Digitone ProSeries Call Blocker

Recently there had been a dramatic increase in the amount of scam calls. These aren't just robo calls by a machine these were calls with a sad excuse for a human saying that I had called them amount home repair or this or that etc. etc. etc. Of course these were all lies I tell you lies! It became a real nuisance and was very aggravating. All these bogus calls all hours multiple times a day every freaking day! It had to stop. So I searched and after a bit of research decided on this Digitone ProSeries. Amazing does not do justice to describe this product. Keep in mind, you will need to read the directions and follow them to add your 'safe' numbers and to understand operation. Other than that, the most difficult part of installation for me was crawling under the desk to get things plugged into the phone jack. And then I waited. First one day, then a second. After the third day I began to wonder if it was going to work. I stopped counting and then it happened. The phone rang. Yet another 'Out of Area' call. And then silence. One ring and the bogus call was blocked. If not for the blessed silence there would have been bells ringing so much joy abounded. Since that first block it works beautifully. I don't think any real calls have been blocked. I can easily view calls that have come in on the display. I know that if someone who knows me needed to reach me and was blocked they would call my call and say, "Hey, your phone hung up on me. What gives?" As that as not happened, I am confident no legitimate calls have been blocked. I almost look forward to a scammer calling now. Frequently there's not even the single ring. I had to refer to the instruction booklet for proper way to delete a number from the call history without deleting the whole call history, as well as how to add a number to the VIP list. I would probably need to refer to it if I needed to manually block a call that was incoming. It's not THAT complicated but just need a reminder until more familiar. Some functions have you hold button for 2 seconds, other you wait for prompt. However, it works so seamlessly I really don't need to do a thing. It just blocks blocks blocks all those horrible calls. Peace is once again restored to my home as I am not interrupted, nor is my time wasted, explaining to a soulless jerk that, no, I didn't call them for an estimate, etc. etc. The only problem is I can no longer come up with clever ways to combat the phone scammers over the phone Scammer -- "I'm following up on your call last week about home repair!" Me -- 'No you're not. I live in a car, I didn't call anyone about home repairs.' Scammer -- "Hello we're checking on the work you wanted done on your house." Me -- 'Well, you guys took too long to call me back. I had someone else do it.' If I ever miss it too much, I can always pick up the phone. I was expecting a special delivery and you never know what number the driver is using so I did pick up a call the other day thinking it might be them. When it turned out to be another scammer I just repeated expletives at them repeatedly and then hung up. SO nice not to have that in my day now. I love my Digitone ProSeries Blocker and even enjoy some lovely toasted sliced bread now and then while watching it's blinking red light. If you are like so many who have been inundated with these calls, this device is well worth the cost. Almost weekly there's a new news feature on the problem. So I know I'm not alone. Thank you Digitone!

I researched every device on the market and this is the only device that I thought had all the functionality needed to deal with Robodialers and their techniques. The Digitone was the only device I could find that allowed me to implement a good strategy because it has the ability to block area codes and exchanges. It also allows overrides to those blocks with a whitelist/Invite caller list. I have a Fiber optic line, but not an IP phone. Everything works as advertised, and as expected. Interface is Complex: It is true that you need to keep the manual close by, and if you want a simple interface, look elsewhere. I found this very simple to use. The manual is very clear. Just spend some time going through it, and the question and answers here on Amazon, and you should be fine.I also created a cheat sheet for entering codes. Simple: What is simple is quick, easy blocking and invites. You simply scroll the caller ID list and press a button. Or, from any remote phone, press the following: *1# to invite/whitelist, *3# to add to VIP list, *2# to add to block list. Limitations: --Lack of an easy interface to program --Only 50 VIP numbers --Only 50 Invite numbers --No telemarketing screening (E.g., press 1 if you are not a telemarketer) --No ability to send to voicemail My strategy for using the Digitone: 1st Line of Defense First, it is a good idea to check with your telephone company to see what they have in the way of first line of defense. Mine has the ability to already block private/caller ID calls, and gives them a message that we don't receive private calls, and then instructs them to disable it and try again. That's better than just blocking them like the Digitone does. My phone company also has a telemarketer screen service that makes the caller press 1 to continue. I don't have that enabled yet, but may do so. It is also possible to use Digitone in conjunction of a call screening device. You hook up the screening device first, then the Digitone, and then your phone system. I think the Digitone needs a built-in screening like some other devices. 2nd Line of Defense I analyzed the pattern of the calls that I was receiving. If your's is out of control, and are mostly from one area code and exchange, you can block those easily with the Digitone. I also immediately blocked my own phone number. There is no way for me to call myself, so I easily blocked that spoof technique. Since I don't get any telemarketers from my family's area code, I was able to add that entire area code into my Invite list. That is an awesome feature. A major deficiency is that you can block 1000 numbers but only Invite 50 and VIP 50. Eventually, I will convert a lot of my contacts to the cell phone to compensate for the limitations of the invite list. And then use the "Select Mode". Then ONLY my invite/VIPs will get through. In summary, the Digitone had the most functionality that I needed. Blocking or whitelisting area code and exchanges is huge to me. If they take care of the limitations, it will be a much more powerful device.

