Cannot make calls, but can receive them.

jd22hunt · Post by **jd22hunt** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:51 am

I have had MagicJack since March and all of a sudden five days ago it stopped allowing me to make phone calls. It dials and hangs up. I have contacted MagicJack 2 to 4 times for the last five days. The only thing they tell me to do without any thing happening is to.

1. try a different usb port (I have on two different computers running VISTA and XP
2. Run MagicFix (I do it every time before and during the conversatios with them)
3. Run MagicUpdate (every time before and during the conversations with them)
4. Run MagicRestore (every time before and during the conversations with them)
5. Tried different types of phones wired and wireless
6. Tried different telephone wires
7. Reset my modem

Its really funny that it works fairly well for the first "free" month and a week after they get my money it stops working. I get a dial tone, receive calls.

Help I really need this phone.

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:01 am

Try calling the following test numbers:
866-692-6447 (should announce your number)
415-421-0020 (should play a loud tone)
408-269-1999 (should play a busy signal)

If the above numbers work, perhaps you only have trouble to specific destinations. What area/exchange are you trying to call?
If the test calls don't work, please watch the softphone window when calling and report what messages you see, e.g. 'creating outgoing call', 'session progress', 'operational', etc. Also report what you hear.

testing123 · Post by **testing123** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:03 pm

Wow, thought I was going crazy.

Tried 2 of them while trying to setup a new one for a friend over the last few days (and didn't have all my troubleshooting paraphernalia/hardware).

Incoming all day long and nothing but Busy Signal on ANY outbound Call attempts. It also was a brand new Verizon FIOS connection but I really didn't have enough time to investigate.

Used about 5 of the Proxy servers with the same result.

Hopefully, it is a temporary thing that fixes itself ... probably weeks before I can get back there to even check it.

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:38 pm

testing123 wrote:It also was a brand new Verizon FIOS connection but I really didn't have enough time to investigate.

Interesting; the OP also has FiOS, though his outbound used to work. Do you both have the Actiontec router? That unit has an ALG for SIP and has caused trouble with numerous providers. You can try disabling various firewall features, and/or test the MJ at a location with a different ISP. If either of you can provide details on the exact error, e.g. with Wireshark, it should be possible to see exactly what's going wrong and with luck design a fix.

testing123 · Post by **testing123** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:05 pm

Stewart wrote:
testing123 wrote:It also was a brand new Verizon FIOS connection but I really didn't have enough time to investigate.
Interesting; the OP also has FiOS, though his outbound used to work. Do you both have the Actiontec router? That unit has an ALG for SIP and has caused trouble with numerous providers. You can try disabling various firewall features, and/or test the MJ at a location with a different ISP. If either of you can provide details on the exact error, e.g. with Wireshark, it should be possible to see exactly what's going wrong and with luck design a fix.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, Tests were performed with MJ's with 410 area code calling ANY # in any area code

Stewart, now there is the rub.

That Actiontec router is garbage -- and I was only there for a couple of days ...

1) Had to request a replacement router from Verizon; luckily got it escalated and got one the next day

2) Replacement Actiontec same issue -- WPA2 encryption not playing nice with certain Laptops/CRC errors/dropping links
(Evidently this is documented in various blogs and is actually worse in their NEWER firmwares that they force into the router on a weekly basis; I'll have to look for the link. You have to flash it back to an older firmware and lock Verizon out by disabling provisioning. It is a shame because that router now has an impressive array of features albeit in a confusing menu system -- I really wanted to make that thing work but it just wasn't to be.)

3) Luckily brought my personal "travel" Linksys WRT54GS that I flashed with DD-WRT -- works PERFECT with FIOS. But of course now I am without it after having to leave it with them.

4) I simply did not have enough time to mess w/ the MJ and do proper troubleshooting and was supremely disappointed to have this problem ... after, once again, selling it like the best thing since sliced bread to yet another referral. (I was busy setting up other more basic stuff for them while in town).

I will have to try in a few weeks whenever I get to travel there again

PS: I have to say FIOS has impressive speed BUT they seem so restrictive (in terms of port blocking etc. from what I am reading) that (I shudder to say it), Comcast Internet may be a better for DIY/geeky types (although Comcast has been selectively blocking User ports lately). I actually initially suspected the Verizon but it didn't make sense because the MJ did eventually connect and could get inbound but no outbound -- i.e., seemed to be a valid connection registration in every way.

PPS: From what I have observed/read:
FIOS:
+ x2 Speed for the price (5MB Down/2MB Upload!! @ $42/mo cheapest one)
+ More consistent speed -- direct link to your CO
- DHCP is set to 2HOUR renewal!!! (old posts from 2005 talk about them changing IPs multiple times per day)
- Restrictions (Port 80 blocked; possibly Port 25)
- x2 Customer Service

Comcast:
+ Speed at a cost (max 768KB Up)
- Speed fluctuations -- share headend with all your neighbors
- Cost more than FIOS
+ Relatively Static IP -- rarely changes
+ All ports open unless you get into their radar (SPAM report, or something else that gets their attention)
- Customer Service