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yankeesouth
Member
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2011 10:39
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Sorry if this was covered previously. If so direct me to that post.
Has anyone ever used or thought about using this device? (Magicjack????) I get 0 cell service and was looking for some type of communication device. I don't even know how the thing works. Can one of these things be used living off grid?
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Rob_O
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2011 13:17
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I believe it's a VoIP system, you need a computer with an internet connection to make it work
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spee
Member
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2011 13:45
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works well too.. !! but not ideal for most cabins
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bobrok
Member
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2011 14:13
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Magic Jack requires an internet connection in order to function. It works through your computer. If your computer is off so is your phone service. Not the best scenario of you are off grid. If you have grid power and a dedicated cable modem service you could opt for vonage or one of many similar services. For this you do not need a phone drop from the pole. You install a vonage adapter behind your cable modem. Of course if your internet goes out then so does your phone. I have been running vonage for about a year for home and home office and am very pleased. Free long distance, caller ID, voicemail, transcribed voice messages to E-mail and a host of other features.
I hope this helps.
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yankeesouth
Member
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2011 15:31
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Thanks. I kinda figured one needed internet for that thing to work.
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bobrok
Member
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2011 16:01
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Yankeesouth:
I had an ongoing problem with cell phone reception at my cabin in the mountains. Even though there is a tower within about 3-4 miles the signal strength is all over the place due to the terrain. This is a brand new tower that VZ just constructed last summer so I am hoping that they will be tweaking it along to better performance.
Before this tower came into being I was pulling a cell signal from the only other VZ tower in my area which was literally 25 to 30 miles away as the crow flies through the mountain valleys.
There are ways to work on optimizing your cell phone reception, unless of course you are plumb out of any service area (unlikely). You could look into a yagi (directional) mast mounted outdoor antenna coupled with a retransmitter indoors. This requires a power source and so not an option for me. If you are really lucky your phone may have an external antenna input in which case you wouldn't have to use the amp but could hard wire to your antenna. This kind of takes the mobile out of mobile phone but is better than no phone at all. Wireless providers usually frown on use of a retransmitter but what they don't know won't hurt them, especially if you are out in the boonies and there is no chance of interference.
A somewhat drastic option is to change providers. There are big differences in the technology that the 2 main carriers (and their resellers) use and you may find that while one is useless the other works.
Good luck. This is an interesting topic for me so if you can keep me posted. I'd like to know the outcome.
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