Magic Jack - is it reliable? SM
Posted By: RockinMT on 2008-08-14
In Reply to:
I have seen discussions about this on these boards and I was wondering just how reliable is it. I currently have Vonage which is costing me 30 bucks a month. I've heard a lot about Magic Jack and unlimited long distance and it would save me a bundle in the long run; however, I don't want to ditch Vonage because it works great.
Mind you, I don't use my Vonage line for transcribing. It is strictly my business/personal telephone voice calls only. I found there is a lag when using my C-phone with Vonage that drives me nuts. I have DSL through the local phone company and so have an analog phone line through them. That is the phone line I use for my fax machine, transcribing, etc.
I'm looking for a way to trim some of the fat off my home office budget. I need/want two phone lines period. I won't have it any other way. I didn't sign a new cell phone contract in lieu of a prepaid cell phone. At this point, I have a new job with a hospital and I won't need to be using a C-phone. Everything is digital and through the PC.
So here's the short answer - is Magic Jack reliable and functional?
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Magic Jack
I have seen several posts on the board about using Magic Jack with a C-phone etc, however, would like to find out more about it regarding voice quality etc. I have both a wireless setup as well as an air card from Sprint and talked to the Sprint rep last night about using Magic Jack with my air card and he said that because my connection speeds are extreemely good, he did not foresee any problems. I also talked to a "tekky" friend of mine in Las Vegas and he said that he has a client who loves it, but in reading the reviews, I have seen both good and bad about it. I wouldn't at this time need it for work, but just more as a "home phone line". Any information would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks
Does anyone who uses the Magic Jack (sm)
Suddenly today, Saturday, have the foot pedal not work? This is the first time I have ever had this problem and I am wondering if it is systemic today - and hopefully everything will be OK. Any advise please. This was only phone option I had for LDS and its pretty scary not to be able to work with it today. Thanks for any advise or comments.
Magic Jack - sm
I had to send mine back the first day I tried it. I could not get the foot pedal for my Lanier to work with it. I was very disappointed, as it would have saved a lot of money. Hope it was just your system.
MAGIC JACK
not wanting to work?? I've had Majic for for a while now and never had a problem with my footpedal til now. I'm on my second C-phone and still footpedal problems?
Magic Jack
I was thinking about this once as well but I went online and read reviews and after that, I was not convinced it was a very good idea because of some of the glitches they need to fix. I can't remember all the details but it would behoove you to read the reviews first. Good luck!
Magic Jack
I have read previous comments about Magic Jack and was wondering if there were any more recent experiences about using Magic Jack with a C-phone. Vonage wants to up my plan to business because of the amount of time I am using it and then with all the fees tacked on, I'm looking at at least $55 a month for a business plan up from $35. I would rather use Magic Jack if I can see other transcriptionists are happy with it. Please post if you don't mind. Thank you!
Debbie
magic jack
I have Magic Jack and it works flawlessly as a phone. Would it work with transcription? I only have a cell phone and the Magic Jack line.
Magic Jack
No Magic Jack does not work with the C-phone's foot pedal. You can make calls with the C-phone but when you use the pedal it does not work.
Anyone using Magic Jack with their C-phone?
nm
It's a Magic Jack problem
I've used Magic Jack for about a month now and the problem with the foot pedal just started Sunday. But it's not a C-phone problem.
If they ever get that fixed, it really is a great deal for unlimited long distance (ULD). I did discover, however, that the quality and steadiness of the phone connection is MUCH better if you're connected to the internet with a cable rather than wireless. I had some frustrating problems with voice skipping, etc, when I had it on wireless.
If anyone is interested, voip.com has long distance at $19.95 a month for 10,000 minutes (an average working month is about 10,080). They also have the option of $199.00 a year which saves you about $3.50 a month. I connected it up yesterday. It's a 4 x 2 inch black box that connects via an ethernet cable to an extra port in your modem, and then you plug the C-phone and a power cord into the black box also. It doesn't connect directly to your desktop or laptop at all. I was very pleased with the quality - a strong, steady connection, absolutely no background noise, no skipping or stuttering on the C-phone.
