Success (again) with Vonage/Directv Tivo/Brinks

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 16, 2004 Posts: 2

Last month my D-Tivo was not able to connect with Vonage after working for 6 months.

I was able to get connection again using ,,#019 in the dialing prefix and using a 212 area code to dial into. Worked first time, no problems. And just to make sure I made a daily call 10 times...all successful.

As to Brinks Security, I believe they must have made changes on their end to make them compatible, as I didn't have to do anything on my end.

Now the wait for Directv to push 6.2 software for those precious USB ports!!

Posts: 129 · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 9:17 am Post subject:

I've been trying to get by DSR6000 to work with vonage. NO SUCCESS! I have used the slowdown codes.... Doesn't work. I can't get a 212 number because I can't dial in! (I only have Vonage).

So, I decided to to a PPP over serial running an XP box, but that doesn't work either.

To be honest, it's annoying. I hope when Directv releases their own branded dvr this summer, it has built in networking support. This "dialing in" is so 1995.

I've got 3 DirecTiVos, which are never going to get the 6.2 software update. At this point, I do not know what to do.

Does anyone know how to manually enter a 212 number into tivo?

Posts: 62 · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:35 am Post subject:

I don't have a Tivo-type DVR (I use MythTV which uses XML downloads) but as far as my Brinks, there was NO configuration required other than informing them before hand of the phone number change via VoIP.

The Brinks rep told me I have the "3000 model" which works with the "upper-end VoIP providers". Fine by me.

I went from Paying B*ll S*uth $110/mth down to about $50/mth with Vonage (3 lines).

Posts: 3 · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:47 am Post subject: Success here as well

Wanted to share my experience for frustrated Directv Tivo users...

I have had Vonage for about 6 months now and I think its great. I use Cox for my broadband cable internet service and I have Directv for my cable but I also buy local channels from Cox. I have a Motorola box from Vonage and I have all this hooked up through a linksys wireless router. Everything works just fine.

Just bought a Directv DVR (Model R10) to replace the Directv receiver in our living room. The Tivo service is free from Directv with my programming package. I was struggling with getting it to dial up until I read and tried some of the methods in this and other forums. I finally was able to get the DVR unit to dial up through Vonage successfully with what I would estimate to be 80-90% success rate (this includes the initial setup downloads).

Here's my setup...
I hooked the DVR unit up to a phone line so it will hook up to my Vonage service when it needs to dial out. (I have Vonage wired throughout the house) I am using a local number (757 area code) for Williamsburg VA but I also had success hooking up to area code 718 initially (New York state). My dialing settings in the DVR unit are...

,#034
*99
Tone
On
On

Everything seems to be working fine. If there are problems I will post a follow up here.

Good Luck!

Posts: 16 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 13, 2005 Posts: 16

DirecTV refuses to enable networking on their boxes... nothing TiVo can do about it. The phone line is DirecTV's choice, not TiVo's

On the other hand, all guide data and software updates come over the satellite link -- the phone line is only required if you want PPV. You can disconnect it and ignore the warnings.

Posts: 129 · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: It's DirecTV's fault

sinanju wrote:

DirecTV refuses to enable networking on their boxes... nothing TiVo can do about it. The phone line is DirecTV's choice, not TiVo's

On the other hand, all guide data and software updates come over the satellite link -- the phone line is only required if you want PPV. You can disconnect it and ignore the warnings.

That's fine, but I want to be able to enable the next tivo software - version 6.2. It is the first major upgrade in a long time. Folders, faster menus, etc.. I just ordered a null modem cable so that I can do PPP over serial to a windows XP box.

Posts: 16 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 13, 2005 Posts: 16

Quote:

That's fine, but I want to be able to enable the next tivo software

I'm not sure what you mean... Any software updates DirecTV ships are going to come down the satellite link -- no network or phone connection required.

Quote:

Folders, faster menus, etc

None of those things require connectivity except to the satellite.

Posts: 129 · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 12:45 pm Post subject:

sinanju wrote:

Quote:

That's fine, but I want to be able to enable the next tivo software

I'm not sure what you mean... Any software updates DirecTV ships are going to come down the satellite link -- no network or phone connection required.

Quote:

Folders, faster menus, etc

None of those things require connectivity except to the satellite.

Yes, it does download via satellite, but in order to activate the software, it MUST dial into DTV. Otherwise, it remains inactive.

Posts: 16 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 13, 2005 Posts: 16

Quote:

Yes, it does download via satellite, but in order to activate the software, it MUST dial into DTV. Otherwise, it remains inactive.

That's the first time I've heard of anything like that and, although I do not have a DirecTV TiVo myself, I am an all-star in the TiVo support forums and have seen just about every DirecTV TiVo question asked and answered. I'm willing to believe it is true, but as I said, I'm unaware of software updates requiring anything other than a reboot to activate.

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 3:22 pm Post subject:

Disturbed is correct. A phone call is required to activate a new software download on DirecTV units. However I understand that series 1 DirecTiVos will never be upgraded to 6.2. http://www.directv.com/see/landing/dvr_upgrade.html

My Series 1 (SAT-T60) works fine with Vonage. I am using a local number (804) area code. I am using ",#019" as a dialing prefix. I am not using *99, but it probably couldn't hurt.

I think the only thing you could do to attempt dialing a 212 number would be to take the unit to a POTS line to get the list of numbers and then take it back to your Vonage line to try it.

Also, I would recommend that you use an extension phone when the unit is dialing in to make sure it is a negotiation problem and not a dial tone or dialing issue.

If you haven't read it yet, the DirecTiVo forum at TiVoCommunity http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/ has a lot of posts on this issue.