Home Phone Control line blocker

In a world gone mad with the expectation of instantly contacting anyone, anywhere -- it's nice to see a product come along to remind us that always-on is a choice: the Home Phone Control. With a simple button push you can quickly and easily shut off all the (landline) phones in the house blocking both inbound and outbound calls.  So don't go hiding the device from the kids while trying to control their outbound calling hours 'cause they just might need to make a call to 911 on your behalf, dig? The process is entirely manual so don't expect to set up automatic do-not-disturb time blocks a la the LineLok, but then what do you expect for a $19.99 device with line-splitter? Their site says "available soon" with the expectation of taking orders "before the end of 2005" giving them, oh, about a dozen hours to get their shiznit together.

 [Thanks, Brent]

[rodents @ Dec 31st 2005 7:58AM]

yet it's soo darn easy to make your own..

[MB @ Dec 31st 2005 9:01AM]

Perhaps it's dangerous to shut off all phone service during the night. But, there is a need for phone utilities to offer a limited phone service that would allow authorized people (e.g., powers-of-attorney of Alzheimers Disease victims) to remotely stop and start someone else's outbound service.



Anybody listening? Just wait until your mother starts calling you at 2:30 in the morning.

[Alexander @ Dec 31st 2005 9:35AM]

#2: Which is why I turn off the cell phone at night. No more calls from anybody, and if I need to make a call it's back on in 10s.



Not to mention it's cheaper and more convenient than a land-line.

[Conrad Quilty-Harper @ Dec 31st 2005 10:13AM]

How about - you just unplug the phone?

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 31st 2005 10:28AM]

Unplugging the phone is not a fiscal option for the company selling the switches!



Common sense is free...kind of.

[Anthony @ Dec 31st 2005 11:25AM]

I bet you all this does it simulate you leaving your phone off the hook. If you do that you can't make inbound or outbound calls. Who would pay $20 for something you can accomplish with a 4.99 phone (cheaper used and free if you already have one that doesn't need batteries)?

[DAN @ Dec 31st 2005 12:08PM]

LANDLINE!

They still make those?

[Ben Gardiner @ Dec 31st 2005 12:39PM]

Or just shut off the bell. I have a little gadget that cuts off the bell and calls go right to the answering machine. My number used to resemble that of a cab company and the only late-night calls I ever got were from someone obviously drunk wanting a cab.

[Erez K. @ Dec 31st 2005 1:08PM]

Just cross the tip and ring wires (Blue and white usually) and you've disconnected all incoming and outgoing calls.

[Dude580 @ Dec 31st 2005 1:31PM]

I had a cocept of this exacly oh hackaday one its called a busy box all you need to do is cross wires like #9 said. but it depends on the colors used in the telephone line but there is a common pattern you can follow it gos the two middle ones are line one . to block line 2 you can cross the 2 color wires beside the middle ones . so really if you can strip a telephone wire it take a wooping 3 minutes to do

[Reichart @ Dec 31st 2005 4:57PM]

�Just cross the tip and ring wires (Blue and white usually) and you've disconnected all incoming and outgoing calls.�



Uh, and you also just shorted a wire that draws about 80volts when a ring comes down the line! How about you just do what this device does�.which is DISCONNECT one line.



But, a slightly better design (if one is to make this device), is a timer. So you can a) turn it on/off or b) turn it off/on for some time, like 2 hours.

[kevin bruno @ Dec 31st 2005 11:07PM]

boy how hi-tech you could allways jump into your chevy hovercraft if you have to take someone to the hospitalor the patent office

[Erez K. @ Jan 1st 2006 1:50PM]

TO 10:



OK, add a resistor.



But FYI, no damage is caused either way on because when you short the line you CAN'T RECEIVE INCOMING CALLS - THE LINE IS OFF HOOK aka BUSY!



I am a cable tech. and service cable tv, cable internet and telephony VoIP services and I can't tell you how many customers have problem with equipment which causes the line to short there by disconnecting incoming and outgoing calls. It's easyer then you think!

[Erez K. @ Jan 1st 2006 2:14PM]

Here is a design with a resistor, but again I belive it is not needed!!





U[v]=R[ohm] * I[amp)

Assuming max. line voltage is 80(v)->U

80=RI

Exadurated I -> 5 amp. (I don't remember the max. amps)

80=R5

R=16[ohm]

****************************



R>16[ohm]

SPDT 1-2 Switch





---------------Tip--------------------------|

SPDT

/

| |

| R

| |

| |

---------------Ring-----------------------|-|

[Greg @ Jan 1st 2006 10:59PM]

Actually, i do this all the time, something i learned in the phreaking days. Worked well when I would "not attend" school, the school would always call if I didn

t show up. 1 and 9 are both right, a resistor is not neccessary, hell all I used is a peice of scotch tape between the two middle wires (for line one), outside two for line two. Any phone jack would work.

[s4xton @ Jan 2nd 2006 12:42AM]

Almost thought this was an April Fools joke but that's 4 months from today.