DirectTivo and Vonage Success Stories ONLY

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 1

Preds wrote:

carrieN3chicks wrote:

I'll post since I have scoured these boards for help and something finally worked.

We were already set optimally on the Vonage end, had 2 successful calls to the toll free number before everything quit. We use Vonage with Linksys wireless router connected to the whole house phone lines. Set to maximum quality.

Here's what finally worked with a Samsung Directv Tivo 70 hour type and a Samsung Directv Tivo 30 hour

ignore the dail in number
Dial Prefix: 12122773895
Call waiting Prefix: ,,#019,,
phone available: off
Dial tone detect: off

I skipped the look for local numbers (the old unit still is set up for our old house in a different state)

After HOURS of research and trying God knows how many different configurations, the above configuration worked on all 3 of my Tivo receivers (all different makes). The only change I made was to put *99 into the call waiting prefix, thus *99,,#019,,

Ignoring the dial-in number, and setting the dial prefix to 12122773895 with phone available off and dial tone detect off did the trick.

FWIW, my 3 DirecTivos are a Hughes 35 hr series 2, a Samsung 35 hr series 2, and a RCA 70 hr series 2.

What a PITA this was to figure out. I hope I never have to go through it again!

Finally, this worked for me...after 140 days of trying every code...now I get to wait for the multiple hours of service updates.

thanks for the help

Posts: 217 · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:31 pm Post subject:

I'd been using the null serial connection since January and decided to give this a try once again. The above worked on my R10 and my DVR-40. It took a couple tries, but it worked so I will keep an eye on it in future weeks and post back my results.

Thanks!

Posts: 217 · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:25 am Post subject:

Well, to reply to my own post I am not having too much luck with this and it hasn't been 24 hours. I noticed on my Vonage call logs at least 16 calls between the two DVRs from last night until this morning. Not sure why so many calls since I just made successful connections and updates yesterday. Anyway, I don't have unlimited calling with Vonage so I am pulling the phone cords and going back to the reliable serial connection.

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:06 am Post subject:

Just so you know, this problem is happening with POTS users as well. They just aren't reporting it in as great of numbers because they don't get detailed billing.

I am also using the 500 minute plan and the extra calls are to DirecTV's 800 and 888 numbers, not TiVo, so they are toll free. I am waiting for Vonage to get bugged about it and then I will pull the phone cord on the unit except for once a month or so to make the TiVo call. Mine made calls from 8/8 until 8/16 when the call finally succeeded. So far this month I have 164 free minutes (mostly DirecTV) and 78 In Plan minutes.

If you have changed the dial prefix to the 212 number then I suggest attempting to do a more standard configuration (by attempting to set your dial in area code to 212).

My configuration:

Dial-In Number: 1-212-277-3895
Dial Prefix: ,#034
Call Waiting Prefix: *70,*99
Tone/Pulse: Tone
Phone Avail Detection: Off
Dial Tone Detection: On

I only changed the dial in number to 212 to see if it made a difference on the DirecTV calls. It didn't. I can dial locally for TiVo calls if I choose.

Posts: 217 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:15 am Post subject:

I wasn't aware that this was happening for all users. I will change my settings to mirror yours below---did you use the dashes in the 212 number? I was using everything as you have it except for the dial prefix.

Not following you when you say the extra calls are going to their 800/888 numbers? How is that happening if your dial in number is the 212 number?

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:25 am Post subject:

rlstjohn wrote:

did you use the dashes in the 212 number?

When you try to change your dial in number it is multiple choice, you pick 7, 10 or 11 digit dialing. I always choose 11 digit dialing when given the choice.

rlstjohn wrote:

Not following you when you say the extra calls are going to their 800/888 numbers? How is that happening if your dial in number is the 212 number?

DirecTiVos make 2 different types of calls. TiVo calls (daily calls) that are used for the TiVo service and DirecTV calls that are used for PPV and to verify address for sports subscriptions.

The call settings in general apply to both calls, but the dial in number is for TiVo only. DirecTV calls in using toll free numbers. If you change the dial prefix then the DirecTV calls are apparently done through the TiVo connection (based on what I gathered from this forum) the toll free number at the end of the dial string is essentially ignored. By leaving the dial prefix alone the DirecTV calls will use their predefined toll free numbers.

As long as your TiVo calls complete successfully every time (mine do) then the DirecTV nonsense is not going to effect your billing.

You can test TiVo calls from the menu, to test a DirecTV call you need to call DirecTV and ask them to request one via the satellite.

Posts: 217 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:29 am Post subject:

OK...It think I am following you on this. I previously (couple days ago), changed the settings to mostly what you had and used the 212 number. I assume this is for the Tivo portion. I was able to connect to the DVR service and make downloads on both systems. However, I noticed a couple hours after that it started calling the 212 number again even though both had made successful calls. So..I assume it was trying to connect to DirecTV when it was doing this and not Tivo? I guess if this is the case and DTV is having issues that would explain all the calls.

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:33 am Post subject:

When TiVo calls fail they typically won't try again for 24 hours. The call screen will tell you when the next attempt will be.

The DirecTV pattern is two calls (separate numbers) within minutes and then wait for 2 to 6 hours and try again. That is why I think you were having DirecTV call issues.

It is also why I don't recommend putting a phone number in the dial prefix. Although I never tested it out, I assumed it would cause your DirecTV calls to be toll and not toll free calls.

Posts: 217 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:38 am Post subject:

OK...here is what I was using on mine:

ignore the dail in number
Dial Prefix: 12122773895
Call waiting Prefix: ,,#019,,
phone available: off
Dial tone detect: off

Whenever I tried to get it to update the number (by putting in the 212 area code) it would fail. I'll have to give it another try and see what happens. If I remember correctly, there is no way to manually enter the dial in number is there?

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 11:33 am Post subject:

No, you have to call an 800 number in order to get the list of dial in numbers. Try it a couple of times.