I spent a good deal of time reading reviews and trying to understand product operation before making a decision to buy. I decided on this one and I'm not sorry I did. I'd give it 5 stars if the instructions were written with clarity. I scanned them first, read them trough twice, then studied the list of codes on pages 11 and 12. Going back to the detailed code descriptions beginning on page 4, it started to make sense. There are still one or two concepts that defy interpretation, but I've got it working now, and it's working well. Left to do is mostly operation refinement. I'd really like to know what First Ring Suppression does. I can imagine it, but when I read the description (several times), it makes me wonder if that's really what I want it to do. All and all, this is a terrific little unit, up and operating for half a day or so, and doing its job as advertised. I'd recommend it to anyone, like me, who is plagued by hangups and sales people who forget you're not interested after a couple of days. The Do-Not-Call-List just isn't enough. When I get this thing refined to my needs, it'll be awesome. Update: Now it is up to my specs and it is awesome. I used to get half a dozen or more calls a day, mostly hangups but some robocalls. I get NONE now, except those from people I want to hear from. The only recommendation I have (not a complaint, really) is that it suffers from overly ambitious hardware developers. It's gotten so complicated that it's time, I think, to add a USB cable and some software to program this thing. There is a difference between a phone number being displayed with and without dashes, e.g. Timing, actually. It's the difference between a recently arrived caller ID and number, and a selection from the CID list on the display. The buttons work differently for these two conditions. Another thing that bothers me (very slightly) is the speed at which this box operates: If you want to block all calls from local exchange 321, e.g., you need code 20. So you hiy thr Program button, type in 20321# and get... nothing. You must wait for the Program to display "pick up the phone" before it hears anything you type in. This would all be so much easier with a simple WIN or Mac app that gave the user a couple of tables to manage and a SAVE button. That would eliminate a lot of the confusing instructions, as the entry table method would make their proper use obvious. My two cents. Otherwise, very happy with it. Still highly recommended.

Had a problem initially with "Invalid Caller ID" message, but I do have Cox Cable phone service through a noisy digital modem, on a system with eight wireless remote phones. Digitone immediately sent a free replacement and it worked better, but still got the odd random alert. Reconfigured my connection to my fax machine with Digitone first in line, and it works flawlessly. In fact it works better than any system I've tried so far (including the Big Red Button), and is far more configurable than any unit I've tried or seen reviewed. It's AC powered, so you don't get the disappearing screens of LCD units powered by the phone line. It's backlit, so you can see it easily, and you can even adjust the time the light stays on. You can set a time range to block all calls, and still let VIP callers through. It shows caller ID names, so you can block callers by name and not just phone numbers. You can block or add callers remotely during a call from wireless extensions connected to the base unit. You can block area codes and still permit individual callers, or block all callers from a specific area code. Most settings are configurable with a two number code which can be entered from a handset. It has default settings to easily block all Out of Area, Anonymous or Private numbers. And it retains all its settings and numbers even in power outages. It's worth five stars even with some required fiddling during installation, and a definite learning curve to maximize its features. You should get this blocker if: 1) You want the most effective and configurable blocker available. 2) You have average to above average reading skills and comprehension, and good eyesight. 3) You have more than a rudimentary understanding of how a modern telephone or a computer works. 4) You are prepared to push buttons with confidence. You should not get it if: 1) You want to be loved by technical support, in the unlikely event you ever need to call them. 2) You'd prefer not to be bothered by reading a comprehensive and rather small print instruction manual, and keeping it nearby. 3) You just want to plug in a device and have it work and work and work, right out of the box, exactly the way you dreamed it would, forever and ever, without any adjustments or settings or instructions or need for human intervention (or you have been an Apple user all your life, much the same). 4) You have a fear of numbers. I highly recommend it.

