our own inhouse use.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:42 pm

Cybersys,

That was one of the nicest bashing Jobs I have seen. You will have to reveal your secret to such eloquent composure under stress. If it involves drugs or alcohol PM me, I am definitely interested.

Seriously, your Item # two caught my eye. Are your referring to the fact that it drops pack to the built in 70% or does it go to zero, what exactly does it do? Mine seems to hold just fine on my Desktop and on my thin clients. I am one of the fortunate ones that has not (knock on wood) experienced the faulty outgoing volume level.

I was just thinking (I know it is just an anomaly) but it sure would be nice if those that have this problem would list the machine, OS and sound system. We might be able to localize it some particular hardware configuration.

I personally have five machines and none demonstrate this problem and they have all been tested with the Old and New versions of MJ (I am assuming there are only two harware versions albeit I have heard there may be a third one that came in limited quantities between the the original and the new). Actually there have been more than five but I am only counting all the the thin clients as one each.

1. Dell XPS-720 Desktop Creative SB X-Fi.
2. Dell 8400 Desktop Creative Audigy 2 ZS
3. Dell 9300 laptop Sigma Tel C-Major Audio (integrated)
4. HP Thin Client T5710 ALi audio (integrated)
5. HP Thin Client T5720 SiS 7012 Audio system (integrated)

Oh - well Stewart will most likely get permission to releace his patch and that will be the end of this nasty little bugger.

AlaninKY · Post by **AlaninKY** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:46 pm

I am also one of the fortunate ones that has not (knock on wood) experienced the faulty outgoing volume level.
Stewart is doing a wonderful job of helping everyone! Dan should hire Stewart.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:49 pm

Amen brother AlaninKY

senpar · Post by **senpar** » Sun May 18, 2008 2:19 pm

I have read all the topics and I also suffer from the people I call complain they can't hear me. So low, my answering machine thinks the call is a no message and hangs up. Yes, I have tried playing with all the settings, no good. I don't know enough about the mechanics of a telephone but would it be possible to put an amplifier between the MagicJack and the telephone? I have searched and the only amps I can find would amplify the audio coming in, not what goes out.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Sun May 18, 2008 3:04 pm

senpar wrote:I have read all the topics and I also suffer from the people I call complain they can't hear me. So low, my answering machine thinks the call is a no message and hangs up. Yes, I have tried playing with all the settings, no good. I don't know enough about the mechanics of a telephone but would it be possible to put an amplifier between the MagicJack and the telephone? I have searched and the only amps I can find would amplify the audio coming in, not what goes out.

senpar,

You may never find anything that amplifies the outgoing audio because the is the value that is locked by the Telco's and enforced by the FCC. The assumption that the "Amplifier People" have to go by is that the system is already driving the Telco line right at or very close the the allowed limit.

This has always been a no, no even back in the days when Ma-Bell controlled the universe, and they would get pretty tough on folks that inadvertently overdrove the Telco lines. Other than the fact they are still not happy about losing control over what you can hang on your phone line, still to this day if you hang to many "Ring Load" a number that used to be stamped on all third party phones (don't know if this is still done) but if you really wanted to bring the wrath of God down on yourself try overdriving a Telco line. I can almost guarantee that you will be hearing from them in less than 24 hours.

If you overdrive a Telco line it can cause crosstalk in the Telco trunk bundles and cause interference to your neighbors and the amount of cross talk (or individuals) that you interfere with is somewhat proportional to how hard you drive the lines. The Telcos these days get upset because they start getting calls from you neighbors and some times people that are beyond your neighborhood (kind of depends on how they have the wiring laid out). The FCC for all practical purposes treats it like they do for Internet denial of service (not a light accusation).

Anyway the short of it is that there are some pretty tight controls on the outgoing level you can put on a Telco line, any product sold has to meet FCC regulations on output levels. The manufactures of these amplifiers have to assume your audio level is at the legal limit which prevents them from selling anything that can exceed that value. The kick in the pants is there is just no market for amplifiers to fix broken phone audio systems. Even if you called one of the Telcos they would just tell you to have your device fixed or replace.

