JimF
join:2003-06-15
Allentown, PA
| Warning: You must Plug magicJack into USB
I got this error message when plugging MJ into a new PC I just built. I was using the same USB port on the same PCI adapter card that I was using on my old PC. At first, I thought it must be due to using Vista x64 on the new PC, rather than Windows XP that was on my old PC. I contacted MJ using their Live Chat, and followed their suggestions (changing the drive letters for MJ), but that did not fix it.
To make a long story short, I plugged MJ into a USB port on the rear apron of my PC (rather than the PCI card), and it works fine now. Apparently MJ prefers the USB ports that come straight from the motherboard. |
|
amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ | See:
»www.magicjacksupport.com/warning···208.html
Mark |
|
JimF
join:2003-06-15
Allentown, PA
1 edit | That might work. I did run the upgrade program earlier, but did not try deleting the folder or registry key. Since it works on some of my ports but not others, I am not sure that is the same problem they are experiencing. It seems to be more a port compatibility problem, but who knows. Thanks. I will bookmark it for future use. |
|
dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ | Could be the USB on the card doesn't supply enough power for the magicjack. |
|
JimF
join:2003-06-15
Allentown, PA
1 edit | It is the same card that I was using on an earlier WinXP PC; I just moved it over to the new one. But it is several years old, and came out before Vista. I have ordered a new PCI card with 5 USB ports that supports Vista x64 (with the latest NEC chip), and maybe it will work. I have no problem using MJ on the USB port on the motherboard, but if the PCI card is having compatibility problems with MJ, maybe something else will go wrong later and I had better fix it now. |
|
prestonlewis
Premium,MVM
join:2003-04-13
Sacramento, CA
 ·VoiceStick
 ·Comcast
 ·Pacific Bell - SBC
·DSL EXTREME
·Vonage
·VoicePulse
1 edit | reply to JimF
Did MJ tell you that they supply drivers for x64 Windows?
I tried installing XP x64 in a computer a while back and I could get virtually nothing to work, including MJ.
I currently use Vista x32 but continue to have some MJ problems. For example, when I boot up the computer MJ is never recognized. I have to replug MJ into another USB port in order to get Vista to recognize it. Once recognized, it works fine. I also use a PCI USB card that is several years old. MJ works fine using it and XP. Works fine with Vista after the previously described problem. Won't work at all with x64 XP.
As I understand it, x64 drivers are different from x32 drivers. Additionally, x32 software has to run using an emulator under x64 (like WOW64, Windows on Windows emulator which is built into x64 Windows). I'm not sure MJ is designed to work under x64 both in terms of drivers and software emulation being required which is pretty slow. |
|
JimF
join:2003-06-15
Allentown, PA
| No, MJ doesn't supply any drivers at all. Everything is just on their dongle in flash memory, which should work in any standard USB port under any version of Windows that I know of. My old USB card still works fine in my new Vista x64 PC for two printers and a USB flash drive, it is only the MJ that does not work. I am guessing that it is due to some incompatibility with the card, but won't know until I get the new one, and will post back if it works.
But from the various problems people have had, it appears that MJ is more particular about the USB port than a lot of other devices. We will see. |
|
JimF
join:2003-06-15
Allentown, PA
| No luck with the new USB card (Rosewill RC-101). It works fine for everything else, but not MJ. Maybe a different PCI slot would work, but I only have two and don't want to change it. So I will just use the motherboard USB port. I have plenty of others anyway. |
|
CheapGuyNo1
join:2004-09-17
Washington, DC
| reply to JimF
I finally solved my MJ - USB problem.
Turned out it was a power issue, just like MJ support suggested.
I went out and bought a powered USB hub. Turned out it was too wimpy to power the MJ. MJ needs a pretty powerful AC power supply; the USB on my old computer was just not up to the task.
I ended up buying a 4 port USB hub with a 2200ma power supply from a store called windmilltrading.com. Here's the link: »www.windmilltrading.com/USBProds···214A.htm
They even mention MagicJack in the text of the item.
They're not cheap (about $20), but I guess nothing good is ever cheap, and everything inferior usually is. (I think that's how that saying goes!)
