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No local dial-in numbers in any area code

41K views 113 replies 46 participants last post by  timkelco 
#1 ·
Greetings!

I have a Hughes SD-DVR40 on which I recently did a "clear and delete everything" reset. It boots successfully, and I can watch live TV. The problem is that, in order to record shows, I have to make an initial phone call.

Ostensibly, the purpose of this first phone call is to download a list of local dial-up numbers for my specified local area code. The TiVo is able to complete this first call successfully (without having to put a different phone number in as a dialing prefix). The problem is that, after completing the first call, it tells me that there are no local dial-in numbers available in my area code and that I should try a different nearby area code.

I'm calling from Atlanta, and I have other TiVos that successfully call out to a local number in my area code, so I don't believe that there are actually no dial-up numbers here. Secondly, I've tried dozens of other area codes from different major cities, and it tells me there aren't any local dial-in numbers in any of those area codes either.

Any ideas?
 
#27 ·
Same boat as everyone else here... No numbers available no matter what area code I put in, including 800.

Does anyone know the number that the DirecTivo dials to get the local numbers? I had an issue on an old SA Series 1 TiVo with the modem partially bad... I ended up having to dial the number myself and then plug the phone line and TiVo would take it the rest of the way. The number it dialed to get the list of numbers was 877-877-1756.
 
#28 ·
I am going on 14 days of frustration.

I have an old DirecTiVo RCA DVR40 and bought a new hard drive. The install went great and all was good until I got to the Update Local Numbers screen of the Guided Setup.

I spent several days talking to DirecTV, TiVo and AT&T Uvers. I was told that the call won't work with Uverse Voice so I called AT&T to turn the phone line back to the analog phone line. (The tech then proceeded to break our internet connection, but that's another story). Suffice it to say that the phone call still didn't work and I continued to get the dreaded "You have no dial in numbers for that area code" screen.

I then called DirecTV and asked straight away to talk to a supervisor. After I spoke with the supervisor on Friday, Aug 20, at about 3 PM (PST), I was told that she was sending an email to TiVo to have them send my box an 800 number that could be used for my daily call. I tried to explain that it's not the daily call that I'm trying to get, but she cut me off and said it would work in 48 - 72 hours. (Not sure if that is business hours or real-time hours).

At least I know I'm not alone. I'll let you know what happens.
 
#29 ·
I spoke to DirecTV last night about this, and was told they would set it up to call my TiVo so that I would be able to record - but it could take up to 24 hours. 24 hours later, still no luck.

This is ****ing ridiculous... Is there some way to hack into the file system on the TiVo and trick it into thinking the call was made and put in a local number?
 
#31 ·
My Tivo is working! It updated early this morning. I can now set up season passes and record. It still can not find any numbers in my area code. I did enter the local phone number and the 1 - area code into the prefix dialing but I don't know if that helped. It was scheduled to call for an update the last three nights, but none of those worked until this morning.
 
#32 ·
I got my Tivo back from Weaknees today. Same problem as everyone else.
Has anyone elses dialed in on it's own?
TDJ, did you do anything to your setup to help it along?

PK
I tried all of those strange codes for the dial in prefix. But, none of that worked. I tried dozens of times to retrieve the numbers and the calls succeeded but said that there were no numbers for my area code. My DVR just made the normal call on its own one day out of the blue and I don't know why. I do think it is encouraging for everyone else that DianaD just had the same thing happen. It could be just a matter of time for everyone elses DVR to make a successful call.
 
#34 ·
I am going on 14 days of frustration.

I have an old DirecTiVo RCA DVR40 and bought a new hard drive. The install went great and all was good until I got to the Update Local Numbers screen of the Guided Setup.

I spent several days talking to DirecTV, TiVo and AT&T Uvers. I was told that the call won't work with Uverse Voice so I called AT&T to turn the phone line back to the analog phone line. (The tech then proceeded to break our internet connection, but that's another story). Suffice it to say that the phone call still didn't work and I continued to get the dreaded "You have no dial in numbers for that area code" screen.

I then called DirecTV and asked straight away to talk to a supervisor. After I spoke with the supervisor on Friday, Aug 20, at about 3 PM (PST), I was told that she was sending an email to TiVo to have them send my box an 800 number that could be used for my daily call. I tried to explain that it's not the daily call that I'm trying to get, but she cut me off and said it would work in 48 - 72 hours. (Not sure if that is business hours or real-time hours).

At least I know I'm not alone. I'll let you know what happens.
I just called DirecTV again and the sent another signal (that I suspect is only for Live TV and then tried to sell me more HD channel). Still no local numbers. Ugh!
 
#35 ·
Just curious here... and frustrated as hell. I notice my DSR704 has USB ports. If I buy a TiVo wireless adapter, would I possibly be able to get to get past this whole issue? Since my understanding is that the number that is called is just a UUNET number to connect to the internet. This may not work however if it's a server issue on TiVo's part. However it seems like this is mostly a DirecTV issue (although I don't know how) - because I don't see anyone with a standalone complaining of the same issue.
 
