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A guide to buying a textphone, 2001 (view report contents)

Some main features explained

Use the information in this section plus the summaries of the individual textphones to help you decide what to look for.

Acoustic or direct?

Direct types plug into a phone socket. With acoustic types you place the handset of an ordinary phone onto the textphone. Some models can be used in either way.
Acoustic types have more problems with interference. You are more likely to get gobbledegook or lose your connection and they can get less reliable as they get older.

Fitting the phone handset on to the textphone can be fiddly. It has to fit snugly into rubber cups - if not it can pick up background noise. Phones come in various shapes and sizes and the fit is not always perfect.
On the plus side acoustic textphones can be used where there is no phone socket nearby. They can also be used with payphones.

How big?

The summaries give dimensions and weights.
Most were too big to carry around and some weighed over 3lbs (1.5 Kg). Two models folded in half and measured around 8" x 4" x 3" (22 x 10 cm x 7.5cm) when folded. They weighed around half a kilogram (about a pound) - easy to carry although too big for pockets or small handbags.
The sizes and weights in the summaries do not include battery chargers or mains adaptors.
Check they will not take up too much desk space.

Memory

Memos, messages, and phone books all use memory. Generally the more memory the better. One textphone does not have any memory and the largest has 1000Kb. Each Kb of memory is roughly equal to 1000 characters.

Power and batteries

All textphones can be plugged directly into the mains through the adapter supplied. Two models work on mains power only. All the others can also be used with either rechargeable or disposable batteries; one model can use both. Those that use rechargeable batteries come with a recharger. See the summaries for which models have indicators for power on, low batteries or on charge.

Getting through

With acoustic types you rely on the ringing of the standard phone or one of the accessories to know when the phone is ringing. Two acoustic phones have lights as well - helpful. Direct types ring like an ordinary phone or have a light or text message (one does both) - see summaries. Check you can see this from several positions, not just when you are in front of the textphone.
Most textphones have some way of telling you if the phone you are calling is ringing, is engaged or if the connection has been lost. Testers preferred models that gave this information in text - see summaries to find out what each model does.

Keyboards

Experienced typists tended to prefer keys about the same size as those on a computer keyboard. One finger typists did not mind smaller sizes as much. Generally textphones with more keys have bigger keyboards - see summaries.

Typical large keys, actual size

Typical small keys, actual size

Sticky keys - keys stay pressed for a short time when you use this option - helpful if you have limited use of your hands when two keys need to be pressed at once.

Missing characters - the two DTS phones cannot display the £ sign and the Uniphone 1150 does not have a key for the @ symbol, although it can display it in messages you receive.

Trying them

It’s worth trying keyboards out for yourself. Think about

  • the feel of the keyboard - most people preferred keys which felt positive.
  • the position of punctuation and function keys. These vary and if you are used to a particular layout, you may prefer a textphone with keys where you expect them to be.
  • the raised shapes on the letter f and j help you find the right place on the keyboard. Some textphones did not have these and on others they were too small.

Quick dialling

With an acoustic textphone you can use the memory keys built into your voice phone. See the summaries for which textphones have the following quick dial features:

Redial last number - calls the last number used.

Relay dial key - connects you to Typetalk instead of having to key in the whole number.

Emergency dial key - connects you to the text emergency services. Phone book - stores telephone numbers so you can select them with one or two keys – see summaries for how many numbers can be stored. The Textlink also has 8 function keys you can program as quick dial keys.

Answering and recording features

Text answering machine - like an answering machine, but records text not voice.

Remote message retrieval - you can call up messages from another textphone.

Personal greetings - messages you record to be used by the textphone answering machine.

Records conversations - useful for messages you want to read later. Only the Minicom Pro 100 doesn’t have this.

Personal message - records messages which you send in text as part of a conversation

Voice announcement - a voice message to tell a hearing person that text is about to be received. Only the Minicom Pro 100 doesn’t have this.

Other useful features

Clock and calendar - shows time and date.
Call duration - shows how long you have been on the phone.
Interrupt facility - you can type while a message is being received.

Hearing and Voice Carry Over

HCO and VCO let you use a combination of text and voice. You can speak to the other person but get replies in text, or the other way round. HCO and VCO can cut phone bills because calls tend to take less time when you use them. Note: with some codes you have to press a sequence of keys when you want to speak or hear. With others, such as Baudot, you don’t.

Acoustic textphones: you lift the handset from the couplers to listen or speak.

Direct textphones: with the Uniphone you use its own handset. The Minicom Pro 400 and the Textel have a loudspeaker and microphone, which means your hands are free to type. You can use HCO/VCO on others (apart from the Dialogue III, IIIP and the Minicom Pro 8000 Gold) with a phone on the same line.

 

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Report contents

What are textphones?
How to use
Some main features explained
The display
Printing
Accessories
Deafblind people
Buying Guide
Mobiles
Alternatives
Typetalk
How to get a textphone
Professional advice
Helpful organisations
Suppliers
Acknowledgements