TeleZapper TZ 900

Other products by Privacy Technologies

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006881R
• Item model number: TZ-900
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 15, 2005

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

When you've had your dinner interrupted by a telemarketer one too many times, treat your phone line and yourself to the Telezapper TZ 900. It's a simple, one-time-cost solution to the problem of annoying telemarketing calls. Based on the enormously popular classic Telezapper, the newer Telezapper TZ 900 offers the advantages of a slimmer profile, built-in battery power, and an advanced three-tone mode.

Here's how it works: Given that more than 90 percent of telemarketing calls are placed with computer assistance, when either you or your answering machine answers the phone, the Telezapper emits a special tone that tells the computer your number has been permanently disconnected. Telemarketing companies that use automated dialing systems typically remove disconnected numbers from their calling lists, and as your phone number is eliminated from more and more telemarketing lists, you'll notice fewer calls. Of course, not all telemarketers use predictive dialing systems, and those that do will undoubtedly continue their work to evade the Telezapper, but it can be a partial solution.

Most predictive dialing systems will be fooled by the Telezapper's standard single tone. However, for newer dialing systems (presumably designed in response to the success of the previous Telezapper model), the TZ 900 offers an advance three-tone mode. To change the mode, unscrew and remove the protective case and then slide a recessed switch. (We suggest that Privacy Technologies put the switch on the outside for their next model.)

For the most part, regular callers are unaffected by the Telezapper, but it may "zap" calls from other organizations that use the same predictive dialing technology (such as charities, pollsters, and automated emergency weather systems) and from callers who use certain types of calling cards. (For more information, click FAQ, or frequently asked questions, in the left navigation bar.)

Installation takes seconds. Just plug the Telezapper into your phone line and your phone into the Telezapper. It's that simple. A built-in lithium-ion battery provides power and will likely last for the lifetime of the unit. The Telezapper includes a phone cord and instructions. Privacy Technologies backs the device with a one-year warranty. --Mike Brown

Pros

• Reduces telemarketing calls placed by predictive dialing systems
• Doesn't interfere with most normal calls
• Inexpensive, one-time-cost solution
• Extremely easy to install and use

Cons

• May "zap" some desired calls
• Annoying beep every time the receiver is lifted

Product Description

TeleZapper is a small device that attaches directly to a consumer's telephone line to reduce the number of computer-dialed telemarketing calls. The TeleZapper is also battery powered and boasts a sleeker, trimmer design. It now serves as the connecting piece between the phone and phone jack and comes equipped with a battery that has a seven-year life, which eliminates the need for an AC adaptor and frees up an extra electrical outlet in your home. It can also be programmed to emit from one (Basic Privacy) to three tones (Advanced Privacy), providing added protection against unwanted calls.The TeleZapper is ideal for protecting home businesses and new homeowners. New phone numbers typically are the first numbers to make it onto telemarketing lists. The TeleZapper is easy to install. Just plug it into your phone and phone jack to cover all extensions and answering machines connected to that line. It works with answering machines to "Zap" telemarketers when you're not around to answer the phone. The TeleZapper is also compatible with Caller ID and Call Waiting and it won't interfere with any manually dialed phone calls.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the End-all, Be-all Solution, February 27, 2003

By	Warren Holzem (Oregon City, OR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I actually have the earlier model of the TeleZapper -- the one that's the size of a small answering machine. The product does exactly what it is designed to actually do, and it does so reliably. But the real question is does what the product actually do stand up to it's marketing as a way to stop telemarketers from calling you.

The answer is, to some degree, sort-of.

The way it works is this: The telemarketer calls you. You (or your answering machine) answers the call, and the TeleZapper beeps. If the telemarketer is using the right equipment to recognize that tone as being a non-working number, the telemarketer will automatically disconnect from the call, and theoretically delete your phone number from the list it is using.

So let's look at this closer. Your phone still rings. If you (or your answering machine) does not answer the ringing phone, the beep-tone is never heard by the telemarketer's equipment. The result of not answering the phone is the same with or without the TeleZapper.

Okay, so we have to answer the phone once. But after that one time aren't we deleted from the lists they all use? Well, no. There are lots of lists out there. Some are used only once. Doesn't do much good to be removed from a list that will never be used again. But in all fairness, you will be removed from a few lists that might have gotten used again.

My personal experience was that initially there was no change in the number of calls. It took some time before any of those beeps my TeleZapper made had any effect on whether or not I was going to get called again. During this first period, I still got to talk to a lot of telemarketers because they weren't using equipment that the TeleZapper had any effect upon.

After about three or four months, I realized that there were far fewer times that I answered the phone, and no one was there. That could mean one of two things: Either the TeleZapper was working, and I was really was being taken off the lists, or telemarketers stopped using the kind of equipment that's stopped by the TeleZapper.

