Call Blocking Devices

Janet,

You're right - a slow line and VOIP might not be such a great idea.  However, you can use these links to check your concerns:

http://voiptest.8x8.com/voip.php?voiplines=1&testlength=15&codec=g711

http://www.voipreview.org/voipspeedtester.aspx

http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/Internet+Connection+Speed+Test

http://www.inphonex.com/speedtest/test-your-voip.php

http://voiptest.cbeyond.net/

Also, there is a little trick you can employ to use VOIP, or to forward your landline to Google Voice, without involving your DSL or having VOIP service at your home (huh?).

Open an account with a VOIP provider and port your landline number to that account.  Now, instead of making a SIP connection, forward the number to GV, your cell, your NEW landline number - wherever you like.  You can even have the calls go to multiple destinations if you want.  And you can use the VOIP provider's call treatment rules, voice mail service, fax server, etc.,.  You can even place calls through your VOIP provider through your landline, or cell phone - no Internet connection needed!

So, slow Internet connection or not (even NO Internet connection) you can use VOIP to handle your calls.

If this interests you but is as clear as mud, feel free to ask, but I have a feeling that you are technically astute and can sort this out.  (Be warned, I only check in sporadically - busy lately with things in the real world.)

BTW - not making a recommendation, but you can set up a free account at Callcentric and mess around with the settings and call treatments to learn more - I think they even have some free 212 area phone numbers available - same ones that all these junk calls are coming from out of that area ;)  Anyway, it can be a playground you can mess around in without fear or cost, then either fund it for real use, or go elsewhere with the concepts worked out.  Just know that call management rule systems vary dramatically between VOIP providers, and range from complex and powerful to no call management beyond forwarding and failover.

Have a lot of fun.

LS

http://www.amazon.com/Incoming-Call-Blocker-Display-Blacklist/dp/B0089IHBE8

People, PLEASE report to the Do Not Call List. They can do more with your input than without!!!

Check out this feature on The Today Show.

http://www.today.com/id/47177020/site/todaysh ... -not-call-list/

If the above link doesn't work, Google The Today Show, rossen, telemarketers.

Right on!

to file a complaint online - https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action?form_type=1088B


to call - 1- 888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL- FCC (1- 888-835-5322)

First of all, ever since call display I have not answered calls from unknown numbers.

A few years ago, I used my telco's "blocking" feature on my land line. It was virtually useless since it blocked only 12 numbers (what a joke!) and was cumbersome to use. That alone made me realize that the telco's must be in bed with the smelly marketers.

Nowadays I use a call blocking app on my Android. It's not perfect but overall it does what I want. I have thought about making my own app but that's more hassle than it's worth as long as other apps do most of what I need.

I'm hoping the T-Block Pro that holds 1500 numbers will work. I'll know more after some time in use.

I did take an estimated look at my caller ID for last month. Of the junk calls, almost half of them were repeat calls. But then again, I'm sure there are many callers that call once and never call again. Or maybe call for a month or so repeatedly, but then don't call, so even with 1500 numbers blocks, the callers are a moving target.

I'm also interested in the Digitone 10 (and upcoming Pro) call blocker and the Digitone 10 has very positve reviews and more functionality (shows name, not just number, white lists, area code, some wildcard blocking). But that only can block 80 specific numbers.

Sorry to rain on your paranoia, but the traditional telco who is likely providing your very unsatisfactory call blocking feature is not the provider of choice for the "smelly marketers".  Most of them are using VOIP services from a wide array of secondary and tertiary providers.  Remember, never assign to guile and conspiracy what can be attributed to sloth and stupidity.

As for your Android call blocking app, be careful.  At least some of these apps are spyware, feeding your contacts and calling patterns to data mining operations.

>>> T-Block Pro <<<

I hope you noticed that particular one you linked to is version 1.0 and that version 2.0 with lots more features is also available on Amazon - I believe from the same vendor - albeit at double the price.

Alas, neither one has the ability to block by caller ID name.  But in version 2.0 you can block whole area codes and/or exchanges which may be just as (or even more) useful.

Rick,

Does it have the ability to block improperly formatted (invalid) numbers?  That would be a very useful option.

@ Payback
@ Resident47

What are you guys talking about?  Phonetray has no more to do with your internet connection than an answering machine or a call blocker does.  Phonetray uses your modem to monitor your telco line for the purpose of intercepting and managing incoming PHONE calls.  Data transmission is a whole different subject.

Or am I missing something here?

You may be missing something, but it is probably forgivable.  When the conversation involves Payback, things tend to wander all over the map.  I have no doubt that Resident understands how PT works as he is a former Phone Tray user.  

Payback's view of PT is another matter.  Forgive me for not pouring over every detail of a months old interchange, but I did notice that Payback was talking about the difficulties of playing games over a dial-up in the midst of talking about PT.  So I can see where you might have had some questions about the poster's comprehension of the product.  

Nothing against Payback, who means well, but who is prone to make "stream of conciousness" posts which can be difficult to process for others.  When I encounter this phenomena, I tend to simply raise the "confus(ed)(ing) rant" flag, and gloss over the rest of the post until he starts to make sense again.

Thanks for pointing that out about 1.0 vs 2.0.  Hopefully, I won't have buyer's remorse with 1.0.  

I totally agree that if a caller ID device would block by name, that would be a big improvement and would help in the situation when a caller switches numbers.

Yes, it does feel good. My device does allow on ring go to through then does a hang up. The first time, I felt fooled by the one ring. Then by the end of the day as the blocker caught a few more, the one ring actually sounded pleasant.    Payback feels good  :-)

You missed the same thing Payback did, which I tried to correct, that PT had a different version for use with Olde Tyme dialup service. That distinction is hopefully trivial to the point of forgettable now that 300 baud modems, five inch floppies, and Gateway store displays modeled after dairy farm milking stations are a distant memory.