CapTel 2400i Caption Phone Review

Best Cutting-Edge Caption Phone

Sometimes you need high-tech to get simple, easy-to-operate systems, which is where the CapTel 2400i Caption phone excels. This phone system is built on some seriously complex technology, but seniors who avoid all things computerized will probably never see that. Instead, the 2400i uses its deep level of sophistication to produce a very simple and intuitive user interface that is in some ways like a phone from the 1970s or ’80s. This combination of high-tech interior and familiar exterior make the CapTel 2400i the best cutting-edge caption phone for seniors with impaired hearing.

Overview of CapTel

The CapTel brand is part of the larger Ultratech corporate group, which is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Under the CapTel brand, the company manufactures several lines of closed caption phones and TTY devices for users with impaired hearing. The system uses a combination of voice recognition software and live relay agents to transcribe words spoken over the phone into clear, readable text in real-time. This service is funded by a federal grant, and none of the cost is passed along to the end user, though the FCC requires that only registered users with a disability use the captioning service. 

How Much Does the CapTel 2400i Cost?

You can buy a CapTel 2400i caption phone directly from the company for $75. You might be able to find one for less than this, however. More than a few CapTel phones are available secondhand and just need to be activated to receive service. Seniors with limited resources might also be able to get a new CapTel 2400i phone for free or at a reduced cost through various state-level programs. A case worker at your local Area Agency on Aging may have information about specific programs in your area that help seniors with limited income get durable devices like the CapTel phone.

Full Review of CapTel 2400i Features

Ultratech’s CapTel 2400i offers amplified sound and a host of features that make talking on the telephone feel natural for seniors with significant hearing loss. Many of the features this phone incorporates are advanced and make for cutting-edge user experiences. Other features are deliberately designed to be simple and easy for seniors to learn quickly.

Large Touchscreen Display

The 2400i has a large touchscreen display that lets users switch between functions and pull up different screens for various functions. Scroll through your directory, read messages and change display settings with a few taps. The button-free control system makes it easy to input commands through the easy-to-read graphic interface, which creates an intuitive navigation system that only takes minutes to learn.

Powerful Amplification

If you have trouble hearing voices over the phone, you might like to have a bit of amplification. The CapTel 2400i caption phone has a sensitive volume control that can crank incoming voices up as high as 40dB, which is as loud as a nearby chirping bird. This helps bring people’s voices through when you need to glance away from the captions on the screen for a moment, or it can help you hear what’s being said if the captions are scrolling faster than you can read them. It’s also helpful for seniors who may have answered the phone without their glasses but can still get by with a little extra volume.

Traditional Keypad

CapTel phones are useful for adults of all ages, but they are especially well designed for seniors. As such, the 2400i dials using a traditional number pad that has been an industry standard since the 1970s. Seniors just learning to use their first caption phone have no trouble dialing their first calls, or navigating touchtone voice menus on a layout they’re familiar with.

Wireless Compatibility

The 2400i comes with a sturdy handset that functions just like traditional phone receivers, but it can also connect with wireless systems for expanded functionality. Activate the phone with your wireless Bluetooth earbuds and carry your conversation anywhere in the house that’s within range. This model also has a built-in Wi-Fi antenna, which lets it connect with other devices and a home VOIP system.

Who Should Consider CapTel 2400i Caption Phones?

Seniors With Normal Hearing Loss

It’s normal to lose a little hearing acuity with age; most seniors could use a bit of volume amplification for phone calls. The CapTel 2400i offers substantial volume enhancement for people who want to hear conversations a little better. The automatic captions that scroll across the screen are also helpful for seniors with normal hearing, but who tend to miss things said too fast or on complex topics they may not catch the first time they’re said.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Adults

Sometimes hearing loss goes beyond the usual fading of high-frequency voices and other sounds, and into perceptible hearing loss. This loss can be mild or severe or develop into total deafness. If you are hard of hearing or deaf, the CapTel 2400i caption phone is an ideal solution for keeping in touch with the people you care for. The phone delivers a reliable relay service by automatically transcribing conversations into easily read large text. It helps keep you in regular contact with family and friends, including grandchildren who may have trouble with text-only communication and on business calls where it’s easier to talk to the operator than to use a TTY.

Seniors Who Work From Home

Many seniors today choose to work from home after retirement or to pick up a little extra work to keep busy in their free time. If you have a part-time job or a hobby that requires phone conversations with strangers, customers or business contacts, it can be off-putting to keep asking them to repeat themselves. By watching the scrolling text during these business calls, you can be sure you’re not missing any details of what’s being said, which is important to sales, legal issues and good customer service.

People With Limited Recall or Ability to Take Notes

Sometimes a stroke or other brain injury makes it hard to remember events in the recent past, which can also be an effect of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Some physical impairments, including damage to the motor control part of the brain, can make it difficult to write down notes by hand. In either case, the 2400i’s caption system can be a lifesaver. By scrolling through the text transcript of a call, you can revisit things you’ve just talked about and make notes of the important points in your own time. Using the memory function built into the CapTel 2400i caption phone, you can store the text record of your most recent conversation and grab directions, copy important details or make a note to yourself about important appointments you discussed but may not remember from the call.

What Are People Saying About CapTel 2400i Caption Phones?

The CapTel 2400i is one of Ultratech’s more popular disability-assist devices, and there are a correspondingly high number of reviews online from people who’ve tried it out. Many of these reviews are written by seniors who use the phone in their homes, while relatives and friends write a substantial number of 2400i reviews. 

The reviews available online are mainly positive. Some of the most common five-star reviews praise the phone’s ease of use and the clarity of amplified calls. Many seniors writing firsthand reviews praise the phone’s design, which they describe as similar to old-style touch-tone phones that making calls and navigating menus have really flat learning curves. Reviews from family members frequently express high praise for how natural conversations seem with their senior parents or grandparents, and they remark that phone calls are a lot easier to make and to receive.

The majority of reviews give the CapTel 2400i four out of five stars. The most common reason for the missing star is the difficulty many seniors have had setting the phone up and accessing its more complex features. While this is a capable phone, and many of its features can be helpful for seniors with impaired hearing, the less intuitive menu options can be hard to find and to use correctly.

A minority of reviews give the 2400i a low rating. Most of the one- and two-star reviews seem to be focused on mishaps specific to an individual unit, rather than to the model in general. Complaints in the low star range usually focus on long shipping times, defective units that arrived or negative customer service encounters when calling to resolve these issues. Some reviews in the middle range cite incomplete transcripts or fast-scrolling text. For accuracy and speed, some customers reviewing the phone compare the captions you get to the closed captioning on live TV broadcasts.