PS - if you really hunt you will find a few items called bidirectional Telephone audio amplifiers, but somewhere in the fine print you will fine that the outgoing signal can only be controlled from the max allowable out down to zero, but never above the "MAX Limit".

dontazzz · Post by **dontazzz** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:58 am

I have the same problem too. And when I shut down and restart sometimes my laptop goes in to DOS and won't reboot unless I take off the mj then it reboots in DOS and then starts but this happens sometimes and then the breaking up and low tones. My friends just laugh at me some won't talk to me when I call on this phone cause I am breaking up and they can not hear me......here i thought great if I hit the road but get high speed internet I can still call home but it has been having more bugs then the ads talked about.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:15 am

dontazzz,

If you can hang in for a while longer don't push beyond your thirty days but MJ has a bad habit of working out problems and not letting anyone know they are even aware that they know about the problem.

IMHO most of us have had these periods that nothing seems to work and it is different every time you go to use it. And then one morning you get up and Eureka MJ found whatever the solution was and everything starts working great. the other thing that make it difficult to get help on some issues is it appear to be dependent on the area you are in and/or the server you go through.

So you say mine does this and the next guy will say Hmmm strange everything works fine here, which doesn't usually do much for your peace of mind and usually make you believe that your particular MJ is a piece of Dog Poo.

Never thought I would be preaching patients, but in actuality my observations indicate that just sitting back on most things MJ sooner of later will get it going and all yo have to do is wait them out if your personality will let you.

teyong · Post by **teyong** » Mon May 19, 2008 7:11 pm

HolmanGT wrote:dontazzz,

If you can hang in for a while longer don't push beyond your thirty days but MJ has a bad habit of working out problems and not letting anyone know they are even aware that they know about the problem.

IMHO most of us have had these periods that nothing seems to work and it is different every time you go to use it. And then one morning you get up and Eureka MJ found whatever the solution was and everything starts working great. the other thing that make it difficult to get help on some issues is it appear to be dependent on the area you are in and/or the server you go through.

So you say mine does this and the next guy will say Hmmm strange everything works fine here, which doesn't usually do much for your peace of mind and usually make you believe that your particular MJ is a piece of Dog Poo.

Never thought I would be preaching patients, but in actuality my observations indicate that just sitting back on most things MJ sooner of later will get it going and all yo have to do is wait them out if your personality will let you.

AMEN

This should be posted at the top of the forum for all to read.
Mine works fine; for now; with some don't do this - done.

riverdaze · Post by **riverdaze** » Sat May 24, 2008 8:58 pm

Tried everything here. Different phones, different ports, wired hubs. Searched the forums here and elsewhere. Same results. When I tried the TH Demo and set the microphone volume to high it was great! BUT...it killed the MJ app and when I restarted it everything went back to normal.

I have no idea how to fix this. My friends and family want me to use my cell when I call them. I will hang in here but use a headset for calls since that is what seems to work and I guess...if you really think about it...having to use a headset for $20.00 a YEAR is a small sacrifice. Maybe I will take up telemarketing if I grow to like "the look."

Waiting for "soon" and Stewarts promised "fix" Thanks to all of you for being here for us novices...

jdonalds · Post by **jdonalds** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:43 pm

I really wanted this to work to save money. However my MJ outgoing telephone volume is just too low. I've read all the posts and see the software limit may fix my problem - someday. I spent about 4 hours on live chat but that is a very frustrating situation. I give up and am sending the unit back.

I can use skype but want to use a regular phone. Skype phones are too expensive. MJ looked like a great solution. Too bad a great product has a simple problem that the help line can't fix.

I'm tech savy and tried a lot of things before contacting live chat. They then had me re-try many of the same things and never did come up with a fix. The last two lines on my final chat are

Roy: Please hold on for a monent.
Chat session has ended.

I think this is the result when they can't help. They just give up. It happened twice.

teyong · Post by **teyong** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:55 pm

jdonalds wrote:I really wanted this to work to save money. However my MJ outgoing telephone volume is just too low. I've read all the posts and see the software limit may fix my problem - someday. I spent about 4 hours on live chat but that is a very frustrating situation. I give up and am sending the unit back.

I can use skype but want to use a regular phone. Skype phones are too expensive. MJ looked like a great solution. Too bad a great product has a simple problem that the help line can't fix.

I'm tech savy and tried a lot of things before contacting live chat. They then had me re-try many of the same things and never did come up with a fix. The last two lines on my final chat are

Roy: Please hold on for a monent.
Chat session has ended.

I know that you stated that you wanted to use a regular phone; I couldn't; so I got a Uniden 538GHz Digital with a mick volume control. This and some tweaks and I am off and running.

I think this is the result when they can't help. They just give up. It happened twice.

Cybersys · Post by **Cybersys** » Mon May 26, 2008 12:24 pm

HolmanGT wrote:That was one of the nicest bashing Jobs I have seen. You will have to reveal your secret to such eloquent composure under stress.

