Digitone ProSeries 3 Call Blocker Automatic SPAM Blocking for Landline Phones - Easy Setup One Button Blocking of RoboCalls

I bought this device as I had an obnoxious caller calling about 20 times a day from an "800" number that kept changing every time. But the caller kept showing up as "800 Service" all the time, so I was going to use the block by name function to block this caller. I did a fair amount of research and decided this was the best device with a lot of options for blocking unwanted callers. Funny thing, the day I got the device is the day that these calls just stopped. So, I put the device in a drawer and will have it ready next time I am in this situation.

Let's get real about our modern world. Ingenious telephone scammers are now a fact of life, just like rainy days are a fact of life. For those with a landline, managing this modern reality is mandatory for peace of mind. An effective call blocker is a good way to do this. I've tried a few. My experience is that inexpensive call blockers which solely depend on algorithms to block spammers are simply too problematic. Their algorithms always block legitimate calls and allow spammers. I was looking for a device where the algorithm could be over-ridden by the user to allow legitimate calls, something most inexpensive blockers simply do not do. However the Digitone device's algorithm can be overridden and the user can customize both white-lists and black-lists. But be warned: it's complex to do. While the Digitone device only works on a landline (not a smartphone), it is an effective call blocker. Nonetheless, if there were ever a product where one needs to be told RTFM, this would be that product. The Amazon website barely scratches the surface of the blocker's many features (likely Amazon's website has bandwidth considerations). So I went to the Digitone website with my many questions. At that website I found the admonition to DL and read the pdf manual to understand what the blocker actually can do. But could I find said manual? Eventually I did, but it ain't easy. Hey Digitone, redesign your website. The pdf manual is a bloody pain to find, although once found it's easy to DL. Instead, make the manual easy to find. The thoroughness of the manual was what sold me on this multi-featured call blocker. It was after reading the manual three times that I came to realize this call blocker would do exactly what I wanted. DOS weenies take note: wildcards can be used to block or allow large sets of phone numbers and even area codes. The good news here is because this is a US company the manual is written in standard comprehensible English (but no other language). My lone phone call to the company's support line to clarify a couple minor points was handled quickly and completely by someone who could speak fluent US English. But again, fair warning. Even with a good manual and good support, this blocker is still quite complicated to use. A person better be very comfortable with intricate technology to use this device successfully. For the record, the blocker doesn't get all the scam phone calls. Nobody's invented that device yet, nor is anyone likely to do so in the next few years. Spammers are not only clever but insidious. This blocker just gets most of them. But understand this: it's the customizations which the *USER* does which govern how effective this blocker is. That's why RTFM is the mantra here. As thorough as the manual is, if one has a VOIP phone (as I do), know that the manual is weak on VOIP advice. Be prepared to fiddle around with series and parallel phone hookups (Google the difference) until you find the one that works for your setup. The manual's advice to always use a serial configuration was flat-out wrong for my VOIP phone setup. By trial and error I found a complex mix of serial and parallel configurations work best for me. Someone else's VOIP phone may well differ. Those with a traditional Ma Bell landline likely won't have this issue. FWIW the manual seems to be written for the more common POTS phone. So do I still get spam calls? Yes, a few. But I consider a 95% reduction in spam calls to be well worth the extra bucks this blocker costs. After all in the end you do get what you pay for. The cheap blockers are just that: cheap. And I don't mind the required customizing of this blocker that I have to do. If I have to invest a bit of time and creative thinking to make effective white- and black-lists to over-ride the Digitone's algorithm, it's time well spent.

A GREAT investment. We were getting up to a dozen scam calls everyday. It took me a while to figure out the best programming for the device but, now that I have, ZERO scam calls. Worth every penny!

It works!!! I have VOIP and I am so happy to have nuisance calls blocked. It works the way it's supposed to and it's simple to use. The instructions could be better written, but that is my only complaint.

The call blocker may or may not do as the manual says. It may reset for no apparent reason. It may lose a setting. A feature that worked before no longer works. Tech support may or may not hang up on you. The product and the people both need more refinement.