C-phone to tapes....
Posted By: Don't know on 2007-05-08
In Reply to:
I know this has probably been discussed before, but can someone explain to me the process and equipment needed to record transcription for a C-phone to cassette tapes? I have a Dictaphone C-phone and Lanier microcassette player. Thanks for any help.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
C-phone to tapes
I have a Dictaphone C-phone Model 0421 with connected standard cassette transcriber that you can re-record your work to. It is all one unit if interested. I am selling for $275.00. I have a picture of the unit also. It is in brand new condition.
C-phone used to call in to dictating systems to receive work. A special phone. nm
nm
I had a lot of trouble with static in my C-phone. I replaced the phone cord and that made a big
difference. Also, have you tried a different headset? Also someone told me one time that there is a microphone under your volume control on the right corner of the C-phone. It's a tiny hole. If you break off a Q-tip and stick that into the hole that will squelch a lot of background noise and that worked as well. As far as getting your C-phone service, I heard that Dictaphone is "sunsetting" C-phones at the end of this year. Meaning, they aren't going to service them anymore as they are considered an obsolete technology. So, I would contact Dictaphone and see what your options are.
I know very little about Lanier equipment. I've not used it as extensively as Dictaphone. Is there a local appliance repair place in your area? You might ask one of those places to take a look at your equipment and see what they think. Kinda scary, cause they could do more harm than good, but maybe worth a shot.
Not much help, I know. But I thought I would share what tiny bit of obscure knowledge I do have. 
I've changed them between an old phone and new phone, but the same company, i.e. Nextel.
x
I use my c-phone whenever we travel. You can hook it directly into your room phone. Be sure and as
xx
I think you can dial into most systems that require C-phone without having a C-phone nm
.
I am wondering if there is a way to use your C-phone with Vonage phone service?
??
May have to change phone companies, have switched to job using a C-phone. sm
Currently have Embarq (formerly Sprint), and my usage will be going up about 12,000 minutes a month. What phone companies offer really unlimited for a flat rate? TIA.
C-phone and ATT. There is no problem with the C-phone, but ATT wouldn't let me use unlimited.
nm
I have cable phone access and my C-phone works - sm
I am not sure about you problem, because it sounds just like I have mine hooked up. The only thing I can think of is that mine has 2 line hookups in the back of the phone. If you have this too, I would just try the other one, which you probably have already done. Sorry that was not much help. I wish you luck
I have a very loud hum when using my C-phone, but no hum when I'm using the regular phone. SM
Anyone else experience this problem with their C-phone? Is there a problem with my C-phone? At first I thought it was my telelphone line and called the phone company. They sent a technician out to replace the lines and check the house, but the hum is still there on the C-phone.
It's driving me batty!
C-phone info regarding phone lines etc.
I am completely clueless on the subject of a C-phone. Can someone help me understand exactly how this works? Do you have to specifically have a separate "dial up internet" service to use the C-phone? I currently have cable internet and am wondering if there is anything else I need to get. I guess I should contact my phone company. At any rate, any help anyone could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
If you use a C-phone for work and have a digital phone
through cable, have you tried to take an incoming call?
We only have one phone line. I rarely get/make calls and when I do we have cell phones. I just started working with a C-phone and got digital phone. I can go a month and my phone not ring, so far have gotten 3 calls today, but I'm afraid that if I try to answer the phone that I will lose my report.
I guess I could pull up a report and have my husband call on his C-phone and test it that way and then if I lose it no biggie.
Anyone use/try C-phone with Medicom's phone service?
Wondering if it works?
Tapes
Can you reuse the same tapes (standard size) over and over? I have been for a while and I was wondering if they eventually get bad.
Thanks!
Tapes
Tapes are great, they fly. Working for a national also, 50% of the time and tapes the other 50%. Enjoy the tapes much more, make much better money (gross line count, not 65 ch). Have always set my word expansions up in Word itself. That way, no matter who I work for I use my own version of Word and my expansions are always there. Enjoy the tapes. Hope this helps. PS. They print at the site for me.
