Support Manuals and FAQs for the CapTel 840i

Captioned Telephone (or CapTel) is a telephone technology that allows people to receive word-for-word captions of their telephone conversations. It is similar in concept to Captioned Television, where spoken words appear as written text for viewers to read. The CapTel phone looks and works like any traditional phone, with callers talking and listening to each other, but with one very significant difference: Captions are provided live for every phone call. The captions are displayed on the phone’s built-in screen so the user can read the words while listening to the voice of the other party. So if the CapTel phone user has difficulty hearing what the caller says, he or she can easily read the captions for clarification.

The CapTel user dials the number of the person they wish to call on the CapTel phone. The call is transparently connected over the internet to a Captioning Service that uses speech recognition technology (either automated or operator-assisted) to create captions of everything the caller says. The captions appear on the CapTel phone display in real-time while the caller is speaking. The user can hear what the caller says, plus read captions at the same time.

PLEASE NOTE:
The CapTel Captioned Telephone is designed for people who have difficulty hearing over the phone. People who do not require captioning support for their telephone calls should only use the CapTel Phone with the CAPTIONS featured turned off. The CapTel Phone is intended to facilitate telephone communication between two or more parties on a telephone call. Any other use of the phone is considered a violation or misuse of the service.

Captions cannot be displayed on a regular telephone but with the addition of a PC/Mac, Smartphone or Tablet you may receive captions for your calls. However, the CapTel phone includes a customized, built-in screen for displaying captions as well as a combination of sophisticated electronics and software to handle both the voice and captions simultaneously.

A CapTel Phone connected to a telephone line (can be standard analog-POTS, VOIP, cable telephone service, FIOS) , internet connection and a power adapter are required to receive captions.

For alternative options of using Hamilton CapTel with your current phone, using a PC/Mac, Smartphone or Tablet, see what’s required:

• PC/Mac: A Hamilton CapTel Account, computer, phone (i.e. home, office, cell phone or smartphone)
• Smartphone: A Hamilton CapTel Account, compatible smartphone, voice and data capability, and the Hamilton CapTel App.
• Tablet: A Hamilton CapTel Account, compatible tablet with Internet connection, a phone (i.e. home, office, cell phone or smartphone), and the Hamilton CapTel App.

Order your CapTel Phone online or simply call 888-514-7933.

Yes, Spanish captions are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Spanish CapTel users must enable the Spanish captions option from the menu by clicking the “Phone Settings” option then select “Spanish Captions.” Select “Enabled” and click the “Yes” button to enable this feature.

Yes. When captions are off, the maximum amplification gain is 18dB. When caption are on, the maximum amplification gain is 40dB.

The CapTel Phone will not function if it does not have electrical power. All CapTel Phone Settings are saved even when power is lost. All of your conversation captions and call history are saved, even if your phone temporarily loses power.

Please visit the Service Notifications page for information about current service interruptions Hamilton CapTel may be experiencing.

Per a recent ruling by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), new customers of IP captioned telephone services must register as part of the FCC’s efforts to protect the captioning service from potential misuse by individuals who do not need captioning support.

New customers who have obtained one of the following CapTel phones:

• CapTel 840i
• CapTel 800i
• CapTel 880i
• CapTel 2400i

Per FCC requirements, the Captions feature on your CapTel phone will not be activated until the phone is registered. You will still be able to use the phone to make and receive calls, however, no captions will be available.

All information gathered is secure and confidential in accordance with FCC requirements. Your information is not used for marketing or promotional purposes unless you have specifically opted-in to receive information from Hamilton CapTel.

The FCC works to protect captioned telephone service from potential misuse by people who may not need captioning assistance. Your registration information confirms that you are at least 18 years of age, and are a US citizen. All information provided is treated, by law, as confidential.

Just like any telephone, pick up the phone and dial the number of the person you are calling. You will automatically receive captions on your screen. Captions can be turned on or off at any point in the call by pressing the Captions button.

Yes, the CapTel Phone has a “Phone Book” feature where you can store frequently called telephone numbers. Go to the menu, select “Edit Phone Book” option, select “Add a New Contact” option, press the “yes” button and add the person’s name and telephone number.

