Skype Killer - Magic Jack - $20.00 a year phone service

[achiral]

YOU - Having a downside and having common sense are not mutually exclusive

HER - sure it is, coming from you it should always be right?

 

[Schmide]

Originally posted by: achiral
YOU - Having a downside and having common sense are not mutually exclusive

HER - sure it is, coming from you it should always be right?

Things in my comment that could be it -

it is trollrrific
it is couple redundant observations
it is discussed ad nauseum
it is berating a simple comment
it is not mutually exclusive
it is ad nauseum

and depending on the above

should it always be, right?
should it always be right?

 

[achiral]

'

 

[achiral]

i'm sorry you are unable to be helped. maybe you should buy a magicjack and call me so i can explain further.

 

[ericlp]

damn.... OLD thread... stop bringing these things back to life!

 

[Schmide]

Originally posted by: achiral
i'm sorry you are unable to be helped. maybe you should buy a magicjack and call me so i can explain further.

You don't need to talk on the phone to explain the concept of an ambiguous pronoun.

Originally written by: Shel Silverstein 1972

And some kind of help is the kind of help
That helping's all about
And some kind of help is the kind of help
We all can do without

 

[LumbergTech]

Originally posted by: IksokChoy
According to theie site you can, there appears to be a charge for International calls though ?? Faq Link Again

It does charge for international calls....but generally much less than what it normally costs

they have the rates posted somewhere...

 

[cheapherk]

The TV commercial was enough to turn me off. Glad to see it wasn't a scam.

 

[slayer202]

Originally posted by: cheapherk
The TV commercial was enough to turn me off. Glad to see it wasn't a scam.

I'm kind of surprised too lol

 

[Mongoloid]

Originally posted by: LumbergTech

It does charge for international calls....but generally much less than what it normally costs

If you have family members in a foreign country, my coworker said he bought a magic jack for his parents back home. Because the number is local, they can call each other with no long distance charges and use a regular phone for the magic jack (which is convenient).

 

[Netopia]

Originally posted by: Mongoloid

Originally posted by: LumbergTech

It does charge for international calls....but generally much less than what it normally costs

If you have family members in a foreign country, my coworker said he bought a magic jack for his parents back home. Because the number is local, they can call each other with no long distance charges and use a regular phone for the magic jack (which is convenient).

That, in my opinion, is the extreme sweet spot for these things; using them overseas so that you can call the US and people can call you, with no international calls either way.

Joe

 

[Maldian]

This thing works like a charm. I have had mine for about a year now. I love it!

 

[Jawadali]

Originally posted by: Netopia

Originally posted by: Mongoloid

Originally posted by: LumbergTech

It does charge for international calls....but generally much less than what it normally costs

If you have family members in a foreign country, my coworker said he bought a magic jack for his parents back home. Because the number is local, they can call each other with no long distance charges and use a regular phone for the magic jack (which is convenient).

That, in my opinion, is the extreme sweet spot for these things; using them overseas so that you can call the US and people can call you, with no international calls either way.

Joe

But your family overseas (or you, if you go on an international vacation/business trip and want to call home) would still need to have a computer with active internet service for this to work, correct?

I currently subscribe to skype pro, but was thinking about this. Both seems to have thier pros and cons. With skype is I can use any computer which has an internet connection as long as I download the software (i.e. I'm not limited to having one USB dongle to carry around). However, this seems like it's more "transparent" and would be easier for non-technical people to use (although skype's interface isn't too difficult to pick up).

 

[marmasatt]

My parents bought on of these things. I laughed my ass off and ridiculed them to all hell. The thing works like a charm and they're saving a few hundred a year in phone bills.

 

[ericlp]

Originally posted by: marmasatt

My parents bought on of these things. I laughed my ass off and ridiculed them to all hell. The thing works like a charm and they're saving a few hundred a year in phone bills.

Been using for 1.5 years, even splurged on the 5 year subscription. I figure it's paid for it self by the tune of 4-500 bucks so far. That's by not having a 30 dollar cell phone bill.

in 6 years when my sub is up I will have saved at least 1200 + dollars.

Works for me. The key is you got to be next or relatively close to a MJ server. Tho, now days almost every major city has a MJ server.

 

[Smoke]

I currently have telephone service through my local cable company. During the installation they basically ran a wire from the telephone/modem to my "wire room" and punched it into my key system board.

I am wondering if all I have to do is disconnect the telephone output line on the back of the telephone/modem and (using a telephone union device) splice in a MJ line and end up with my "Toshiba Key System" working on a MJ connection?

