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Solution of the Week
Avoid Becoming the Answering Service for Other Family Members
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Tired of always answering the phone when the call always seems to be for someone else in the house? Give up that answering machine job once and for all with these easy-to-implement ideas to ensure that calls are answered by the intended recipient.
| | | Easy Method 1 | |
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One of the fastest and easiest ways to make sure that you're not bothered with your kids' phone calls is to use our Talking Caller ID System ($59.99). This unit works with the Caller ID service provided by your telephone company and announces the phone number of each caller. But the best feature is the ability to record custom announcements in your own voice for 50 callers. For example, if your teenage daughter's best friend Lauren calls the house, the Talking Caller ID can say, "Lauren's Calling!"
To make the Talking Caller ID even more fun to use, ask your teenagers' friends to record the custom announcements for their phone number in their own voice. So once again, if your daughter's friend Lauren calls, the Talking Caller ID can say, "It's me, Lauren!"
| | | Easy Method 2 | |
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A great solution to use when watching TV is the TV Messenger w/ Remote ($119.99), which overlays Caller ID information on the top left-hand corner of the TV screen — without covering the rest of the screen! Just hook it up to a phone line, and connect between your TV and a set-top box (i.e. cable box, satellite receiver, VCR), and now when the phone rings, you'll see instantly if it's the important caller you've been waiting for, or just your teenage son's girlfriend calling again.
| | | Intermediate Method | |
Another solution is to have the phone company add a second line. But that can just as easily complicate matters if you have to go to a certain room to answer a certain phone line.
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A better choice would be to use the Panasonic 2-Line, Multi-Handset 2.4GHz Cordless Phone ($199.99). This phone system allows users to answer or dial out on either of two lines from the phone base or from the cordless handset. You can even conference two outside calls together with one handset! And if you subscribe to Caller ID service from your phone company, the system will display the name and number of incoming callers on the base unit or each handset LCD screen — even if you're already on the line.
Yet one of its most useful features is its auto attendant, which allows callers to leave personal greetings in individual mailboxes for you or your kids, which can be accessed from any handset or outside line (one mailbox is provided for every handset, with a maximum of 8). Although the system includes one base unit and one handset, it can be expanded easily with 7 additional handsets. Because the system is cordless, the additional handsets can be placed anywhere in the house, regardless if there's a phone jack in the room. The only thing each handset requires is an AC outlet.
| | | Advanced Method | |
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For total phone flexibility, you can give everyone in the house their own individual phone extension with the Home/Business 2-Line, 7-Extension Phone System ($279.99). This solution is perfect for anyone that wants the flexibility of a business-quality phone system and doesn't mind a little bit of installation time (if not, you can also consult with our Installer Referral Program).
It's also ideal if you want auto attendant features (i.e. "Press 1 to speak with Allison," "Press 2 to speak with Karen," "Press 3 to speak with John," etc.). As an added bonus, the auto attendant feature will also eliminate most telemarketing calls, since it requires pressing an additional digit, which most telemarketing auto-dial systems aren't capable of doing.
To set up, simply mount the main controller in a part of the house where it can have access to 2 incoming phone lines and an AC outlet. Next, you'll want to home run telephone wire (or Cat. 3, Cat. 5, etc.) from the panel to every phone, answering machine or fax machine (7 total). For a set-up diagram, click here. The system works with virtually any touchtone phone, Once it's wired, you can begin programming the system to suit your needs.
Whichever method you choose, we're sure you'll love being free from always answering the phone for someone else.
For more solutions, visit our Solution of the Week Archive.
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