This happens a lot with tapes too.
I have noticed that with digital there are more safeguards. When the office downloads the files to their computer they usually save it on their computer. Once they send it to you, you save it to your computer too. Sometimes the doctor erases the file before all this happens, but when the doctor erased a part of a tape there was no backup then either.
From below regarding tapes
Okay, I started typing today on tapes picked up yesterday. (I deliver between 10 and noon) So I could have done then yesterday but had graduation for nephew. So I started today at 5 o'clock and it is now close to 11. I have typed, printed, showered, made deliveries and pick-ups, went to bank, know what I have to do tomorrow and made $201. No sudden files sent, no sporadic files sent, have the complete day's dictation , and can schedule the rest of the day and tomorrow morning the way that I want. So this works for me and I appreciate the input from Tikki and all, but will keep doing this if they want to continue to use tapes. All my accounts are within a 4 mile radius from each other and the majority at one of the hospital medical buildings so it takes me 35 minutes to do the deliveries from walking out my front door and coming back through. I respect everyone's opinion and hopefuly you respect mine. I get exercise as it is half a mile from my car to home round trip. -- Live on the river in a floating home. Patti
I'm still doing tapes too!
Some docs don't like to change. If you have a good relationship with the office staff, then they shouldn't have a problem using digital. Most doctors do not want voice recognition because they want their reports edited. If the doctor is a taper user, he very well may adjust to digital and just have his secretaries upload the dictation to send to you. You may have to spend some time in the office instructing them on how to do it. You may want to Google "FTP sites", and see where that leads. Good luck!!!! 
sum tapes
Does anyone still use the Sum Tapes and Transcript keys for practice? If so, what is the copyright date on them? Mine are 1994. They seem to be a little out dated. Does anyone have any newer ones?
tapes
I agree, I do tape accounts, a small one, but they do treat me well. I also type straight from the doctors notes on a major account, nice people, too. We make a good living.
Tapes
I have had that happen a couple of times and I have a friend that just transfers the entire tape to a new casing and attachs that. Only rarely have we lost any dictation or have it become so distorted that we can't hear it. Perhaps a couple of sentences. Guess I have been lucky. But again, I would write to Maxwell and tell them that you got a bad batch or lot number. Good luck.
YES you can fix the tapes yourself
see entry above; OPERATE ON THE TAPES.
tapes to wav/mp3
there is a program online - inexpensive - that you hook you tape player up to your computer, play the tape and have ability to modify the tape sounds, editing etc - play it as a wav or mp3. Polderbit is the one I use - you can Google - tape to wav and many will come up
tapes
I have been with them for 10 years and they have only asked for me to reprint twice, that's not bad.
You have tapes -- how do you log in
Guess I am a little slow. You type from tapes, you deliver back on paper, how do they know when you log in???? You don't have to log in to retrieve the dictation nor send it so please explain to me. Guess my old age is catching up with me as I don't understand.
Tapes
This may be a sillyquestion, but I have always worked digital, so I don't know this. How are tapes played with a foot pedal? Thanks
Tapes.....
That sounds really HIPAA compliant.
Tapes
You're right, this isn't very common anymore. However, people do still do it. Myself included. I charge by page. I charge $5 a page. This is how it works: I type everything in Word, then get the line count from the Word statistics. I divide this by 55 (55 lines per page) and multiply by 5. This is how I bill. I just make up a bill in Word and sent it to the clinic twice a month. You will have to get a machine with a foot pedal that plays cassettes though, and those are not cheap, but you can make pretty good money if you charge this way.
GOOD LUCK!
Erased tapes
They request that I erase the tapes and I have disabled my erase on my machine, I just accidentally somehow picked up two tapes that were not yet transcribed -- I have two bins -- two different colors --but was in a hurry and picked up the wrong ones and pushed them right through the eraser. Today when I went to transcribe I found two tapes that had already been done in the "To be transcribed" bin and had been delivered and the ones that I knew had to be done were nowhere found and so I am by process of elimination assuming that is what I did. I remember erasing two tapes and it was the wrong two tapes. I am so organized and have always had this fear and so after nearly 20 years it finally came true -- one I could accept but both of them -- that is the problem. But can't fix it now. Thanks for your input.
