New Magic Jack - No Workie, Would Like To Use CC machine

[phipps]

Hey Everyone,

Brand new to the Unofficial magic Jack forum.

I just bought a magicJack so I could run credit cards on the road with my Verifone Vx570.

I plugged the jack in, everything works fine. I was excited to get a dial tone. However, I can only hear 1 out of every 3-4 words. I have a solid wireless connection via cable modem. It just doesn't work. I've tried it with the dongle, without the dongle, plugged into different USB ports on my 'puter. Nothing.

I thought I'd try the CC machine tonight. No surprise, it didn't work.

Anyone have any patches, or hacks, or firmware upgrades...etc. I really only need this thing for one purpose...to run credit cards on the road. The other bonuses are many (forward office phone to magicJack when on road), all kinds of things. However, if things don't change I'll have to consider other alternatives (any ideas??)

Thanks!

Travis

[tony]

However, I can only hear 1 out of every 3-4 words. I have a solid wireless connection via cable modem. It just doesn't work. I've tried it with the dongle, without the dongle, plugged into different USB ports on my 'puter. Nothing.

I thought I'd try the CC machine tonight. No surprise, it didn't work.
Travis

Hi,
Try doing an Internet search for "voip test", you'll come across a bunch of sites like http://myvoipspeed.visualware.com/ and others. Run the tests. Report back your MOS score and jitter. Also run http://www.pingtest.net/ and see what kind of results you get.

From your symptoms, sounds like you have a lot of latency or other traffic on your internet connection. Do you by chance have a lot of other traffic on your network or internet connection? Large downloads or uploads?

Finally, does your CC machine send tones that are similar to a fax machine? If so, do a search on this forum and see what others say about using faxes on MJ.

Sounds like you are in business and have invested in a merchant account and a CC/debit terminal. With those monthly expenses, would you not consider spending the extra for a reliable phone line for your transactions?

[phipps]

Hi tony,

Thanks for the quick reply and insights.

OK, I just went to pingtest.net and ran the test. I was surprised by the results.

It rated my line quality an "F". I have never had problems with this connection and have always had fast download/upload speeds. I am the only person on this network that I am aware of, and I have our wireless router secured. I only use this connection for standard browsing, email checking, etc. Nothing outrageous. I don't even like to watch video.

Here are the scores:
MOS:2.19
Ping: 15ms
Jitter: 1ms

I do have a lot of business expenses. I do have a land line at the office, but we also take our retail store "on the road" at times to trade shows, etc. I'd like to use our credit card machine on the road. Hence the magicJack. I thought if I could get a decent wifi connection (pretty easy at most events) or use my sprint 3g/4g mobile hotspot, I could run cards...all I need is a dial tone and a clean line. It looks like the latter is hard to come by.

I'm not on the road enough to justify a $20/month plan to get a mobile cc machine with service.

You see the quandary?

I'm willing to give most options a try. Especially if I can save a buck or two. I'd like to stay in business as long as possible!

Thanks again,

Travis

[crackerjack]

Hey Everyone,

Brand new to the Unofficial magic Jack forum.

I just bought a magicJack so I could run credit cards on the road with my Verifone Vx570.

I plugged the jack in, everything works fine. I was excited to get a dial tone. However, I can only hear 1 out of every 3-4 words. I have a solid wireless connection via cable modem. It just doesn't work. I've tried it with the dongle, without the dongle, plugged into different USB ports on my 'puter. Nothing.

I thought I'd try the CC machine tonight. No surprise, it didn't work.

Anyone have any patches, or hacks, or firmware upgrades...etc. I really only need this thing for one purpose...to run credit cards on the road. The other bonuses are many (forward office phone to magicJack when on road), all kinds of things. However, if things don't change I'll have to consider other alternatives (any ideas??)

Thanks!

Travis

Alsp suggest you run tests Tony referenced from your proposed on-the-road device as well
As to alternatives, any and all other VOIP solutions are going to be dependent on the quality and stability of your underlying internet connection. So long as that remains the same, you can expect similarly unsatisfactory results.
You may want to try to search for some of the techniques mentioned in these fora to change the MJ proxy to which you are connected. Possibly another MJ proxy location will give you better results. Still, the crux of the matter is your 'net connection. Post those results so we can see.

[tony]

Here are the scores:
MOS:2.19
Ping: 15ms
Jitter: 1ms

I thought if I could get a decent wifi connection (pretty easy at most events) or use my sprint 3g/4g mobile hotspot, I could run cards...all I need is a dial tone and a clean line. It looks like the latter is hard to come by.
Travis

Hi Travis
Right, the MOS score is low. A score in the 4's is desirable. 5 is perfect. If you have access to wifi or better yet, your 3G/4G cell connection, take a look at a virtual cc terminal. I believe these run in a browser window on a laptop or a stand alone program. You manually type in the credit card number and submit it over the Internet. You'd have to check out measures for security, especially if you are using a public wifi system, no telling who is sniffing and pulling off credit card info. But this may work in place of your phone based terminal.

How many transactions are you projecting on processing per day? Is it feasible to make a voice call on your cell phone to your merchant account provider and manually check each credit card?

-Tony

[kuhntech]

Even with the best internet connection the credit card processor could still fail. CC machines are supposed to be connected to a copper line, not go over the internet. I believe using a CC processor over VoIP is breaking PCI Compliance laws, not 100% though. You may be able to get a CC processor that is able to run cards over a land line or over a network. (With RJ-11 and RJ-45 Jacks on tthe back) You could then bridge your wireless connection with your local area connection and process CCs over the internet using your laptop as a gateway.