How to repair and maintain your Magic Jack System

While searching through Google I couldn't help but notice the myriad of complaints concerning Magic Jack. Many of these tend to focus on call quality and missed calls.

This isn't surprising. With a normal 'landline' phone service, the customer is responsible for maintaining the handset and its attached cord. If the user has a problem, he ensures the headset functions by testing it at another location. It it works, he passes the problem onto his telephone company.

A telephone system powered by Magic Jack is much more complicated at the customer's end. As well as the Magic Jack device and handset, the system depends on the abilities of the user's computer system and internet connection. The task of locating the exact fault is set squarely on the customer's shoulders.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

To ensure your telephone system operates reliably, it is important to conduct some form of routine maintenance. Below is listed a routine that can easily be performed on monthly basis. It is not difficult. You are simply turning the complete system off, then restarting it.

1. If your handset requires power, unplug it.
2. Remove the Magic Jack from its USB port and lay it aside.
3. If your Magic Jack was connected through a powered hub, unplug the hub from its power source.
4. Log off and shut down the computer.
5. Unplug the computer from its power source.
6. If you use a router, unplug it from its power source.
7. Unplug the modem (device connecting system to internet) from its power source.
8. Count slowly to ten. Then reconnect the modem to its power source. Allow this device a couple of minutes to stabilize. At this point there should be no red warning lights on modem. Red lights are an indication of problems involving modem, line from modem to wall socket, or the internet connection.
9. If your system uses a router, reconnect it to its power source. Allow a minute for the router to stabilize.
10. Plug in the computer. Turn it on and log in. Wait five minutes to allow computer to fully load.
11. If you are using a powered hub in conjunction with the Magic Jack, reconnect the hub to its power source.
12. If you are using a handset that requires power, reconnect it to its power source. Ensure the handset is connected to the Magic jack via a phone cord.
13. Reinsert the Magic Jack into its USB port. Allow the software time to load.
14. Check the handset to ensure you have dial tone.

It may come as a surprise, but many faults concerning electronic equipment can be solved simply by temporarily removing the power. By following the above procedure you are stopping small, unnoticed glitches before they become major problems.

FAULT FINDING

Okay, your Magic Jack phone system is not working properly. How do you find the exact cause? Well, technicians like to keep things simple. Check out the easy stuff first.

• Is everything turned on?
• Is the blue light, inside your Magic Jack dongle, on? Maybe you need to connect it through a powered hub to ensure the device receives enough power to operate properly?
• If this is a new installation, is your internet service and computer capable of handling the requirements placed upon them by Magic Jack?
• Do all your connecting cables appear to be firmly attached?
• Are you downloading or streaming files at the same time you are attempting to place a call?

Your next step in the fault finding process is to perform the power shutdown/reboot described in 'Routine Maintenance' above.

Next, you should ask yourself what recent changes you have made to the computer/Magic Jack software? What recent upgrades have you performed to your hardware? Could this have effected the performance of your Magic Jack?

If your difficulties persist, it is time to divide and conquer. Google a 'you tube' link and watch the video. If you cannot connect to the internet, consult your internet provider for assistance. If the video is choppy, the internet connection might be too slow or bogged down. Perhaps your computer is too slow or requires maintenance. If you cannot hear sound, you might be experiencing problems with your soundcard or sound drivers. You should check Control Panel/Sound and ensure that 'USB internet phone by Tigerjet' is installed.

If the video ran correctly, the next step would be to test your handset and phone cord at another location.

If you prove the handset/phone cord to be correct, you have pinpointed your fault to either the Magic Jack or its software. Contact online support for Magic Jack.

Please note that I am affiliated with neither YMAX nor Magic Jack. This article is intended to pass along techniques, based on common sense, which I have picked up over many years of maintaining communications systems. For my review of the Magic Jack system, please click on this link.