I tried my MJ after it arrived yesterday. Plugged MJ into the small extender cable that comes with it, to get to the port since all the connectors on the motherboard get in its way, and then through a four foot phone wire to a known good phone.
Loaded up, and chose a phone number. Dialed out, and had a conversation with my son which sounded just fine.
Then I tried to call the MJ number from my land line, and instead of the phone ringing, it popped up the software splash screen and asked if I wanted to answer, or reject the call???? A few tries, and finally I let it accept the call.
Once I did this, I could pick up the phone, and was connected...... WTF.....
Checked the setup, and it is set to the telephone, and not the computer speaker/mic choice.
Spent 3 hours on "Chat" with support, and grew very tired of, reinstall, plug and unplug, try a different phone, what else is using the USB port, and on and on and on. Finally, they blew me off and said they just did a reset on the MJ, and if I would reboot the computer, it would work.
The location of the problem is simple. The software is not sending the ring tone to the phone. The solution appears to elude the second level tech I ended up talking with.
Its not about my network connection, its not about the speed of the connection (6Mb) its about the software intercepting the incoming call, and asking me if I want it, rather than ringing the phone. I won't mention how inane it is to be told to download the latest upgrade, when I just installed the device an hour earlier. I did it anyway, but of course, no difference....
Has anyone seen this issue? I would like to use it. I had in mind a PC in the closet doing nothing but the phone, along with a powered USB hub, which I don't have yet so it could run through my home wiring to several phones.
Very disappointed at this outcome, and wondering if it needs a powered hub at all times, even tho no one has ever mentioned such a requirement.
Suggestions or ideas are solicited and appreciated.
Thanks,
John
Magic Jack won't ring the phone
Moderators: Bill Smith, Pilot
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Nobody beats the Whiz!
- Dan Should Pay Me
- Posts: 559
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:04 pm
Welcome to the forum.
What is the REN of your phone? Generally, it is better to use newer phones with an electronic ringer. Older phones with mechanical bells can be troublesome with the MJ.
I hate to ask, but have you confirmed this phone rings on another line? Sometimes, we forget that there is a ringer on/off switch on most phones, or they break etc.
Confirming this will ensure we won't lead you on any wild goose chases while chasing down the solution.
You should also try a different phone on you MJ and/or a powered usb hub, if your phone checks out as good.
What is the REN of your phone? Generally, it is better to use newer phones with an electronic ringer. Older phones with mechanical bells can be troublesome with the MJ.
I hate to ask, but have you confirmed this phone rings on another line? Sometimes, we forget that there is a ringer on/off switch on most phones, or they break etc.
Confirming this will ensure we won't lead you on any wild goose chases while chasing down the solution.
You should also try a different phone on you MJ and/or a powered usb hub, if your phone checks out as good.
There's no universal fix for this problem. As "Whiz" said trying a different phone and a powered usb hub are the first things to try. Have you tried your MJ on another computer? It's a shot in the dark but you could also try and change the process priority of MJ to high in task manager and see if that helps. Another thing to check is to make sure your usb hubs are staying powered up all the time.
Thanks for the replies. I have tried numerous phones. My house has five of them, four "new" and one old fashioned kind which I could understand how the MJ couldn't ring its bells, and have three XP SP2 computers that all behave the same way.
I figured I would have to have to have a powered hub to run all the phones in my house, I just never thought I would need one to use the jack plugged into the PC, with a four foot cable. That's really pathetic.
Not sure if I am gonna keep mine, or send it back (got it from the web for the 30 day trial)
Seems like they have work to do before I can make it my phone service, and if I had a job, and a few dollars, I would probably hang onto it as a second line, since its so cheap, but the idea was to ditch my $45 month comcast phone account, and this has not filled me with the sense of reliability I would need. Can't have the phone going funky when I am looking for work, and the tech support is less than mediocre.
Is anyone using it for their only phone service? I am still intrigued, but at the moment, not willing to commit. Too bad I can't transfer my existing number. That would be incentive to fight through this.
Bummer is, I have a powered USB hub, but have managed to misplace the power supply since I don't need it for anything else, and haven't kept track of the old wall wart <shrug>
Thanks,
John
I figured I would have to have to have a powered hub to run all the phones in my house, I just never thought I would need one to use the jack plugged into the PC, with a four foot cable. That's really pathetic.
Not sure if I am gonna keep mine, or send it back (got it from the web for the 30 day trial)
Seems like they have work to do before I can make it my phone service, and if I had a job, and a few dollars, I would probably hang onto it as a second line, since its so cheap, but the idea was to ditch my $45 month comcast phone account, and this has not filled me with the sense of reliability I would need. Can't have the phone going funky when I am looking for work, and the tech support is less than mediocre.
Is anyone using it for their only phone service? I am still intrigued, but at the moment, not willing to commit. Too bad I can't transfer my existing number. That would be incentive to fight through this.
Bummer is, I have a powered USB hub, but have managed to misplace the power supply since I don't need it for anything else, and haven't kept track of the old wall wart <shrug>
Thanks,
John
-
Nobody beats the Whiz!
- Dan Should Pay Me
- Posts: 559
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:04 pm
John,
I am sorry to hear it is giving you so many problems. I do use the MJ as my only home phone, but I also keep a cheap prepaid cell phone as a backup, however.
I haven't had any real problems with the MJ service. I do not use a powered hub, though the MJ will not work in the rear usb ports of my PC, for whatever reason.
I think you simply got a lemon, based on all the proper steps you've taken to troubleshoot.
RMA your current MJ, and get another from Radio Shack, Walmart, or Best Buy, etc. That way, it's a simple exchange/return if you get unlucky enough to grab another lemon.
I am sorry to hear it is giving you so many problems. I do use the MJ as my only home phone, but I also keep a cheap prepaid cell phone as a backup, however.
I haven't had any real problems with the MJ service. I do not use a powered hub, though the MJ will not work in the rear usb ports of my PC, for whatever reason.
I think you simply got a lemon, based on all the proper steps you've taken to troubleshoot.
RMA your current MJ, and get another from Radio Shack, Walmart, or Best Buy, etc. That way, it's a simple exchange/return if you get unlucky enough to grab another lemon.
I would go to walmart and try their powered usb hub if it doesn't work just return it. The same with your MJ make sure you get it back before the 30 says. I would talk to their chat support again and have them try and give you a replacement. Make sure you ask to elevate to a higher level of tech support and see what you can get. If your calls sound fine when you talk to others it just might be a faulty MJ.
Phone Ringing
I just bought my MJ today. I downloaded and spent 5 hours off and on with Tech Support and still haven't gotten this thingy fixed. I have tried everything they told me to do and the phone still doesn't ring. The number will show on the caller id and ask if I want to accept or ignore. I need the phone to ring. Does anyone have any more ideas on how to fix this problem? I am not really computer savvy and am really aggravated with this thing. Should i return it and get a new one and if I do can I keep the same number?