Plugged it in and MJ has worked fine ever since. Now what do I do with those cheap unpowered and underpowered hubs? Anyone need an extra USB hub for cheap?  |
|
JimF
join:2003-06-15
Allentown, PA
1 edit | Now that is interesting. My old PC supplied 5 volts on the PCI slots, while the new one probably only does 3.3 volts (I think the cards are now compatible with either). So maybe I was not getting enough current to the MJ from the PCI card also. |
|
CheapGuyNo1
join:2004-09-17
Washington, DC
| I think the MJ device has unique power requirements that are quite a bit higher than the average USB-connected device.
I'd try one of those hubs that solved my problem. My MJ worked fine on other (newer) computers, plugged directly in to a USB port, but whenever I tried an unpowered or cheap powered hub it would not even "light up". The new hub I got solved the problem. |
|
amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
·Cox HSI
·magicjack.com
| said by CheapGuyNo1  :The new hub I got solved the problem. What's strange to me about the powered-hub solution is that I tend to think of computer peripherals either working or not. Not partially working. I mean, you don't think of your inkjet missing the color "red" because it doesn't receive enough power.
But, I've seen other people say a powered hub fixed low audio problems. One guy even had the problem *only* when calling internationally. Like his USB port supplied enough power for his voice to travel 2000 miles, but not 4000.
Mark |
|
Racerbob
join:2001-06-24
Webster, NY | So what is a good powered hub to get and how much would it cost ? |
|
CheapGuyNo1
join:2004-09-17
Washington, DC
| Like I said the one I got was from a company called WindmillTrading.com. It sure solved my MJ power problems, after I wasted money trying a few other powered hubs. Apparently the trick is that this hub has a whopping 2200mA power supply. I'm no computer expert but that's what worked for me! They even have on their site that their hub will solve MagicJack poewr problems... and as far as I'm concerned they're right!
I looked up the link again:
»www.windmilltrading.com/USBProds···214A.htm
Hope this helps. |
|
HolmanGT
Premium
join:2001-11-20
Saint George, UT
·Baja Broadband
| said by CheapGuyNo1 :Like I said the one I got was from a company called WindmillTrading.com. It sure solved my MJ power problems, after I wasted money trying a few other powered hubs. Apparently the trick is that this hub has a whopping 2200mA power supply. I'm no computer expert but that's what worked for me! They even have on their site that their hub will solve MagicJack poewr problems... and as far as I'm concerned they're right! I looked up the link again: » www.windmilltrading.com/USBProds···214A.htmHope this helps. Good find "CheapGuyNo1",
But they are not doing anything special, they are just living up to the specs for a four port Powered Hub. The specs are .5 amps per port, which this hub meets. The problem with these other manufacturers is they are just boldface lying about their hubs meeting the "Powered Hub" specifications.
For $19 dollars I may just pick one up for ... well I don't know but at that price I wouldn't mind leaving it on the shelf for some impromptu emergency. |
|
CheapGuyNo1
join:2004-09-17
Washington, DC
| reply to JimF
Yeah, I figured something like that. I think indeed the problem with the other "powered" hubs is that they do not have a beefy enough power supply. They'll have like 7 ports but only come with a 600ma power supply, so as soon as you plug in more than 1 device that draws power from the hub, it falls flat on its face, because the powersupply can't deliver enough to power more than a single device at a time. which of course kinda defeats the whole purpose of having a hub!  |
|
amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
·Cox HSI
·magicjack.com
| reply to HolmanGT
said by HolmanGT :For $19 dollars I may just pick one up for ... well I don't know but at that price I wouldn't mind leaving it on the shelf for some impromptu emergency. Me too. And, to reward them for doing good business.
Mark |
|
mozerd
Light Will Pierce The Darkness
Premium,MVM
join:2004-04-23
Nepean, ON
| reply to HolmanGT
said by HolmanGT :Good find "CheapGuyNo1" I second that motion.
Another excellent USB 2.0 HUB that I recommend is the IOGEAR GUH227 7 Port High Speed USB 2.0
--
David Mozer
IT-Expert on Call
Information Technology for Home and Business |
|
CheapGuyNo1
join:2004-09-17
Washington, DC
| That's another relatively pricey USB hub, as compared to the cheap plastic ones. Just goes to show you good stuff is expensive and bad stuff isn't! Usually, at least...
I'll stick with the expensive stuff, better for my sanity too!
It's all relative... |
|
pjm
@comcast.net
| reply to JimF
I used an 2.o Amp power supply for my USB hub. Magicjack still will not work using the external usb port or any usb ports on the computer. Anybody with another idea to get magicjack to work? Funny thing it use to work with no problems, now kuput!  |
|
