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Another Vonage / Tivo post?

First, is it a series 1 or series 2 TIVO. I don't think anyone has gotten a series 2 to work consistently. If it is a series 1, did you remember to dial 11 digits (1+area code+ 7 digits), even for a local #.

RBB

reply to GPLER
After you choose what number you want to have your Tivo dial in with, it should then pop up a screen that shows how you want it dialed either as a 7 digit number, 10 digit number, or 11 digit number. However, as rbb just said, Series 1 seems to work fine, but series 2 have issues. In the morning, I am going to email vonage, since according to their FAQ, a solution was to be in place at the end of March 2003 for Directv and Tivo calls. We'll see how that goes.

reply to GPLER
It's Working! To answer your question it's a series 1 tivo. I juggling so many numbers and dial prefixes that I can't remember if I had started to use the 11 digit number before or after I posted this thread. I ended up plugging my telco phone line back in to download a local number to my vonage account. I'm guessing that Worldcom either has a different type of modem at the working location or the amount of noise on the line was just less from the Vonage POP to the Worldcom POP. I now have *99,1603 as my dial prefix and the 7 digit number as the number to dial.

Thanks much for the help
Jason

reply to GPLER
Good Luck to you with getting your series 2 Tivo working. Other than the Vonage problem, how do you like the series 2? Is there any way for you to use one of the available USB ports to add an ethernet connection and get your updates over your broadband?

Thanks again
Jason

I have a series 2 DirecTivo (HDVR2), and I used to have a series 2 stand-alone. Both are great, but the stand alone has more features, one of which is unofficial broadband support via a 'secret' pefix code. Really easy to use. DirecTivo has two tuners and dolby surround, so I guess it balances out.

By the way, I just cancelled my Vonage account because I couldn't get it to work with my HDVR2 - and they did promise a fix by the end of March.

For what it's worth, I'm assuming that several projects slipped in time due to two things that happened in March. One was the seemingly monumental problems they had in getting voicemail to work right, and the other was the Earthlink deal. Now that both of those seem to be behind them, I'm hoping they will pick up where they left off with regard to some earlier promises (ability to use the second line on the ATA-186 as an additional line, for example).

reply to GPLER
No, Directv has deactivated the usb ports on the series 2 units. Directv refers to them as "future enhancements". There is no way to use them until directv turns them on.

reply to WhyADuck
I understand slippage, and I don't blame them for that. However, I called up and asked them if they could extend my trial period (I'd still pay the monthly fee) until they get direcTivo working, and they said no, so I had to return the unit. I may get another vonage unit when dtv starts working. It's a shame.

reply to wilsonck
I've emailed Vonage on the subject of Directv/Tivo calls since their website said they would have a solution by the end of March 2003. This is a response I've received:

Hello Chad,

As previously mentioned on emails to you, this issue is escalated to
engineers and developer for further investigation. They are currently
working with Cisco Systems to come up with a solution. The research
has taken longer than anticipated, but we will post information shortly.

Thank you for you patience as we work to resolve this issue.

Sincerely
Willie
-tech support

reply to GPLER

Connect the TiVo to your network

These adapters do not work on the series 2 HDVR2 Directivo receivers.

reply to GPLER

Re: Another Vonage / Tivo post?

*99 tells the ATA that the call is a fax. Before Vonage officially supported faxing, users said that this help them achieve a higher rate of success. However, since Vonage now officially supports fax calls, some people wonder if you need to do this anymore. Fax calls work in the same notion that a modem call would need to complete, in this case, for the tivo to connect. My SA series one tivo does not need this code to connect.

My Tivo will NOT connect if I use *99.
There is a good reason (unless I am going off in the wrong direction). *99 is specific to Fax Codec, Fax does not use V.34 etc. but different codec's with different frequencies... As such *99 makes the ATA listen specifically for frequencies fax machines / modems in fax mode use for transmission and allows the ATA to better translate those.
This will adversely affect all other frequencies, including the ones used by a Modem....

My Series 1 DirecTivo's have about 80% success rate calling through vonage - good enough for me...
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reply to GPLER
Ok How to make a DirecTV Tivo call home with Vonage.

I'm going to tell you how to do it however lets completely forget the Vonage part. IT WILL NOT WORK, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME! And no we will not be using the USB ports. First off you are going to need to do this once every 100 days so don't make a killer investment out of it.

Goto RadioShack and get yourself a "Null modem adapter" they will know what it is, find the cable that came with your Tivo that has a 9 pin end and a stereo cable on the other end.

I hope this cable will reach to your Computer that is already connected to the net, if not get this from 9th tee. TIVONMCABLE20 @ »www.9thtee.com/tivoupgrades.htm

Now follow these instructions and POW! It works!
»www.lan.com/otto/tivo3xp/

This is only going to work for the Tivo part of the calls, since all the Tivo call is a call to UUNET and the information is sent over the internet. However, this solution will not work with the Directv calls that the units will make on average about once a month. Those calls are made direct to Directv and are not part of the Tivo calls. There is no way to force a call (other than having a Directv CSR do it). Most people want to still have the ability to order via remote ,also meet the so called phone line "requirement", and not have the nag screen bother them about not calling in.

Not so sure about that, my 2 HDVR2's have been working since long before Christmas like this, they are mirrored and I order PPV on them.

Just curious, have the PPVs appeared on your monthly bill?

reply to GPLER
Yes they have all been on there, my problem is we do not have locals in Omaha yet, so DirecTV thinks I live somewhere where I can get ABC, CBS yada yada, I can't call in with my land line (AKA the caller ID) so I use the serial connection and PPP. I tried and tried, even external modems and tons of strings to get it to work on my Vonage (That also does not have a local number) with no luck. I thought this how to was a nice simple way around the phone connection, and since it takes 100 days before they stop sending guide data it's not that hard to drag it into the living room.