Caller ID on PC

vanity | 08-22-2022 | chuckles

[chuckles]

A couple of years ago I disconnected from Direct TV. I really miss caller ID coming up on the TV to identify a caller. I now use a laptop to feed my HDMI jack my video's. The laptop has a modem on Com 3 that is capable of caller ID. I haven't been able to find a software solution for the laptop to display a number so I can sit in my Lazyboy and see if I want to get up to answer the phone.

I've downloaded a couple of programs that say they work, but I'm unable to make them work. I was hoping the vast knowledge base on FR would have a solution. It can't be that tough.

Oh, and I looking for FREE ware. There are multiple programs for $100-$250. I'm not a business or have voip or other fancy needs.

[Secret Agent Man]

Let them leave a message.

Then just use the handset to listen to the message.

If they dont leave a message you dont want to talk to them.

If they left a message, either ignore if no, or use your handset to redial their number stored in your incoming calls.

[JennysCool]

so I can sit in my Lazyboy and see if I want to get up to answer the phone

I gather you don't have a cellphone? A cellphone would bring the caller ID right up on the screen, so you can decide if you want to answer the call, and you can have it with you at the La-Z-Boy. No need to get up for anything! :)

[George from New England]

A $50 cordless phone today will do this...

[chuckles]

No, I don’t have a cell phone.

[dila813]

Just use your cellphone

[chuckles]

I have 2 cordless phones, but I can't read the screen. The numbers are too small. I can read my corded phones, but that defeats the purpose of knowing who is calling while watching TV.

There should be a simple solution to printing the numbers on the TV.

[chuckles]

No cell phone. I shut off DTV to save money after I already ditched the phones. I’m 71 on Social Security. Phones were $100 plus a month and TV was $165 or more per month. That’s 2-3 tanks of gas today.

[wannabegeek]

You don't have mobile phone?

Who is your Internet provider?

You have landline?

Oh, that's not really landline but Voice over IP.

If so, what if you unsubscribe that Internet provider's voice line. I would try MagicJack, use MagicJack program from the PC, connect your PC via HDMI in to your HDTV.

[Vendome]

Do you have a cell phone?

[Svartalfiar]

I now use a laptop to feed my HDMI jack my video's. The laptop has a modem on Com 3 that is capable of caller ID. I haven't been able to find a software solution for the laptop to display a number so I can sit in my Lazyboy and see if I want to get up to answer the phone.

....So your laptop is functioning as your modem, and your phone is therefore plugged in through the laptop? If that's right, does it not pop up a notification on incoming calls? Wouldn't that be on the screen anyway?

If your phone line isn't running through your laptop, I don't think there's much of a method to easily have your laptop tap into your phone line.

Is DirectTV still providing your phone line? Or did you get a new provider when you dropped them?

[Delta 21]

A longer wire will get that phone right over there by your comfy chair.

[Vendome]

Forget my question

[chuckles]

Ok, this is getting too complicated. I have a land line through At&t. It's $5 cause I retired from them. Laptop is just a laptop hooked to my router over my network. My phone has nothing to do with any provider other than At&t. My internet provider is $60 for 300mbs. If I got my phone through them it would be about $30-$40 more. My land line has gone dead about 2 times in 10 years. My internet goes down about 1-2 times a month. Plus the internet is sold off every couple of years or so. Nobody seems to want it. The cable was wrecked after a hurricane and wasn't replaced until 3-4 years ago. This is why I was on DTV for 18 years. Cable TV didn't exist for many years and then only lasted a couple of years and was destroyed. Hooterville doesn't need all this new fangled stuff.

If you Google "caller ID on PC" you will get a few entries but I haven't found any that work and I'm certainly not going to pay for stuff that doesn't work. I just assumed that FR would have someone that had done this before, but I forgot that 99% of people today have a cellphone stuck to their face 24-7 so they wouldn't have this problem. I guess I could pay $100 plus every month to get caller ID but that again would defeat the original quest to save money.

[chuckles]

MagicJack is $50. My land line is $5 with caller ID.

[chuckles]

My laptop is functioning as a laptop feeding signal to my TV. it is plugged into a landline jack but doesn't display incoming caller ID to display to the TV.

DTV never had anything to do with the Phone except it DID display caller ID on the screen. I think it used the modem in the DVR to phone home to register rented movies that I never rented. The Caller ID was just an added feature.

[higgmeister]

Can you say what the Com 3 port has on it and do you have documentation that indicates it is capable of caller ID?   Can you answer a POTS call with your PC?   Can you troubleshoot at the jack?   Do you have a buttset?

[higgmeister]

What phone set do you have that displays your caller ID right now?

[higgmeister]

If you have a POTS line through AT&T there is no digital connection that the Central Office Switch must have to deliver caller ID to you.

[Do_Tar]

I have a Panasonic cordless phone that loudly announces the caller ID. Not a TV/computer display like you’re looking for, but a possible solution.