Dish Network DishPlayer 625 DVR and Vonage

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 26, 2005 Posts: 8

Has anyone had success getting Vonage working with your Dish Network Dishplayer 625 DVR? Care to share your successes? (there was a single thread on other Dish DVR models, but they seem to have different menu options. Also, on the single tuner models a phone line is not necessary like it is on the dual tuner models. Can we keep this thread specific to the 625?)

They claim to not support Voip. They do support a wireless phone jack setup, which in other models was the solution to getting it to work (apparently there was a setting to slow down the modem by selecting that you have a wireless phone jack. I can't find this setting in the 625 software, so I wonder if its somehow automated?). Another guy in another thread mentioned he got his 625 working while using a wireless jack, I'm not sure if he meant he used this in conjunction with Vonage, or was just saying that as a side note. (if he reads this, did he do anything special?).

Is there any device I can put between the Dishplayer and Vonage CPE that will somehow simulate line noise and slow down the modem on its own?

I just got all of this in the past week, and I'm getting so frustrated that I might just return my Dishplayer for something that doesn't require a phone line... Its pretty dumb they require it.. They say its because its a dual tuner, and it dials in daily to prove to them that you don't have two receivers activated. If it fails to dial in, they'll charge you $5/mo for a second tuner. Therefore, the phone line isn't a necessity, they'll just charge you $5. The really, really stupid part is that the Smart Card is built in to the receiver--there are no cards that can be moved to other receivers. I'd personally rather return the equipment and support a company that supports better technology. But really I'd like to get this working and not have to do any of that... Surprised

Thanks for any ideas!

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 26, 2005 Posts: 8

Although we know Dish officially doesn't support Voip, I got this reply from Dish today... (actually 2 replies)

---
Mr. XXXX,

We do not currently have a time frame on when this software will be released; however, I assure you we are working on it. It will be released to our receivers via satellite in a software download. Your receiver will automatically receive it.

The $4.99 fee is not actually for a second physical receiver; it is for programming access on the secondary television. Customers who have two televisions with independent programming are charged this fee. We offer to waive the fee if you have a dual tuner receiver and agree to keep a standard phone line plugged in.

Kendra Skemp

Technical Support

Dish Network

Kendra.Skemp@ecXXXr.com

-----Original Message-----
From: XXXXmeXXX
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 2:31 PM
To: Skemp, Kendra
Subject: RE: Equipment/Software

Why is it that DirecTV support Voip without a problem?

What is the time frame for when Dish Network will support it, and will the support be enabled in my 625 dual tuner receiver? If not, please let me know so I can return it now and switch back to DirecTV. I refuse to pay $4.99/mo for a second receiver, when I don't really have a second receiver. This is insane. The Smart Card is built in to the receiver, there is no way I could split the receiver into two and actually have two.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Skemp, Kendra [mailto:Kendra.Skemp@eXXXstar.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 3:21 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: Equipment/Software

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your e-mail. Dish Network receivers do not currently support Voip services. This issue is being researched and we hope to have a solution for Broadband phone users in the near future.

There are certain applications you will not be able to take advantage of without a standard phone line such as: our interactive TV services, Customer Support Application, and Caller ID; you will also not be able to use your remote control to order any Pay-Per-View events or movies. (Pay per view can still be ordered online at www.dishnetwork.com/ppv or by calling 1-877-347-4778 with a $1 transaction fee). Another consideration is, without a standard phone line an additional a $4.99 per month access fee will be applied to your account if you have one of our dual tuner receivers (models 322, 522, 625, and 942). We are actively working on a solution for Voip phone lines as we realize this technology is becoming more prevalent.

Kendra

Dish Network

Technical Support

-----Original Message-----
From: XXX@XXX
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 10:45 AM
To: TechForum
Subject: Equipment/Software

Subject: Equipment/Software

Message:

How do I get my 625 dual tuner receiver to work with my Voip phone

line?

Posts: 23 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 23

I've set my Vonage at 90k and not had problems with connecting through my Dish DVR 508. But Comcast can;t seem to be able to maintain 90k. So I just change it when I need to order PPV/

Good Luck

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 26, 2005 Posts: 8

how do you set your Vonage to 90k? Your model is different than the one I was asking about...

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:40 am Post subject:

Can someone provide more info on what the TiVO/Dishplayer/DirecTV boxes connect at? I'm assuming they're using standard analog modems... just would like to know the baud rates & such so I can try it out with my modem & phone adapter. I've had no trouble using data devices (standalone fax, analog computer modem) at full-throttle on my RTP300 router/phone adapter.

Posts: 16 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 13, 2004 Posts: 16

I have a 522, which I'm told is the same as the 625 without the VOD. It has been connected to Vonage for more than a year. The only time I got the 'not connected' message was when it was accidentally unplugged.

I have done PPV without a problem.

The only issue is with downloading my statement from them which I never did anyway.

I think the real issue is the quality of your broadband connection. I had Comcast and I switched to FIOS a couple of months ago.

Never had a problem with either (FIOS is faster and cheaper).

Good luck!

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 26, 2005 Posts: 8

VonageTPA wrote:

Can someone provide more info on what the TiVO/Dishplayer/DirecTV boxes connect at?

The problem here is Tivo/Dishplayer/DirectV are not the same device. They are no more related than an HP fax machine and a Canon fax machine. Even receivers made by Dish Network are very different in how they connect (some don't allow you to dial * and #, some do; some have a setting to enable "wireless jack", some don't).

Can we please NOT hijack threads and put mismatched information for other receivers in this thread? This whole forum seems to be dedicated to using modem technologies (such as TIVO, Directv, DIsh, etc), why not start a thread on your specific device?

I specifically have a 625 receiver, which does not have a wireless jack setting and does not allow you to dial any sort of prefix other than digits (no * or # allowed). It does supposedly support wireless jacks, but I bought one on ebay and adding it in to the mix didn't help any. (I'm also starting to wonder if my receiver is just plain broke, and if it would even work through a landline..but that's another story).

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 10:32 pm Post subject:

The Linksys RTP300 doesn't require the *99 codes for data transmissions, which is why I'm asking for more information. I have a feeling all of the problems are related and aren't talking about apples & oranges here. The solution might be a better Vonage adapter than what most people are currently using, rather than trying to patch the data devices to work with a sub-par voice adapter.

Posts: 23 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 23

[quote="dddane"]how do you set your Vonage to 90k? Your model is different than the one I was asking about...[/quote]

Sorry, been busy. Anyways, login to your customer account on www.Vonage.com and then click features link at top. Then Click Configure in Bandwidth Saver box (on left side on my screen). you have 3 settings, 30k, 50k, and 90k.

When Comcast is behaving, I can use 90k, But right now 50k is all thats reliable, it gets choppy otherwise. At least its not the 30k I had before at my other house.

Hope this helps, but I think 90k is the default for Vonage.

I'm also using vt1000 motorola adapter. Its better than the cisco ata186 I had before.

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 26, 2005 Posts: 8

do you know if you can do this change with other providers? (lingo)...