Can DirectTV work with Vonage?

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 19, 2008 Posts: 4

I REALLY want to dump my cable and switch over to DirectTV. However, I use Vonage and was wondering if anyone has got the DirectTV receiver to work with Vonage (I am going to get the HD DVR receiver). I hate to have to pay for a land-line just to use for the DirectTV.

I see some threads and such on this and some seem to have been able to make it work. But the info is scattered around a lot so I thought I would start a new thread to see if it is possible and if so, exactly what one must do to get it to work.

There has got to be a way! Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Chimp (Tom)

Posts: 72 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 21, 2006 Posts: 72

It may or may not work, but why bother. The Directv HR20 and HR21 HD DVRs don't need a phone connection to work.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 19, 2008 Posts: 4

So are we saying the new ones no longer need a phone connection? They now have a direct internet connection?

Posts: 72 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 21, 2006 Posts: 72

SimpChimp wrote:

So are we saying the new ones no longer need a phone connection? They now have a direct internet connection?

They certainly have an Ethernet port and that is used for downloading video-on-demand. The phone line was until recently needed to order PPV with the remote (as opposed to through the web site or by phone), but I believe that can now be done through the Ethernet port too. A phone line is certainly not needed for authorization or software updates like it was on the older DirecTivo units.

Posts: 180 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 180

Yes the latest version of the HR20(1) (HD DVR) have a direct connection to Direct TV through the Ethernet port. The only thing the phone line is used for when networked is CID on the TV screen.

If the unit is not networked the phone line is used when ordering PPV with the remote only. When ordering online or over the phone it is not needed.

To answer your original question, yes while not necessary Vonage will work with DirecTV.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 19, 2008 Posts: 4

OK, couple more questions then: I will also order multi-room install, since I have more than one TV in multiple rooms. My main TV will be the one with the DVR, and it will obviously be the one networked, where I order movies, etc. The other two will simply be there to watch TV. I assume these other two TVs will NOT need to be networked nor have a phone line on them?

Finally, if I just network the main DirectTV DVR via ethernet, can I still order PPV via the remote on that TV? Or does it have to have a phone line connected to order PPV via remote?

Thanks for all the info.

Chimp (Tom)

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 19, 2008 Posts: 4

Brian, oops forgot one thing: You mention if I did want to connect to Vonage it does work... So is there detailed instructions out there anywhere that says how to do this and how to connect things? I see a lot of threads saying do this or that, but was wondering if there were a consolidated set of instructions anywhere.

Thanks.

Posts: 180 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 180

I'm a little confused. If you are getting the HR-20(1) the HD-DVR and it is networked you do NOT need a phone line for anything unless you want CID to pop up on the screen when you get a call. Everything is through the etherent port. As for other tv's and receivers it really depends on the receiver you are getting. Are the HD? HD-DVR? SD? SD-DVR? Either way if they are anything other than the HD-DVR you will need a phone line connected to them to order PPV through your remote. PPV can still be ordered online (directv.com) with no phone line and no ethernet.

As for connecting it to vonage, all you do is plug it in line a phone. You will need a regular telephone splitter to connect the DVR and a phone, if you are not wiring you house jacks.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 06, 2008 Posts: 1

I have an HR21 DVR with VOD activated. You will have to have a phone line connected to order PPV using the remote. This will not work with your ethernet broadband connection. I've discussed this at length with DirecTV technical help. If you do not have a phone line connected, you will be able to order PPV through the remote until you reach a certain predefined money limit. At that point in time you will not be able to order anymore PPV through the remote until those movies are reported through the phone line to DirecTV. That is how it was explained to me by technical help at DirecTV. Unfortunately, I have Vonage and the receiver will not make a connection through my Vonage line to DirecTV. It simply dials the 1-800 number over and over again to no avail. I have recorded and watched two PPV movies, neither of which have been reported to DirecTV and added to my bill. I have told DirecTV about these two movies and have explained that since the receiver will not connect to DirecTV through my Vonage line or report them through the ethernet connection, the only way that they are going to know that I watched them is through word of mouth! I suspect that sometime in the near future they will do a firmware update and this funtion will be available through the broadband connection. At that time I will probably be charged for those two movies. I hope I haven't forgotten them by then, because I may think they are charging me for two movies I didn't watch! In the mean time you can go online and order PPV that way.