35 years of systems analysis, design, and programming

Seriously, your Item # two caught my eye. Are your referring to the fact that it drops pack to the built in 70% or does it go to zero, what exactly does it do?

returns to default settings

it sure would be nice if those that have this problem would list the machine, OS and sound system. We might be able to localize it some particular hardware configuration.

xp pro sp2, 3.6ghz p4, 4gb pc3200, 250gb sata

jacking · Post by **jacking** » Tue May 27, 2008 3:38 pm

OK, so I found out a few things.

1) If you send an e-mail to [email protected] you will get a reply from some tech support people. The quality of the tech support seems to be better than the liveperson support that you can get from their web page.

2) I explained my low outgoing volume problem and all the things I had tried. They had me do a couple of tech support things that didn't help including replacing my magicjack yet again. When I pleaded yet again to have them pass the problem through to their developers, I was informed that there would be a new "automatic" update put out this week that is supposed to solve the problem.

So, I guess the moral of the story is persistence and patience pay dividends. Hopefully this software update will fix the problem of 'low outgoing volume' once and for all.

Cheers to all, especially the regulars here who contribute so much of their time and knowledge to assisting others.

teyong · Post by **teyong** » Tue May 27, 2008 7:19 pm

Thank you.

warmcoke · Post by **warmcoke** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:49 pm

Does anyone know if the software update mentioned a few posts above was ever released? And if so, did it seem to correct the low outbound call volume issues? I order and have used my MJ in the month of June and am having this issue so it makes me think that this has not been corrected on the MJ side as of yet.

TMikk · Post by **TMikk** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:24 am

Warmcoke,

Not to my knowledge. I'm awaiting the same fix.

Stewart? Any updates?

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:09 pm

warmcoke ( nothing personal but yuk!) & TMikk

Have you tried the current update to see if it fixes the problem?

It was posted yesterday.

Caveat - it doesn't like thin clients.

sferguson98 · Post by **sferguson98** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:04 pm

I think the weak audio may be caused by weak power on the USB port.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:00 pm

sferguson98 wrote:I think the weak audio may be caused by weak power on the USB port.

Very good idea "sferguson98". I don't think that has been mentioned in relation to this problem.

I had a guy send me his Low Volume unit and it worked perfectly here. ????

jacking · Post by **jacking** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:53 pm

warmcoke wrote:Does anyone know if the software update mentioned a few posts above was ever released? And if so, did it seem to correct the low outbound call volume issues? I order and have used my MJ in the month of June and am having this issue so it makes me think that this has not been corrected on the MJ side as of yet.

Warmcoke,

I'm still waiting and my audio problem is as bad as ever (if not worse). So, if there was an update, it didn't work. It may be that my worst fears have been realized and that is that tech support hands you a line about a software update when they've run out of things to have you try

I sure hope that's not the case. I'll give them another week or two and then I'll e-mail them back and ask where the fix is. I'll post what they tell me.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:11 am

jacking wrote:
warmcoke wrote:Does anyone know if the software update mentioned a few posts above was ever released? And if so, did it seem to correct the low outbound call volume issues? I order and have used my MJ in the month of June and am having this issue so it makes me think that this has not been corrected on the MJ side as of yet.
Warmcoke,

I'm still waiting and my audio problem is as bad as ever (if not worse). So, if there was an update, it didn't work. It may be that my worst fears have been realized and that is that tech support hands you a line about a software update when they've run out of things to have you try
I sure hope that's not the case. I'll give them another week or two and then I'll e-mail them back and ask where the fix is. I'll post what they tell me.

Guys, if you are not sure you have the update and it sounds like you are not. just go to the Magic Fix page and down load it by clicking on the "if you are still not working" button or the "If you are using Vista update", they are all the same file and should have a version number of 1.80.4411.3084 (size 8.39 MB). Just down load it to your desktop and double click it. MJ will update itself and you can be confident that you do in fact have the upgrade.

I am not sure what triggers and Auto-upgrade but it doesn't always happen on it's own, sometime you have to give it a helping hand.

solderman · Post by **solderman** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:32 am

Here is a direct link to download the latest Update from Magicjack if you have trouble finding it.
http://upgrades.magicjack.com/upgrade/upgrade.exe

Yes the new version is 8.39 MB in size

ravenjim · Post by **ravenjim** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:27 am

Follow the link from solderman, it fixes the low output volume. I dealt with the same problem as you and this fixed it. I wish they would've solved the problem of having to raise the volume level every time you log the MJ back on.

jacking · Post by **jacking** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:29 pm

OK, so why when I follow the link (or go to the magicfix page) do I get a file that is 7.11 Mb in size and is versioned as 1.73.4153.2910 ? Do they check the country of origin of the IP address and give me a different download cause I'm a crazy Canuck?

