Call Blocking Devices

Too bad they stopped making the Intelliscreener, sounds like an awsome device that was ahead of its time!

Yes, the Pro Call Blocker 2 comes with a poorly written manual.  I found a better one here: http://hqtelecom.com/pro-call-blocker-ver2-0-manual/ 

I understand the version 1 Pro Call Blocker had a limit of 1000 numbers.  I suspect this is part of the confusion versus 1500 since you can still buy the old version 1 on some websites (they look the same too).  According to my research, version 2 units made this year all have 1200 number blacklist capacity + 100 incoming call records + 100 outgoing number blacklist + 10 sets of 16 digit blacklisted prefix numbers (area codes).  This gets us to the advertised memory of 1500 numbers.    

The LCD display shows a 16 digit caller ID, so no room for name.  Most of the junk calls I receive have no names anyway, only a generic name (out of area, toll free call, etc), or are spoofed.  Googling the name telemarketers give us usually gets us nowhere. Googling the number has a better chance of getting information about the caller, like here on 800Notes.  I think most of the caller ID names from telemarketers are designed to be vague in hopes we might answer the call thinking it is legit.  But it would be nice to be able to block these names as your Intelescreener does!

While reviewing the list of incoming calls, you can press the Blacklist button to have the number automatically added to the call blocker's blacklist, no handset needed.  However, if you want to add numbers by hand or enter area codes, you must install it in series with your telephone so you can use the handset as a keyboard.  

I wish your InTeleScreener(TM) was still available.  Have you tried buying it from: Wade Jones of BlockACall, L.L.C., an Odyssey Technologies Company, +1-918-599-7315, or wjones@odysseytech.net?  Their old domain name is up for sale and I suspect this contact info is obsolete too.  

JimT

Try this one. It's a much improved design over previous generations, and the instructions won't leave you scratching your head, either.  www.procallblock.com

I used to use Phone Tray Pro, but have gone back to the free version. Luckily I kept a copy of the software, because Tray Soft went around the internet having the free version removed. With a tip of the hat to Ron Popeil, I like to "set it and forget it". The new version of Phone Tray logs every call, & tells you all about it. If I don't want calls from 1-855 numbers, why would I want the software to tell me every time one comes in? Don't care - that's why I'm blocking them in the first place. Luckily with the old free version you have a choice of log/don't log. As well in the old free version, all blocking numbers were in a .cvs file, which you could edit. Want to block every area code from 000 to 999, you could & quickly. The new Pro version is great for just about everyone, but I really missed some of the features in the old version, so I went back.

Well, there is a political do not call list. I found it helpfull! Its really cut those calls down and the one or two that called last year I went to their web site and and told them they need to use it before calling!  Kinda gave them a earful of it! But its still worth signing up for! Really cut them down for us.

http://stoppoliticalcalls.org/index.php

Most of the call blocking devices I've seen recommended are for land lines.  My problem is calls to my cell phone.  I don't know if that NoMoRo service will work or not since it isn't up and running yet.  Plus not all the calls are robocalls.

My solution in the meantime was two fold.  First as each number comes in, I assign it to a scammer category and make it no ring.  This helped, but I still had several calls coming in that would stay connected long enough to register a message, but if checked, nothing would be there but dead air.  So I called Verizon and had them change the number of rings before the voice mail would pick up from 5 to 8.  So far so good.  With my phone not ringing, it keeps me from getting agitated when I have to check to see it is some scumbag calling to try to rip me off.  It also seems to cut down a little on the calls, but again some days they must be desperate, because they will call 8 to 10 times in a day from different numbers.  

We have to understand the no matter what comes out to block them, they will find a way around it.  The only way to make it stop will be for them to not make any money doing it.  Unfortunately, as P.T. Barum said  "There is a sucker born every minute".  These guys will find that sucker and milk him/her dry.  So I don't think any of us in this lifetime will see an end to this.

My only concern with the Pro Call Block was the ease of accidentally deleting the entire blocklist. However, I went back and read the PDF manual, which says:

10.2 Removing Phone Numbers from the BLACKLIST
To remove numbers from the BLACKLIST memory (up to 1,200 records), press the BLACKLIST
button, then use UP or DOWN buttons (◄ or ►) to browse list. Then, press the REMOVE
button to delete number from list (LCD
(3) displays "DEL"). To remove entire list, press the REMOVE button more than 3 seconds.
NOTE: You will need to input pass code (default 0000) followed by the REMOVE button when LCD displays "PASS
This is a safety feature to prevent deleting the list unintentionally

Please excuse the ugly paste artifacts above, resulting from copying from a formatted PDF file. I tried to rearrange the truncated lines to make sense.
It looks like the requirement to enter a pass code prevents accidental deletion due to an attack of fumble fingers. With a potential list of 1,200 numbers, that would be catastrophic.