Erased tapes
Good for you!
Maxell Tapes
Just thought you would find this of interest. I know we don't use tapes too much, but all these years of trying to fix broken tapes - I contacted Maxell about a tape that blew off the spool on side B. They guarantee their tapes, just mail back to them at a N.J. address - link below - via regular mail from NV to N.J., and it was returned within 3 days - not only do they fix it for free - but send it back via Federal Express, at their expense + give you a free tape. Wow! Joyce
http://www.maxell-usa.com/Content/Pages/Page.asp?Section=maxellusa&department=aboutus&Line=maxellcorp&Product=contact
How about the docs that use the tapes sm
to dictate, then use the call in system, put the phone by the recorder and re-record the whole stinking tape via the call in. To me, that is the worst. It turns out to be 30-40 minutes of dictation and they sound like they are dictating from the grave. Yuk.
practice tapes sm
As usual, your answers are so much appreciated. I love this site, helping others is so important, I do it whenever I can as well. I believe in karma. Thanks again!
I was on my way to pick up tapes. nm
nm
Practice tapes from?
I have heard practice tapes some give out that are almost perfect dictation- definitely not what you run into when you transcribe. Are you doing the "goodie" tapes or are they the real McCoy? The practice ones I have heard put in their periods, paragraph. Ha, very seldom hear that in real. What kind of work will you do, speciality or the 4s? I have my equipment as fast as it can possibly go and my salary has gone down in the past 4 years 20,000$ from the constant outsourcing the companies are doing. My speed is between 130-140 wpm and I make good only because I have my nose to the grindstone most of the day. By the way, independent as well but my company asked me for certain hours and which days. I have seen numerous posts on here saying you do not have to do it -but I wanted to work for this particular place and I accept it.
practice tapes from...
Practice tapes are real; slurring run-on sentences, gurgling muffled words, you name it. But, she gave me the printed reports to go with them, so if I really get stuck, i can look at them and find the answer. If you don't mind my asking, how long have you been in this, and what's your cpl? You work for an agency? Yes, my speed is concerning me. Thanks for your reply.
Maxell tapes
Just FYI - if they break, Maxell will repair, send back via FedEx and give you a new tape - beats Dr. having to redictate, if you are still working with tapes. Joyce
I just had to comment on the tapes...sm
I've been MTing for 10+ years and just in the last 1-2 years the tapes the docs have used are coming off the spool at the end of the tape. My doc got so mad and asked me to fix if I could. I would take these things apart and Scotch tape the tape back onto the spool. I have fixed about 10 of these now. Some were Maxell and some Sony I think. I wonder if any of you have had this happen. That's all. Just thought I'd share.
CAN'T UNSCREW SOME TAPES
Unfortunately, some of the newer tapes don't "unscrew" anymore, or at least there are no screws there. Last time I paid someone to fix one it was $85.00. I used to fix these myself, but wonder if anyone knows how open the newer tapes without screws?
copying tapes
We did that for awhile because I was trying to help a friend to start out in the business and I also gave work to other people on the internet, but it is a lot of work. Thank God, my husband did most of the work, but thanks, but no thanks.
copying tapes
it is a lot of work and you lose the quality of the tape, if that is possible with some of the doctors.
tapes breaking sm
I would like to know how to repair a tape without sending it to someone to do it professionally. I have had this happen in the past and the owner of the dictation had it fixed. However, should I need to do it myself one day, I would not know how. Can you really splice a tape with scotch tape? I would really like to know. I know tapes are gone the way of the dinosaur but you never know! Thanks!
Maxell tapes
I did a quick Google search yesterday and came up with a review on Amazon for this particular brand of tapes, where someone wrote that the tapes becamed detached from the spool and wound up inside the casing and were unusable. It must be the brand. I guess we will try another brand for now, and hopefully this will be a push in the digital direction.
