Call Blocking Devices

Hum... well i have a first generation Screen Machine, the one where you couldn't select a different key-press number. I didn't realize they were "extinct".
Even though I do not have a land line for now, I'll keep a hold of mine as it is rare now :)

My neighbor bought a Digitone. He is picky and still likes it. What I want is no ringing of my phone if the call is blocked.  A 20-30 number whitelist would be much better than a blacklist. Basically block everything unless I allow it. An outgoing message to blocked calls would be great.

Yes! Why don't we have the ability to block spam from coming through the phone like we do on the computer? My guess is because there is some law against it, or it's not commercially available because that infringes on the caller's rights to call you if you are not on a "do not call" list.

So much technology is not available because what HAS been created is not shared and dispersed like scientific research but kept as treasure to the few corporations that know how to make it or made it first. Such as the successful computer companies... that want to keep it from the less successful.

I think patents are a frequent source of exclusivity... But also government secrecy, regulations, and like you said corporations.

Your theories indicate only that you haven't read a stitch of this thread, or any other on this site, or any material from consumer watchdogs, or what actual state and federal laws have to say about different categories of nuisance callers.

This is what I'd like to see:

Ooma has a very nice online call blocking system. I'd like to see something that works with Ooma (or any other VOIP system) that I could plug into the Ooma device and have it function with the Ooma device. It has a good interface that would be a lot like the Ooma GUI but be able to block UNLIMITED" amounts of phone numbers based on the amount of onboard storage. If you wanted to add more storage then you could. If you wanted to create a "Whitelist" only? You could. Or you could create your own blacklists for, if needs be, millions of numbers. I really don't believe that this would be that hard to do.

Anyone game?
RIPPER

Didn't  call me nomore

Okay people! I have found the answer...at least for me. Phone Tray Free...which, I think is not free anymore but which costs $30 as of the end of Sept.  I say it's worth every penny.  But you may still be able to get the free version. I LOVE IT!!  I don't know if other phone blockers do this, but Phone Tray blocks entire area codes!! I have kept a list of nuisance calls, and from that list I have learned that there are some area codes that have a lot of numbers under them. Like area codes 360; 291; 971;206;253;877;503;802; When I program those area codes into my Phone Tray, all calling numbers from those area codes are zapped.

AND you can get Phone Tray to play a recording that sounds just like the real ones: "This number is no longer in service. Please check the number to make sure you have dialed it correctly...or whatever. You have a choice of abvout 10 "messages." "This number has been disconncted;" "doesn't accept callers with blocked numbers"...whatever!

I AM SO HAPPY WITH THIS PRODUCT!

I just ran into the limitation.. it's 30 blocked numbers on newer Panasonic cordless phones, but that's still not enough.. I was adding #'s to the block list until today.. hit the limit, after just doing it for 7-8 weeks..

Newer cell phones and smart phones have nearly unlimited call blocking capability..

I now use the screening function on a LG800g to screen calls to my home phone..
Now my phones are now slient  they nolonger ring when robo callers hit the block list, they go straight to voice mail..
Which isn't set up..

Is your home phone a land line and if it is how do you make blocking with the lg work?

If you have a landline, check with your provider. I know that Century Link (bought out Qwest) has this option. It has reduced those computer generated call by 99 percent. :)

I found one a week or so ago that is exactly what I was looking for. It's made in the UK and for that market, but it is available for the States as well, although you can't order the US version directly from the website, you will need to email an order.

The web page is http://www.truecall.co.uk, and you can Google for reviews.

The one I bought was $190, but so far it's been well worth it.

I was looking for a device that would let me set up a white-list: i.e., a list of numbers who could bypass the system and all other numbers would have to take action to get through. This does that and a lot more. You can program up to a thousand numbers (a bit better than 10 or 50, right?) on either of two lists. The Star list is for numbers that you want to get through immediately, and the Zap list is for numbers that you want to block always. For numbers that are on neither list (and this is the best part) the caller will be asked to identify themselves, and only if they do will your phone ring. When your phone does ring you have the option of ignoring the caller and letting the call go to the answering machine, accepting the call on a one-time basis, accepting the call and adding it to your Star list, or refusing the call and adding the number to your Zap list.

There are a lot more features that make this thing great, but just the Star list is enough to make it the perfect device for me. At this point I haven't even bothered to put any of the numbers I had blocked by Verizon (10) or the Panasonic phones (50) because if any of those numbers call they won't be able to get through anyway without identifying themselves, and if they do then I'll just add them to the Zap list when it happens.

As I said, I've only had it in use for less than a week, but it has done exactly what I want. I can check the truecallcontrol site to see all of the numbers that have called and have been dropped when they didn't verify and get other information as well, or I can also check MyVerizon just to see the numbers that have tried to call but never got through.

This device is not available for direct order here in the States, and the company has told me that while they have had several companies offer to sell it through their sites, they haven't found anyone yet to actually support the product. Nevertheless, I think the TrueCall is worth the money and the lack of local support. Search the web for it, and assess the customer reviews.

Digitone (www.digitone.com) has worked for me.  You can set it up to work as a blacklist or a whitelist whichever works for you.  AND you can block entire area codes.  One area code only counts as one "blocked" number.

The first ring is suppressed by the device, so if a number is blocked your phone will not ring at all (unlike previous versions and things like Call Tray).

It has been worth every penny to me.

I agree with you; I also have Phone Tray and love it. I was lucky to download it about 2 years ago when it was still free. I think it stopped being free as of September 15, 2012. The downside of it is that you have to keep your computer running for it to work. But to me it is still one of the best call blocking devices around.

I have resorted to adding telemarketer phone numbers to the phone directory in my landline phone. I assign them the 'special ringer' of 'silent' on each handset I have. It doesn't stop them from calling, but they no longer disturb me other than occasionally seeing the phone light up when the call. :-)