Has anyone tried something like this?

I've just ordered a MJ so after it arrives I can just try it out and see for myself. I'll report back my results.

 

[filibusterman]

Originally posted by: Smoke
I currently have telephone service through my local cable company. During the installation they basically ran a wire from the telephone/modem to my "wire room" and punched it into my key system board.

I am wondering if all I have to do is disconnect the telephone output line on the back of the telephone/modem and (using a telephone union device) splice in a MJ line and end up with my "Toshiba Key System" working on a MJ connection?

Has anyone tried something like this?

I've just ordered a MJ so after it arrives I can just try it out and see for myself. I'll report back my results.

Please do I would also be interested to see if this works.

 

[Schmide]

telephone union device?

I think a standard phone (POTS) line runs like 48v. If you hook a Magic Jack to that it's going to fry.

 

[Smoke]

Originally posted by: Schmide
telephone union device?

I think a standard phone (POTS) line runs like 48v. If you hook a Magic Jack to that it's going to fry.

You have sufficiently discouraged me from trying that. :shocked:

Just to be clear ... I'm calling the adapter(device) that allows you to attach two telephone wires (RJ11s, Single Line or RJ14s, Two Line) together to make a longer run, a "telephone union device". That may be the wrong name?

I have received my Magic Jack. I'm using an RJ14 right now to connect the Magic Jack to a Panasonic 2-Line 2.4 Ghz base station and it is working just fine.

 

[BKCalvine]

I had used a friend's magic jack without realizing it was a Magic Jack. He had purchased a "skype phone" from overseas and somehow got it to work with his Magic Jack. That blew my mind. Plus, it sounded like any regular phone!

 

[richierich1212]

So is there any lag in conversation with the MJ?

 

[imported_nunya]

Originally posted by: richierich1212
So is there any lag in conversation with the MJ?

Occasionally I'll have a bad connection and call them or have them call me back, but it's usually about the same as a cell phone.

 

[ericlp]

Originally posted by: Smoke

Originally posted by: Schmide
telephone union device?

I think a standard phone (POTS) line runs like 48v. If you hook a Magic Jack to that it's going to fry.

You have sufficiently discouraged me from trying that. :shocked:

Just to be clear ... I'm calling the adapter(device) that allows you to attach two telephone wires (RJ11s, Single Line or RJ14s, Two Line) together to make a longer run, a "telephone union device". That may be the wrong name?

I have received my Magic Jack. I'm using an RJ14 right now to connect the Magic Jack to a Panasonic 2-Line 2.4 Ghz base station and it is working just fine.

Yep, that's the only way to go. Get a cordless phone that allows for added handsets or a package of handsets you can live with. I got three handsets and that's enough for me.

 

[Smoke]

A couple of days ago using the BJ line I noticed a 3 - 4 second delay when the other party would respond to me. They complained the connection was not very good and we had great difficulty completing the business at hand. As it turned out my regular line was out of commission (the line serviced by my local cable company) so even having a poorly performing BJ was greatly appreciated.

Further investigation determined that my normal 5 GB internet service was only running at a pathetic 400 kbps download and a meager 44 kbps upload. After contacting my cable company using the BJ line, the matter was resolved both on their end (refreshed my account settings) and mine (reset my cable/telephone modem).

So what I have learned, and am passing on to all of you, is that the BJ will work (though poorly) with as little as a 300-400 kbps upload and a 40-50 kbps download internet speed but when restored to a (my) fast 5426/561 kbps service (just tested) the BJ works like a charm. :thumbsup:

The only thing that has been a little disconcerting when using the BJ is I have to remember to dial all 10 digits when making a call and not use 1+ on long distance calls which is the complete opposite of my cable telephone service.

BTW, I did try the experiment of connecting the BJ to my 17 phone key system and it worked just fine. :Q

Man, it's really tempting to get a 2nd BJ and drop my cable phone. The cable company has their pricing structure setup in such a fashion that if you don't get all three services (TV, Internet, and Telephone) the remaining services and fees go up so much that it almost wipes out the expected $$ savings. :|

Still considering that plan ....

 

[mazeroth]

I've had my MJ for over a year now and it's so-so to say the least. Out of 5 calls, I would say 3 go flawlessly. The other two will either be that I can't hear them or they can't hear me. Then, to fix it, I have to unplug the MJ from the computer and plug it back in so it can reinitiate. Then I'll have to call the person back.

Has anyone else experienced this? Literally, this has happened for a year. Good thing I have a cell phone.