DirecTivo question

[ericboo]

I have had DirecTivo for a few years now. After switching to Vonage, the units no longer work dialing in. One unit has not dialed in for over 800 days and recently shows no available information for all channels on the guide, but the shows play fine.

I thought that all the guide data came through the dish. What could be wrong? All my other units are working fine.

 

[Rage187]

can't you hook the Tivo up over cat5 and get your programming that way?

 

[herkulease]

guide data is through the satellite. have you tried restarting the unit?

I haven't called in since the release of 6.3 for the SD directivos which was last year. before that its was probably like yours 800 days or so.

 

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: Rage187
can't you hook the Tivo up over cat5 and get your programming that way?

directivos only works through the phone and serial. the USB ports are not enabled either

 

[erub]

phone line definitely required for DirecTiVo- the TiVo guide-- both HD and nonHD versions..are you sure you are getting a dialtone at that jack?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: erub
phone line definitely required for DirecTiVo- the TiVo guide-- both HD and nonHD versions..are you sure you are getting a dialtone at that jack?

It isn't required. I have a friend who has no landline in his home and he has three DirecTivos (including the HD).

My suggestion, call DirecTV and let them know that you have Vonage. They'll adjust your account for that.

 

[mobobuff]

Guide data is streamed through the dish (carried on the feed from satellite 101). If your guide isn't getting its new data, you can try forcing a new software download. They recently released a new one, the older versions were buggy.

To force a new software download (basically you're flashing the EEPROM), reset the receiver, and when the welcome screen comes on, type in 0 2 4 6 8 on your remote (make sure it's pointed at the receiver). You'll then see it download the newest firmware and proceed to reset itself again. Just don't shut it off or touch anything while it's doing it, just like a computer.

 

[erub]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: erub
phone line definitely required for DirecTiVo- the TiVo guide-- both HD and nonHD versions..are you sure you are getting a dialtone at that jack?

It isn't required. I have a friend who has no landline in his home and he has three DirecTivos (including the HD).

My suggestion, call DirecTV and let them know that you have Vonage. They'll adjust your account for that.

wait, i was assuming that he had done the traditional VoIP 'trick' - that is unhooking his outside jack from the phone company, thereby enabling every phone jack in the house to have a dialtone..in that regard I couldn't see why it wouldnt work

Guide data is streamed through the dish (carried on the feed from satellite 101). If your guide isn't getting its new data, you can try forcing a new software download. They recently released a new one, the older versions were buggy.

this isn't the true guide data i think we are talking about, this is the TiVo software guide..two separate but similar things on this box

 

[allisolm]

Maybe you can find help here: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/search.php?searchid=1241848.

 

[ericboo]

I did unhook the wiring to the pole so all my phones work.

I believe that there is a problem with the internal modem but I will try what mobobuff saud and see if that works.

Otherwise I will call DTV and see what they have to say.

 

[merlocka]

I had same problem. THere are tricks at www.tivocommunitiy.com to send AT commands from Tivo box to force a lower baud rate (like 9600), or enter in some specific remote phone numbers which are known to work well.

From DTV side, they will tell you to call Vonage to tweak the packetization settings on the account to improve quality.

However, neither allowed my DTV box to make a connection.

It only matters if you order movies/ppv with DTV. It did with me, so I ended up cancelling Vonage.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: ericboo
I have had DirecTivo for a few years now. After switching to Vonage, the units no longer work dialing in. One unit has not dialed in for over 800 days and recently shows no available information for all channels on the guide, but the shows play fine.

I thought that all the guide data came through the dish. What could be wrong? All my other units are working fine.

Try dialing the number the Tivo dials from your regular phone and see if you get any tones.

I think it's like *78 or something but not 100% sure, so look it up if anything.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: herkulease

Originally posted by: Rage187
can't you hook the Tivo up over cat5 and get your programming that way?

directivos only works through the phone and serial. the USB ports are not enabled either

Can be somewhat easily fixed will a little hack though, mines working fine.

I have a Series 2 DirecTivo.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: erub
phone line definitely required for DirecTiVo- the TiVo guide-- both HD and nonHD versions..are you sure you are getting a dialtone at that jack?

It isn't required. I have a friend who has no landline in his home and he has three DirecTivos (including the HD).

My suggestion, call DirecTV and let them know that you have Vonage. They'll adjust your account for that.

