Vonage and TiVo - the final word

Posts: 9 · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 1:16 pm Post subject:

Just thought I would reply as I wasn't able to get my DTivo unit to call out for around 30 days on Vonage using the internal modem. I couldn't choose another number from the list as it needed to dial out to receive new numbers, and I couldn't get it to dial, so that was a no-go.

Weaknees.com wanted something like $80 just for the external modem kit, not including the cable, so I started looking. Not wanting to make my own cable, Hyperterm into the modem and change strings (although I am in IT and know how to do this), I came across this auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3083818576&category=11725&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWN%3AIT&rd=1

I bid, won, received the package, plugged in the cable to the modem, turned it on, dialed out, and everything connected just fine. The dip switches on the modem are already configured, so you only need to chage the prefix on the DTivo. I changed the prefix to ,#319,1 (I added the one because I couldn't change the local dialing number to use a 1 then area code without first dialing out to obtain a new list of numbers). After dialing out, it obtain the new numbers for my area, and I then changed the way DTivo dials to dial the 11 digit code, then changes the prefix to just ,#314... and everything works fine.

I tried a few other prefixes like ,#311 = 115k ,#356 = 56k ,#319 = 19.2k ,#314 = 14.4k ,#396 = 9600 ... I could get ,#311 to work, but I'm not sure about its stability. ,#319 seems to work best so far, and has worked EVERYTIME I have forced a call.

Anyway... just passing this info on. The guy doesn't have any modem kits on auction right now, but his email addy is questions@eksys.com, and I think he always has stuff available.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 2

I have a series 1 and am able to successfully call out if I have my vonage quality set to the highest setting (bandwidth saver on the web).

With it set lower, I was unable to make a daily call.

hth,

jpc

Posts: 16 · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 8:51 am Post subject:

krbumgarner wrote:

With regard to the TiVo Series 2 dialing out via 'analog' over your Vonage line, there's a much nicer solution ... If you have a Series 1, TurboNet ROCKS!

The TiVo Series 2 has built in USB ports which would allow the installation of a USB to Ethernet adapter (http://www.9thtee.com/tivousbethernet.htm). Then plug the TiVo into your home network (you DO have a home network, don't you? Very Happy

) Change the dialing prefix to ,#401 and voila! You are now connecting to the TiVo update servers over the internet at broadband speed.

I am not affiliated with 9thTee ... other than being a satisfied customer.

Okay, i have a standalone Tivo Series 2, I have been using the USB/Ethernet adapter since last January without issue through my home network. I just signed up for Vonage within the past couple of weeks, and noticed last night that the Tivo is no longer getting the updates. I do not use the modem dial method, it should (used to) go through the internet as I purchased the Home Media option (before they started giving it away for free) and it used to work great. Now... nothing... my setup --> Cable modem, Vonage Adapter (Moto VT1000) D-Link Rtr, ....pcs/tivo/etc.. ... Am I going to have to put the moto vt1000 behind my router? is that going to cause problems with my QoS? I don't want to have to purcahse a new Linksys and flash it with a new os (or whatever) to have QoS on it.

Posts: 46 · Full Forum Member Joined: Sep 06, 2004 Posts: 46

You need to forward the same ports you forwarded in your D-Link router for the TiVo in your Vonage "router".

Posts: 16 · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 6:14 am Post subject:

I will look for the ip for the Vonage MTA (router), i believe i saw it in one of the posts...somewhere.. .but just in case, can you or anyone for that matte provide it to me, and once there, is it a simple gui, or is it a little more difficult? Would I have to connect a pc directly to the pc port on the MTA? or can I get to it via the current setup? I have temporarily put the MTA behind my network RTR so that my Tivo doesn't get too behind schedule, but I fear for loss of QoS. What routers (preferrablly not that expensive) do QoS?

Posts: 46 · Full Forum Member Joined: Sep 06, 2004 Posts: 46

You can access the adapter either directly connected to the PC port or through your router if it's connected between the router and modem. Using a browser, go to address: 192.168.102.1 (default address) At this address is a relatively simple interface to make your settings. I'm not pleased at all with the forwarding system in the adapter. It appears to only allow forwarding individual ports.

The best solution would definitely be to install behind a router with QoS if you don't have plenty of bandwidth. Each phone line only requires 90Kbps of bandwidth. With over 4Mbps available, I just let it run through my router without a problem.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 2

Hello:

I'm just a novice with computers, home networks, etc. Here is my situation: My first PC has the broadband connection, the wireless router, and the Vonage digital voice adapter hooked to it. In another part of the house I have a 2nd PC that uses a wireless PC card to share the broadband connection. In another part of the house I have my Tivo series 2 system. It is not connected to my network, and since installing Vonage has been unable to dial out for updates. Could something please provide a solution to allow my Tivo system to dial out over my Vonage lines? I would need specific equiptment recommendations, exact instructions on how and where to hook up what, etc. Please, no abbreviations, remember I have little knowledge about these topics. Thank you in advance.

Dave

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 2

Hello:

I'm just a novice with computers, home networks, etc. Here is my situation: My first PC has the broadband connection, the wireless router, and the Vonage digital voice adapter hooked to it. In another part of the house I have a 2nd PC that uses a wireless PC card to share the broadband connection. In another part of the house I have my Tivo series 2 system. It is not connected to my network, and since installing Vonage has been unable to dial out for updates. Could someone please provide a solution to allow my Tivo system to dial out over my Vonage lines? I would need specific equiptment recommendations, exact instructions on how and where to hook up what, etc. Please, no abbreviations, remember I have little knowledge about these topics. Thank you in advance.

Dave

Posts: 1 · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 3:21 pm Post subject:

Is there a trick for getting the Series 1 Tivo to work with Vonage, without setting the call quality to highest setting. I'm plannig on signing up for Vonage and would like for my Tivo to still work, even though I do have a DVR from my cable compnany. The cable companies DVR isn't exactly stable.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 19, 2004 Posts: 1

I just got off the phone with a tech at Vonage. I was asking about my ADT security system and dialing out. He said that the new Linksys router (vs the old Motorola ATA devices they orignally used) has worked well on modem connections. I do not know, however, if you must be on the highest (90kb) setting to get it to work, though. However, there is along discussion about this that my de-funk my statement above:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=f90a84b22076c9e04a8b0be2711b61f0&threadid=192199&highlight=how+setup+ppp

If you are stuck with the Motorola modem, read this clip from another thread on this board:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I finally got my ADT alarm to dial out. Here is my configuration:

1) Cable Modem -> Router -> ATA (Motorola)
2) I hard-coded my ATA for IP address 192.168.1.15 since I am using a Linksys router. I also setup port forwarding as detailed on the Vonage website for a Linksys. If you need specifics let me know.
3) My alarm is NOT dialing *99.
4) I called Vanage and had them set my "Packetization Level" to 10.
5) Rebooted my ATA.

That's all I did and it works. Let me know if you have more questions.

Nathan
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One note on your Tivo, I hacked mine and put a network card in it. I now connect to the Internet instead of using a modem. Very cool and it allows for lots of other options (Web interface, show extraction, callerID display on the TV, and more). The hard part is the $70 for the card Sad

http://www.9thtee.com/turbonet.htm

One other option for the Tivo is doing PPP through your PC. You use a serial port on the PC hooked to the serial port on your Tivo to accomplish this. This option is a FREE one Smile

Check out this forum:

http://www.tivocommunity.com

I'll report back if I get my ADT working once I receive my new Linksys router.

Steve