Looking for a dial modem with caller ID

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Looking for a dial modem with caller ID

PromNZ

154 posts

Master Geek

#15442 23-Aug-2007 10:10

Well here's a weird request.

I'm trying to track down a dial up modem, preferably usb, with caller id capabilities . Why, so I can get caller ID switched on by Telecom and run this pgm called TapiRex for my media centre. And also distribute it throughout the home network (approx 5 pc's and laptops).

That way not only can I see who is calling, but then we can ignore when my wife's sister phones up !

Any suggestions folks on tracking one down ? Or does someone have an old one laying around gathering dust ? Currently I'm running a 3Com wireless adsl modem/router, and the media centre is connected wirelessly to the home network.

Ta.

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939 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#83479 23-Aug-2007 13:12

I use a Motorola sm56 modem in my MCE 2k5 machine, but you won't find those around anymore. You could give this a try, it appears to support the TAPI interface from a quick google search.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#83509 23-Aug-2007 16:23

I set this up thinking my missus would love it, and i was sooooo wrong.

PromNZ

154 posts

Master Geek

#83531 23-Aug-2007 21:07

haha !

steve98

1395 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#83549 24-Aug-2007 08:16

That way not only can I see who is calling, but then we can ignore when my wife's sister phones up !

Hey - know the feeling! - but seems like a high-tech solution for a low-tech problem. All you need is a cordless phone that supports different ringtones. The Uniden 3315 is one such phone. All you would have to do is save your wife's sister's phone number in the contacts list of the phone, and assign a particular ringtone to her. That way, when she rings you will know by the ringtone and you can safely ignore it!!

The benefit to this over your solution is that this will work every time, rather than only when you are looking at your media centre display, and you won't have to go hunting around for archaic pieces of equipment like dial-up modems.

Steve

madcircle

31 posts

Geek

#85080 3-Sep-2007 13:31

just wondering if you found a modem that works? ive tried a few and cant get any of them to work yet they all say they are supported when phonetray tests them

ArnoldGoat

54 posts

Master Geek

#85113 3-Sep-2007 16:56

I've been trying to find one for some time. There is a good UK site giving general information on caller id http://www.ainslie.org.uk/callerid/cli_faq.htm. It mentions an NZ site http://www.winivr.co.nz/modems.htm but the modems here are ancient and unobtainable. I wrote to Dynalink, and they say they don't make one any more. I have written to Dick Smith to see if their PCI modem supports caller id. No response yet.

I have a D-Link DFM 560E modem which allegedly supports NZ Caller ID, but it only works about 1 time in 3. D-Link tried to tell me it was because my line is noisy. It's not, and I'm only 200m from the exchange. And the caller ID phones work every time. I suspect that Telecom uses an American-based system, but with CCITT frequencies (1300 and 2100 Hz) rather than Bellcore (1200 and 2200Hz). So some gear with wider filters probably works OK, or maybe intermittently like my modem. (This is just a guess on my part.)

I was reduced to trying to make a gadget myself (which doesn't work yet!) My electronics skills are about 50 years out of date, which isn't helping.

Regs

4066 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Snowflake

#85162 3-Sep-2007 21:13

good places to find older equipment are trademe or surplustronics. i would have thought that most pci/external modems from the last few years would do caller id - all the ones I've had in the past certainly did (they all went out the door in a trademe selloff though sorry)

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madcircle

31 posts

Geek

#85222 4-Sep-2007 08:37

what software were you using?

madcircle

31 posts

Geek

#85223 4-Sep-2007 08:37

what software were you using?

ArnoldGoat

54 posts

Master Geek

#85271 4-Sep-2007 11:36

Not sure if 'what software...?' was directed to me. I tested the various devices with Hyperterminal. I used a range of AT commands (see http://www.kengolf.com/en/voice-modem.htm) in an attempt to turn caller id on. Most of the devices I tried indicated no caller id support (which may or may not be true). The D-Link said it did, and about 1 time out of 3 delivered the callerid info to hyperterminal. I entered into correspondence with D-Link. They were helpful, and gave me other settings to try, but it just doesn't work well enough to use seriously.

I have just got a reply from Telecom: 'I am unaware of any product that is available that you provide you with this service on our network. You are right, if we were to know about it there would be information online at www.Telepermit.co.nz'.

Possibly.

No reply yet from Dick Smith.

ArnoldGoat

54 posts

Master Geek

#85761 7-Sep-2007 14:48

Have just heard from Dick Smith. They gave me this link http://www.dse.co.nz/isroot/dse/support/XH1254_Manual.pdf which indicates that the XH1254 supports Caller ID. It costs $29.98

traderstu

332 posts

Ultimate Geek

#86243 11-Sep-2007 10:53

ArnoldG, I have tried this modem and had the same problem - it only recognises caller id some of the time. I have also tried a Dynalink V1456VQE with the same result. I also would like to get caller id software up and running so would appreciate hearing from anyone that has had 100% success with a modem in NZ. Stu

ArnoldGoat

54 posts

Master Geek

#86307 11-Sep-2007 17:20

Have just got the Dick Smith XH2154. It is heaps better than the D-Link. No real performance data yet, but I would say the failure rate is <5% (but the standalone units are still almost error-free). I converted my phone wiring to 2-wire which allegedly helps with noise immunity, though I am sure that's not the problem.

The XH2154 driver .INF file has errors which prevent it working with TAPI, though you can see that the modem itself delivers the data. It's a text file, so I can tell you what needs fixing. The clue is given in this article, near the end. The CLI strings are under the wrong heading to work under XP. http://www.talkingcallerid.com/ModemDriver.htm

traderstu

332 posts

Ultimate Geek

#86345 11-Sep-2007 21:30

Good skills ArnoldG, I see what you mean. I will have a play with this tomorrow. Stu

madcircle

31 posts

Geek

#87335 20-Sep-2007 10:58

hi guys, does anyone know if you can have 2 callerid devices on one line or can one device catch the information before the other?

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