Hi,

We are getting ready to go to Costa Rica for three months in May. Based on a friend's experience I ordered a magicjack adapter that supposedly allows you to plug in any phone and use the internet for free calls.

Hers works. Mine doesn't seem to. The "help" folks weren't helpful and first told me to remove skype (which I did and it didn't help) and then said I would need to remove roxy which is my cd burner software. I refused to do that as I need it and cannot see why it should interfere with communications.

Has anyone used this program before and is it worth trying more or should I give up?

I must have phone service as I teach online courses and have to participate in conference calls. Skype is OK but wanted a regular phone -- may try to get the skype one.

Any ideas would be really appreciated.

Kate

Kate, SKYPE phones work fine. We had one while in Italy. It was just like having a regular wireless phone at home. I could pace, walk, check the oven--all those things we do while we talk on the phone. My phone was a Linksys but there are several makes.

Thanks Jane. I looked at them a week or so ago but was leery at spending over $100 without knowing if they worked (after the magicjack wouldn't).

I will revisit it because Skype has always worked nicely just with computer headsets.

I have Magicjack and used it while in Turkey and Italy in the last several weeks. I had no problem with it if I had a good broadband connection, but with a slower broadband connection in one of the hotels we were staying at it, was quite challenging to have a conversation. On the other end, I have had people that I called complain that they get a lot of feedback (in the form of hearing their own end of the conversation). I have not used Skype or Vonage, so I don't have any other VOIP experience to compare it to. I have used it with a corded and cordless phone, and while traveling, a headset. I bought it to have a cheap way of calling home i.e. free, after my initial investment of $40.00. They do have a 30 day trial period, so that if it doesn't work according to your expectations, you can return it and are only out the shipping costs. I felt it was reasonably good enough, in terms of sound quality to keep it. But I will say that you "get what you pay for" and for the price was not expecting a really high quality connection.

Thanks for the information. I actually sent mine back and have bought a cordless Skype phone which is working nicely from home -- fingers crossed traveling will also work

Kate