And, no, I'm not a salesperson for Voip.com nor do I make any money from recommending them! ULD for transcriptionists has been a problem for a long time, and I've tried Vonage, Magic Jack, and voip.com, so voip.com solves the problem of price and quality for me (cross your fingers and knock on wood).
MAGIC JACK UPDATE....sm
Below posters you are all right. This weekend, the MJ stopped working with the foot pedal across the board. We had 5 MT in our company and same thing happened to everyone. It has not worked since. You can't get an answer from the live tech either. So, anyone thinking of trying this with a C-phone - don't. I have been using mine perfectly - and loved it!!! - for many months now. I'm very disappointed but I wanted to pass this along for others. I guess it was too good to be true for awhile.....
Someone mentioned VOIP below but with limited minutes. Anyone set up with them for unlimited business plan - is is truly unlimited - and did you like it? Appreciate your input.
Magic Jack update
Had anyone found out any more about whether Magic Jack will work with a c-phone? Or any other way to use the c-phone from either a cell phone service or internet service instead of a land line? Will the Dock-N-Talk work with a c-phone? Thanks in advance for any input!
Needing info on Magic Jack
show commercial break. It says 19.95 to buy, plug it into the computer, and plug a phone into it. Then just 19.95 a year and unlimited calling, voicemail, etc. This looks almost too good to be true. I checked on some different consumer reports and it got a good rating. I am thinking of trying it, but would like to hear from somebody that has tried it already.
Magic Jack with Lanier Voicewriter? sm
I've read posts stating C-phones possibly work with Magic Jack. However, has anyone successfully used Magic Jack with a Lanier Voicewriter, or has anyone tried that? TIA
Could not get Magic Jack to work with C-phone
I tried it on two different accounts,and there was too much skipping or dead air to use it. I ended up sending back the Magic Jack before free trial was over. Our internet tends to run a little slow sometimes so it may depend on how reliably fast your connection is. But as I said, I tried on two accounts and it would not work well enough on either, so it was definitely my internet connection that was the problem.
Magic Jack is not unlimited forever
The fine print on my Magic Jack indicates that if I use it for more than 20 percent more than the average person (whatever that means), they may discontinue my service. I am not familiar with the MT jobs that require unlimited phone service or the C-phone, but I imagine that those minutes would add up rather fast.
As far as using the Magic Jack for long-distance calls to family and friends, it seems to work great. It just doesn't seem like a good choice for MT work, IMHO.
They can say that, but I have gotten more reliable
information here than from my CSC, so what does that tell you?
I am a reliable IC, but I can say
where the MTSO promises work anywhere from p.r.n. to asking how much can you take on? I understand this business waxes and wanes, but sometimes it is just easier to give one IC one particular dictator to be responsible for and then if more help is needed ask if that IC has the time to help.
Another option is to make sure the IC is aware of how many minutes she/he will be receiving. I have had that happen as well where I thought I was getting say 15 minutes, and then was given 60 minutes. By the way, your higher pay rate is great because most small MTSOs only are willing to pay 7 cpl.
I like to learn accounts sometimes just to offer vacation, illnesses, etc. Please feel free to e-mail me if you are in a bind, and I can provide you with my resume. I have many, many years of experience in a lot of different specialties and am also flexible in regard to volume. I also tend to offer Sundays as an option since my work week runs Sunday to Thursday. 
An IC needs to be reliable.
I had an IC who would have situations crop up throughout her day that kept her from doing the work that she accepted. I had to find someone else because she just didn't understand that accepting the work was her committment to doing it. A simple, "I'm not available..." is the correct way to handle the situation than just not doing the work and thinking an excuse would be make everything better.
I have Compaq which is very reliable, but
I wish I had gone with the Toshiba. The only reason is that it was much lighter and easier on the hands when lifting and carrying. Other than that no problems with the Compaq.
The main thing is virus protection software and Spyware protection to protect the new laptop once you go online.
reliable LD service
I am feeling totally frustrated. 