It's true, it isn't required to dial in order to get the listing updates or service, it'll just nag you that you haven't dialed in xxx days, won't download any of those dumb showcast spot light things and you can't do PPV orders either (well it'll let you order PPV's but can't send in the bill until you connect the line) last I checked at least.

 

[ericboo]

I already tried the special NY number and all sorts of dial-in codes. I also had PTVnet on it, but did not reinstall after the original drive died.

I have ordered PPV in the past via the web, where they told me it was supposed to go to all my receivers, but it did not go to this one.

I will have to go back to Tivocommunity and see what's up.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Wait, so Direct TV still uses a Tivo box for it's DVR? I thought I heard that they dropped Tivo and went with another service/software.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Wait, so Direct TV still uses a Tivo box for it's DVR? I thought I heard that they dropped Tivo and went with another service/software.

There are still plenty of DirecTV subscribers out there that have DirecTivo boxes.

It is nearly impossible to get a new DirecTivo box from DirecTV though. They push their own DVRs. I was able to get a refurb though when I added a receiver to my new house.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Wait, so Direct TV still uses a Tivo box for it's DVR? I thought I heard that they dropped Tivo and went with another service/software.

There are still plenty of DirecTV subscribers out there that have DirecTivo boxes.

It is nearly impossible to get a new DirecTivo box from DirecTV though. They push their own DVRs. I was able to get a refurb though when I added a receiver to my new house.

Oh, OK. We were looking at moving from Dish to Direct and that was one of our concerns. We have a standalone Tivo unit, but wanted one from DTV to be able to record 2 channels at once.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Wait, so Direct TV still uses a Tivo box for it's DVR? I thought I heard that they dropped Tivo and went with another service/software.

There are still plenty of DirecTV subscribers out there that have DirecTivo boxes.

It is nearly impossible to get a new DirecTivo box from DirecTV though. They push their own DVRs. I was able to get a refurb though when I added a receiver to my new house.

Oh, OK. We were looking at moving from Dish to Direct and that was one of our concerns. We have a standalone Tivo unit, but wanted one from DTV to be able to record 2 channels at once.

You can record two channels at once with the DirecTV branded DVRs.

 

[Atvar]

Thats very strange. I have a directivo that has never been hooked up to a phone line and other than a nag screen every once in a while, it works fine

 

[ericboo]

The reset seems to have fixed the guide data problem. Just noticed that the nag said I have not dialed in, in 1058 days.

Why start now

I am getting tired of Vonage and not being able to order PPV like it is supposed to.

Think I may just PTVnet again and get rid of the nag screens.

It is very odd as my other unit dials in, sometimes takes a few redials, but is successful even though Drectv tells me neither unit has connected in over a year.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Wait, so Direct TV still uses a Tivo box for it's DVR? I thought I heard that they dropped Tivo and went with another service/software.

There are still plenty of DirecTV subscribers out there that have DirecTivo boxes.

It is nearly impossible to get a new DirecTivo box from DirecTV though. They push their own DVRs. I was able to get a refurb though when I added a receiver to my new house.

Oh, OK. We were looking at moving from Dish to Direct and that was one of our concerns. We have a standalone Tivo unit, but wanted one from DTV to be able to record 2 channels at once.

You can record two channels at once with the DirecTV branded DVRs.

True, but it's not TiVo. I'm not sure how big a deal that is, but I've seen Dish's PVR, and it sucks when you're used to using Tivo. I'm afraid DirectTV's would be similar is suckitude.

Tivo > * PVR software I've ever used

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Wait, so Direct TV still uses a Tivo box for it's DVR? I thought I heard that they dropped Tivo and went with another service/software.

There are still plenty of DirecTV subscribers out there that have DirecTivo boxes.

It is nearly impossible to get a new DirecTivo box from DirecTV though. They push their own DVRs. I was able to get a refurb though when I added a receiver to my new house.

Oh, OK. We were looking at moving from Dish to Direct and that was one of our concerns. We have a standalone Tivo unit, but wanted one from DTV to be able to record 2 channels at once.

You can record two channels at once with the DirecTV branded DVRs.

True, but it's not TiVo. I'm not sure how big a deal that is, but I've seen Dish's PVR, and it sucks when you're used to using Tivo. I'm afraid DirectTV's would be similar is suckitude.

Tivo > * PVR software I've ever used

Agree. The DirecTV DVRs really can't hold a candle to the DirecTivos.