I just ordered a magicjack and was wondering if anyone else used one

[johns0]

I just ordered a magicjack and was wondering if anyone else used one and what they thought of it,if it works like they say then i can dump my phone provider and use my cell phone as a backup.

[yoda313]

I haven't personally. However a lady at one of the places I worked at this summer said she tried it and it was horrible. Apparently it clips off words and isn't reliable.

But that is only one persons opinion. She dropped it. But I don't know what her internet connection was like. I don't know how crowded it was or if she had stuff downloading all the time while on the phone or if it was split to six different tvs and stuff like that.

So I can only give heresay on it. Take it for what its worth.

[johns0]

Guess i gotta try it out my self,some people's computers aren't very well setup.

[yoda313]

Guess i gotta try it out my self,some people's computers aren't very well setup.

Bingo.

Though I'd hook it up directly inline if you can. Try avoiding a computer off a router. If you can connect it to the computer that is directly on your cable/dsl modem without any other distance issues that would help I think.

Good luck. Leave feedback.

Also check other tech forums - cnet is always a good place to check.

[redwudz]

I've used Skype in the past and considered it a bit of a hassle to use. It does have advantages for very long distance calls to the other side of the world.

This device sounds interesting. Since the bandwidth it uses seems fairly low, using it through a router shouldn't be a problem. With Skye and other similar services, your ISP connection speed is very important. Skye used to cut off words also with my setup. But mostly I just got tired of buying minutes and not using them, so I dropped it.

At some point, the internet phone signal from the box has to connect to a local phone service and that seems to be the weak point with these type of services. If there is no internet->local connection near to the phone you are trying to contact, then it would seem some phone/long distance charges might apply.

[Dv8ted2]

I have had one for almost two years. I love it.

[DVDDave]

it really all depends on your internet provider. i had FIOS for the past year and the magic jack sucked no matter which way it was connected. i just went back to comcast and it works GREAT !!! it is best to at least have it connected to a computer that is wired to a router, when used on wireless, the sound quality does go down.....mine is plugged into a router on a PC using WIN 7 and it works GREAT !!!

[JimmyJoeBob]

I bought one for me 80 year old Mum who lives next door to me in her house (200 Ft. away) and has only local service because she refuses to pay for Long Distance service even though she has a couple of siblings left alive across the country.

She has no internet connection so I installed it on my PC and bought her an ATT cordless DECT 6.0 with an extra handset and installed MJ on my PC connected to the the base ATT unit in my house. Her satellite unit only needed a electrical connection to work.

She was very happy and has made many, many calls and talked for hours. Her only complaint was she "sometimes" had to turn her head to make the connection better.

Duh...200 Ft. away on a cordless satellite phone to the base unit through brick and several walls over the internet, I would say it's a go!!

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

I've had one since the service started years ago and it's the best thing since sliced bread.
I dumped my landline and only have MJ as my primary phone.
MJ gives you a phone number, so you hook up a regular telephone to it and call other phone numbers, the recipient of the call does not need to have a magic jack. In the same fashion, anyone with a telephone can call your phone number.
I have relatives overseas, so I purchased a MJ and sent it there. Now they have it hooked up to the computer and there is one line with a US phone number in the living room. I can call them from anywhere, I am on the street and from my cell phone I call their number and they pick up overseas at no charge for me (other than the $20 a year).
I have a stand alone thin client with the MJ, so it can work 24/7 independently from my computer. I have a network with 5 computers at home, I have used the MJ in all possible configurations, even on a wireless computer and it works without problems.
It only uses 8-9Kb bandwidth both ways, so when I had it plugged on my main computer I used NetLimiter to reserve 10KB for it in case the connection was busy downloading something that could interfere with it. Overseas, it is used with a 512Kb connection and it works without problems. That device has saved me SERIOUS money, for $20 you can't go wrong with it.

[lordsmurf]

No.