Customer Reviews

AT&T 438 Internet Call Alert

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The unit has some nice features. When you are online the right side of the unit flashes bright light green and makes an alert tone to surely get your attention if you're out of the room. Works like any other callerid device. I.E. When you receive a call, you can redial by pressing a button.

When you're online and the alert tone goes off you simply lift your receiver that's connected to the unit and press the "call waiting" button. You can talk as long as your modem will allow (mine is roughly 10-15 seconds) then hang up and your still online.

On the back of the unit are 4 jack ports (line in, phone, computer and fax)

One thing that is annoying is that every once and awhile it will click and I lose internet connection for about 10 seconds. I enjoy playing poker online and this sometimes folds my hands because I time out in the game. It's a little annoying because it can happen every 5-10 minutes or not at all.

I called AT&T and asked them if this was normal operation and they said that I had a defective unit.

I brought it back to the store that I purchased it from and got a new one. I had the same issue with the new one. In my opinion, it's a glitch in the unit.

I purchased this item 2 weeks ago from Wal-Mart for $35, but have only been using it for a few days. When I first connected the box to my computer, I had an expandable cordless phone system connected to it. The box did what it claimed, however when I was using any one of my cordless phones for a voice call, no caller-id / call-waiting information was displayed. Instead it was displayed on the box, which was upstairs by my computer. With me being home during the day (high time for telemarketers), this was not going to work. I had a 2-line phone adapter laying around, so I thought that I would connect my cordless phone system directly into the wall, rather than into the back of the unit. That fixed my CID / CW problem, but when I was on-line and another call came in I had to manually sign off of the internet before I could pick up the call. By the time my connection signed off, most of the callers had hung up. So, in the box this thing went.

After some research, I downloaded computer software which was supposed to do the same thing but through my modem. This worked for a week, but then I noticed that I was being notified of only 50-60% of the calls coming in. On top of that, even if I chose to ignore the call I was quickly disconnected.

I pulled the Internet Call Alert box out again and decided to give it another try. Here is how I got it to work for me. I still use the 2-line adapter for my phone line. My expandable cordless phone system goes directly into the wall using one line. The Internet Call Alert box is plugged into the second line. Into that I have my modem/pc connected, a fax machine, and then I added a corded telephone which I only use to answer incoming calls while on the net. With that, I have also added voice mail to my telephone package to answer calls which I choose to ignore. In the end I have spent less than $45. Up front that's not so good, but in comparison with internet call alert programs charging a monthly fee I would have spent more than that in less than a year.

I have not noticed any type of page freezing, or false signals. I have been able to answer a few very short phone calls without being disconnected, and when I choose to ignore the calls it's happy surfing. I only use the internet for e-mail, research and chatting. I like that this box displays caller id information, and it seems to work like a normal caller id box even when not on the internet. The call waiting alert makes an audible sound and also 1/4 of the box flashes. It's not just a little LED light.

Overall, I gave this product 4 stars because I have been using it for less than a month.

It may work well. I don't really know since I only have Call Waiting and it seems to require both CID and Call Waiting to function. I'm taking it back and giving Catch-A-Call a try.

I absolutely LOVE this unit! It is easy for ANYONE to use and is easily installed. It has a loud alert to let you know you have a call even if your in the other room and you can turn it up and down. I was concerned it may slow down my connection but it did not slow it down at all.
I give this product 5 stars!

Have had the AT&T 438 for 10 days & it works great. Changed from cable to dial-up connecton (have caller ID and call waiting). I use internet for messages & websites. The flashing light when a call comes in is really large & no way you could miss it: press button & pick up phone if you want to answer the call. Easy to install-no problem. Bought at Walmart for $25.

I have caller ID with caller ID waiting as well as home voice mail. When I am online, incoming calls come up on the display with the name and phone number. The unit beeps and flashes when you receive a call. You can turn down the beep or turn it off altogether. You can hook a phone up to it to take a call that is important, although I have not done this.

I also like that a light will flash and it will display an envelope icon when I have a voice mail message. There is also a light that shows that your modem is connected. If the light goes out you know that your connection has been dropped. In conclusion, it does everything I expected of it.

Instead of having the expense of having two phonelines comming into my home, one for the phone and one for the computer I use my internet call alert. I can be on internet and not miss any phone calls comming in. The Internet Call Alert will beep and alert me to an incomming call, plus give me the name and number of who is calling, IF it is an important call I can push the call waiting button and take the call and talk for one minute without being knocked off of internet, if it isn't an important call I can finish up on internet and call that number later if I choose to. This is my second call alert, I wore the first one out. I love it.
Patti, WI

Nice little unit you must be subcribed to call waiting and caller ID with local phone company to get the full benefits of this product.

I guess I am speaking to the few of us out there who are still satisfied with dialup internet. This is a great unit that I wish I had years ago. If you don't want to miss important calls when you are online this is the best way to go. You must have caller id AND call waiting from your telephone service provider for this unit to work. Like any other caller ID unit, it displays who is calling. But when you are online and you receive a call the unit beeps and flashes, announcing that you have a call. You can look at the display and see who is calling, press the "call waiting" button if you want to answer or ignore it. My internet connection stays connected about 15 seconds, so I can tell the caller I will call them back and resume surfing. Or you can keep talking and the internet connection will abort. Also, it automatically redials your internet connection when you hang up.
This unit has given me solace that I am not missing calls anymore and not annoying friends with busy signals when I am online. Great product!