Frequently Asked Questions
Below are general Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and answers. These FAQs have been organized into categories to make it easy for you to learn about Sorenson VRS (SVRS), the VP-200 videophone, and the many features that are accessible through SVRS. Select the tab below that represents the category you are interested in. Under each tab, questions are grouped into more specific topics. Click the question you are interested in to view the answer, or scroll down the page to review all of the questions and answers together in that category.
SVRS Features
How do I add contacts to my VP-200?
How can I make dialing numbers I call frequently easier?
Can I Put Voice Carry Over (VCO) Calls on hold in Call Waiting?
How do I get Call Waiting?
How do I switch back and forth between two calls in Call Waiting?
How many calls can I hold with Call Waiting?
If I have a VP-100, can I place a call on hold using Call Waiting?
If I have a VP-200, how do I use Call Waiting?
What will Call Waiting look like when I am on my Sorenson videophone?
Will the caller know they are on hold when I am using Call Waiting?
What is a DirectVP number?
Why use a DirectVP number?
How can I get a DirectVP number?
How much does a DirectVP number cost?
Will my DirectVP number work for videophone to videophone calls?
Will my Sorenson videophone number still work?
How can I create personalized contact cards?
How can I share/give out my DirectVP number?
What is SignMail®?
Can I receive SignMail® on my VP200?
How do I receive my SighMail®?
How do I add contacts to my VP-200?
You can easily add all the phone numbers for your hearing contacts to the VP-200's Contacts list. Follow these steps to add a contact:
Step 1: At the VP-200 Home page, select the Contacts icon.
Step 2: At the Contacts page, select the New... button.
Step 3: At the Add Contact page, you must enter the hearing contact's name in the Name field. To do so, first press the Keyboard key on the remote control.
Step 4: When the on-screen keyboard appears, use it to enter the contact's name. When ready to exit the Name field, select the Enter key on the on-screen keyboard. Then, use the remote control to move to the Dial field. Use the numeric keypad on the remote control to enter the phone number.
Step 5: After entering the name and phone number, you must indicate the type of the contact. To do so, select either the Sorenson VRS radio button or the Sorenson VRS with VCO radio button. You may also specify a LightRing pattern for this contact. When ready to exit, select the OK button. That's it! Repeat this 5-step process for all your other hearing contacts.
How can I make dialing numbers I call frequently easier?
For numbers you call frequently, you can create a contact entry in your VP-200 videophone. This is a record you create which contains the name and dial number of the people you call. You can also designate a specific LightRing pattern for important contacts that will let you know they are calling when the LightRing on the VP-200 flashes to alert you to the call.
Can I Put Voice Carry Over (VCO) Calls on hold in Call Waiting?
Yes, but you must manually mute the voice telephone line used for VCO calls.
Although the VP-200 can place the video connection on hold, the VP-200 cannot put the voice telephone used for VCO on hold. Unless you remember to manually mute the voice telephone line, the hearing person will continue to hear your voice even though the VP-200 connection to the Sorenson interpreter has been placed on hold.
How do I get Call Waiting?
If you have a Sorenson VP-200, the Call Waiting feature is already included. Because only Sorenson videophones support Call Waiting, only callers using Sorenson videophones can be placed on hold. For example, this feature allows a VP-200 to put a VP-100 on hold while they take an incoming SVRS call through a Sorenson VRS interpreter.
How do I switch back and forth between two calls in Call Waiting?
To return to the caller that is on hold, there is a Menu Bar with 3 options to choose from. You can:
- Hang up the current call to return to the caller on hold
- Switch back to the caller you placed on hold by placing the current call on hold (if possible)
- Save the current caller in your contacts list
If you want to switch back to the caller you placed on hold, click the Switch Calls button and the screen of the person who was on hold will appear while the other caller is placed on hold. You can continue to switch back and forth between the two callers as long as both parties choose to stay connected to your videophone.
The Switch Calls button provides you with a visual indicator that a caller is on hold. If you do not see this button when you display the In-Call Menu Bar, then you do not have another caller on hold.
Remember if you are in a VRS call and receive a notice of an incoming call, you can answer the incoming call, but let the current caller know they will be placed on hold. A VRS caller may choose to stop holding and hang up. If they do, the interpreter will also disconnect.
How many calls can I hold with Call Waiting?
Only one call can be put on hold at a time. If you receive a third call and already have one on hold, the third caller will receive a busy message on their screen.
If I have a VP-100, can I place a call on hold using Call Waiting?
If you have a Sorenson VP-100 videophone, you may not put another call on hold. If someone tries to call you, they will receive a busy signal on their screen. Only Sorenson VP-200 videophones can put another call on hold.
If I have a VP-200, how do I use Call Waiting?
Remember, you must have a Sorenson VP-200 videophone in order to use the call waiting feature. When you are in a VRS call and receive a new incoming call, a Call Waiting notice will appear on the TV screen to alert you of the incoming call. Press Enter on the remote control.
The In-Call Menu Bar will then appear as shown. The three options in the Menu Bar allow you to:
- Answer the incoming call by hanging up the current call
- Answer the incoming call by placing the current caller on hold
- Save the current caller to your Contact List
We will briefly explain each of these options:
If you receive a notice of an incoming call during a VRS call, and choose to hang up the current caller, simply select the Hang Up button. The current caller will be disconnected and an Incoming Call dialog will then appear. From this dialog you may choose either:
- Answer
- Busy
If you receive a notice of an incoming call during a VRS call and choose to answer the incoming call by placing the current caller on hold, select the Incoming button. You will then see four options for responding to the incoming call. You may:
- Choose to answer the call, but hold the current caller
- Answer the call, but hang up on the current caller
- Let the incoming caller know you are busy
- Cancel
If you want to answer the call by putting the current caller on hold, select, Answer-Hold Current button. You will then see the new caller appear on your TV screen. A mini menu bar will appear on the screen displaying the name and number of the new caller. The initial caller will then be placed on hold. If the caller you put on hold is hearing, they may decide to disconnect. If so, the interpreter will disconnect the call.