Had previous model ... no problems. Pro model unit did not repeat caller ID to house phones. Instead, house phone only showed ... “Incoming call”. Digitone Customer Service is often inexplicably annoyed, snarky ... and on my last call for help with the Pro defect ... hung up on me. Will return Pro and use old model. UPDATE: in an effort to resolve the problem I tried resetting the unit to factory default ... and deleted all my blocked numbers. The unit default mode is “Standard” which allows calls except those that are entered in the “Block” list. My unit’s screen confirmed “Standard” mode active (i.e. when the program button was used.) But I decided to manually program “Code 30" ... which is the code for “Standard” mode. And that solved the problem ... caller ID showed both on the unit’s screen and all my cordless house phones. However, when I later removed and re-inserted the power plug from the rear of the unit (simulating a power outage to test the unit’s non-volatile memory) ... the caller ID issue recurred. And again re-programming “Code 30" fixed the problem. So it would seem the unit would display caller ID to the house phones as long as there was not a power outage or momentary interruption. Others here have noted the caller ID issue, some have had the problem on more than one unit. And yet many others are enjoying their fully functional units. I like that the Pro Series has some useful features that are absent on previous models. But given my experience, I feel it best to forego the advanced features of the Pro series and stay with my previous Digitone Plus model which continues to function flawlessly.

The Digitone ProSeries Call Blocker is a successful device that inspires--and warrants--confidence. It has proven its merit on a daily basis since I installed it in my residence a year and a half ago. My situation was that when my wife and I retired, we were beset by constant and apparently illegal telemarketing calls--noisy testimony to the limitations of the Do Not Call List. My initial response was to try a different brand of call blocker. I immediately ran into trouble with the other product when it blocked my DSL with no instructions on what to do. So, I returned the other unit and bought a Digitone ProSeries blocker instead. I had no problem installing it--from the outset it worked perfectly with my DSL. Since then, it has hugely reduced the number of bad calls that get through to us. At first, its code system of operation seemed daunting, but it actually allows the device superb flexibility and greater power to operate to our benefit. I've spent a good deal of time studying the various codes and their uses and can attest that the effort is eminently worthwhile in terms of positive results. Some details of its operation I'm still not sure about. Two of them relate to Out of Area calls. We get a lot of Out of Area calls and they're uniformly bad callers--except one of them is a legitimate and important caller. I know the Digitone device can automatically block all Out of Area calls. I also know it can block specific Out of Area numbers at user request. But I haven't been able to figure out if I can invite one Out of Area number while automatically blocking all other Out of Area calls. Meanwhile, if I manually block a specific Out of Area number and that caller tries to get through again, the Digitone device does block it. However the display does not show it as blocked as it shows for other blocked numbers. So I have to look up the number again to confirm if it's good or bad and have to block it again just to be sure it's blocked. Similarly, we often get bad calls from numbers that spoof our telephone exchange. The Digitone device reliably blocks them. If we ever encounter a legitimate call from our exchange, can we invite this number while still blocking the rest? These problematic details do not downgrade my high rating of this product. In sum, the Digitone call blocker is excellent and I strongly recommend it. In fact, I just ordered a second unit for additional name-blocking memory. Congratulations and thanks to Digitone for designing and manufacturing it.

