Currently the best there is.
Some reviews say they have had problems with it, but that was the old version. This version is guaranteed to work on all American systems as well as British ones CPR say. We have Verizon FIOS and it worked perfectly right out of the box and flawlessly.
It comes packaged in a box like a cell/mobile phone does. Nice packaging and the manual is a delight! The manual is nice and simply explained, with lots of clear color pictures and easy-to-understand text. I am so used to tiny gray line illustrations on cheap paper with instructions badly translated from other languages, that this was a most welcome change. Even the text is quite large, so those with limited eyesight should be able to read it. All of the manuals can be read and/or downloaded for free at:
www dot cprcallblocker dot com/User-Guide.html
If you are just buying a call blocker now, you should download the manual for version v.202 as this is the model currently being supplied.
Despite what you might read in some of the reviews and questions, there are some things that are not made clear and others things that have been improved and so have changed now:
1. It has a memory for 1200 numbers, but 200 of these are permanently set, so you can only store 1000 yourself.
2. You can only block numbers, NOT names like "Generic Credit Card Services".
3. You do not have to block a complete 10-digit number, you can block any length of numbers, such as an area code like "xxx", or a smaller area like "xxxx" or even a much larger area (or service) like all numbers that begin with "9" for example, by just blocking only the first digit "9".
4. You can just as easily unblock anything.
5. Despite what the manual and reviews say, mine (V.202) emits two short beeps when there is a problem, such as you have already blocked that number, or you have tried to enter an incorrect command code.
6. Be careful blocking certain services like calls without an ID - My friends and family from the UK could not get through to me in America, because I tried blocking calls without caller ID, Approximately 60% of the time it was blocking calls from the UK now. Turning that off again allowed all of the calls to come through again - I do NOT think this is a problem with the CPR call blocker, but is a problem with how the telephone companies are using different methods of routing calls overseas? As one person uses the same phone in their house and yet sometimes it comes through on our Panasonic phone with their name and number, while at other times it comes though as only "out of area" because it has not got a caller ID.
7. Block your own phone number! Some telemarketers spoof your own number to call you with, knowing it is unlikely to be blocked - They caught us out with this sneaky trick, but only once!
8. While you are at it, block all the non-existent area codes as well. Most people know that "555" is used on TV and movies because it does not really exist, but block the other ones as well. I blocked all the missing area codes from a list of all existing area codes (use a list on a website like allareacodes dot com, or a similar service).
9. I can fill up the possible 1000 numbers in under 12 months - 12 telemarketing calls per day is quite common here, and they all usually have different numbers. Blocking services are getting so good that the telemarketers are having to change their numbers at least once a week - So apart from a small handful of numbers, you only need block a number for a week here at the moment. Meaning that you can go back and delete all the older numbers you blocked a year or so ago to free up space for the new numbers - With only a few of them coming back to haunt you...
10. Some people do not like that the phone rings once before the call blocker stops the call. This is how phone systems are designed as the caller ID code is actually sent between the first and second rings - So the CPR cannot block that first ring as the caller ID has not been sent yet! HOWEVER - There is a workaround...A lot of phones now have an option to "suppress the first ring" or it will be called something similar. All this does is the phone will not actually make any sound for the first ring it receives. This gives the CPR time to get the caller ID and cut the call off before the phone would actually ring on the second ring. Now the CPR will cut blocked calls off without the phone making any noise at all, that is how I have ours set up.
I know CPR read reviews and answer questions - Wonderful that they are pretty responsive unlike many companies. So I would like to make a feature request...Could the software be changed to give the option of storing the numbers to be let through, instead of storing the numbers to be blocked? The idea then would be that ALL calls would be blocked automatically, unless you had programed in their number - Whitelisting, instead of blacklisting numbers.
