Overview
This program receives CallerID information from a modem, and displays it on-screen as a text overlay, providing the name and number of the caller.
Here's a list of the major features:
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Display caller name and number, with option to not show unknown/blocked callers |
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Fully customizable on-screen-display. (font, color, outline, screen location, display time, etc) |
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Support for transparency and alpha-blending features of Windows 2000 and the upcoming WinXP |
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Runs in Windows system tray |
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Option to display the last caller's information |
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Enable/Disable CallerID Info from the system tray. |
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TCP/IP network support, so that one machine can receive caller-id information from a server
over the network. |
Installation
The program consists of a single executable with no runtime DLL's, so just copy it to a location on your hard-drive and run it.
If you want a machine to support network clients, check 'Enable Network Server Support' in the CallerID Setup dialog. You should be able to leave the default port assignment unless you have special needs. Then, on each client machine you want to run CallerID Sentry on, set the connection type to 'Network Client' and enter the name or address of the server machine. Again, most people can leave the port assignments alone. However, if you've changed the port that the network server is listening on, you'll need to set the same port on the client for 'Server Port'. Also, the 'Client Port' can be changed if you want the caller-id notifications to come back to the client on a different port (for instance, if you need to get through a firewall).
I've added various init strings to the Options dialog that might work with your modem. If not, you can type your own init string. At the moment, there's not much in the way of diagnostics to determine if your modem will work with a given command; you'll just have to try it and see. Listed below is some information on init strings for various modems; these init strings are available for selection in the combo box on the Options dialog. Thanks to Maurice (last name?), the author of
IdentaFone for providing this information:
Open up Hyperterminal and make a connection to the comm port your modem is on, but don't select the modem itself.
Try these init strings (preceded by "AT" of course)and see if any return "OK". If so, then give yourself a call from another phone.
| AT#CID=1 |
Used in USR, Texas Instruments, Rockwell compatible modems (excluding software modems and Rockwell
HCF), Hayes, several Pace modems, PowerBit, GVC, PCTel, IDC (VR series) devices, Diamond Supra (Rockwell compatible). |
| AT+VCID=1 or AT+FCLASS=8;+VCID=1 |
All IS-101 modems, Lucent LT, Rockwell HCF (V.90 or K56FLEX, e.g. PCI modems from Creative), some Pace modems (IS-101 compatible),
MultiTech, IDC, Cirrus Logic, most of IDC modems. |
| AT#CLS=8#CID=1 |
Caller ID in voice mode in some 56K USR modems, some Rockwell compatible (Boca Research, Cardinal, voice Zoom). |
| AT#CC1 |
Older non-voice Aspen modems, older Cirrus Logic, Motorola Voice Surfer, Phoebe. |
| AT*ID1 |
Some Motorola modems. |
| AT%CCID=1 or AT%CCID=3 |
Practical Peripherals modems. |
Revision history
Note: I may not always have the discipline to keep
this page comletely up to date, so you should check the readme file included
with the latest release for the most up to date information.
| 0.8.0.0 |
05/23/01 |
Added support for named configurations via command-line
parameters. This allows multiple instances to be run on the same machine,
for instance if you want to monitor multiple modems/phone-lines. |
| 0.7.5.0 |
05/21/01 |
Added
network support, so that client machines with no modems can receive
caller-id information from a server over TCP/IP network
Split
caller-id setup and OSD setup into two separate dialogs.
Misc minor
bugfixes |
| 0.5.0.5 |
05/07/01 |
Added
support for Supra modems, that format the CID info differently
Fixed
the spinners for the custom x,y positions |
| 0.5.0.4 |
05/05/01 |
Fixed
recognition of unknown/anonymous callers, and blocking of them.
Rewrote ring
detection to fix problem with Win98
Added a
Girder export group for controlling the program. |
| 0.5.0.2 |
05/04/01 |
Improved appearance of text outline under Win9x (still not
as good as Win2k, but better than before) |
| 0.5.0.1 |
05/03/01 |
Fixed Z-order issue so the caller id text should show up
over other topmost windows |
| 0.5.0.0 |
05/03/01 |
First public beta |
Known issues
I originally thought that layered windows and alpha blending were supported on both Win2k and WinME, but it turns out it's Win2K only. So the transparent text and fading effects will only be available on Win2k and WinXP when it ships.
The first time you run the program you'll get an error message saying 'Unable to Communicate with modem.' After clicking OK, right-click on the tray icon and open the Options dialog. From there, you can set the COM port and Init String for the modem.
Future Development
I'll fix bugs as they are reported. Listed below are some of the features planned for future versions.
Better diagnostics and error reporting
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Client-server report, so that the program can receive CallerID information from a modem in another computer. |
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TAPI support, so that people who also use their modems for dialing out to an ISP won't have to disable CallerID when doing so. |
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Possibly some sort of Do-Not-Disturb, that only allows callers to be announced if they're on a list |
Feeback and contact info
Send any bug reports and feedback to jkohn@houston.rr.com.
You should be able to download the latest version from http://home.houston.rr.com/jeffkohn/files/CallerIDSentry.zip
Disclaimer of warranty
This software is provided free of charge, "as is", and without warranties whether expressed or implied. Because of the various software and hardware environments into which this program may be put, no warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is offered.
This page was last updated on 01/02/02.
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