New Concerns For Vonage/DirecTivo Users

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 26, 2004 Posts: 5

Hi All,

So I recently signed up for Vonage and much to my surprise my Tivo phones home without a problem Smile

Vonage has rolled in 7 digit dialing, so I was even able to drop the '1'. All was going well... but then I checked my Vonage account activity.

There I found DOZENS of calls being made to 411, one every few hours, totally random, and all at 99c/ea!!! After troubleshooting for 2 days with Vonage, their answer was surprisingly, my Tivo.

According to Vonage, they don't support the Tivo because there are known issues with Tivo modems and Vonage's MTUs. Something with the Tivo is confusing the MTU, so the MTU is dialing for assistance apparently... all by itself. Doesn't make sense to me, the Tivo calls are all on the activity page and they look fine, but that's what they tell me.

Vonage is of course blaming Tivo for not helping them diagnose the problem, and I'm sure if I call Tivo, they'd blame Vonage since Tivo modems work fine with other carriers.

So I'm on a troubleshooting quest right now and I'm looking for suggestions. First, I'm leaving the Tivo unplugged for 2 days to make sure the 411 calls stop, then I'm thinking I'll try the following:

1. changing my dialing settings (possibly the current combination of #'s is confusing the MTU?)

2. installing a DSL filter on the Tivo (possibly there's interference coming from the Tivo?)

3. having Vonage flash my firmware. (possibly a glitch on their end)

Anyone else ever seen random calls being made on their account?? This is definately a concern for tivo users since there's no way to block 411 calls. My $15/mo account is now at $35 and rising and its only been 2 weeks.

I'll keep you posted...

Scott

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 9

Assuming you have a Series 2 Tivo, I'd definitely recommend getting the USB wireless adapter (or wired if you have ethernet near your tivo) and let it connect over your broadband connection. I got my tivo, then Vonage, but had to repeat the tivo guided setup after getting Vonage (the first tivo connection has to be over a phone connection - although I've read it may be possible to make a wired ethernet connection for guided setup) and was able to get it to work but it took a number of tries. You've obviously got a broadband connection so use it for your tivo also.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 28, 2004 Posts: 6

Nope... series 2 USB connectoids not enabled on DirecTivos

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 26, 2004 Posts: 5

That's right... other than getting the service @ 1/2 price, the DirecTivos don't do anything. No home media option, no broadband or networking, heck, we don't even get the 30 sec skip. Kinda **** actually, I'll probably "upgrade" as it were to a regular Tivo eventually.

But back to the point, I have indeed verified that the Tivo is causing my mysterious 411 calls. Now onto the troubleshooting. Will try changing my dialing options and installing a DSL filter on the tivo over the coming days.

I'll report back.

Scott

Posts: 188 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Mar 07, 2004 Posts: 188

Sounds like your on the right trail. DSL Filter worked for me. Also, add *99 in your dialing prefix. As far as the 30 second skip: Select-Play-Select-3-0-Select. That will install the 30 second skip on your ->| key.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 28, 2004 Posts: 6

using Samsung DirecTivo w/ Motorola voice adapter and a DSL filter. Get good dial tone and connection, but then at the first tones of the transmission, the call drops and the call fails. Nothing....

Posts: 188 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Mar 07, 2004 Posts: 188

Hmmm, I have a Hughs DirecTV Tivo Series 2. I can complete calls about 1/3 of the time, but at least it works (sort of). Are you using *99 and have you tried other numbers? Some dial-ins are better than others, I think. Also, http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/ has alot of good threads on the subject.

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 26, 2004 Posts: 5

I'm not having any problems dialing out or making my daily calls... I'm just getting these dozens of mysterious 411 calls which Vonage is telling me are coming from the Tivo modem.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 28, 2004 Posts: 6

No, can't use another access number because the box can't dial in to download them. Yes, I'm using *99 and sometimes even getting connected, but just not completing the call.

Why can't this be done over satellite, DirecTV!?

Fastzva, sorry for jacking your thread. 411 calls certainly very strange. Can you block that number from the Dashboard?

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 01, 2004 Posts: 5

Slightly OT, but I couldn't let it go by without a response.

"heck, we don't even get the 30 sec skip."

The 30 sec skip is there, you just have to enable it.

Here's How:
With the TV on and using your DTivo remote press Select, Play, Select, 30, Select. You will hear a funky sound on the TV and Voila the skip forward & backward functions are there.

The only caveat is this sequence must be performed every time you reboot your DTivo box.

Enjoy!

Cheers,

gptgpt