I may consider upgrading someday. Right now my Digitone works just fine. I can effectively block much more that 80 numbers due to the wildcard feature. In fact I have killed off three entire area codes.
By using the Digitone in conjunction with a spreadsheet of every suspicious call going back to mid 2011, I can spot patterns to wildcard.

all I want is to have an allowed call list say 8 numbers everything else wont ring in

The T-Lock Model IB-120 call blocker can work as either a blacklist or a whitelist.  In whitelist mode, it denies phone calls from numbers not in the whitelist.  See the user guide here for more details: http://hqtelecom.com/incoming-call-blocker-ib-120  This device costs around $75 and is available from various places like Amazon.  

Many ‘welcome’ or ‘wanted’ calls come at us from numbers that probably would not be included in a typical whitelist.  These include appointment reminders, airline flight notifications, calls from a family member or friend using their work phone, neighbors who may be in contact infrequently, various emergency calls, to name but a few.  Blocking calls based only on a whitelist might screen out important calls.  

I don’t think the whitelist only approach is the right decision for most folks.  It may, however, be a suitable choice for a few.

If you want to eliminate ALL nuisance calls, you must create a whitelist.  To successfully create a whitelist, you must do your homework and reengineer your behavior.  If you're "probably" lazy, you will miss important calls.

To create a whitelist, you must review as much of your call history as possible.  Who do you call?  Who calls you?  Ask your infrequent neighbors for their numbers.  If friends or family can't call from their work number, they'll get the hint and call from their allowed cells...and eventually you'll allow their work numbers.

The only unfortunate situation would be if your spouse is dying after an accident and his or her cell phone is destroyed.  Destroyed with no access to the In Case of Emergency numbers.  If it isn't destroyed, officials would call from that allowed cell phone.  If it's password protected, it's as good as destroyed.  If it's biometrically protected, I'm sure officials could manipulate limp fingertips.

If the cell phone is destroyed, the police will use DMV records to dispatch police to your house.  That is until whitelisting becomes popular and communities start creating a reverse 911 Emergency Service.  Spoofing is a legitimate telephone service, and your local emergency officials could call you from a spoofed number (911)...and you would have previously allowed that number.  Of course your local officials would have to register THEIR numbers to use this legit service before scammers start using it.

Until then, do your homework.  If the on-site police can't call you, who would they call?  Dispatch?  Allow that number.  Call them for the number.

To maintain your whitelist, you must reengineer your behavior.  Always ask potential callers for their numbers.  All numbers.  Periodically review your call history for potential callers.  Let people know you're whitelisting.

To eliminate nuisance calls, we'll have to copy the social media model of "Allow Me."  That is, to create a whitelist...to handpick who's "in"...to block everyone else.

Wildcards are obsolete.  I built a fantastic spreadsheet to create wildcards.  I import my call history, select my allowed numbers and the spreadsheet creates wildcard blocks for my Digitone Call Blocker.  In hindsight, I only enjoyed using this method because I had created a fantastic spreadsheet.  But after a couple years, I do not enjoy continually updating my blocking schemes.

Moreover, the new trend is scammers spoofing my local area codes.  I used to get nuisance calls from every state except mine.  Now, it's all spoofed local calls.  Local calls offing the same crap:  security systems, gutter cleaning, credit services or just trolling for victims who would answer a call from an unknown number.  I have 9 wildcards blocking 32 fake local-numbers and with every new spoof, I have to update my wildcards.  In the event of an emergency, I'm probably already blocking my emergency officials.

Therefore, wildcards don't work.  Blocking single numbers doesn't make sense because the numbers are fake and will soon change to another fake number.  We'll be continually blocking fake numbers.  It will eventually get to the point of us blocking our OWN number so scammers can't spoof it.

Whitelist!

It looks like our prayers may be answered! I just saw a news story about a new service called NOMOROBO.
It is supposed to be free and apparently has the ability to recognized a telemarketer call immediately and hang up after the first ring. Also, it is not supposed to interfere with automated emergency and calls from doctors, emergency broadcasts, weather alerts, school closures, and other non-telemarketer entities (I wonder if they get their database from here?). It is only working with a limited amount of carriers at the moment, but will supposedly be expanding to most of them soon. It apparently works on a system based on "simultaneous ringing". Check it out on abc7.com or www.nomorobo.com. It is not yet compatible with my phone carrier, but I am hoping it soon will be!

iOS 7 now comes with a feature to block calls, btw, WITHOUT jailbreaking your phone. :)

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57602643- ... g-you-on-ios-7/

What will NOMOROBO block?  A telephone number?  A telephone number with the traits of war-dialing other numbers?  In this era of spoofing, do you really think NOMOROBO will be effective?

If I were a telescammer, I would just my change my spoofed number every 2-3 calls.  Change just one digit.  Remember, telescammers use computers to spoof, war-dial and record our actions (answered, no answer, answering machine, blocked)...so they can configure their software to workaround any obstacles.

"Oh, my fake number is blocked?  I'll use another fake number!"

Stop with the digitone spam!

For the last time, numbers on caller IDs can be spoofed!! Are you that stupid that you do not understand this fact after being told it over a half-dozen times?!

You are a liar sir! I have a friend who HAS Century Link and they say that's not TRUE. You've been fed a MASSIVE crock of male bovine droppings! BTW, how does that stuff taste?