If you are in a VRS call and receive a notice of an incoming call, you can select the Save button. This will save the current caller's information, not the incoming caller's information, in the videophone's Contact list. This option will only appear if the current caller is not already in the Contacts list.
If you choose this option, the current caller is still connected and the incoming caller is still ringing in (not connected yet).
What will Call Waiting look like when I am on my Sorenson videophone?
If you are using a full screen while you are in a call, the menu bar will not be displayed. To display the menu bar, press Enter on the remote and the menu bar will appear on the screen. You will then be able to see if you have another caller on hold.
If you are using a windowed screen while you are in a call, the menu bar will automatically be displayed on the screen. You will not need to press Enter on the remote to display the menu bar.
If you are using a dual screen while you are in a call, the menu bar will not be displayed. To display the menu bar, press Enter on the remote and the menu bar will appear on the screen. You will then be able to see if you have another caller on hold.
Remember, it is important to check often to see if you have a caller on hold.
Will the caller know they are on hold when I am using Call Waiting?
Yes, the Sorenson VRS interpreter will tell hearing callers they have been placed on hold while the user takes another call. The caller will remain on hold unless they choose to hang-up.
What is a DirectVP number?
A DirectVP number is a personal phone number for our deaf users, which may be given to their hearing and deaf friends, family, co-workers, and associates making it possible for anyone to dial a single phone number, free of charge, from anywhere in the country.
Why use a DirectVP number?
When dialed, the number is instantly transferred to the SVRS interpreter. Deaf users can give out one number and hearing people are no longer required to dial the 1-866-FAST-VRS number and then tell the interpreter the videophone number they wish to call.
How can I get a DirectVP number?
Please visit www.sorensonvrs.com/directvp to watch ASL videos and learn more about DirectVP numbers and how to get your own.
Learn more about Direct VP
Watch the video
How much does a DirectVP number cost?
DirectVP numbers are available to any deaf person using a Sorenson videophone for free. If you do not have a Sorenson videophone, you can apply for a free videophone at www.sorensonvrs.com/apply.
Will my DirectVP number work for videophone to videophone calls?
Yes, your DirectVP number can be used by both your hearing and deaf friends.
Will my Sorenson videophone number still work?
You can still use your Sorenson videophone number. In fact, hearing people will still be able to use that number to call you through the 866-FAST-VRS number.
How can I create personalized contact cards?
After your Sorenson VRS (SVRS) equipment is installed in your home or office, you can easily call all your hearing friends, family, and business contacts. And, anyone can call you using Sorenson VRS. All you need to do is tell all your hearing contacts about SVRS. To do so, you can give each of your hearing contacts a personalized SVRS Contact Card. There are two types of SVRS Contact Cards. One is for use with your Sorenson videophone number. The other is for use with your SVRS DirectVP number, if you have chosen to get one. The cards are very easy to use. Click on the link below to create your own personalized contact cards.
Create your contact card
Watch the video
How can I share/give out my DirectVP number?
You can share your DirectVP number with all your hearing and deaf family and friends so they can dial you direct. Your DirectVP number can be given out in numerous ways:
- Through word of mouth
- Business cards
- DirectVP contact cards
- Add your DirectVP number to www.deafVP.com. Keep in mind that the Sorenson deafVP.com is a public directory. If you add your number to this directory, it is available for the public to view.
Contact cards
deafvp.com
Watch the video
What is SignMail®?
With our unique SignMail service, hearing callers can leave an ASL video message for you when you cannot answer your videophone. Just tell your hearing contacts to ask the Sorenson VRS (SVRS) interpreter to record a SignMail message. The interpreter will then record the hearing person's message as an ASL video. You will receive an e-mail to tell you about the SignMail message. To see your message, you just click on a Web link in the e-mail. To use SVRS SignMail you will need a personal computer and your own email address.
Can I receive SignMail on my VP200?
Although you will configure your SignMail account using your VP-200, a computer and an e-mail account is needed to view your SignMail messages.
Be aware that the e-mails you receive informing you about your SignMail messages may sometimes be sent to the "Junk" or "Spam" folder by mistake. If this happens, you can adjust the settings of your e-mail program to allow it to accept SignMail e-mails.
How do I receive my SignMail?
After you have set up your SignMail account you're ready to receive your first message. Tell all your hearing friends and contacts about SVRS SignMail so that they can leave you a message whenever they can't reach you. Follow these steps to view your SignMail messages:
Step 1: Check your e-mail for messages from Sorenson VRS. You will receive an email when you've got a SignMail video waiting for you.
Step 2: To see your message, click on the link given in the e-mail. Notice that there is a second link that you can use to download and save the message to your computer's hard drive. You can view a message up to 10 times in 30 days. After that, the message will be automatically deleted. If you want to save messages, you can download them to your computer.
Step 3: After you click on the link in the e-mail, the ASL video containing your SignMail message will automatically begin playing in the Microsoft Windows Media Player application. You can use the controls in the application to stop or replay the message.