I was using Vonage with little problems, but switched back to AT&T Call Vantage 'cause is was $20 less and I was supposed to get a second phone line. Well, never got the second line and I've had problem after problem. The main problem is with the Express Enterprise system that I call into "communicating" with my C-phone. Sometimes the call is disconnected. Sometimes it doesn't "hear" the key pad when I press the numbers (i.e. to sign off on a report). Sometimes it will suddenly rewind to the beginning of a report.
I thought the problem was on my end, so I shelled out $$$ to replace the foot pedal, headset, and C-phone ... nope, that didn't solve the problem. Called AT&T and they said the problem was with the DSL line. Had that tested and was told it was working correctly. Purchased another DSL modem (another $100) and that didn't solve the problem.
Called AT&T for tech support and they said "The C-phone is not supported." Well, gee, it was before!!!
Anyway, you can see why I'm grumping. 
Is there *ANY* service out there which won't kill my wallet but won't give me the problems I'm having. Again, Vonage was pretty good, but it still was quirkly, and it cost $65/month. A dial-up service (www.onesuite.com) is terrific (no problems), but it's 2.9 cents per minute, which will be $200-300 per month. Don't want to spend that. And AT&T .... yuk!!!
I'm open to any and all suggestions. What's reliable without breaking the budget?
Reliable Source Jobsite
WORDS OF WARNING: If you receive an email from The reliable Source Jobsite asking you to register for their site - DON'T DO IT. This is supposed to be a job database for all types of clerical work. However, I recently registered, realized I had registered at an incorrect job databased and asked for a refund. They stated I was not allowed a refund and that I was trying to get something for nothing. I then filed a complaint with PayPal. Later that same day, I received an email and also a telepone call stating that if I removed my complaint from PayPal, they would refund my money. I did remove my complaint. However, after my emailing them numerous times inquiring as to why I had not received my refund yet, they basically stated, "Ha, ha. We're not giving you a refund, never had any intention of doing so, and you cannot reopen the complaint with PayPal." I did contact PayPal and I could NOT reopen this complaint. After resigning myself to the fact that I'm a member of this database, I decided to use it. However, even though I have paid for this membership, I still cannot use it. The User ID and the Password they issued me are incorrect and will not work. I have made several attempts to email them regarding this matter, however I receive no reply. It is for the reasons above I thought everyone should be made aware of this - UNRELIABLE SOURCE JOBSITE
Reliable Source Jobsite
gnat is right. Tell us the URL and perhaps we can all band together (for once) and help a fellow MT. Hey, it's worth a shot.
Reliable Source Jobsite
For those of you that wanted there website it is:
www.freewebs.com/wahtelecommuteemploymentservices - I hope you guys get this okay. If you can't get it off of here, feel free to email me. My email is: tousuns@rochester.rr.com
I want to thank all of you. You would not believe how they acted on the telephone with me. Since tricking me into cancelling my complaint they lifted my user priviliges. I emailed them four different times and they do not even extend the courtesy of a return email. However, they still have my money and will NOT return it. Thanks for all of your help.
anyone know if this is a reliable source for this information? thanks...
taken from their site (I especially like about the outsourcing and 'robot transcriptionist' :
Allied Health Profession of the Month - March 2005
Medical Transcriptionist contributed by Paul D. Mason, Oxford, NJ |
What is Medical Transcription?
Medical transcriptionists (MTs) are the miracle workers of the medical records! They turn doctors’ daily dictation tapes - rough, hurried, harried, mumbled, muttered, highly technical, and always absolutely crucial - into clear, concise, polished gems of documentation. They work this amazing transformation every day under tight deadlines using just a simple tape or digital audio player, a computer, and a stack of medical books and online reference sources.
Jobs Outlook – “Boom”ing?
Remember all those “baby boomers”? According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for MT’s will be good - growing faster than the national average for occupations through 2012, with the demand fueled by the increased healthcare demands of a growing and aging population.