BTW I am using XP so is it possible they didn't backport the fix?

<edit> Doh! Never mind, I just followed the link for downloading the upgrade for vista and still got the 1.73 release. Does anyone have the 1.80... release for XP and would they be kind enough to post it somewhere that I could download it? Obviously I can't get it from the magicjack site. Must have missed the brief window of opportunity when it was available. That'll teach me to travel out of town when tech support tells me that there is a release coming out

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:43 am

jacking wrote:OK, so why when I follow the link (or go to the magicfix page) do I get a file that is 7.11 Mb in size and is versioned as 1.73.4153.2910 ? Do they check the country of origin of the IP address and give me a different download cause I'm a crazy Canuck? BTW I am using XP so is it possible they didn't backport the fix?

<edit> Doh! Never mind, I just followed the link for downloading the upgrade for vista and still got the 1.73 release. Does anyone have the 1.80... release for XP and would they be kind enough to post it somewhere that I could download it? Obviously I can't get it from the magicjack site. Must have missed the brief window of opportunity when it was available. That'll teach me to travel out of town when tech support tells me that there is a release coming out

It is not just you or Canada.

They have gone back to the 2910 (7.11mb) version. Wonder why? But I am sure they will have a new fix for the audio "SOON"

If you want the the 3084 (the one people say fixes the audio) version you can down load it from me (guaranteed clean).

http://dc14.4shared.com/download/517576 ... de3084.exe

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:04 am

http://upgrade.talk4free.com/upgrade/20 ... pgrade.exe 1.80.4411.3084 (latest as of time of this post)

http://upgrade.talk4free.com/upgrade/20 ... pgrade.exe 1.73.4153.2910 (stable 'old' version)

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:27 am

Stewart wrote:http://upgrade.talk4free.com/upgrade/20 ... pgrade.exe 1.80.4411.3084 (latest as of time of this post)

http://upgrade.talk4free.com/upgrade/20 ... pgrade.exe 1.73.4153.2910 (stable 'old' version)

Stewart,

Do you know why they pulled the new one?

jacking · Post by **jacking** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:00 pm

Thanks Stewart and HolmanGT for the links for the upgrade. Oh, and I did have my tongue (at least partially

) in my cheek when I suggested that maybe us crazy Canucks were being treated differently.

I am presently "on the road again", but I have downloaded the file and will give it a try when I get home.

nemfo · Post by **nemfo** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:36 pm

3084 is still available and hasent been removed

and this fixed my audio problem thx!

wrngway · Post by **wrngway** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:30 am

I was having a similar issue. I just downloaded the update on the website and received 1.80.4411.3084. The file contains a digital signature dated June 12.

jacking · Post by **jacking** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:08 pm

I downloaded the file that HolmanGT and Stewart pointed to and installed it. I won't say it is perfect, but it is _way_ better and at least now I don't have to shout anymore. Eureka! Now, if they would just make the volume setting stick over a restart I would be a much happier jacker.

nemfo and wrngway, you are right, I just checked the magicjack site and the 3084 release is back available for download. So anybody still having problems with outgoing volume should give the update a try if they haven't already.

eddiec75 · Post by **eddiec75** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:44 am

jacking wrote:I downloaded the file that HolmanGT and Stewart pointed to and installed it. I won't say it is perfect, but it is _way_ better and at least now I don't have to shout anymore. Eureka! Now, if they would just make the volume setting stick over a restart I would be a much happier jacker.

nemfo and wrngway, you are right, I just checked the magicjack site and the 3084 release is back available for download. So anybody still having problems with outgoing volume should give the update a try if they haven't already.

I was having the same issue with the volume settings not saving over a restart. I always have to set the microphone volume to the max for people to hear me.
I posted a fix that worked for me:
http://www.phoneservicesupport.com/sett ... t2366.html

magicJack and magicJack Plus Support, Reviews, FAQs and Tricks

Hard to hear me?

What I did

Your solution

Am also having the hard to hear problem

Re: Am also having the hard to hear problem

low can't hear me and breaking up

Giving up on phone and using headset...

MJ going back

Re: MJ going back

Audio Weak Theories

Re: Audio Weak Theories

upgrade is still available