Ascendis Software LLC: Ascendis Caller ID FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Ascendis Caller ID

How much does Ascendis Caller ID cost?
Does Ascendis Caller ID work with multiple phone lines?
Do you offer volume discounts for Ascendis Caller ID?
I'm currently using the trial version of Ascendis Caller ID for free.Â Why should I pay for it?
What is the update policy for Ascendis Caller ID?
Will Ascendis Caller ID work with my DSL modem?
Does Ascendis Caller ID work with call waiting id?
Will Ascendis Caller ID work with my modem?
Why doesn't Ascendis Caller ID show the name and number of the person calling?
Why doesn't Ascendis Caller ID report anything for private or out-of-area calls? It reports the name and number of normal callers.
Why does Ascendis Caller ID say the phone rang X times when it only rang Y times?
How can I make Ascendis Caller ID run every time the computer is started?
How do I make Ascendis Caller ID speak the names of callers?
Does Ascendis Caller ID work on Windows Server 2003?
Why does Ascendis Caller ID pause after starting to speak?
Why doesn't Ascendis Caller ID show the caller information (or perform the associated action) until after the second ring?
When I start Ascendis Caller ID I get the following message: "The CALLERID.EXE file is linked to missing export TAPI32.DLL:lineOpenA."
Why can't I enable/disable first ring suppression on my Whozz Calling? box?
How can I use my Zoom 3049C with Windows 7? Windows 7 doesn't detect it.
Where can I get Ascendis Caller ID version 1?
Where can I get Ascendis Caller ID version 2?
How can I move Ascendis Caller ID to a new computer?

Q:	How much does Ascendis Caller ID cost?
A:	Ascendis Caller ID costs US$49.95 to monitor one phone line. For most users, that means you only pay US$49.95 to run Ascendis Caller ID on as many computers as you like. If you want to monitor multiple phone lines, the price per phone line goes down. Please see the Ascendis Caller ID Pricing page for details. Return to top

Does Ascendis Caller ID work with multiple phone lines?

Yes. Ascendis Caller ID supports multiple phone lines using multiple modems or a Whozz Calling? device. When using modems, note that most winmodems will not provide caller information for multiple phone lines. We have successfully tested two Zoom 3095 USB modems on one computer.

Please note that Ascendis Caller ID is licensed per phone line monitored, so to monitor two phone lines you must purchase a two-line license. The Ascendis Caller ID Pricing page lists available licenses and prices.

For more information on multiline use please see the multiline overview page.
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Do you offer volume discounts for Ascendis Caller ID?

It's rare to purchase multiple copies of Ascendis Caller ID since the license lets you run it on an as many computers as you need except for the computer connected to the phone lines. However, if you have a special need we will be happy to extend a discount for purchasing multiple copies. The discount will vary with the number of copies needed. Please contact sales and indicate the number of copies you would like.
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Q:	I'm currently using the trial version of Ascendis Caller ID for free.Â Why should I pay for it?
A:	The trial version will stop reporting the caller's name and phone number after 30 days. If you don't buy it before then, you won't know who's calling. Your purchase is protected by our 30-day money-back guarantee. Return to top

What is the update policy for Ascendis Caller ID?

Purchasing Ascendis Caller ID entitles you to free minor updates for the life of the product. Minor updates are those that change the second or third version number. (For example: 1.2.3 -> 1.2.4, 1.2.4 -> 1.3.0) In addition, all updates for one year from date of purchase are free. In other words, if you buy Ascendis Caller ID today, you can upgrade to any new version of it released up to one year from now, at no additional cost.

If you own Ascendis Caller ID and are considering updating, please see our Upgrading Ascendis Caller ID page.
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Q:	Will Ascendis Caller ID work with my DSL modem?
A:	No. DSL modems do not provide caller information since DSL lines don't accept incoming calls. Return to top

Does Ascendis Caller ID work with call waiting id?

No. At this time we are unaware of any modems that pass call waiting information through the TAPI interface. The modems that support call waiting id that we are aware of support it in a limited fashion -- you must be connected to an ISP that supports modem-on-hold for it to work. If your ISP does not support modem-on-hold or your modem is not the device using the phone line, then call waiting id does not work.
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Will Ascendis Caller ID work with my modem?