It’s not hard to see that lots more senior citizens needing lots more doctor visits means tons of new medical records to be generated! There’s going to be plenty of work out there to go around.
Then there’s the big “O”: Outsourcing…
There has been a steady stream of news lately about various US industries improving their bottom lines by replacing American workers with low-wage overseas labor – skilled jobs like computer programming, telephone help desks - almost any job that can be performed remotely.
In medical transcription, however, issues such as little or no foreign enforcement of US privacy laws, instability of foreign labor, lack of English fluency, expense and uncertainty of adequately training foreign labor, etc. can greatly complicate foreign outsourcing and offset the initially perceived cost savings.
Legal questions have even begun: The California legislature has discussed prohibiting all California industries from using foreign outsourcing involving confidential data, mainly because it is simply not possible to guarantee privacy outside of the country.
The BLS states that foreign outsourcing should not significantly impact the medical transcription profession in the US.
Robot Transcriptionists?
Another MT industry buzz involves new technologies such as speech recognition technologies (SRT’s), computerized “smart” data entry forms (EMR’s, CPR’s), etc. that promise to automate or eliminate traditional transcription work. Several software vendors have been very successfully selling tools of this nature to various industries and have been making noise to promote their use for medical transcription.
It is becoming apparent, however, that the complexity of medical diagnosis and terminology combined with the life-and-death importance of accuracy will prevent large-scale acceptance of these technologies in the medical field for the foreseeable future.
According to the Medical Records Institute (an organization that promotes the adoption of computerized medical records systems), most current research shows that penetration into the medical field by EMR’s is only 5-8%, with SRT’s at less than 1%. |
I use it and have for years. It's reliable and cheap
at least in my area. I can call anywhere in the country and talk for as long as I want for around $50 a month. I have two phones and just forward calls from one phone to the other when I'm typing an account that uses the phone.
Reliable Internet Service
I also used Earthlink for a year with problems like yours, switched to Verizon DSL with worse problems, looked into Comcast, also in my area, which was highly recommended. I had to get rid of Verizon as I kept losing service, they actually blamed it on electrical appliances in my house (not true), so I switched to my town's local cable company, have no problems with that. I would try Comcast before Verizon DSL. It is really aggravating when you keep losing internet connections and after many calls they still cannot figure out why. Good luck.
Why not? There are plenty of reliable resources
There are also other search engines. I am not trying to be rude, I really don't understand why you cannot work without Google.
Home Depot far more reliable than Lowes...sm
and as I know it, Home Depot does not use *subcontractors*..........
Home Depot all the way!!!
i have wildblue and connection is very reliable to me with no trees, but sm
especially if you will be going through VPN, it won't be very productive for you cuz the VPN slows down the download rates. i am connected at 100 mbps but that is nothing. download rates are extremely slow, sometimes as slow as dial up.
How reliable can they be if you still have to check their work after all this time? Just getting th
does not make them reliable.
I have a cheapie Netgear--totally reliable for 2+
nm
also bought from them, very reliable and loved the headset NM
NM
Anyone recommend a good, reliable online...sm
pharmacy that they, themselves had used.. with no ripoffs? I know there are many reputable ones out there but also many scamful, dangerous ones. I know they are generally not cheap, but I need to know I'm getting what I ordered.
Reliable Internet Service? Currently using Earthlink and very unhappy.
I've been using Earthlink as my ISP but this past year the service has gone downhill. I've been without service at least four times this year for anywhere between a few hours to a day. Plus all tech support is out of the country so you spend more time than necessary asking the tech to repeat the instructions. I'm looking at Verizon right now. Comcast is not recommended. Thanks
What is the advantage to having a book over using reliable Internet sources?
and yes I KNOW not to believe everything you google, but there are reliable sources. Why buy a book every year? Not arguing at all, just want to know your rationale. Thanks!
no facts. rumor from an MT poster. really reliable huh? who would have access to this info
bet Frank doesn't even know.
