Skip Navigation
DATI Logo

Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative

. . . bringing technology to you

AT Messenger Logo - Bringing Technology to You

Volume 13, No. 3, Summer 2005

Previous Issues

Subscribe to AT Messenger
Download PDF Viewer
PDF Version (for printing)
Large Print (PDF)
Text Version

The AT Bargain Basement

Marvin Williams, AT Specialist
Kent County ATRC

Hello, true believers, and welcome to the summer blockbuster installment of the AT Bargain Basement. I will be taking your ticket as you enter the theater and watch billions of bargains race by you at lightning speed. OK, maybe not billions and maybe not at lightning speed, but there will be bargains. Oh yes, there will be bargains! For those of you who are new to the Basement, the rules are simple-I find all of the AT bargains I can for $100 or less and tell you where to get them. I have decided to drop my rule restricting bargains to only those available through local shops. I will now include Internet bargains as well. There are just too many bargains to be had online to not fill you in on them. Now that the introductions are out of the way, let's get to the bargains!

Clarity WR100 Extra Loud Phone RingerAs many of you regular readers know, one of my favorite places to look for bargains is Wal-Mart®. Well, I have found some assistive listening bargains there that surprised even me. I found three products by Clarity that can make talking on the telephone less of a chore for those of us who have some hearing difficulty. The first item is the Clarity WR100 Extra Loud Phone Ringer. The Extra Loud Phone Ringer gives you a nice and loud 95 dB ringer, which is a lot louder than the ringer on a regular telephone. It also has a red flasher on it to provide a visual cue when the phone is ringing. Since the ringer is battery operated, you can take it with you on vacation. Now, the manufacturer lists the ringer's sale price at $29.95, but I found it at Wal-Mart in Milford for $24.92. Not a bad savings.

Right next to the Extra Loud Phone Ringer, I found another nifty Clarity product, the CE-125 Portable Phone Amplifier. Now, this amplifier is an in-line device, meaning it is installed between the phone handset and the phone base. This device will not work on cordless phones. It is nice and compact, yet the controls are large enough for easy use. It is battery powered, so it too can go with you on vacation. It is a nice thing to take with you to use with a hotel telephone if regular phones are not loud enough. This amplifier is also available at the Milford Wal-Mart for $24.92. The amplification is adjustable up to 25 dB, which is loud, but may not be exactly what everyone needs. As with this and anything else you get, make sure you save the receipt so that if it does not work with your telephone, you can take it back for a refund. You can also borrow similar amplifiers from the Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC) nearest you for a free trial. That way, you can make sure it will work for you before you buy it.

The third Clarity product I found is the W1000 Amplified Telephone. This phone is nice because it includes the amplifier in it. It provides a 26 dB volume boost. It also has a red flasher on the corner for a visual alert that the phone is ringing. Also, the large buttons are easier to see. The phone will not work with a digital exchange (i.e., an office setting), and it is not cordless. Still, for a corded phone, it is an excellent value. The manufacturer suggested retail price is $109.95; Wal-Mart has it for the unbeatable price of $34.88, a 68 percent savings! A very similar phone is available for loan through the ATRCs, so why not borrow it to make sure it will work for you before you spend any money?

If you are looking for a cordless telephone, Uniden® offers a phone with frequency and volume enhancement that is very attractive for a low price. The Uniden EZI996 Loud & Clear Cordless Phone is not only a nice looking phone, but it packs a lot of features in a model that is friendly for those with hearing impairments. In addition to the audio boost, it also has flashers on the base and handsets to let you know when the phone is ringing. If you have voice mail through your phone service provider, the flashers will also let you know when you have a message. The large back-lit buttons are nice for those who need bigger buttons to dial. It also comes with some standard features such as Caller ID/Call Waiting compatible, ten memory locations for storing numbers, headset compatibility, and one-touch emergency number dialing. The Uniden factory store has this phone listed at $65.99, but I found it for $38.82 at the Milford Wal-Mart. We do not have this particular phone in our inventory, but we do have a similar cordless amplified phone by Clarity that costs $99.99 from Radio Shack. That phone is also available for loan from the ATRC nearest you.

I could keep listing all of the bargains I found at Wal-Mart from the jumbo display clock radio ($18.83) to Alaska Jack's Power Knife ($7.96), but there isn't enough space. So head over to your local Wal-Mart and see what they've got.

X10 Personal Assistance Voice Dialer and PendantMy last bargain for this issue of the Basement is a personal alert system that does not require a monthly maintenance fee. The Personal Assistance Voice Dialer costs only $49.95 from www.x10.com. For $49.95, you get the base unit and a pendant you wear that activates the system when there is trouble. Once the pendant is activated, the unit will call four numbers you have programmed and play a prerecorded message stating that there is an emergency at your address. The device then allows those you called to listen in on the room where the unit is located. It also sounds a loud siren and can flash lights in the house if they are connected to X10 modules. The flashing lights help emergency crews find your house more easily than if nothing was happening. You get all of this for a one-time payment of $49.95, and you can purchase additional pendent transmitters if desired. Now, considering that other personal alert systems can cost upwards of $30 a month, that is a good deal for a one-time payment that provides lasting protection. I also understand that we have a similar system available for loan from the New Castle ATRC. If you can use such a system, it is worth looking into to see if it will meet your needs.

That does it for this installment of the Basement. I will see you back here next time. If you have any bargains you would like to share, please contact me, and I will make sure you are credited for your find. And remember, just because it is cheap, does not mean it is a bargain!

Current Issue