#36 ·
I installed a new hard drive in my HDVR2 but when I finally made the dreaded call to DT, they said I had go clear everything. Prior to that I just could not record or see recorded shows, but I could search for phone numbers in the guided setup, and it returned them OK. Now no phone numbers after the clear everything!
Question: are these numbers belonging to DirecTV or TiVo? I suspect if they are TiVo numbers, DT* has not restored the correct "800" number to retrieve the local numbers we need. Although I've heard that DT* is coming with a new TiVo box, it appears that the tech supports are not helping each other. Just a suspicion on my part. Hope someone gets a good answer!!
 
#37 ·
Just another voice to add to the frustration. I replaced a failing drive in my Directv R10, deleted and cleared everything (I had no functioning backup so I had to use instantcake), and I'm currently stuck on "There are no local dial-in numbers for your area code."

Highly annoying.
 
#38 ·
Has anyone contacted Weaknees or DVR Upgrade about this issue? Seems like if word about this gets out, they are going to lose a portion of their customer base. That would seem to give them incentive to figure out what's going on and possibly correct it or get in touch with someone at DirecTV who can.

As for the initial call, I'm not sure about how that works. I know that the DirecTivo units call home to TiVo AND DirecTV. The TiVo call is once a week I think, and the DirecTV call about once a month (to report PPV purchases).

I think all TiVo does is call a UUNET number (which should be on TiVo's side) to create an internet connection. I just tried getting phone numbers in a different area code on an older standalone (non DirecTV) TiVo and it got the numbers just fine. That leads me to believe this is not something that TiVo can fix - it's almost definitely a DirecTV issue.
 
#39 ·
We're very well aware of the issue - see our responses above in this thread.

We've got our own thread about it here:

http://www.********.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4225

and we're encouraging people to leave their units connected to both phone and satellite. There have been several reported circumstances where the units have authorized themselves somehow in that configuration. We haven't had it happen in the office yet, but something does seem to be working for some users.
 
#41 ·
We're very well aware of the issue - see our responses above in this thread.

We've got our own thread about it here:

http://www.********.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4225
__________________________________________________________

Sorry weaknees, but the link you gave didn't work for me. Then I assumed
the asterisks should be replaced by your name (weaknees). That took me to a site map, but the link that I thought was relative just repeated the site map. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or the link has been broken. (or my assumptions were wrong!)
My unit still has not connected by itself - hoping! I'm going to be away from home for a few days, but I will check back here to see if anyone finds a solution.
 
#42 ·
I tried to provide the word you need to replace the astericks with in order to see the other thread, but it blocked that as well. :rolleyes:

It's easy to find though..just go into Weaknees forums, open any thread, and change the last four digits in the URL to "4225".

Regardless, it's just another thread of people having the same issue.

Add me to the list of victims. Going on 9 days now. I'll keep you all posted if I see any changes.
 
#43 ·
TDJ,DianD, What was the phone setup just prior to the autonomous calls that went through. I am assuming that you tried some of the suggestions in this thread, and wonder if something other that default settings were there. Was your area code set? Any clue to help the rest of us?
Thanks to all!
 
#44 ·
Still no local access numbers.

Customer Service (after a couple of minutes of "let me check just one more thing") asked me for my Service Number (found under System Information) to forward to TiVo. She said that in 3-4 days my receiver should have another toll-free dial in number to use for setup and ongoing calls.
First time they've offered to contact TiVo for me, or asked for any info from the receiver.

Does this sound like another ploy to keep me away from them for another few days?
 
#45 ·
I just activated 2 machines that I got of ebay and have the same problem with no local dial-in numbers.

However, I used InstantCake to create clean hard drives, and it didn't require a "clean-and-delete-all". Both machines are actually working fine now that the new access cards have been enabled by DirecTV.

For some reason they're able to connect for their daily call even though the phone number is blank and the phone setup for my local area code can't find any numbers.

Don't know what's going on, but I guess that I got lucky.
 
#47 ·
I contacted Exec. Cust Care this morning. I can't post URLs, but you can find the form at the directv website. At the bottom of the home page go to Our Company, then use the link on the left side for Executive Team.

David called me this afternoon, and agreed with the CSR about sending my Service Number to TiVo.

I also asked him to check this forum to see what everyone's been reporting.
 
#48 ·
Same boat as everyone else here... No numbers available no matter what area code I put in, including 800.

Does anyone know the number that the DirecTivo dials to get the local numbers? I had an issue on an old SA Series 1 TiVo with the modem partially bad... I ended up having to dial the number myself and then plug the phone line and TiVo would take it the rest of the way. The number it dialed to get the list of numbers was 877-877-1756.
What steps did you follow to get this to work?
 
#51 ·
Well I also have the same success story as TDJ my Tivo units both have not completed a successfull service connection call which now I can record programs on the units.

Suceess
How long did you have this problem before you realized it was working? Last night DTV told me they were going to send my service number to Tivo who would then send an 800 number to my box...at some point in the next 3-4 days. I miss my Tivo :( When my old drive crashed I never dreamed I'd have so much trouble. I'd buy a Directivo in a heartbeat if they'd come out with it already!
 
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