For the geeks out there: Open source software 'NCID' for blocking calls

Hi All,

http://ncid.sourceforge.net/

First released in 2002 it is still actively maintained.

I've been using this software at home, running on my Mac, for several years. I use the hangup feature, and whenever my landline only rings once, I know it's doing its job. It can also work with VoIP phone lines, but I've personally not needed to do so. Also works on Linux and Unix variants.

I've successfully implemented it at our small office, too, running on one of our in-house Centos Linux servers to suplement our 14+ year old antiquated (but still running like a charm!) key telephone system (KTS). Not only does it block calls using the ring-once-then-hangup feature, but it provides caller id popups on all our Windows PCs.

This software isn't for everyone as it requires manually maintaining a list of phone#'s to block by editing a text file. But it's effective, not to mention cool!

I've found it so useful that now, after using it for several years, I also make occasional, small software contributions to the project.

When that old key system dies, look at PIAF <http://pbxinaflash.net/>  Also, VOIP is no longer "in beta" if you know what I mean, so don't be afraid to move a line or two over to the dark side.

I've been suggesting Google Voice to folks here because it is powerful, flexible, free, and (relatively) easy to set up, even for baby geeks.

NCID looks interesting, but like you said, geeky.  I'll try to play with it in a VM when I have time.

I love PIAF but I don't use it much anymore because between my primary VOIP provider's call management rules and Google Voice I can achieve most of the same results without having to keep a computer running locally.  Less electricity, noise, heat, and headaches.

At the moment I am doing some Beaglebone development, I wonder how NCID (or for that matter PIAF) would run on a Bbone or a Raspberry Pi?  It could certainly make for a low cost, low energy solution.  Even including an enclosure and power supply, you'd only be talking around $50 for a Pi, cheaper than the dedicated blockers, and a heck of a lot more flexible!  A Beaglebone would be a bit more, but still more capability for around the same money as an inexpensive blocker - around $130 w/enclosure and supply.

Maybe your next contribution to NCID should be a port to one of these platforms?

Search for ncid raspberry pi and I think you will be happy with what you find in the raspberrypi dot org forums.

I'll look into that.  Thanks. : )

I use a program called "jcblock" by Walter S. Heath.

It's just a little 'C' program that utilizes  both white and black lists. It uses a Caller-ID modem, like the US Robotics 5686e (that I use). I modified the program to answer all blacklist callers with a FAX tone (AT+FCLASS=2.0) instead of the default of answer and hang-up. This was because the predictive dialers that are in use will automatically flag a FAX tone as a useless number to them. The only catch is you need to receive at least one call, so you can put the number in the blacklist.

I have several Linux boxes sitting around here and I run the software on one of them as a background task. It works great and beats the heck out of some of the stuff I've seen out there.

FYI, NCID has been formally tested to run on a Raspberry Pi since NCID version 0.86 was released in March 2013.

Could you make your modified version of jcblock available?
Thanks.

I finally dropped my external call blocker (excellent unit but limited in memory) and went the NCID route. This program is fantastic! I figured it would require extra or external programming to give me the features I'd like but I haven't had to write a line of code. I use a cheap (less than $20) usb phone/fax modem and run the NCID program in a linux VM.

Very nice. Looks very useful.