The simplest way to determine whether Ascendis Caller ID works with a modem is to try it. You can download and try Ascendis Caller ID free for 30 days.

If Ascendis Caller ID does not immediately start reporting the caller's phone number, please try the "Repair Modem" function on the Help menu, under Diagnostics. For for more information on "Repair Modem", please view our online help.

We also provide lists of some modems known to work or not work with Ascendis Caller ID on our modem page.
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Q:	Why doesn't Ascendis Caller ID show the name and number of the person calling?
A:	There are several reasons why Ascendis Caller ID may not report any name and number information for an incoming phone call. Possible solutions can be found in the Troubleshooting section. Return to top

Q:	Why doesn't Ascendis Caller ID report anything for private or out-of-area calls? It reports the name and number of normal callers.
A:	This is covered in the Troubleshooting section. Return to top

Q:	Why does Ascendis Caller ID say the phone rang X times when it only rang Y times?
A:	Some modems report rings incorrectly! For example, we've seen a "Conexant HSF V92 56K Data Fax PCI Modem" report 5, 7, and 8 rings when the phone only rang 3 times. If this is a problem, you can try upgrading your modem drivers and/or firmware, or buy a new modem. Return to top

How can I make Ascendis Caller ID run every time the computer is started?

This is easy to do in Ascendis Caller ID version 1.0.3.0 or later. If you're running an earlier version, download and run the latest installer. Then, open the Options window (View menu -> Options) and put a checkmark next to "Start Caller ID when I log in to Windows". Be sure to press "OK" to exit the Options window. Now Ascendis Caller ID should start automatically each time Windows starts.
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How do I make Ascendis Caller ID speak the names of callers?

Ascendis Caller ID versions 1.2.5.0 and later should automatically speak the caller's name if you installed the full version, or you're using Windows 2000 or later. If it's not working, check the following:

Make sure sound is enabled on the Sound page of the Options window.

If you're using Ascendis Caller ID version 2 or later, check the following:

If the problem happens with callers in the Contacts list, edit the contact to see what Action is used. Then edit the action and ensure the Speak command is enabled, and the speech box is not empty.
If the problem happens with callers not in the Contacts list, open the Options window, and check "New incoming caller action" on the Advanced page. Then edit the named action and ensure the Speak command is enabled, and the speech box is not empty.

If you're using Ascendis Caller ID version 1.x, check the following:

If the problem happens with callers in the Callers list, edit caller to see what action is used. If an easy action is used, ensure the Speak command is enabled, and the speech box is not empty. If a category action is used, edit the category and ensure the Speak command is enabled, and the speech box is not empty.
If the problem happens with callers not in the Contacts list, open the Options window, and check "Category for new callers" on the General page. Then edit the named category and ensure the Speak command is enabled, and the speech box is not empty.

Finally, if the above doesn't help, check the following:

If you're not using Windows 2000 or later, you will have to download and install the text-to-speech engine. The files and installation instructions are available on the Text-to-Speech Support page.
If you installed another speaking application after Ascendis Caller ID, it may have damaged the standard text-to-speech engine. Try reinstalling the engine using the files and installation instructions available on the Text-to-Speech Support page.

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Q:	Does Ascendis Caller ID work on Windows Server 2003?
A:	Yes. At least one customer is successfully running Ascendis Caller ID on Windows Server 2003. Return to top

Why does Ascendis Caller ID pause after starting to speak?

Microsoft's text-to-speech engines appear to run at a very low priority, so if other programs are running on the computer part or all of the speech may be delayed by several seconds to several minutes. This is very noticeable when running Seti@Home, for example. The only solution we have found is to use a different speech engine. We have had luck with the Lernout & Hauspie British English engine, for example.
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Q:	Why doesn't Ascendis Caller ID show the caller information (or perform the associated action) until after the second ring?
A:	In the USA, the caller information is sent by the phone company between the first and second rings. However, Windows 95 is slow to report the caller id information. The only solution we have found is to upgrade to Windows 98 or later. Return to top

Q:	When I start Ascendis Caller ID I get the following message: "The CALLERID.EXE file is linked to missing export TAPI32.DLL:lineOpenA."
A:	This occurs on Windows 95 machines running an old version of TAPI. The solution is to upgrade to TAPI 2.1 by downloading and running the TAPI 2.1 updater for Windows 95. Return to top

Why can't I enable/disable first ring suppression on my Whozz Calling? box?

