March 1998

TriNexus Technologies, Inc.
310-111 Research Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3R2 Canada
Ph: 306-668-7711
Fx: 306-668-7710
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.trinexus.com

Price: $129.95

[Go To The Side Bar:  TV Messenger Plus Pros And Cons]

Let’s say you’ve had caller ID for a while, and that you’ve just bought a nice cordless phone for your home. However, you realize that your new phone doesn’t have a caller ID display. Now you’ve got a dilemma. You can take calls on your cordless phone, in which case the plus of being untethered is cancelled by the minus of missing your caller ID information. Or you can take calls while you’re standing next to your caller ID adjunct, in which case you’ve simply reversed what’s a plus and what’s a minus. You’re back to zero, no matter what you do.

You could, however, have two pluses at the same time, at least while you’re watching television. That is, you could display your caller ID information on your television set. A new product, TVMessenger Plus, allows you to do just that.

INSTALLATION/DOCUMENTATION
Overall, installation took us just two minutes. All we had to do was plug in various jacks and cables. These included video RCA jacks, which we plugged into the video in and video out ports on the TVMessenger. Other gizmos included a power supply, some RCA cables, and a long phone cord.

Basically, we rerouted the output from the VCR. Instead of going straight to the TV, the output went to the TVMessenger first, and then to the TV. Next, we hooked up the phone line to the RJ-11 jack, and then we plugged in the power supply. We were done.

The documentation contained sample setup configurations, complete with diagrams. Rounding out the documentation, which was very good, were the printed instructions that appeared on the top of the unit itself.

• Displays caller ID, including first and last name, on screen.
• Provides for a 12- or a 30-second display time.

• Lets you scroll through a call log.
• You can also delete names/records from the call log.
• You can also switch to an "easy view" blue background for viewing the call history/log.
• Shows new callers as well as call history.
• Provides remote control for scrolling, deleting, and displaying information. Also includes manual controls (two buttons on the unit itself).
• Captures over 1,300 calls from 14 different callers.
• Works with your voice messaging service.
• Indicates if a message is waiting or if you have a new call. (Blinking light indicates unretrieved messages; solid light indicates new callers.)

OPERATIONAL TESTING
We called into the unit. Our caller ID information, that is, our phone number as well as the first and last name attached to our account, appeared on the TV screen. Subsequent calls from the same number increased the call history counter by one for that number. This sort of functionality is common with caller ID products.

To see how the product handled scrolling through multiple names and numbers in the call history, we had to call from different phone numbers, which we accomplished by using different trunks on our PBX. After a few calls, the screen was filled, and we simply hit the up or down arrow key on the remote control to scroll through the names and numbers.

Finally, we tested the manual control; that is, we operated the unit by manipulating the buttons on the TVMessenger unit. This was straightforward, especially since instructions were printed on the unit itself.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
We would like to see an audio output from the TVMessenger to the audio input on the TV. If such an arrangement were possible, you could screen calls. That is, you could listen in to callers leaving messages on your answering machine. We’d also like to see an embedded microphone or speakerphone on the unit. That way, you could just press a button on the remote control, take the call, and speak with a caller without having to leave your living room couch to answer the phone. Of course, a cordless phone would suffice for this purpose as well.

CONCLUSION
This product performs as advertised: It displays caller ID information on your TV. Although it costs a bit more than other caller ID products, it is an intriguing product. It is, at the least, a neat "gadget" to have around to impress your family and friends.

PROS

• Keeps you tucked into your Lazy boy chair
• Gives you another remote to play with
• Impresses your techie friends.

CONS

• You may never get out of your Lazy Boy chair
• Givers you another remote to keep track of and eventurally lose.
• may attract techies.  A bit "gimmicky."
• More expensive than other call ID products.