Does Using a Dual-Port Modem Make Any Difference?

[whitedavidp]

My CA setup is nearly perfect! It has been a real game-changer. However, the one thing I would love to be able to accomplish is to eliminate the single ring that hits our phone extensions when a call is blocked or screened. I understand that this MAY not be possible to eliminate. I am currently using a USR modem that has a single RJ-11 port on it. And I notice that there are at least some Conexant CX930xx modems that have dual ports reminiscent of what my old, external fax modems had. Perhaps there are even some USR models that have this as well (but I haven't seen one).

Any way, I cannot help but wonder if having/using a dual port modem might help eliminate the single ring? I would expect that the incoming line from the phone provider would go into one port and that the line going to all of my extensions would go into the other. If true, this MIGHT provides the means to suppress the rings for blocked/screened calls.

Has anyone any experience with modems such as this? If so, any report on how/if it can suppress these first rings? Thanks

[thess]

Modems with 2 RJ11 ports AFAIK are not isolated lines. They are nothing more than a physical bridge to allow connection to an additional phone or FAX. There is no control for 2 ports separately or for ring signal generation with these modems. If you REALLY want to have the type of functionality you describe, you will need a more sophisticated hardware/software setup using something like Asterisk or FreePBX. This is beyond the scope of this project.

[whitedavidp]

Thanks alot!

[roycewilliams]

One low-tech workaround that is working well for me is to switch all phones to be DECT phones that support suppressing the first ring.

The purpose of this feature is to allow the block list local to the phone itself to kick in before the first audible ring. But if callattendant enforces early, the house phone doesn't ring and callattendant benefits from the setting.

This is working well for me at multiple locations.

[whitedavidp]

Thanks. I think I tried some phones like that (and sent them right back to Amazon) before I found CA. I would rather live with the 1st ring here than got to those phones personally. However, I am putting together a CA appliance for a neighbor using an old AmLogic 905-based, Android TV box running armbian from an SD card and they have what appears to be a phone like that. I will have to look to see if it suppresses the 1st ring. Thanks!