Not all Whozz Calling? devices support first ring suppression. Check the Whozz Calling? feature matrix to determine whether your model supports it.

First ring suppression on Whozz Calling? devices only works when the phone devices are connected in series with the Whozz Calling? box. Please see your Whozz Calling? device manual for details.

Changes to settings on Whozz Calling? devices may take up to one minute to become active. Please wait for at least one minute after Ascendis Caller ID has finished configuring the device before testing.

It's also possible that Ascendis Caller ID is having trouble communicating with the device. Open the Line Monitor window and enable logging to see the communications between Ascendis Caller ID and your Whozz Calling? device. Error messages from device communications are typically available in the Activity Log as well.

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How can I use my Zoom 3049C with Windows 7? Windows 7 doesn't detect it.

First, make sure the modem is connected to a serial port and turned on.

To add the Zoom 3049C modem to Windows 7:

Open the "Phone and Modem" control panel (this is easy to find if you view the control panel folder by "Small icons")
Click the "Modems" tab
Click the "Add" button
The "Add Hardware Wizard" window appears. Check the "Don't detect my modem" check box and click the "Next" button.
Under "Models", select "Standard 56000 bps Modem" and click the "Next" button
Select the correct serial port, and click the "Next" button
Click the "Finish" button

To configure Ascendis Caller ID to use the modem:

If Ascendis Caller ID is running, stop it using "Exit" on the "File" menu
Start Ascendis Caller ID
Open the Options window
Click the "Devices" tab
Select the modem
Click the "Properties" button
Make sure "Use this device" has a check mark next to it
Remove the check mark next to "Access through TAPI"
Click the "OK" button in the Device Properties window
Click the "OK" button in the Options window

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Q:	Where can I get Ascendis Caller ID version 1?
A:	If you purchased Ascendis Caller ID 1 and need to reinstall it, please download the installer for the last release of version 1. We no longer sell it and the current activation codes will not work on it. Return to top

Q:	Where can I get Ascendis Caller ID version 2?
A:	If you purchased Ascendis Caller ID 2 and need to reinstall it, please download the installer for version 2.3.0.0, the last release of version 2. We no longer sell it and the current activation codes will not work on it. Return to top

How can I move Ascendis Caller ID to a new computer?

We assume you're using Ascendis Caller ID version 3 or later.

Make sure you have a copy of your Ascendis Caller ID activation code. This was provided at time of purchase. If necessary, write it down from the Ascendis Caller ID about box, or print a copy of the window.
Install Ascendis Caller ID on your new computer. This is probably easiest by downloading it from the new computer.
Configure Ascendis Caller ID on the new computer as desired. We will transfer the database from the old computer, but the settings don't transfer.
Make sure Ascendis Caller ID on the new computer is showing caller id for incoming calls. If necessary, repair the modem ("Help" menu, "Diagnostics", "Repair Modem"), add a modem, or transfer the modem from the old computer. If the new computer is a network client, make sure the network settings are correct.
On the old computer, backup the Ascendis Caller ID database using "Backup Database" on the "File" menu. Save the backup to an easily accessible location or flash drive.
On the new computer, restore the Ascendis Caller ID database using "Restore Database" on the "File" menu.
Make sure Ascendis Caller ID on the new computer is working as desired.
If the new computer is a network client, select "Activate" on the "Help" menu and activate as a network client using the activation code provided at purchase. You're done! (Skip the following steps.)
If the new computer will be the only one running Ascendis Caller ID or it will be the network server, uninstall Ascendis Caller ID on the old computer. You can leave the data and settings on the old computer as a backup. Uninstalling is required to unlock your license from the old computer.
Activate Ascendis Caller ID on the new computer using "Activate" on the "Help" menu. Select the single computer or network server option, and use the activation code provided at purchase.

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