T-lock Incoming PRO Call Blocker with LCD Display and Blacklist

I was hesitant to purchase this product based on other reviews. Not sure if they had older models or what but I have none of the problems they experienced. I have a Panasonic caller ID cordless phone base station with answering machine and 4 remote cordless phones; our phone service is through Comcast (cable, but phone is hooked up to the cable modem with traditional phone line).Instructions are not great as others have mentioned, but this thing is very easy to operate without the instructions, and all the buttons are labeled so that the instructions are not necessary. 4 ways to block a call: 1) when the call in incoming press BLACKLIST (SAVE...SUCCEEDED will appear on the screen) 2) at the end of the day if you have received calls "NEW" will be flashing up in the left corner. Scroll through the list using the up/down scroll arrow buttons lower right. At each number you dont recognize, press BLACKLIST. 3)as another reviewer mentioned, you can call a number, hang up as soon as it rings, then press BLACKLIST (press the OUT button if the number is no longer on the screen and scroll if you have called more that one number). 4) This is the sweetest option since the unit is attached to my base station in a second floor office: if you are in another room at a remote phone and you can not get to the T-lock unit on the second floor in time, answer the phone, press *, and hang up within 3 seconds. The number is blocked. I tried it a couple times with my own cell phone to make sure it works. By the way, caller ID still shows up on all the remote phones. Some have complained about removing a number from the list... I do not understand this. Press BLACKLIST, scroll until you find the number, press REMOVE, and the screen says "del--" and the number is removed. To return to the main screen press SET, or it will return to the main screen after 10 seconds on its own. There really are no other insructions needed other than these (you have to set the date/time, etc but if you have ever done that on an electronic device its fairly intuitive).This unit also suppresses the first ring! Again, maybe the other reviews were of an older model, but this one does not allow the phone to ring at all if it is a blacklisted number. No need to turn some phones off, as other reviewers have mentioned, to cut down on the annoyance factor.I called my cable company to block calls that have no number provided due to the caller blocking their ID. It seems most phone companies will do this.We were getting phone calls all hours of every day despite being on the national no call list. The no call list seemed to work up until about 2 years ago, then the phone calls started creeping back in. I checked to make sure we were still on it and we are. We started answering the calls to tell them not to call back, but a lot of them are automated calls. I tried using the telephone company to block call, but they only allow 15 numbers, and most of the companies that call have multiple numbers. I used up all 15 numbers with just 2 days worth of phone calls. If you are having these problems, this unit solves them!Update 2/20/13: I went back and read all the one star reviews for this product since this is one of the best purchases I have made ever - interesting that they all sound like they were written by the same person, and seemed to be written soon after a good rating was given. This is only the fourth review I have every bothered to write, and I have been purchasing my home and business items on Amazon for 10 yrs.Update 3/28/13: We have gone from multiple sales calls per day to almost none. Still get a few calls per week with the caller ID listing the number as --0-- that ring through... usually 3 rings then they are cut off by the call blocker. Not sure why the callblocker or phone company are unable to block these. Also, the caller ID does not always show up on the remote phone units. That makes it hard to block calls using the * button from the remote unit - not sure if it is friends/family calling. My routine now is to check the call blocker every few days for any unknown calls and blacklist them

Update (10/22/14):------------------I now use a different call blocker which I am quite satisfied with. It is the SENTRY Dual Mode Call Blocker. Block 100% Robo Calls. Stop All Junk Calls, Election Calls, Survey Calls. 9999 Number CapacityAlso, I no longer have a DSL connection (I now use cable internet). The Sentry works fine for my setup.Update (4/9/13):----------------I decreased my inital rating from 4 stars to 2 stars. I was satisfied initially as the blocker was working and I enjoyed it automatically hanging up on saved calls. But today, I noticed the blocker interfereing with my DSL connection. The indicator on my router/dsl modem showed not working when the device was into a phone line. As soon as I removed the device, the indication was all good.I'm not sure why the problem wasn't showing up when I first both it. But the bottom line is now with my DSL service, I really can't use this device and I'm back to having to call screen on my answering machine all the marketing calls.Original Review Follows:------------------------One and Done, Not Perfect - But Better Than Nothing---------------------------------------------------After reading the various reviews, I think how effective the Call Blocker works is hit or miss depending on how the phone provider sends the caller id signal to the line. For me, the Call Blocker helps, but isn't a complete solution.I think a complete solution would suppress (no ring) calls that are blacklisted, yet allow caller ID information to pass through for regular, non-blacklisted calls.For my particular phone set up, I have a digital answering machine and one caller ID phone. I tried connecting the Call Blocker in series (Call Blocker to line, then to answering machine which connects to phone) but by doing so, some calls not on my blacklist coming in did not show up on my caller ID, but only showed "Calling". I then connected in parallel (use of splitter). With in parallel connection, all caller ID information shows up, but for callers on my "Blacklist", the phone rings once before the Call Blocker hangs up on the call. I would have preferred first ring suppression, but at least hang up after one ring is still better than nothing.Pros:----- device does help control telemarketing calls- blacklist holds a generous 1500 amount of calls- no batteries requiredCons:----- for me, in series connection may not show caller id for regular callers; in parallel connection allows one ring even on blacklisted numbers- device only stores numbers, not names even if you have caller id and name service- descriptions misleading: unlike picture, no backlighting; box says 5 LCD contrast levels when there are only 4- similar buttons can be confusing. Blackist button same shape and next to Remove button (I used a black marker to put a dot on the blacklist button for better identification)Overall, the Call Blocker device does help control telemarketing calls. I'd prefer no ring with blacklisted calls, but the one ring then hang up is acceptable.I figure, with 1500 numbers available to store on my blacklist, if I average having to block about 4 telemarketing calls a day, the memory won't get full until about a year. By that time, maybe the telemarketers will have moved on and I'll erase the blacklist and start over.In the meantime, with each "one ring then hang up", I'll smile and say "Zap! Another telemarketing call bites the dust!"Update (03/15/2013): Saved by Non-Volatile Memory--------------------------------------------------I came home today and took off my coat then went to check the caller ID on this device. When I pressed on an arrow...Zap!!..a static charge reset the device. The device turned totally blank and required unplugging of the line chord and plugging back in to restart. Then, I noticed the Year and Day/Time was reset so I had to re-enter. But luckily, all the telemarketing calls which I stored are still all there. Thanks to the non-volatile memory none of these numbers disappeared.