Re: OT: telephone black box

Jim Thompson wrote:

On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:23:41 -0800, Robert Baer
<robertbaer@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


Jim Thompson wrote:


On Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:45:49 -0500, T <kd1s.nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:



In article <2_Wdnd2k15zKfILUnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, robertbaer@xxxxxxxxxxxx says...


Jim Thompson wrote:



On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:58:51 -0800, Robert Baer
<robertbaer@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:




Jim Thompson wrote:



On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:16:39 -0800, Robert Baer
<robertbaer@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:





Robert Baer wrote:




Robert Baer wrote:





Prelim specs:
1) Plugs into phone line, phone plugs into the black box.
2) Black box records all possible info concerning incoming calls for later viewing and evidence gathering.
3) If incoming call is not in (programmable) list, then the caller hears the 3 magic tones as loud as possible followed by a message delivered s.l.o.w.l.y. "The number you have dialed is not active" and (options) immediately hang up, OR forward call WITH CID info to a provided number (say police non-emergency or FBI).
4) If call is in list, then the connected phone rings (call "forwarded" to it).
5) Memory allows storage of at least 100 incoming SpamCalls per day, say minimum of 500 total.
Is there anything like this on the market?
If such a device was designed, what would be the estimated sales price?

The sooner i can get one of these, the better.
Marketeers are driving me nuts.

Hello?
When can i buy even a prototype?


Be patient ;-)

...Jim Thompson

OK.
Be advised that the majority of SPAMcalls "id" as "UUU UNKNOWN CALLER" or as "PPP PRIVATE CALLER" and the so-called trace (*57) does not work.


My present land-line phone subscription can be set to block
anonymous/unknown callers. I have to turn it off when my doctor
calls.




So a "blacklist" of unwanted numbers is not all that useful.


A good start is to simply block every "800-number".




Not that i object to such an idea, but the black box should reject / shunt all calls not on the whitelist.
And a simple message to unwanted callers is not sufficent.
A selection of pre-programmed responses that the user can "piece together" would seem to be ideal, and definitely should include those 3 magic tones.
"Instant pickup and response" is perfect, especially for those unidentified callers - using the 3 tones.

BTW, what if the caller siezes the line? (happens sometimes)
Is there any way to ZAP them and recover use of the line?


Reverse potential drops the line.

I've also considered a "pass-key" approach not unlike those "enter
these four letters" web site controls. Have our machine "answer" the
phone and request a 4-number sequence to cause the line to ring.
Solicitors won't take the time.

...Jim Thompson

The "block anonymous/unknown callers" does not work; somehow they got thru anyway, so i dropped the costly and ineffective service.
"block every 800-number" is not an option provided by Quest, and i am sure it would be as ineffective.
The "Caller Privacy" option was also useless.

Reversing the line potential to drop the line would be a nice option; either automatic after the "end" of a "conersation" or with a (red) pushbutton.

I do not think a "passkey" system is needed or ultimately useful, because it cannot "zap" a marketeer in such a way as to permenantly discourage them.
Something more "offensive" like the 3 tones followed by a choosable message if there is a viable phone number, as well as an *immediate* pickup on no number with 3 tones and same choices (immediate hangup, Bronx cheer, etc etc).



When your phone company won't provide the advanced features you want, spend a few bucks for a half decent PC, some FXO/FXS cards for the computer and install Asterisk.


No.

For an affordable consumer product we need a microprocessor-controlled
system that can talk to most existing telephone sets, # or * key codes
to add/delete to a white-list.

I can see analog ways to block the first ring, yet show the CID on the
telephone set.

But I'm not enough uP savvy to add the controls.

...Jim Thompson

I agree on the basic approach.
As far as programming, maybe use ladder logic and the "compiler" available at http://cq.cx/ladder.pl with a PIC controller?


It occurred to me just now what message to play, "Please hold, we
value your business"... 30 second pause..."Please hold, we value your
business"... 30 second pause..."Please hold, we value your
business"... ad nauseam ;-)

...Jim Thompson
A good option.
Totally useless against marketeer incoming calls in my case, because they hangup almost immediately on pickup; that is why i emphasized the possibility of presenting the 3 magic tones Plus other chooseable message) the very *instant* the CID pops up.
.