CapTel USB users can now run on Windows Vista, the latest operating system from Microsoft. Please call CapTel customer service for a free driver update to your software, so you can use Windows Vista.
CapTel USB is Compatible with:
Your CapTel USB installation disk also include drivers to run under Windows 98. However, because Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows 98, we are not able to guarantee full functionality. Please call CapTel customer service with any questions.
If you use CapTel in 1-Line mode, your callers must first dial the Captioning Service (see number below), then enter your phone number. With 2-Line CapTel, just press the caption button to get captions on any incoming calls.
Today there are more choices of phone lines than ever before, with options like Digital Cable phone service, DSL, Voice Over IP (VOIP), and Fiber Optics (FIOS). As you make decisions about your phone service, it is important to understand CapTel telephone line requirements.
Analog & DSL Lines
The CapTel phone is designed to work with
an analog telephone line. CapTel may also
be used with a Digital Subscriber Line
(DSL) with an appropriate analog filter.
Digital office telephone lines are not compatible
with CapTel and may damage the telephone.
Please use the phone cord provided with
CapTel or a similar phone cord.
If you are installing CapTel in an office, check with the telephone system
administrator to ensure an analog port is available.
PBX Systems
CapTel can be used in offices, hotels, or nursing homes on a PBX network
provided an analog line or analog port is used. This is the same line that an
office fax or a direct connect TTY would require.
Digital Cable/VOIP
CapTel can ONLY be used on a digital cable or VOIP line if set up in 2-Line
mode. In 2-Line mode, Line 1 (which carries the voice part of the conversation)
can be a digital cable or VOIP line such as Time Warner, Comcast, or Vonage.
However, Line 2 (which carries the captions) MUST be an analog line or DSL
with an analog filter. Note: A PBX office environment still requires an analog line or analog port for both
Lines 1 and 2.
Why an Analog Line?
While the CapTel looks and acts like a traditional telephone, it is really a very
different kind of device. It is similar to a small computer. To show the text captions
along with a caller?s voice, the CapTel sets up a data connection (just like a fax
machine or a computer modem connection) with the Captioning Service.
Because data connections require a more stable connection with minimum
interference, the CapTel is only recommended for use on analog phone lines.
As the various telephone line options continue to expand, please visit the CapTel website for the most current information about line requirements.
With 2-Line CapTel, you can:
You are now ready to begin making and receiving calls using the 2-Line capabilities. If you have already used your CapTel phone in 1-Line Mode, be sure to remove any Call-Waiting blocks previously set in the CapTel menu.
The procedure for setting up CapTel in an office is very similar to the way you set it up in a residential setting. However, many office telephone systems require a "dialing prefix"? generally an "8" or "9" ? to reach an "outside" line. Most systems also require a comma added after the number, which represents a 2 second delay before dialing. This number must be programmed into the CapTel in order to connect properly.
NOTE: The programmed prefix only affects
captioned calls. You?ll have to manually
dial the "9" first if you are making a call
without captions. With 2-Line CapTel,
you'll need to manually dial the "9"
before all outgoing calls.
If you bring your CapTel phone from the
office to home or to a different location,
remember to remove the dialing prefix!
Q: How do you know if an incoming call is captioned?
A: If your caller called through the Captioning Service, you will automatically see captions of the call when you answer your CapTel phone. If you pick up the call on a different phone, you may hear a recurring beeping sound. The beeping sound indicates that captions are available on that call. Simply pick up the CapTel phone handset, and hang up the other phone. You will begin to see captions in the CapTel window.
Q: How do I know when to start talking when I make or receive a call?
A: Use the Signal Meter to help know when to speak. The Signal Meter shows you when there is sound on the line (such as the other person speaking) even if the sound is not loud enough for you to hear. If you see that the Signal Meter has stopped flickering, it means the other person is "done" talking and it is your turn.
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