~~ Catch-A-Call and Never Miss A Call Again ~~
Written: Aug 10 '04 (Updated Aug 10 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Nearly as small as a deck of cards; Easy install; Missed calls are history.
Cons: I seriously can’t think of one!
The Bottom Line: It’s nice to know that important calls will come through when I’m on the Internet. Peace of mind really is priceless...
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| Jev04again's Full Review: Catch A Call (Blue)-Receive Fax/Voice Calls On-Ln ... |
A couple of years ago I was paying for two separate telephone lines - one for my personal phone and the other for my computer - and every month while paying my telephone bill I’d think, "What the heck am I doing?" But before that, I'd dealt with the frustration of dealing with just one telephone line and my family and friends were fed up because they couldn’t reach me. The frustration of disconnected calls, upset friends and family, and high monthly bills made me realize that I had to do something. There had to be a better way…
My brother, knowing how frustrated I was with the phone/computer situation, heard about a device called Catch-A-Call and he called me to tell me all about it. I’m not a big fan of "gadgets" but this product really fascinated me. Was it really possible to put the Internet on "hold" while I answered a call? Knowing that there was no software to load and no extra monthly fees was a big comfort. And I didn’t have to have a special phone line to use it. The Catch-A-Call is compatible with Windows and Macintosh computers, any browser, and will never cause your computer to crash, so this was a terrific thing to know. Plus, if I could get away from having to spend an extra $25 per month on a second line, I was certainly willing to give it a try.
I called my local Radio Shack to see if they carried the Catch-A-Call and thankfully they did. When I picked up the package I couldn’t believe that this little device could possibly do the job, but I handed over my check for $52.99 and hoped that I wouldn’t be disappointed.
What Does the Catch-A-Call Look Like?
The Catch-A-Call unit is actually very small and sleek. It measures approximately 4" wide X 3" depth X 1" high so it’s definitely unobtrusive. It’s a semitransparent blue color and has 4 indicator lights on it: Phone, Modem, CALL!, and Power. In the back of the unit there are five jack openings. They are labeled: Power (where the AC Adapter plugs in) Fax, Phone, Modem, and Wall Jack. This makes installation of the various cords foolproof – just plug the corresponding cord into the similar jack. It’s that easy, I promise!
The easy-to-follow directions made installation of the Catch-A-Call. very easy and I had it hooked up in about 10 minutes. The unit includes an AC power supply and an extra telephone cord, about 5’ in length, if needed, and of course the instructions. It’s important to know that The Catch-A-Call unit requires Call Waiting service from your phone company, and the cost of that is a minimal monthly charge, or it’s included in many calling packages these days.
Detailed Installation Instructions: (taken from enclosed instructions)
- The unit includes an AC power supply. Plug the unit into a 110 Volt wall outlet, and then connect the other end of the cord to the slot marked PWR 9-12V DC. The PWR light on the front of the unit will light up to indicate that the unit is operational.
- The phone cord from the back of the computer connects to the Catch-A-Call Modem port. There should only be one phone cord coming out of the back of the computer.
- Plug in a telephone into the jack marked Phone on the unit.
- The wall jack port of the Catch-A-Call is where the LINE-IN plugs into. This can be directly from the wall or through other devices, like a surge protector or caller ID service.
- If using the unit with a Fax machine, plug the fax phone cord into the port marked FAX on the Catch-A-Call unit.
- Make sure that call waiting is not disabled. If a caller hears a busy signal, it can only come from the Phone Company, which means that call waiting is being disabled.
So How Does It Really Work?
After signing on to the Internet, and while you’re minding your own beezwax, there is a sudden high-pitched "ring" that comes directly from the Catch-A-Call device when someone is calling. This ring is short in duration; subtle, yet it gets your attention. Your telephone won’t ring, just the Catch-A-Call. The "CALL!" light will also illuminate. I tested how many times the Catch-A-Call would ring without answering the phone and it only rings twice. To answer the call, simply pick up the phone and the device will exchange from the Internet to your telephone. At this point, the "Phone" indicator light will light up, indicating that the telephone is in use.
The Catch-A-Call company states that the call will be put on hold for an average of 10-30 seconds, but it varies according to your Internet Service provider (ISP). In my case, I am on hold for just over 10 seconds, so I have to decide within just a few short seconds of answering the phone if I want to continue the conversation or not. If it’s my family or friends, I will stay on the phone and my ISP will disconnect and I can then continue my conversation. But if the "person" calling is of the android persuasion (telemarketer) all I have to do is hang up within that 10-second window and my Internet connection will not be interrupted. Catch-A-Call is also Voice Mail compatible so if you decide not to answer, the call will still be answered by the voice mail system. There have been times when I haven’t answered the phone, such as when I’m paying bills online, and when I’m finished with that I just disconnect from the Internet and dial in to my voice mail to pick up messages.
Final Thoughts:
The $52.99 that I spent on the Catch-A-Call two years ago has paid for itself thousands and thousands of times over. Knowing that my calls can still get through while I’m on the Internet brings me the peace of mind that means so much. I was in Best Buy the other day and happened to see a Catch-A-Call device and I had to laugh because the price has gone from $49.99 ($52.99 w/tax) to a measly $39.95. Since my unit is two years old this month, I’m thinking that it may be a good idea to pick up another Catch-A-Call so I have a back-up unit.
"Never miss another call." Comforting words, indeed!
Contact Information:
http://www.catchacall.com
Made with pride in the U.S.A by -
International Electronics, Inc.
http://www.internationalelect.com
Recommended:
Yes
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Jev04again
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Member: Sunni
Location: Perso in un sogno.
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