I've had Bellsouth for a couple years now. Reliable and no problems. nm
xxx
Attn: MTSO - re: your earlier post for a reliable MT that was removed
I replied to your earlier post, as did a couple of other MTs, however, now I see that your message has been removed.
I just wanted to try to touch base with you again.
If you are still looking for help and would like to contact me you can do so via replying via email to this post.
Thanks....
I wonder why your post was removed before?? Moderator, info?
Satellite users for MTing - it your connection fairly reliable- I cannot get DSL and about to give u
nm
Magic
I use Stainless Steel Magic which you can buy at Bed Bath and Beyond and Home Depo. You have to be so careful not to use any product that will cause streaking. You must never use like a wet rag or anything, or windex, so this spray product and also the wipes that they make are really the safest. Do a fairly small area at a time and wipe it off with a soft cloth, then buff. It will look like a picture in a magazine. It's the last thing I do before company comes, and it looks great, but not for long! I also use their countertop magic and cabinet magic. The cans are like $5.00 each and last forever.
No magic in VR
I lost an account to a radiology group and they have been trickling back. Any VR program that is only 4K can't be very good. These guys to which I refer must have spent 100K on their program.
No magic with MM (sm)
It is HORRIBLE. I am so stressed out from trying to get a decent line count. I know how you feel. I have never worked on a platform worse than this.
I'm horrible with math myself but was told several years back by a pretty reliable source
that w/o spaces is about a 17% reduction in pay - and I would say the figures you gave pretty much leads me to believe this may be true.
The last time I ate at Jack in the Box
 I got the 24 hour flu, diarrhea, dry mouth, nausea the whole thing. My body could not wait to get that stuff out of me. Working at home, I always prepare meals, and eat healthy, have a fruit smoothie maker, and a veggie juicer, and can afford the time it takes to prepare these things since its convenient. But about two weeks ago, I was out and about and thought hmm, a nice greasy hamburger sounds good, (mom calls them "loogie" burgers) so I got a number 2 and number 4 at Jack in the Box, gobbled it down, sick the next day.
I also got food poisening from a local chinese food place a few years ago, that is THE most violent illness (anybody have the misfortune to experience this?). I didnt feel right immediately after I got the last bite of lemon chicken down, sort of weak, later that night my stomach gurgled like it was trying to jump out of my body, intestinal stuff went on, diarrhea, fever the next morning, couldnt move. I felt that chicken map its way through my entire system. I was so hungry, that I didnt take the time to notice it was gray in color. By that night I was completely fine after the last drop had left my body.
Don't trust other people to prepare your food these days! There is a reason its called fast food, anything can jump on there, so fast they don't even notice it! With cheap labor, do you think the people who prepare the food care about you and/or their job? They can get fired and go work at another joint like that. I would pay the extra money to get take out at the outback or get one of those frozen box meals at the grocery store. 
yep , jack and diane...nm
nm
No waq, Jack!! What a hoot!
Jack Nicholson
I happened across the movie The Raven - a take on the Edgar Allen Poe poem. It starred Vincent Price and Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. Peter Lorre had a son in this movie - now remember this movie was made in 1963. His son - Jack Nicholson. If you get a chance and are a fan - see if you can catch it at the video store or on one of the movie channels - he was extremely young and a horrible actor - it's hard to believe that he has become what he is today after playing that role - it was really something to laugh at. He had a love interest with Vincent Price's daughter. It's a fairly short movie and worth your while - I watched it twice.
Ear phone jack.
I have a fairly old computer and can do either one. There is a jack on the speakers and also in the front of the tower. My newer computer has a jack on the front of the tower. I did not even look on the speakers when I started using it.
Jack of all trades!
x have a good night!
Jack, Wendy's, Mac???
I'd surely like to know which fast food place pays $11.50/hour to start -- please let me know as I'd be the first in line for that!! My hourly wage ranges anywhere from $8 to maybe $12/hour depending on the dictators I get -- ugh!! Before 2002 I was making anywhere from $15 to $22/hour, but transcription has certainly gone to the dogs -- grrrrrr! I think there would certainly be a lot less stress flipping burgers, ya think!
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