Telephone Recording Equipment

[StoneLaughter]

OK... I'm looking around the InterWeb and I am seeing hundreds of products. All of them designed to plug the 'phone line into a PC and record that way. Sorry, no can do.

I have a cordless 'phone plugged into a BT linebox downstairs. I have a second handset and charger upstairs. Both our PC's are upstairs.

Can anyone reccommend CHEAP 2-way telephone recording equipment, which will either (a) talk to the handset cordlessly (unlikely) or (b) plug into the 'phone line, or (c) plug in between the line and the base unit.

Just the model number and make will do; I can research prices etc myself.

Thanks!

[Janet-M]

Have you thought of looking at skype ? I believe this is a very good way of recording calls. I'm unsure myself of recording euipment with cordless phones but if you look on the maplin site they may have something .

[StoneLaughter]

Skype would be great if we had not just entered into an 18 month 'phone contract with Talk Talk... we can't afford TWO 'phone contracts...

[BankFodder]

There is no phone contract with Skype - other than the phone number for about £23 per year. It is pay as you go through your computer using your broadband connection.

I currently use Voipcheap and Skype.
Almost all outgoing calls with Voipcheap are free. I get incoming calls forwarded to my Skype number which records everything.
Outgoing I use Voipcheap for free or if I am calling a bank etc then I make a very cheap outgoing call using Skype.

I also use a program called Wispa to have my emails read out to me over the telephone wherever I am. I can also use Wispa to make Skype calls via my mobile or toher landline.

This sounds a little complicated because I am not expressing it very well.

however, we will be doin a wispa affiliate in the next 2 or 3 weeks after they launch some new features which will provide a startling functionality which people are likely to find very interesting.

[Karnevil]

I have just been looking at my skype setup - what do I need to set up recording of calls ?? I'm thinking of getting a usb phone to use skype as I always seem tohave trouble with my mic & speakers from feedback. Any recommendations (on the cheap side!)
Thanks, K.

edit: I've tried download skylook from the link but whats a .rar file ? I click the link after download the file, and it comes up with a blank webpage - what am I doing wrong ??

edit again@ its come up with http://www.winace.com/ Do I have to download this as well......

starting to worry about how much space this would take up !

[BankFodder]

We are trying to sort out the skylook download porblem.

In the meantime, I agree that USB voip phones are the best.

Dave and I are both using these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...EWA%3AVRI&rd=1

We each have a couple of them and of all fo the USB phones I have come accross these seem to be the best.

We have no affiliation to the seller

[French William]

I've seen phone conv recording equipment mentioned quite a bit across these forums, but isn't it illegal to record telephone conversations without expressly informing the other party?

[barracad]

Originally Posted by StoneLaughter

Can anyone reccommend CHEAP 2-way telephone recording equipment, which will ... (c) plug in between the line and the base unit.

Maplin used to do a cable which has an RJ11 connection on so will sit between the line and base unit. I can't find it on their website but it was basically a little white thing with a switch on to change between play and record, had an RJ11 connection to plug into the base unit, a socket on the other end and a cable that can plug into a dictaphone/tape recorder etc.

If you have a Maplin near you call in they may have them in store. Cost about a tenner.

Originally Posted by French William

I've seen phone conv recording equipment mentioned quite a bit across these forums, but isn't it illegal to record telephone conversations without expressly informing the other party?

There is nothing to stop you recording a call as long as you do not tamper with equipmemt which is not yours i.e. BT telephone lines.
There is no need to give warnings that the call is being recorded.
There is no confidentiality in the call unless you have agreed with the other person in advance or there are other circumstances which make it clear that the conversation is subject to a duty of confidentiality.
If you overhear someone else's call which is clearly of a confidential nature in circumstances which are clearly intended to be confidential then there is confidence in the recording.

There have been suggestions in other threads on this forum that warnings must be given. This is wrong.

It is not illegal for individuals to tape conversations providing the recording is for their own use, under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

[French William]

Originally Posted by barracad

It is not illegal for individuals to tape conversations providing the recording is for their own use, under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

So if it's only for your own use, does that mean it can't be used in court?

[BankFodder]

I think that it can be used in court. It is up to the court as to whether they are prepared to use the evidence.

[Karnevil]

Thanks Bankfodder - I've put a watch on a couple of those phones to check out later.

Let me know when the skylook download is working....I'd rather get it through you guys so you get a little towards your costs (as its your fault I'm not taking the rubbish from the big companies any more !)

[StoneLaughter]

a "RAR" file can be opened with WinRAR - it's like a different make of "zip" program. An evaluation version can be downloaded free.

[StoneLaughter]

With Skype, could we have one number across 2 PC's? Will both ring when a call comes in? Or would we need to pay £23 each?

[French William]

Originally Posted by StoneLaughter

With Skype, could we have one number across 2 PC's? Will both ring when a call comes in? Or would we need to pay £23 each?

Depends if/how your PCs are networked at home. It's possible to have the one account accessable and usable on both PCs though.

Originally Posted by StoneLaughter

With Skype, could we have one number across 2 PC's? Will both ring when a call comes in? Or would we need to pay £23 each?

I have only used Skype for a week but I know a little about networking.

I understand where is Frenchy coming from but Skype is not an networking issue. All you need to do is install skype on both PC's and have both installs using the same user-account. I have tested on laptop and PC then phoned via Kids PC and all worked fine just how you want. FYI all are routed though kids PC that has a wireless router connected.

[Karnevil]

Okay I have now got my skype phone working and have installed skylook using the rar extractor thingy but I cant work out how to get skylook to open - so I guessed I has done something wrong so was going to start again using the link here http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...uncement-.html

but it seems to have gone ??????????? and the marketplace seems to have changed its name to yellow and now says market overt ??????
are there problems ?

i'm trying to get recording working on skype so I can call up my bank

edit:
I've got skylook installed and when i click on the folder its put on my desktop it opens a file with a skylook application, Proto and Recmon ----- the only one that does anything when i double click is Recmon - which brings up a skylook call monitor which cays file size 0kg and health = good.

any ideas guys ?