Troubleshooting and Setup Help
“When I am in Programming I don’t see the “Enter Code” prompt even though I have
picked up the phone.”
The prompt for “Pick Up Phone” is for normal corded phones but if you are using a cordless phone
handset, you will also have to press the Talk or SPKR button on the cordless phone handset to receive
the Enter Code prompt.
“My callers cannot leave a message on my answer machine.”
The cause of this is either from another device connected to the line you are unaware of or the phone
company’s voice mail service.
How these interfering devices work:
1) Many homes have an
alarm system
that is remotely accessible by the monitoring alarm
company which may call in to test the Alarm Modem that answers their call after 2 rings. The
interference occurs if you or someone else calls in, but after two rings, hangsup and then calls in
again. If another call comes in within a few seconds after that first ring, the Alarm Modem will
answer the call. So, be aware of this procedure if you have a monitored alarm system. The Call
Blocker can also emulate this process by hanging up on a blocked caller and then that caller
rapidly calls back a second time only to be blocked again. This might trip the Alarm Modem to
answer and the caller will hear a high pitched warble sound that modems make.
2) You have
recently changed phone service
and are unaware there is
Voice Mail service
active on the line. When your call is answered at your home and there are no messages on your
answer machine, then it is because the remote voice mail service at the phone company took the
call for you, even if the phones were ringing. This is an invisible interference if you are not
aware of its operation on the line. You will need to contact the phone company to turn off the
Voice Mail. You can usually hear the difference in the answering method and the person’s voice
on the line than the one you know you are using.
3) There is another device in the house or office that is remotely taking the call. This can be caused
by two different corded or cordless phone systems each having a separate answer function or a
fax machine with answer capabilities. Any combination of devices will interrupt the answer
function on the preferred answer machine depending on which device answered first.
“I entered an area code that I wanted blocked but the call rings through anyway.”
Area codes are stored in their 3 digit format like: 800 after you have entered programming and using
Code 40 800 ### #### * for example. You then verify it with Code 41 where you see only 800. Since
you have phone service from Canada or an Ethernet cable service with VoIP like Vonage, your incoming
calls all start with the Country Code 1 (US) then the Area Code 800 for example. This means you have
both a country code and an area code so you must enter the entire string into a blocked number.
Example you want to block the entire 1-800 area code, enter programming and use Code 40 1 800 ###
#### *. Now when you verify it with Code 41, you will see area codes 800 and 1800. Remember to
add the country code in front of the area code if you receive long distance caller ID strings.
“How do I allow Out of Area to ring through in Standard Mode for overseas calls?”
You can use Code 76 to override the block function for Out of Area + No Number call types or Code 74 to
override the block function for P No Number call types. These two codes will allow those callers
you want to hear from who are Out of Area (overseas) or Private (neighbors) to ring through.
“Certain Out of Area, Private, Anonymous, Name Not Provided, etc. calls are not blocked
when in Standard Mode.”
In Standard Mode, the Call Blocker hangsup on All callers with
no number displayed
, but also
allows
all calls through
with a number displayed
by default, even with Out of Area calls (and others) because
these are typically cell phone calls and you might want to hear from that caller. If not, then they can be
blocked using the Block Button. The Name ID: Out of Area may be used because the (cell or other)
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