I'm sure some here have used this in hotels. I'll be traveling through Asia in a couple weeks, staying mostly at SPG properties. Do you think they'll block the ports that this thing uses?

I havent noticed this in the past at any of the hotels I have stayed at in Asia but I have a relatively small sampling. Depending on the hotels the internet speed/latency could be your biggest problem.

Have been using MJ for my long distance calls but have retained land line phone as the number has been the same for 30+years. Will be in Berlin and Nice next month and am considering bringing my laptop and MJ so I can call home. Do I need to bring a converter and plug for my laptop? Am staying at Marriotts with wifi and business centers. I doubt if I can plug my MJ into their business center computers but will I be able to use their phones with MJ. Should I buy a headset phone setup? I need to call back to the U.S. frequently. I am a techno beginnner so forgive my ignorance. Thanks

The telephones in Germany don't have the same connection as we do in North America - you will need to bring a phone OR a headset.

Thanks for the feedback.

Quick question - can you hook up just a handset to the MJ and not an entire phone?

What I mean is use the software to do the dialing but use something like a hotel phone handset to do the calling. I have a mediocre Bluetooth setup going but don't want to rely on it. Unfortunately, I don't have a phone handset to test this out on - I'm cordless only at home.

Nope, it has to be a regular PSTN phone.

Not entirely true. There are plenty of phones in Germany and the rest of Europe that use the same RJ-11 connectors as in the US, but most public locations (like a hotel) still often use the dedicated phone jacks issued by the phone company.

But by far the biggest issue with hotel phones isn't the jack, it's the fact that they are PBX phones that won't work on a regular device (like Magicjack).

Hey Scott, thanks for your response. Just to confirm, I mean using just the actual handset, not the entire phone. I understand that a hotel PBX wouldn't work, but I was considering just using the actual disconnected handset. Not sure if I was clear in my original question. Even a hotel handset only won't work?

Cheers, thanks again.

Nope, a handset won't work either. Just for fun, I tested it a moment ago on my own magicjack, and indeed; it does not work.

Thanks, appreciate that. Looks like I'll be swinging by the office to pick up a normal Voip type headset.

Given the reviews in this thread, I went ahead and ordered a MJ last week. I got it quickly (I bypassed all the upsells for "expedite" shipping, 2 years, etc), but haven't gotten it to install correctly yet. I've tried two different USB plugs on my Dell desktop. I have a cordless phone hooked up to it, and get dial tone, and it will let me dial via the phone, but it doesn't connect.

I never even get any type of installation notice, or no popup for dialing or anything. Never any chance to select a number, either.

I glanced at PTravel's recommended other forum, but didn't see anything specific, but haven't waded through the hundreds of pages there. I just thought I'd ask quick, to see if anyone else had this same problem when installing.

I am using Firefox 3.x, Zonealarm (Security setting at medium), and my PC-Cillin security software expired a month ago. I'm running XP.

ScottC I am going to be traveling quite a bit next month. Do you have any recommendations on a small travel size PSTN phone that would work with my magicjack?
TIA

Dial-tone is provided by the MagicJack. If you get dial tone, that means the MagicJack is working. If it doesn't connect, most likely it is a problem with your firewall. I'm not a big fan of Zone Alarm. However, I'd start by disabling it and seeing if you can connect. If so, you'll probably have to open up a port.

Rather than carry a phone, why not use a small headset, i.e. microphone and earpiece?

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll pick up a headset tomorrow. I was just curious if their was a neat little phone that would also be compatible. I really only use magicjack for faxing at home, but on the road it would be great to use the screen keypad and a headset.