How it Works - CapTel 200

The CapTel 200 phone works with a free Captioning Service to provide captions of everything your callers say.

CapTel: How it works Click to enlarge

Making a Call with CapTel 200

You dial the other person's number, exactly the same way as with any other telephone. While you dial, the CapTel 200 phone automatically connects to the captioning service. When the other party answers, you hear everything they say, just like a traditional call. At the same time, the captioning service transcribes everything they say into written text, which appears on the CapTel display window. You hear what you can, and read what you need to.

Making a Call Click to enlarge

Receiving a Call with CapTel 200

In order for you to get captions, your callers must dial the toll-free Captioning Service first, then enter your phone number. You hear your caller, same as you would with any traditional call. At the same time, the captioning service transcribes everything they say into captions for you to read on the CapTel 200 display window.

Diagram: How the CapTel phone works Click to enlarge

Optional - Using CapTel 200 in 2-Line Mode

Some users prefer that callers dial their phone number directly, instead of calling the captioning service first. Optional 2-Line CapTel lets you get captions on any call, incoming or outgoing, without having to dial the captioning service. With 2-Line CapTel, people call you over one telephone line. Meanwhile, the second telephone line automatically connects the call to the captioning service. You enjoy a traditional telephone conversation over Line 1, with the benefits of captions over Line 2.

More about 2-Line CapTel

Diagram: How the CapTel phone works Click to enlarge

What Equipment & Services are Needed?

CapTel 200 Telephone
A special telephone designed to work with the captioning service to display captions during your telephone calls. The phone does not , all by itself, translate spoken words into captions. It can also be used as a traditional amplified telephone, without the captions feature.

CapTel Captioning Service
The captioning service transcribes the caller's spoken words into written captions, using voice-recognition technology. The captioning service is free to users, its cost is covered by the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) funds as part of Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Standard Analog Telephone Line
CapTel 200 requires a standard analog landline telephone connection, such as is commonly found in households. You can use CapTel 200 with a DSL, as long as you have the appropriate DSL filter. CapTel does not work with digital PBX systems (unless an analog port is available). Users in an office environment should check with their telephone administrator to make sure an analog port is available.

People who use VOIP or digital cable telephone services should choose CapTel 800i.