The phone companies do not want to provide blocking numbers for free. They don't want to discourage marketing companies from calling you as it generates phone service revenue for the phone companies. However, they will charge you a fee to block calls. I didn't want to pay a monthly fee indefinitely. So, I decided to look for an alternative. I am very happy with the Call Blocker v201. It does exactly what it is intended to do. It blocks whatever number you choose. I tested it using another land-line and it worked flawlessly. I initially blocked two numbers and what a difference. Those two numbers could no longer get through. Ironically, one of the companies that could not get through tried using a different number. Blocked that one after their first attempt. To make it easy, you can block all numbers by area code such as those beginning with 800 or 866. I haven't tried that yet, but just might do it.
I love this product. (And I am so glad they released it now, even though the design still needs work.) But I would not have been so happy with it if I had not done both of the following two things: read the instruction manual with great care, and read all of the 100 plus product reviews (from 1 star to 5 stars) here on Amazon. What I learned is: 1) that there are substantial limitations with this product, but virtually all of them have work-arounds, 2) this product in and of itself does not provide a complete solution to the problem of nuisance calls and has to be used in conjunction with your own individualized plan for thwarting telemarketers, and most importantly 3) they have a phenomenal and virtually unprecedented commitment to customer service and satisfaction.
First concerning customer satisfaction: Look at any of the product reviews here on Amazom, and you will find a reply from Kevin (presumably their US representative) offering a solution and inviting (begging) people who are having problems to call him. I had no need to do so, but from the comments of those who did, it seems they all came away impressed with the personal and individualized service they got from Kevin. So, major Kudos here.
Second, perhaps because I have the newest model, the 202, (and because I read the instructions) I had almost none of the problems with installation and programming that others have mentioned. My only issue was that the beep codes to program the 202 conflicted with the star codes on my phone system (a Panasonic DECT 6.0 cordless), but the instructions told me how to solve the issue. Fortunately, the CID signal in my area was strong enough that I could also set up the system in serial configuration.
Third, before you buy this product you must understand its essential limitations, some of which I think they can fix easily now, and others which I hope they fix before they come out with the next version of their product.
First the easy stuff: It is so emotionally satisfying, a real catharsis, to push the big red button and send the telemarketer into oblivion (they clearly get this), but marking the button "block now" is more than just "British reserve" it borders on the insipid. "Block now" just does not capture the furor of having 15 or more telemarketers call you every day for years. I have already covered over my Red Button with an adhesive label that reads: "DIE, DIE, DIE" and I have commissioned my young son to draw a series of even more expressive labels for me. This is not a trivial concern, I think you could triple your US sales by removing "block now" lettering from your red button and substituting a sheet of 8 adhesive labels, four with popular themes, perhaps: DIE, a mushroom cloud, a skull and crossbones, the face from Edvard Munch's Scream, and four blank ones to allow the purchaser to express their anger more individuality.
Second, 1000 blocked numbers is great, and far better that your competitors, but my question for you is, with flash memory so cheap, why just 1000, and not 100,000? (Indeed, where did you even find a memory card so small?) I imagine telemarketers use a least 20 different numbers, and there must be more than 50 telemarketing operations, so that could become a problem.
Third, I am fortunate to be able to set up my system in series and not parallel, but you could solve this by adding a alpha numeric key pad to your unit to allow it to be programmed directly without having to use the very cumbersome and annoying beeps codes, or even worse having to change the configuration of the unit to program it if it is set up in parallel configuration.
Fourth, for many people blocking an entire area code, all anonymous calls, or all international calls is not a viable option. By doing so you might block your banks fraud center in Minot ND (or God knows where), or cut yourself off from tech support, or friends, customers and family which have a legitimate reason for blocking their numbers. So, I just let any unrecognized number go to my answering machine unanswered, and answer personally only those numbers I recognize. But that is not ideal. What would be ideal is if they incorporated their blocker into an answering machine. If a good call comes in push a button to add it to your "white list," if you want to block a number, push the red button and add it to your "black list," if you are unsure, let the call go to the answering machine, initially set on audible mode to screen the call and pick it up if necessary. After several months set the answering machine to quiet mode - takes message, but does not ring or play the message audibly, but you can play it back later if you wish.
