Trouble using Vonage fax line to dial out with PC modem

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 29, 2004 Posts: 1

I just installed my Vonage service today, and I'm already a big fan. I do have two issues that I need some help with:

1.) My wife is a pharmaceutical rep and has a handheld PC (HP Jornada 720) with a V.90 modem that she uses to dial into her company server every night. I called Vonage support and the guy I spoke to told me to lower the baud rate of the modem to 9600 and I should be able to connect. I did that, but I still can't successfully connect. Any ideas?

2.) I have a Philips Series 1 TiVo. I've scoured the net and found all kinds of info about making daily calls with Vonage. I've tried all kinds of dialing prefixes, but nothing has worked. Does anyone have a Series 1 TiVo that has dialed out successfully via the TiVo internal modem?

I am attempting both of these calls (handheld modem and TiVo) via my second Vonage line (fax line). Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Posts: 8 · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:57 am Post subject: Tivo out dialing

I had a similar problem with my Dish Network receiver. The phone connection diagnostics showed everything was alright but the receiver continuosly tried dialing out with no success. I my house I opted for the seperate fax line for $9.99 a month. When I connected the fax line to my receiver the calls went right through. I've complained to Vonage because I want my main number to work since the receiver also displays caller ID to the TV. Today I received an email from them saying"Thank you for contacting customer care. Your technical problem may have been due to a recent system issue. If you are still experiencing problems with your service, here is a list of suggestions that may be helpful in resolving your issue. " . Included was the standard FAQ links. I"ll try again but seriously doubt anything has changed. I sure your computer modem problem is the same problem.

Posts: 52 · Full Forum Member Joined: Jun 21, 2004 Posts: 52

I know you will think I am crazy but (i really dont care.)

Call Vonage and ask them to change your packetization to 10 -
then

use/make a phone cord with only 2 conductors The inner pair - usually green and red. This seems to be the key.

prefix your phone number with *99 (pause)*67 (pause)

You will be lucky if you can connect over 9600 bps though.

Dont ask. Just try.

I really dont know - but it worked for me - solved all of my TiVO and fax woes.

Posts: 8 · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:20 am Post subject: TIVO dial out

Thanks, I"ll give it a try. I am the telephone admin at my work site so I can tell you about the wires. The red and green are the inner pair and typically used in a 1 line system. Yellow and black are used for a second number and appear on either side of the inner pair on an RJ45 connector. The telephone adapter from Vonage, and any other standard device use the inner pair. The presence of the second pair has no bearing.
You said "prefix your phone number with *99 (pause)*67 (pause) ". My receiver just periodocally dials out all by itself. I'm not sure what you mean or how to prefix the number? Is it something in the Vonage setup or something I'd need to have my receiver do in it's setup?

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 10:55 am Post subject:

it would be in the receiver set up if it's an option there (no idea about those things). *99 sets bandwidth saving to highest sound quality for the one call only (can see this under features in your vonage account), and *67 blocks your number from being sent to the person you're calling (a per call caller id block). I don't think this has anything to do with it.

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

What worked for me is: prefix (*99,*70) *99 to tell MTA that a data call is being made, *70 to shut off call waiting. Also, I use a good DSL Filter from Radio Shack in my phone line. Try it either forward or reverse. I can finish a call with my DirecTV Tivo (serice 2) about 30% of the time, I know that sux but it is enough to keep the nag screen from showing up. Since you have a Serices 1 Tivo, you can use the "slowdown codes" like: ,#034 (34k), ,#019 (19k) and so forth. Also, I would look into getting a TurboNet card. I have read that it has worked well for alot of people. Hope that this helps. Very Happy

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 18, 2005 Posts: 1

I have the Series 2 TCD24004A. Since switching to Vonage, I've discovered that ebay stinks (the wap11 I purchased was DOA), and that my box doesn't want to dial out over Vonage's fax line. I've tried every prefix that I've come across, but the phone hangs up saying that it's getting a busy signal.
Serious kudos to anyone who can provide some direction!