phone strobe - call indicator

[Chris Curry]

Does any body have ideas on phone strobes or other indicators. I am looking to incorporate an visual indicator for the shop, so when the phone rings and a loud tool is running and/or with hearing protection donned, I still could shut down to answer it. It will not be used on a phone system but rather a single line home service extension. What do you guys use? I'm not keen on just turning up the ring volume, and yes... I have heard of an answering machine. ;) We have one. But if it's the mother-in-law calling from England, I'd rather have the call on her dime. :D

Your input is appreciated - thanks, Chris

[Vaughn McMillan]

Something like this (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102608&cp=2032052.2032075.2032077.2032094&parentPage=family)?

I also found something on the well-known auction site searching for "phone strobe" (with the quotation marks).

Hope this helps -

- Vaughn

[Dick Strauss]

Chris,
I know that a device is available for the deaf that will make a light flash when the phone rings, etc. I don't have a clue what they are called or where to find them.

Hope this helps...

[James Stokes]

I bought a cheap one from Harbor Freight for around $5 works great.

[Arthur Wood]

I recall seeing a device like this from Grizzly.

[Richard Wolf]

I have used the one Vaughn mentioned, it worked great.

Richard

[Doug Jones]

Good thread Chris,
I have no answer for your dilemma, but am very interested in the responses.

[Chris Barton]

My problem is I have no difficulty hearing the phone and it seems like I am always the one that answers it but, it is never for me. Now I just ignore it.

[Doug Jones]

Just did a quick "Shopzilla" search. New, you're looking anywhere from $30- $400.





but, it is never for me.
Must have teenage kids in the house. I know that situation all too well.

[Jim Becker]

I sold a lot of them when I ran a Radio Shack store back in the 1980s. I don't have one in my shop...I can hear the ringer on my wireless extension that lives there outside of when I am wearing hearing protection at the j/p. I'd rather miss a call rather than interrupt a cut. Most of the time that it rings on the weekend when I'm in the shop...it's the intercom letting me know that a meal is ready. ;)

[Matt Meiser]

I have one of the Radio Shack bell-type ringers in my shop which is a lot easier to hear over shop noise than an electronic ringer, but is not painfully loud at other times.

[Chris Gregory]

Wheelock makes a combination "audible strobe" you can adjust thr ring tones so they will carry over loud machinery and of course the strobe. Here's a link
but just for info but I am sure you can pick one up a lot cheaper http://www.phonemerchants.com/wheeltelstro.html

[Bob Yedinak]

I also have the fone flasher 2 from Radio Shack, not in my shop but in the house for my wife who is deaf in one ear--it works great and besides ringing it also has a flashing strobe light. I think I paid around 30 bucks for it.
Bob

[Barry O'Mahony]

My problem is I have no difficulty hearing the phone and it seems like I am always the one that answers it but, it is never for me. Now I just ignore it.Same here.;)

Actually, with my wife, my daughter, and myself all having our own cellphones, we're seriously looking at pulling the landline. 'used to use it for internet access, but got satellite broadband a few months ago.

As soon as the 8-yr. old get old enough for his own phone, the landline is outta here.

Now these days, all cellphones can be put in "vibrate" mode. You can just put one of these babies in your pocket while you're out in the shop, if you want to receive calls, that is.

[Howard Barlow]

... Most of the time that it rings on the weekend when I'm in the shop...it's the intercom letting me know that a meal is ready. ;)

Some calls are more important than others.:D

[Chris Curry]

Thanks, for the input everyone. I appreciate your time.
Chris

[Fred Voorhees]

I have used the one Vaughn mentioned, it worked great.

Richard
Rich, one question. Would this model work with an existing wall mounted phone? I don't want to do any additional wiring or "adapting". I just want to add a device to my existing phone if that is possible. I have wanted something like this for quite a while and if I can order one through my local Radio Shack, all the easier.

[Jack Hoying]

I have one of the Radio Shack bell-type ringers in my shop which is a lot easier to hear over shop noise than an electronic ringer, but is not painfully loud at other times.

I also have the Radio Shack ringer (two large dish type ringers). It's been in my shop where I work full time for 15 years or more. I can hear it over all the noise in the shop. It doesn't require any extra wiring, just a splitter so you can run a phone line to it.

Jack

[Steve Stube]

My wife has a Pet grooming shop and with cage dryers, blow dryers and the vacuum going did miss phone calls now and then (lost calls > lost appointments > lost income). I installed one of the strobe lights from Radio Shack on the phone line and she catches them all now plus I got a great big thank you. If you have separate rooms to your shop you may need more than one but the phone strobe is very bright and definitely will get your attention regardless of noise level.

[Jim Becker]

Rich, one question. Would this model work with an existing wall mounted phone?

Fred, you need to plug the strobe into a phone jack...hard to do with a wall phone due to the way it mounts. It's really a simple matter to add another jack near your wall phone...I have plenty of twisted pair available if you want to do that.

[Steve Stube]

Radio Shack has backer plates for some phones. If your wall phone is a modular (plug-in behind it), you unplug the phone pulg in the backer plate and replace the phone as before. The backer is about a half or three quarter inch thick and has two plug-in modular jacks in the bottom edge. One plug for the strobe and one for the answering machine IIRC.

[Steve Hooper]

Chris:

I too have the radio shack version. The one I bought allowed me to wire my own lights, so I put two widely spaced "large" lights in.

If nothinbg is running, I can hear the ringer. When running machingery, I can see one of the lights forom any part of the shop.

Steve

[Chris Curry]

Thanks again everyone for your input. I think what I would like to do is partition off the 'office area' so the computer and electronics will not get so dusty. I would put the phone in there and hang a strobe out in the shop. It's not far to go for the phone anyway. If there is equipment runnug in the shop (by someone else) or winding down, I could still hear on the phone. I too would hate to miss that call to dinner. We only get one chance at our house.;)
The sourcing aside, I was interested in what folks thought about the concept. I don't thingk it would be too much of a distraction and would never rush a cut or want to compromise saftey. I think I'll do it.
Thanks! Chris