[mdlug] The DSL and MagicJack thread

[Jay Nugent]

Greetings,

On Fri, 17 Apr 2009, Drew wrote:

>      I may have occasion to make a recommendation on phone service, and
> have been hearing rumors that I would like to check out regarding these
> two services.  Does anybody on this list have either, and what can you
> tell me about them?
> 
>      According to ATT's website, it is supposed to be possible now to
> have a DSL line *without* POTS phone service for $19/month (basic,
> 786k-down) or $25/month (faster, 1.5M-down).

   Yes.  The LEC's are now allowed to unbundle DSl services from POTS 
services.  The still have to provide a copper pair to your premis, but you 
are no longer required to pay for dial-tone and a directory number 
assigned to that pair.  


>    Specifically on the MagicJack: How recent, expensive, and|or
> power-consuming must the hardware be for this to work? I know that it
> needs a USB port; but will USB 1.1 do? I also know that at least XP is
> required, which I can handle if necessary. But if anyone has managed to
> get this thing to work on a Linux machine (in spite of a simple NO to
> the question on MagicJack's website), I am interested in hearing about
> it.

   The little USB stick they show in the TV commercials is basically a
sound card on a stick with a little added interfacing so it can drive a
POTS interface for the telephone.  This includes a 20 Hertz 90 volt AC
ringing generator (maybe strong enough to drive one telephone ringer).

   They supply the neccessary support software with the MagicJack.  It is
*WINDOWS ONLY* and I've never heard any reports whether it will run under
Wine or under any VM's.  Though, *you* could be the first to try it and
let the rest of us know of your progress ;-)

   For power consumption... it will be the cost of running a WinBlows box 
24 hours per day.

      --- Jay
             
Train how you will Operate, and you will Operate how you were Trained.
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