Finally, I personally like the fact that the telemarketer cannot tell that you have blocked him. Viscerally I like that confusion and doubt that you must be engendering in their minds, but I am also sure many in the American market would like some other options. Perhaps the blocked person could hear, maniacal laughter, Justin Bieber's greatest hits, or perhaps the French Knight from Monty Python saying: "I fart in your general direction."
Very lastly, please save your poor Kevin some grief and make a better You Tube video covering all the installation issues, glitches and workarounds. Your current video just does not cut it.
I hope you guys make a fortune and succeed beyond your wildest dreams.
I usually do not write reviews, however this product deserves the highest possible rating due to it's ease of use and complete delivery on what the makers claim it will do. I am pleased with how well it integrated into my system and how well it's performed. I have no complaints and found the documentation provided easy to follow. My only complaint was that it was not delivered in the time promised, but this is no reflection on the company who makes it, nor in the products performance. I would recommend this to EVERYBODY who hates getting hundreds of annoying calls from people (or robots) you don't wish to hear from.
I rarely write reviews, but I felt this one was definitely worth writing about. I was being driven crazy with telemarketing calls and had looked at the Call Blocker for quite a while. Some of the reviews mentioned losing phone features (like caller ID), the blocker not working properly, the phone still ringing once or twice before being disconnected, etc. These issues are why I hesitated for so long to buy it. The straw that broke the camel's back was the day that I received 7 telemarketing calls. I ordered the Call Blocker V202 that night and received it two days later (via Prime shipping). We have now had it hooked up for 10 days.
Some information on our set up:
We have two traditional "wired" landline phones and a 4-handset VTech CS6229 cordless system with answering machine. The Call Blocker is set up inline (with the line going from the wall jack to the Call Blocker and from the Call Blocker to the VTech). The Call Blocker is not located at the main terminal coming into the house. The main terminal coming into the house is where one of our traditional landline phones is at. AT&T is our service provider.
With all of this in mind, the Call Blocker has worked wonderfully for us.
We have tried adding new callers to the blocked list in several different ways:
- Answering the phone and pressing the block now button during the call
- Pressing the block now button while the phone is ringing without actually answering the phone
- Answering the phone and pressing #2 on the cordless handset
- Manually adding the phone number to the Call Blocker after the fact.
All of these methods have been successful.
When a blocked caller now calls the house, the traditional wired phones ring once, and the cordless phones do not ring at all. Our caller ID information still shows up on all of the phones in the house just like it always did.
Now that we are confident that the system is working correctly, we are turning the ringers off on the traditional wired phones. That gives us complete silence in the house when blocked callers call, but we can still see how many times they've called by looking at our phones' caller ID menus.
A couple of other notes -
When we first received the unit, we used the codes in the instruction manual to block all "withheld/private" callers, all "VOIP/unavailable callers," and all "0 type calls." We did not have any problems with the programming codes. So far, the Call Blocker has blocked two phone calls that came in as "VOIP/unavailable callers."
We have also blocked 11 other callers via the methods previously described (e.g., hitting the block now button when they called). Some of these callers have called more than once during the past week, and we are now up to 17 total blocked calls from these 11 phone numbers.
In summary, we have been extremely pleased with the Call Blocker's performance. I was just about at my wit's end with telemarketers calling repeatedly throughout the day. This has made a huge difference for us, and I'm always excited to tell my husband how many phone calls we've blocked each day, which is really pathetic when I stop and think about it. The most exciting news of my day should not be how many times I have not been bothered in my own home, but at this point, it is. That says something about how bad telemarketing, political, and charity calls have become.
Feature Product
- Take back control of your privacy and join over 1 Million+ customers Worldwide
- Press #2 from any cordless phone to activate the block now button
- Block International, withheld, unavailable, unknown callers plus area codes
- Award Winning Company
- BUY DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVE LIFETIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT. ANY PROBLEM, WE CAN FIX IT.
