Unofficial magicJack forum

jaqie · Apprentice Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Posts: 16

Some of the fellow old timers may recognize my nick. I was on the original official MJ forums as this same nick, I was customer # 58, and I was the first one on those forums to get a free MJ for helping other users out so much on the forum.

However, after some time, their service started getting worse.... and worse.... and worse, to the point the applet was crashing every few hours on all my PCs after a certain upgrade a couple months ago (both jacks, and all five of my computers, I used to be a PC tech by trade before I became disabled, the problem is not with my PCs, I made absolutely sure of that more then once) and the phone getting the now infamous error #3 constantly especially during the day when I need to call disability and such, I finally started getting ahold of their tech support every time I had a problem. The following chat log is almost verbatim what happened every single time I talked to them, the chat log below took two hours from start to finish - two hours of wasted time because of the crap they pull. This last chat log here, which I saved, was the kicker.

Darkman90808 · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:07 pm Post subject:

jaqie... although I thoroughly enjoy my MJ and ordered a second one today from the 1daysale site, I can appreciate your frustration. Recently, I've asked myself why I put myself through the aggravation, especially when someone I'm calling complains about the quality.

I've tried the Hawking BBB without the success others seem to have with it and when I test the MJ on the www.testyourvoip.com service, I get a rating of +4, showing really good quality. The folks on the other end don't care about the rating; they just know they're getting an echo or my voice is garbled, right?

But the truth is, I'm an addict. I love being able to plug the MJ into my laptop and know that my boss can't monitor my calls. (Uh, that's true, isn't is?) I never heard of Grandcentral till I found this group. I love spoofing, even though that's where a lot of my heartache comes from since it always works a little dicey for me. I'm having a great time.

I may be where you are some day, but for now I'm having fun with the MJ. I was just reminiscing back to my old Radio Shack Model 100 computer and how I reluctantly gave it for a newer, more powerful machine. But for now, these are the good ole days.

jaqie · Apprentice Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Posts: 16

Darkman90808 · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:45 am Post subject:

jaqie... thanks! This is all pretty new to me, so it's been fun playing around, although the MJ is wearing thin on some of my family and friends. I've given a casual look at some of the alternatives (not Wifi sip, though) but I'm still in the exploratory phase.

Ever the optimist, I'm hoping I signed on to the MJ at the beginning of the curve and like most technology will advance and improve. We'll see. Thanks again for your suggestions.

AlaninKY · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:07 am Post subject:

jaqie, I remember you as I also won a free MJ for helping other users out so much on the old official forum.
I'm sorry to read about your problems.

I wonder if the area code/prefix has something to do with the different results of users experiences? Or is there a server acting up somewhere on the magicJack side?
I'm using area code 615 with the 530 prefix on my 3 magicJacks and things are going great with my magicJacks. As things now stand, I have no plans to smash my magicJacks.

It's not good news to have some friends have problems that appear to be located on the magicJack side of things.

Stewart · Dan Should Pay Me Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 651

If you're contemplating smashing your magicJack ...
http://www.willitblend.com/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=iphone

laserjobs · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:18 pm Post subject:

jaqie · Apprentice Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Posts: 16

Stewart:
I actually saw those videos long, long ago and when I can afford one I am definitely getting a blendtec blender because I very highly value things built to last forever and take abuse, but I am not about to put a lead-laden metal laden item into my $~700 blender when I am going to use it for food.

AlaninKY:
Yeah I remember you won one too, I am glad to see you like it...however I have tried numerous times to get my second mj switched to another area code, but each time I try they say it will be done in a few hours and never is. I have tried over ten times, and that is part of what drove me so heartily away from them. If I could have tried another area code I would have, especially since I live in NC and they actually have NC area codes now. But, with vonage, I already got a number not just in my state, but in the town I live in, which is small and it seems I can change the number as often as I want to any I want for free as part of the service. With charges and taxes, I paid $60.11 to get it, got two free months because I put a friend's vonage number in as a referral, and after two months, I will have to pay ~$31 a month (with E911 fee, reg fee, et cetra, which isn't bad) for the unlimited minutes plan (basically what mj is but that actually works with good service. The best part is I got a hardware device, no more softphone bulls*it.