I should say that my doc fixes his own tapes!!! sm
He takes them apart, rewinds, and then tapes back up. Of course, he tells me to throw away when I am done transcribing.
OPERATE ON THE TAPES!
May sound silly but I did this a couple of times - to which was greatly appreciated by the doctor who would have had to redictate!
I just chipped hole in cassette where the tape passes through to the spool, put a tiny piece of scotch tape on the end of the tape, tapped it down onto the spool and carefully rewound the tape onto the spool. And of course threw out the tape when done transcribing it...
Since this is happening to you a lot though, a better solution would be to tell the docs NOT to dictate to the end of the spool, but of course that would REQUIRE COOPERATION on the part of the dictator, so probably nevermind. :)
My account uses tapes.
Good luck.
60 minute tapes
Are they 60 minutes from the same doctor, 20 minutes from 6 docs or what? If you are doing these doctors on a daily basis, you should have a lot of Expanders or auto corrects so that you are typing about 2/3 of what they say. Are they chart notes, long reports or what. What I do is I set up a goal of doing an hour or typing and then take a 15 to 20 minute break. If an hour is too long, then start out at 30 minutes and take a 10 minute break and slowly over the week increase it to 60 minutes. Of typing not dictation. Also check over your work and be sure you are using your expanders/auto corrects to do the work for you part of the time. Between my 6 docs, I do approximately 120 to 150 minutes of dictation a day and it takes me between 4 to 5 hours typing, then an hour to print and deliver. And it is 1800 to 2000 lines I have done. But again,I break mine up in smaller incriments, and set the goals and it is much easier to sit down knowing you are only going to type for an hour with a break or reward and that hour goes by fast. As an IC you can do this. Again, I make my computer work for me -- if it can type it for me that is money in my pocket. Again, you said that you had the same doctors each day so you should be able to do inserts, auto corrects, or use of an Expander if that is your way of doing things. Good luck. Patti
60 minute tapes
You need to see how many lines you get and x by 0.12 per line to see if you are even close to the average. On 30 minutes of chart notes I get approximately 600 lines and that is $72 per 30 minutes that takes me about 1 to 1.5 hours to do. Also depends on what you are transcribing. When I do meetings or seminars it is usually over $125 per hour of dictation. Again, depens on margins, etc. But I always coung my lines with 1" on sides, Courier 12. There is no way I would do a 60 minute tape for $60, again check to see how may lines you get and an average for an IC is 0.12 per line.
Digital vs tapes
If they are used to getting their printed notes/letters back it might be somewhat of a battle to get them to change to print them off, etc. Also decent digital records run in the $175 range and if you are buying them for 15 PT's that is a lot of money. The best ones run $400. But they will also need a designated person that will upload their files to your FTP site. A call in system to handle all of them, depends on how many will dictate at once and how many phone lines you will need can run for 4 lines between $5K and 10K. So you have to balance the cost vs your time of picking tapes and delivering back printed material. Also if they come on board, you put out all the money and then they decide to go elsewhere you will have a lot of equuipment left. I am trying to get my docs (5) of them to switch over to digital but it is like pulling teeth. So decided if they want to continue with tapes there is not much I can do as they are a well paying accoung. If they did go digital I still would deliver the finished product as I like the mileage write off and getting out of the house. I was mainly doing it for better clarity and "no broken tapes." Patti
Converting tapes to FTP - help please
Can someone help me. I'm starting to get a lot of tapes in, and I want to start getting some help and outsource some of this, but I haven't the first clue on how to convert tapes to an FTP site. I've tried talking to computer whizzes, but they lose me after a couple of seconds. So I thought I would try this avenue ... have any MTs out there been able to take mini tapes or standard cassette tapes and convert them to an FTP site to be downloaded anywhere in the country for someone else to transcribe?? I do not know the first thing about it, and I would really appreciate any input.
Please email me. Thanks!
|