Yes. Simply press the captions button to turn captions on or off at anytime during your call. When the captions button is illuminated red, captions are activated.

• Auto Captions are generated entirely by computer. No operator involved.
• Assisted Captions add a specially trained Captioning Assistant who corrects errors and notes call details.

If a word comes through wrong mid-call – an unusual name, a street you’ve never heard of – press the DOWN arrow. An assistant stays with you for the rest of that call.

Want every call to start that way? Give us a call and we’ll set it for you.

Yes. All of these settings can be managed in the Options Menu under the Display Settings selection.

• With the handset hung up, press YES → Settings → Display Settings.
• Choose Set Conversation Font Size for Small, Medium, Large or Extra Large, or Set Conversation Colors for the text and background.
• Light text on a dark background is easier for many people to read. Set it before or after a call, not during one.

• While on the call: Press the UP arrow to hold the captions still and read back over what was said, then press NO to catch up.
• Missed a call? From the home screen, press the UP arrow, then lift the handset to hear your messages and read along.
• Does a word look wrong? Press CAPTIONS and the message is captioned again – fresh captions, mistakes cleared up. This works on answering machine messages only.

Review a conversation you already had: Press YES → Conversations → Review Conversations

Yes. Your CapTel phone comes with the Save Conversations feature enabled, letting you view conversation captions after you’ve hung up the phone. From the Options Menu select “Review Conversations” to see your saved conversation. Please note that the CapTel Phone saves up to 50 conversations. As new captions are received, earlier/older captions are erased.

Yes, the CapTel Phone has a “Phone Book” feature that allows you to store up to 97 names/telephone numbers for easy dialing..

The newest version of the CapTel 840i model phone has built-in speakerphone capability. CapTel 840i phones obtained before February 2024 do not have this feature. For older models, an external speaker can be connected to the 840i model phone’s appropriate 2.5 or 3.5mm audio jack to provide speakerphone capability. For questions, please call 866-990-4499.

Yes.

At this time, it is not possible to access the menu options during the call. It is recommended that you set your call preferences prior making and receiving calls.

Yes, you may adjust the ringer volume by selecting the “Phone Settings” menu option.

• Press the right side of the Volume bar during any call – up to 40dB of amplification.
• Press the TONE button on the front of your phone until the screen shows Low, Medium or High.

• Press YES → Settings → Phone Settings → Save Volume and turn it on.

Your CapTel phone comes with the Save Conversations feature enabled. From the Options Menu select “Review Conversations” to see your saved conversation. Please note that the CapTel Phone saves up to 480 lines of captions. As new captions are received, earlier/older captions are erased.

Whether or not you are charged for long distance calls depends on the telephone service plan and your telephone service provider. There are no additional charges to receive captions.

International calls can be placed and received, with captions. Whether or not you can place International calls depends on the telephone service plan and your telephone service provider. There are no additional charges to receive captions.

This depends on the type of phone service you use with the CapTel Phone. If you are using an analog phone service, when/if your connection to the Internet is lost, your CapTel Phone will work as a standard telephone with no captions.

Set up the CapTel Phone in a place where:

• There is a high-speed Internet (Ethernet) jack or your home router is located nearby.
• There is a telephone jack nearby (can be analog line, VOIP, FIOS, or Digital Cable phone service).
• There is an electrical outlet nearby.
• The surface it will be set on, or mounted to, is stable and secure.
• The area is protected from excessive heat or humidity.

NOTE: The outlets for power, the phone line, and the Ethernet connection should all be located nearby, as each cord needs to plug into your CapTel Phone. If your Internet access is located in a different room than where you plan to use the CapTel Phone, see the Installation Guide or contact CapTel Customer Service at 888-514-7933 for help.

Yes. The CapTel Phone requires both a telephone service and Internet connection.

Please refer to the Emergency Calling 911 Info for information on using Hamilton CapTel for emergency calls.

Yes. Please be sure that Captions are activated and your Internet connection is active.