It's been over a year now, and it's just been in the last two weeks that things changed again. I'm now suddenly again getting lots of calls with no one there. My speculation is that the TeleZapper worked, and I was taken off of quite a few lists, but now there are new lists out there that include my name.

You can't really control who calls you on the phone any more than you can control which people you pass on the street will say something to you. But just as there are things that you can do to discourage people you pass from saying something to you, there are things you can do to discourage telemarketers from calling you. The TeleZapper can be a part of your arsenal, but don't expect it to be the best tool you can use. And since the TeleZapper doesn't start to do anything unless you (or your answering machine) picks up the phone, don't expect this tool to take the lead, either.

So the TeleZapper functions. It does have some effect. Is it worth the price? Well, I don't have any regrets about spending the money, but I wouldn't do it again. If your state has a no-call list, the fee to be included on that list is probably going to get you a better bang for your buck.

On the other hand, if you're not as assertive as I can be with Telemarketers, the TeleZapper saves you from having to speak directly to sone telemarketers, so the price may be worth it to you.

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works Like A Charm!, February 18, 2003

By	IlPrimitivo (San Fran, CA) - See all my reviews

I used to get marketing calls almost every day with calls in the months leading up to the holidays hitting my phone both in the morning and evening.

Finally I had enough of the marketing call hassle and decided to fight back. I put a TelezZapper on my Christmas "wish list" and received one as a gift. I was a little skeptical about the thing and wasn't really sure if it would work but a few days after getting the unit the TeleZapper was on my phone line and I was waiting for the first telemarketer call to arrive to get zapped. I was also waiting to see if it would zap my DSL connection since it's on the same phone line.

I didn't have to wait very long. The phone rang, I picked up the receiver, and in about a second I heard the tri-tone signal, and then said "hello" ... the line was silent. I called out again and got no response. I just zapped my first telemarketer and it was great!

I booted up my computer to test my DSL line and it didn't skip a beat. I also checked my caller ID and it still registered numbers.

Finally, something that actually seems to work!

A few things to note:

· Re-record your message machine to allow a 2-3 second gap at the beginning so that the Telezapper can beep and not garble the beginning of your message.

· Tell your friends about the device on your phone and tell them not to hang up when they hear the tones. Some of my friends just thought they got a wrong number and hung up to try again.

· If you're not expecting any calls you may want the call to go to your answering machine first to get zapped and then pick up after you're sure there's a voice at the other end of the line.

· If you pick up the receiver before your answering machine picks up, wait for the tones to go off before putting the receiver to your ear -- the tones are loud.

Overall this is a great little unit and it really does work with my marketing calls dropping by at least 90%.

The next thing I need to do is to place the TeleZapper on my 2nd line -- my fax line -- to get rid of all those junk faxes!

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works as advertised, January 16, 2003

By	H. Row "in1ear" (Arvada, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I always enjoy reading reviews of "controversial" items. It amazes me what expectations people have in a product. This item is a great example. Here's how this item works:

Telemarketers and others use computers to call up people to try to sell them stuff. They can literally dial THOUSANDS of numbers a day. It doesn't matter if your number is unlisted. If it can be generated by a computer, you will get unsolicited calls. Caller ID is great to avoid unwanted calls BUT unfortunately, just because you don't answer, doesn't mean they'll stop calling your number. The phone company offers a "blocking" service, but you pay every month and sometimes every call coming into your number. There is a national and state by state "NO CALL" list you can sign up to on the net. But, I'm signed up with several, I still received DOZENS of calls selling stuff.

For various reasons, the Phone company's computer has an electronic signal to mark disconnected phone numbers to other computerized systems.
The Telezapper TZ900 mimicks these electronic "disconnected" signals. That fools the telemarketers' (and others) computers into believing the number is disconnected and hangs it up. The telemarketers system is set up to delete "disconnected" numbers, so it doesn't waste "valuable" telemarkerters time.
If you have Telezapper connected correctly (pretty easy with instructions), your phone number will eventually show up as disconnected to all the telemarketers! The telemarketers will EVENTUALLY stop calling.
There are NUMEROUS telemarketers with NUMEROUS computerized calling systems, but EVENTUALLY your phone number will be on less and less lists! Thus less & less calls.
It won't be immediately. I noticed a difference after a week. And if you have that one telemarketer who seems to call YOU 8 - 10 times a day, he's gone after just one ZAP!
As telemarketers lives become harder and harder, their equipment becomes more sophisticated. Thus, so do the countermeasures like TeleZapper TZ900. Life in the 21st century. So, unfortunately, I may have to buy an updated "better" one next year.

The pros are that this unit doesn't need a converter to take up an electrical outlet. It has a three tone signal instead of the earlier model's one tone signal. This eliminates even more telemarketing systems!
The cons are that this unit is kind of expensive. And you need to avail yourself of different anti-telemarketing strategies in addition to help eliminate unwanted sales calls completely.

This product is a good tool you can utilize to stop telemarketing abuse.