Telemarketers and scammers have become more aggressive despite our being on the National Do Not Call List. But now we have peace and quiet with this Digitone call blocker. he first few pages of the user manual discuss basic operation such as cabling and definitions of the color-coded buttons. It worked right out of the box and appears to differentiate most nuisance calls from real calls that you want to receive without you having to program anything, but it is not perfect and so it does benefit over time from tweaking and customizing. It keeps a log of received calls so you can review calls that have come in and using the color-coded keys you can issue instructions to block a number, keep it blocked if it was blocked, or allow it to call through. Also, you can use the Digitone program button and device codes in combination with your telephone key pad to enter numbers on your invite list or VIP list, or blocked list, etc. It is versatile, and after the basic pages, the user manual instructs on using these advanced features. The writing could have been enhanced with better explanations about what the different caller ID labels mean. For example, "Out of Area": does that mean it is coming in from outside your local area code, even though the telemarketers may have spoofed a local area code? A detailed taxonomy of types of Caller ID labels would be helpful, along with how the Digitone handles them by default. Other than that suggested improvement, I am glad that Digitone provides this device, it has been a blessing. UPDATE: I got a call from a person with a local number for her cell phone, but she was traveling out of state, and the call got blocked as "Out of Area" probably because it was coming in from out of the area. After bringing up the number in the call log I used the green button to add it to the VIP list, and her subsequent call rang through to my phone. So it is good to review call log numbers to "train" the call blocker, or program really important numbers into the VIP list. UPDATE: I had an issue of invited calls having Caller ID info displayed on the DPB, but not on the LCD screens of my Panasonic phones. It just says "Incoming Call". My workaround was to program the DPB with Code 71 "PASS 1ST RING". Now invited calls will show their Caller ID info on my phones immediately, but blocked calls will display only for the duration of 1 ring, after which the DPB hangs up on them. It is a minor inconvenience but I still give the DPB high marks. UPDATE: After a call comes in and gets blocked, the red LED flashes to let you review what was blocked and decide whether you want to keep it blocked or put it onto the invite/VIP list. The LED usually stops flashing after reviewing the recent call log. However, the LED sometimes continues to flash even after reviewing the recent call log. Other times it doesn't. Whatever. Clearing the entire call log by holding down the red button for 3 seconds until it says "release" will start the log over again and turns off the flashing LED, at least for a while. It is in my opinion a very minor inconvenience compared with the benefits this call blocker provides. BTW, clearing the call log does not affect your VIP, invited, and other caller lists that you program in.

3/31/2020 After operating 6 days straight with the case loose I decided to make the correction permanent. The fix was simple, I just had to cut away part of the battery box that was pressing against the PC board mentioned earlier. A Dremel tool was ideal for this job, see the picture showing what I cut away. I connected the line, phone, and power and it's up and running normally. What's more, if I squeeze the case there no malfunction or gibberish on the display. 3/25/2020 Just following up: Since I accepted scrapping this unit and taking the $ loss, I decided to open it up and see if there was anything obvious inside. Before I dove in, after sitting on my shelf since last fall I plugged it in and sure enough, the display scrambled so I opened it by just removing two Philips screws. I'm a retired engineer and I understand manufacturing, I saw no obvious problems inside. The quality of work that went into producing the PC board was quite good, but why would the display flip out. My feeling was that something inside was under mechanical stress from the case. I did see a piece of insulating tape applied to what would be part of the battery compartment and it showed some sharp depressions where it made contact with some part of the PC board. I put the cover back on loosely without screws and it displayed normally. So I connected it to my phone line and phone to see if it will keep working. I tried calling in and out and it worked fine. 3/1/2020 I regret having to take some stars back, but there appears to be a problem with this device. For no apparent reason last fall, it would freeze up cause my phone line to go hook off. The screen would show odd characters. Furthermore, the slightest squeeze on the unit shows odd characters and at times freeze up. The seller did replace it, but the replacement did the same. He insisted that I had noise on my power line or phone line. I rejected his assumptions and assured him I would have issues with my computers, network and other sensitive devices running in my home. He didn't want to send another replacement. He claimed that a newer model was coming out near the end of 2019. I never saw anything on their website. Being a retired engineer I'm familiar with many different manufacturing processes and this device is no different. The fact that slight pressure on the back causes the display to go on the fritz is enough of a clue. So this lesson cost me $80 and I'm okay with that. I just can't justify my time working on this. Below is feedback following first installing the unit. ___________ I just installed it before vacation and it seems to be doing the job. I would have given it another star, but I'm still getting familiar with it; in fact I just turned my answering/messaging feature ON on my portable phone. I had to turn this messaging OFF on my phone because it kept answering spoof calls and robocalls. Now they shouldn't get through. >The controls are easy to use. We recently had a power failure and it kept all of the blocked and invited numbers intact. >This device works quite well and calls in and out are clear. My son mentioned that he hears a momentary hiss after I talk, but he only uses his cell phone so this may just be an issue with his service. Others cell phone calls are crystal clear. >I tried the out calling blocking; this is very useful if you don't want kids to call certain undesirable numbers. It could be defeated by plugging the phone cord right into the base phone, but that may be too technical and overlooked. You would still be able to look at the call log on your base phone to see if the Digitone was bypassed. I'll change my rating after about a month use so my phones messaging feature has had a chance to work.

This is my 3rd call blocker and is the most expensive one BUT, it works much better than any others I have tried. It also has more options & features than other models.....like blocking entire area codes for example.