Description
Say No More To Rob calls, Political Calls, Scam Calls, Unwanted Calls, Nuisance Calls, Telemarketing Calls: Block All At The Touch Of A Button! The newest CPR V2000 Call Blocker features a 3 Inch caller display screen, large "Block Now" button, 3500 number capacity and has the ability to block unwanted callers from Cordless DECT extension handsets by pressing #2. V2000 Main Features: Easy To Use Controls: With CPR Call Blocker's easy to use control buttons you can view the callers number on its large 3 Inch display and view the blocked number list as well as see how many times that Blocked number has tried to recall. If required blocked numbers can be easily removed from the block list using the delete button (See Images above). Built in Number List: The CPR Call Blocker is pre-programmed with more than 2000 numbers which are 'deemed' as known nuisance callers. Companies which are selling by phone, using overseas call centers and automated sales lists are all pre-programmed which will minimize the sales calls you receive almost immediately. Block Now Function: The ‘Block Now’ button is located on the top of the unit. At the touch of a button the unwanted caller’s number is logged into the unit’s memory, the call will hang up and the number blocked permanently. This feature allows you to block up to 1500 unwanted callers as they are calling you. #2 Blocking Function: Block a number by entering #2 on any DECT handset connected to the telephone base. Manual Entry: Manually enter or remove numbers to/from the Blocking list Compatibility: Compatible will all major US line providers including AT & T, Comcast, Ooma, Verizon, Century Link, Frontier etc. CALLER ID SERVICES FROM YOUR NETWORK PROVIDER IS REQUIRED FOR THIS PRODUCT TO WORK.
I love the CPR Call Blocker V202 so much I wrote an article about it in my newsletter. Here it is:
I'm not easily irritated, but this was starting to get to me. Pretty much every day, the land line phone I use for my client calls would ring. When I picked up, a cheery but clearly automated female voice would say, "You're number 37 in line!" Or whatever my place in the queue was that day. As if it was some sort of special honor to wait on hold to talk to a solicitor.
At first I would just hang up. After a few days, I did a Google search and discovered that hitting *60 on a land line phone stops numbers from ringing through. I thought I'd solved my problem once and for all. But I soon reached my number blocking limit, and the solicitor calls kept coming.
One day, not knowing what else to do, I actually waited on hold until a human being came on the phone. "Are you responding to our credit card offer?" he said. I politely explained that I had not, and would greatly appreciate being put on their do not call list. He assured me that he would do just that.
The next day, the same company robo-dialed me again. I once again waited for a human being. It was a different one, of course -- I can only guess how many people repeat "Are you responding to our credit card offer?" hundreds of times a day in this company's call center.
This time I answered his sales questions. My answers made it clear that I was not a good prospect for their credit card offer, and it would clearly be a waste of their time to keep calling me. I once again asked to be removed from their call list, and was once again assured that I would be.
You can guess what happened next. The credit card robo-calls kept coming ... now from several different numbers!
I was at my wit's end. I was out of*60 blocking slots, and this company clearly had no intention of honoring my do not call requests. It seemed as if they would not stop calling until I had breathed my last.
Fortunately, another Google search uncovered something I hadn't known about: a call blocking device. It turned out there were a lot of companies making them, with many different price points and feature sets. After doing a some online research, I bought the least expensive device that looked like it would do the job right: the CPR Call Blocker V202.
It's easy to set up: you just plug it in between your wall jack and your land line phone. And it couldn't be simpler to use. When you receive a call from a number you want to block, just press the large red "block now" button on the device. Future calls from that number will not ring through.
If you pick up from an extension, pressing #2 will also block the number. There are lots of other features too, but those are the only ones I use.
I've been using my CPR Call Blocker for several weeks, and it works exactly as advertised. If you have a landline phone, and want to be able to stop certain numbers from ringing through, this device is a godsend. And of you decide to unblock a specific number later, you can.
"Are you responding to our credit card offer?" Not anymore!