AlaninKY · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject:

I wish you much success jaqie. Very Happy

strndedinalska · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:54 am Post subject:

Mine was doing the same thing saying my internet wasn't connected. I went through all of the steps too, but as it turns out, my problem was my firewall conflicted with the device, which was odd given the fact it worked so long with the same firewall. Anyway, sad to see you go, but wish you well in wherever you end up.
_________________
Windows Vista and Laptop with XP SP2 on the road. Occasionally, a Mac if my Windows machine isn't working.

snowwy66 · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2008 Posts: 8

ahhh the joys of new technology. i remember when vonage first came out. it sucked for 24 months before things started shaping up. i stuck with it as it was cheaper then landline service. how long has mj been out???? and even with it's quirks. CAN YOU REALLY COMPLAIN FOR 20 BUCKS A YEAR. i haven't had mine very long but i can't complain whatsoever. but then, it's my understanding they put new software version sometime within past month. it's new technology. it takes time to iron out the wrinkles. just like every new windows operating system that comes out. they all suck when it first rolls out and by time the new one comes out to supercede the old one. all the bugs are worked out of old one.

mufon · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:52 pm Post subject:

I believe the folks at VONAGE themselves say it best in their old advertisements, "people do stupid things."
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Doing weird things with electricity since 1959.
MagicJack's on Cray XT5 / Linux

jaqie · Apprentice Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Posts: 16

Just an update for those that care (I happened across this forum on the 'net tonight figured I would update)

It seems it was good to jump ship when I did, reading some of the tricks this company is pulling nowadays I am very glad I never gave them the info on my real debit account.

As stated above I have been using vonage after dumping MJ... I have now used vonage about as long as I used crappyjack before... I gotta say Its so worth the extra money... but the costs are chafing me bad enough im looking into DIY VOIP... sadly the only ones I find that are unlimited minutes are almost as much as my current one (vonage is $31 and some change after all fees for unlimited us calls and all features included).

I still chafe at the fee vonage charges per month, but I keep paying it, and like it. Why? it "just bleeding works" unlike my magicjacks I had. If I have net, I have good clear phone service, even without a pc on. For almost a year. nonstop. if my net worked, i had phone. that kind of peace of mind is worth a lot when you NEED to know you will recieve calls, and be able to make them. (how do I know I havent missed calls? well they email me a voicemail when my box doesnt pick it up, and their servers unlike MJ have five nines of uptime, anyone in IT can tell you what five nines is)

In a nutshell after using both about a year, here is where I see things (for *ME*, yours will undoubtedly be different!):
Customer service: vonage ***** mj: zero
Quality of calls: vonage: ***** mj: **
price: vonage:* mj:*****
website: vonage:***** mj: zero
reliability vonage:***** mj:*
total: vonage:21 mj:8

As someone on a very fixed income I cannot afford an "other line" its one line or nothing. As it stands, vonage eats heavily into my food budget, to be honest... but I ***NEED*** a reliable phone service. Anyone on disability can tell you that when something is wrong with your disability and you dont have a car you ***HAVE*** to have reliable phone service to fix it. The peace of mind with this for that as well as other things is worth eating mac & cheese, ramen, and such for another week or two out of each month.

Im sure the trolls and flamers will pick this apart try to twist the meaning my words intend or just outright call me things *shrug* I dont care. ive not been here in a year because of just such foolishness that is internet forums, I have better things to do with my life. I just figured, for those that DO care, I would post this update to show where one of the first paying customers of MJ went and how she sees things after a year with another voip service.

SpamBox · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:21 am Post subject:

davrow · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:22 pm Post subject:

SpamBox, I believe she is referring to them cutting people off for excessive usage without warning. Also without ever posting what "excessive usage" is, or giving a way to determine how close to that limit you are.

Also, getting rid of the "Caller ID spoofing" that used to be available.

Also, not giving replacements for broken MJ units.

Also, not having any customer support, a farcical website, and claims that they will have something "soon" when they have no intention of even providing the service.

Tricks like that. Laughing