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Working *FIX* for all DTIVO Dial In Problems. - DTV shuts down DTIVO setup lines!

49K views 129 replies 61 participants last post by  fooz 
#1 ·
Here is a WORKING fix for all having a problem dialing in with local access numbers. It is now known for a fact that initial first call access numbers (DTV units only)
are no longer being answered in the other side. This is leaving a lot of us unable to move forward with recording as the unit needs this initial OK to unlock recording access
DTV is now moving forward in phasing out ALL PRIOR NON UPGRADEABLE TIVO units from its lineup.

The main call in numbers are now FULLY disconnected. This forces you to call DTV and trade in your receiver. They are starting to offer FREE HD DVR now pending the situation.

WORK AROUND TO CALL IN AND KEEP YOUR TIVO

go to tivo.com
http://www3.tivo.com/tivo-misc/popfinder.do
enter your area code and look for your local dial in number.

then upon setup for the first dial in, enter your area code as normal.
and then ENTER the entire phone number listed from TIVO website 1+AC+Number
into the CALL PREFIX SECTION. No spaces, or commas.

Adjust Phone Available to ON
Dial Tone Detection; OFF

This forces DTV to dial the prefix number as a whole prior to
dialing in the 'no answer' number
catching on to setup info modem talk , etc, etc...

All will automatically update from there. additional numbers will appear, continue setup as normal.
It is the ONLY way around unless you open your unit to mod.

Also DO NOTE that if you have originally MOD' your hard drive prior to CLEARING & DELETING
this dial in fix WILL NOT work or NEGOTIATE with mod settings prior. You will have to reinstall a clean image otherwise all will hang,

HOPE this helps. I tested this on all four of my dtivo units as yes...I got stuck too,
 
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#77 ·
You can still find the integrated TiVo boxes on the used market. I would take comments on the new DirecTV boxes with a shaker of salt, especially if you read them here. Most people like them, some don't. I have some of each and find them - different. Each has advantages and disadvantages. If you're into HD, then the new boxes are a definite plus.
You don't specify R15s or HR20s. Seems people are happier with their HR20s than their R15s. If I paid anything over the receiver fees for my R15s they'd be back at DirecTV now.

With a standalone DVR, you lose dual tuners, Dolby Digital, direct recording of the satellite signal (hence lower picture quality for more disk space usage) and pay much higher monthly fees. You gain the networking features.
None of this is true for the Series3 units (Except higher monthly fees - Granted they do not work with satellite, but you do not specify that, only 'a standalone DVR').
 
#83 ·
I just gave my R10 to my Dad. He already had an R6000 and two plain receivers, so I swapped out one of the plain receivers. Problem is, he lives in another state with another area code, so we ran into the "Service Not Responding" issue too. It is currently not fixed as of April 12, and I couldn't get the OP's trick to work, even when varying the Dial Tone and Phone Available settings.

Fortunately, everything's working except the dialing out. Still, I want to get this fixed somehow.

The one thing I didn't do is add the "1" before the area code. In his state (Massachusetts) those calls usually won't go through. I suppose it's worth another try. The instructions were a little confusing, at least for an R10, because there are two call prefix settings, one to disable call waiting, and one for using a PBX, I think.
 
#84 ·
Just did an initial setup, following the first poster's directions only it wouldn't work until I put Phone Availability back to Off and Dial Tone back to On.

Since it was the first dial-in (looking up dial in numbers for my area?) there were no list of numbers to choose so i don't know what number it was trying to dial. I inserted a number for my area (16022318686) into the prefix and it worked for the two calls it needed to enable the recording function on my R10 DTivo.

Thanks.
Which prefix did you use on your R10, the call waiting prefix, or the other one?

Thanks!

PS> I'm all fixed now, though other R10 owners might want to know the answer. Like oboebjt, I just got lucky one time during a regular setup call to the toll-free number!
 
#85 ·
as of 4/15/08 the situation continues. spoke to a "resolution" person and while she did not in so many words confirm this situation exists she did not deny it. she immediately issued me credit for an r-15 unit which they had shipped to replace my TiVo and made a note that i should refuse it and have it go back to DTV.

My thanks for positing the work around. It worked like a charm
Wascallywabbit
 
#86 ·
I did a "clear and delete" on a dying Series 1 Sat T-60 yesterday. I got hung up on the initial dial-in but after retrying about 10 times it finally connected and gave me the local numbers. Then I chose a local number and had the same problem. Again patience and about 10 tries got me through.
 
#87 ·
UPDATE: It's extremely frustrating that it's taking the telcos this long to figure things out, but the issue is not as straightforward as it would seem. Reports like oboebjt's show that if someone just keeps trying (10+ times) it may eventually connect. As such, the overall call volume drops are intermittent (we're already only a small part of the total call volume through their systems) and makes it hard for them to pinpoint the cause.

Keep in mind:
* Toll free phone connections are a small part of TiVo's overall call volume, as most customers that make a daily call do so using a local number.
* Many customers perform Guided Setup using a phone line on any given day and are not having this problem.

Please continue to PM me with the phone number your DVR is calling from as well as the time of day (including timezone). We're trying to feed those examples on a daily basis, so it helps to get examples the same day to help them figure out what's going on.

Thank you for your patience.
 
#89 ·
Thanks for the great workaround. My Tivo is recording again. WooHoo!

I hope the telco figures this out quickly. DirecTV may not be deliberately taking advantage of the situation, but the net effect is not good for Tivo. DTV Tech Support is just sending out new (non-Tivo) DVRs to solve the problem.

That is what they did for me. Hopefully my Tivo will keep working and I can send the new one back.
 
#94 ·
Sorry to report Jerry but the sticks can't connect to the home-world.
The fact that units previously unable to connect are now connecting means that remaining reports may either be (1) this issue still lingering in certain areas or (2) an unrelated issue in need of further diagnosing. I'm going to want to collect a volume of reports over the weekend to get a better idea of whether or not the issue reported here has been completely resolved.

In the meantime, the following questions come to mind to anyone encountering phone connection issues:
* Are you able to make a connection using a non-toll free number forced as a dial prefix? If not, you need to troubleshoot your phone lines further.
* Were you connecting regularly right up to a certain point, or is this the first time in awhile you're trying to connect? If you haven't connected in awhile, it's hard to claim that the phone environment is beyond question.
* Are you certain you have analog phone service, rather than digital such as that provided by Vonage, Comcast Digital Voice, Time Warner Voice, and AT&T U-verse?
* If you have DSL, are you using a filter on the DVR's line? And are you using 4 or less filters in the home (they have a cumulative dampening effect)?
* Do you have voicemail on the line that puts a stutter tone on the line for a few seconds? If so, add two commas to the beginning of your dial prefix to insert a 4 second pause before dialing.

A few other basic Troubleshooting steps:
* Try turning off phone detections.
* Remove splitters.
* Try a different phone cord.
* Try a different phone jack.
* Disconnect all other phone devices, especially those with Caller ID, temporarily. If the call connects, use process of elimination to figure out what is causing issues.
 
#97 ·
I just got another second hand SDVR-80. I hooked it up to just to see if it works, but without a valid access card. I can get the one preview channel, but nothing else, as expected. I tried to get it to call in, but it can't connect. Do I have to have a valid access card to get it to dial in, or am I having the same type of problem as reported on this thread or some other problem?
 
#100 ·
I think part of my problem may be that I have poor line quality, with a lot of noise. I could not even get my the fax part of my new all in one printer to work. I may have to bring it to a friends house to get it to call in. Do I need to do that before I call DTV to add the unit to my account?
 
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