Lately -- and for a long time -- we've been bombarded on our land line (which we keep because of power outages where cell phones don't work) with awful nuisance calls from scammers, identity thieves, sellers, robo callers, pollsters, charities, cops -- all looking to get money or votes out of us.We are on the state and national Do Not Call lists, but that means absolutely nothing to the scammers. My Panasonic phone system can block up to 30 phone numbers, but I used all of them up and still was still getting from four to 10 unwanted calls a day. Maybe because we are getting older, we are being targeted by crooks as addled seniors ripe for a scamming. Finally, out of desperation I bought CPR Call Blocker v. 202. I easily installed it yesterday and programmed it with about 60 bad telephone numbers, including the blocked ones from my Panasonic, non-US area codes known for generating a lot of scam calls, and other various recommended blocks for eliminating troublesome calls. Since then my phone has been SILENT! I am in heaven. The phone doesn't even ring because the unwanted call is cut off before it can ring every time they try to call me. And if I get a nuisance call, I just hit the big red button that says "Block Now" (Oh, the power in that!). The call is immediately muted. I hang up and will never be troubled by that caller again. The blocker doesn't block every call so I still get the calls I want. This is one gadget that really is necessary today. It's the best purchase I've made all year. I just got a nuisance call from some A*** calling my daughter to try to sell her some educational service. They've called us several times in the last week. I've told them not to call us. I hit the red button. Felt real good. Action, not words, work in this war.
Love it, Love it, Love it!! I wish I had bought this ages ago! Although I have AT&T's Privacy Manager service on my home telephone line, it is not nearly as convenient as this handy device. Whenever one of those annoying cold call solicitations rings, I simply press BLOCK NOW and voila, they will not be able to call again! If a call comes in where no one is immediately on the line, I do not wait for what is inevitably a form of robo-call, I just press the red block button. We have had a great sense of satisfaction every time we do this! We have blocked 22 calls in the month we have had this device. I smiled at another reviewer's comment that she has covered over the red button with "DIE!" I echo other reviewers who have urged purchasers to READ the manual FIRST to save potential aggravation. I could have prevented running to my kitchen phone, where the blocker is physically located, had I done this & thus could have blocked even more calls from my walkabout phones simply by entering #2! With a one-year warranty and lifetime technical support, this is a winner! I am going to give this to my daughter and son-in-law for their anniversary gift. They are difficult to buy for, and I know this will be very welcomed.
It's easy to set up, it doesn't take up much space on my desk and it works!
The box says it comes preprogrammed to block known rogue callers and this seems to be true. My phone is noticeably silent, free of those annoying calls from solicitors and those 'silence after I pick up' calls. The 'Block Calls Now' button has only been needed twice this week and it was fun hitting the button and putting an end to calls from those two nuisance callers.
During the last national election season I was constantly being called and asked to take political surveys, along with robo calls from politicians asking for my vote or telling me who to vote for. Well, the upcoming national election season promises to be quite different now that I have the CPR CALL BLOCKER. Now I can research the candidates at my leisure and not be bothered by those annoying calls that don't help me make a decision anyway, they just annoy me.
I purchased this call blocker on AMAZON PRIME DAY so I got a little break on the price too, but on sale or not, I recommend this device.
I did not realize the number of scam robo calls we were getting at home until I retired. In spite of having an unlisted number, these scumbags still called, especially at dinner time (5 - 7 PM). I especially like this unit because it already has 200 bogus numbers in it's data base, and they have stopped many calls. If I can get to the unit quick enough, I have been able to manually block some calls. I have always said that if call is legitimate, the caller identity will show up on your caller ID, and they will leave a message if you can't answer immediately. I am a customer of AT&T, and I signed up for their call blocking, but it is very weak. You must have the Caller ID service for this unit to work. I used some of these call tracer outfits to try and track down the criminals, but even they could not trace many calls. The criminals even have used the same area code that you live in expecting you would be more likely to pick up the call if you saw it was local. However, many times it is a trick. The call could really be from Timbuktu (if they even have phone service there). For what I paid, I am pleased by the purchase. This is recommended.
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