cannt connect please help

[jwauto]

i have a Phillies directv tivo
i get the can't connect error for about
2 days now i have restarted many time
unplugged all the line
and still get the error
the last call it made was an
update for some thing like 2.00 00.1
or some thing like that to 2.5
some thing
i picked up the phone and listing in and
it dials but does not ring and then it starts the modem
sounds is this a bad modem or bad update or what
please help
thanks

[DaveLessnau]

These are my generic things to try for download problems (I've arranged them from least to most troublesome):

- Pull the plug on your TiVo for a few moments and plug it back in.
- Unplug the phone line at every point from (and including) the TiVo to the wall jack. If you're using a wireless phone jack, also unplug all of them. Plug them all back in.
- Use a new/different phone cord.
- Plug into a different phone jack.
- If you have a DSL line, go to Radio Shack (or whatever is handy) and pick up a DSL micro-filter for $7-$10 and place it between the TiVo and the phone jack. There have been several posts here about the ones provided by the telephone companies not working. I've seen good reports on those made by 2Wire.
- Remove everything else from your phone line and try again. If successful, add them back one by one (that way, you'll find the culprit).
- Plug the phone line into that little box the phone company has outside your house. Disconnect the house and either run a very long phone line from your TiVo to it, or physically drag your TiVo and a monitor out there. If it works out there, then you probably have a problem with your internal wiring.
- In Messages & Setup -> Recorder & Phone Setup -> Phone Connection -> Change Dialing Options, set the Phone Available and the Dialtone Detection options to OFF.
- If you have call waiting, add the Call Waiting Prefix to turn it off (usually *70).
- If you have a DirecTiVo, add ",#034" (PAUSE ENTER 0 3 4)) to the Dial Prefix area of Change Dialing Options. That forces the modem to try to connect at a slower speed (only works with DirecTiVos).
- If available, you can also try a different dial in number: maybe the problem's actually at the server. Here's (http://www1.worldcom.com/global/about/network/pops/) the website for finding those numbers if you can't get an alternative via Phone Dialing Options. To manually enter a number, just put it into the Dailing Prefix area.
- With the Phone Available Detection and the Dialtone Detection options OFF, try picking up another phone and listen in while TiVo dials out. If it doesn't sound like a clear line, then line noise is your problem. You'll have to find the source of the noise and get it fixed. If the modems don't sound like they're handshaking and connecting properly, and you've tried alternate numbers as above, then I'd say your modem is dead.
- Go to that same Radio Shack (or whatever) and buy a wireless modem for $60-$70.
- If your telephone company is R C N, immediately unplug your TiVo from the wall jack and do a Search on this forum for "R C N" (no spaces, I put them in so this post won't show). There are a lot of threads stating their system and TiVo are incompatible.
- If you determine your modem is truly dead, you can either repair it or use a TurboNET/TiVoNET/AirNET card to connect via the internet. A good starting point for repairing it is http://www.9thtee.com/tivomodemrepair.htm . The *NET cards are also linked from that location (see the sidebar). If you go with internet access, make sure you do a Search across all the forums for, say, "turbonet". Some people have also gotten their old external modems to hook up to the TiVo's serial port. Do a Search for "external modem success" for more information. And, fairly recently, one person said that plugging the TiVo phone line into a phone line surge suppressor stops the TiVo from constantly grabbing the phone line.

[quijybo15]

i'm stuck in the guided setup routine. when it does the first 1-800 call, i listened in and the operator picks up and says "this number cannot be completed as dialed, please hang up and try again". any ideas? any way to get out of guided setup? reformat drive? TIA

[ccwf]

Originally posted by quijybo15
i'm stuck in the guided setup routine. when it does the first 1-800 call, i listened in and the operator picks up and says "this number cannot be completed as dialed, please hang up and try again". any ideas? any way to get out of guided setup? You can only get out of guided setup once the call has completed. Do you need to do anything special to dial 1-800 numbers with your phone? Any special prefixes? Do you need to wait a while to get a dialtone before making a call? Must you not wait too long after getting a dialtone when making a call? reformat drive? That seems extreme, and I don't see why it would help with placing a call. :)

[monkey69]

Originally posted by quijybo15
i'm stuck in the guided setup routine. when it does the first 1-800 call, i listened in and the operator picks up and says "this number cannot be completed as dialed, please hang up and try again". any ideas? any way to get out of guided setup? reformat drive? TIA

That happened to me as well. The good news is, I was able to figure out a way around it!

I have a Toshiba SD-H400 Combination Progressive-Scan DVD Player and TiVo Digital Media Server that I bought on Amazon about 2 weeks ago. (It’s my first TIVO and my first DVD player! Yay! Haha!)

So when I first did the “Guided Setup” it wouldn’t dial in, so like yourself, I picked up the phone line with my cordless phone while it was dialing and heard the woman go “please hang up and try again" etc. Then I tried hanging up the cordless and when I picked up the line again, the line was still not hanging up (I don’t have call waiting, by the way.)

So finally I figured out that the only way to get the phone line to hang up and get dial tone again is by unplugging the TIVO phone cord from the wall. Also, I figured out that the way to get TIVO to properly dial in is unplug the TIVO phone cord, wait until it says “DIALING” on the TIVO screen (this is after “PREPARING,” etc.), then right after you see “DIALING” on the screen, plug in the phone line right then…. Then what happens I guess is that the TIVO gets the dial tone it needs at the time it’s dialing and so I was able to download not just the initial “Guided Setup” but also the daily updates that way. But I had to force the TIVO to dial in daily at my time, in order to get my updates. And each time involves plugging the TIVO phone cord into the wall at the right time.

So I hope the above helps you, quijybo15. :)

Now I need help myself from DaveLessnau and/or others…. I have tried all the suggestions that DaveLessnau kindly listed for us here, like the filter, unplugging, turning it off, routing the phone line thru the power surge proctector, turning the TIVO settings from ON to OFF… Well, all except re-doing the Guided Setup… At first I thought re-doing Guided Setup would erase all my recorded programs, then this morning I read on my TIVO manual that it would not… But, question, would it erase the programs I saved to record under my “Season’s Pass Manager”?

Also, would re-doing Guided Setup make my TIVO act nice from now on and hang up the phone whenever it’s not downloading? Hehe…

Actually, the more pressing question I wanna ask all who are kind enough to respond, is this: my options now are:

(a) return the unit to Toshiba—I’m within the 90-day warranty so Toshiba will send me a spanking new unit (I called them). I think I have to pay shipping both ways, or at least that’s what my Toshiba manual says under the warranty section…

(b) keep the unit and just keep operating it the way I have been: force the manual downloads and plug in the phone line only as it’s dialing into the TIVO servers.

Actually, there’s another thing I thought was highly peculiar about my unit… When I unplug the power cord and the phone line from the unit for over half an hour (leaving the only thing plugged in the cable signal), then, get this, without plugging in the power cord, just by plugging in the TIVO phone cord into the wall, my phone signal goes dead right away.

In other words, I test my phone line on my cordless phone, the dial tone’s there, right? Then I hang up the cordless, plug in the TIVO phone cord into the wall—the TIVO being without electricity at all—then I check my cordless for dial tone and it’s gone! No signal, no dial tone, no lady going please hang up and try again". Nada, nothing!

In effect I can’t use my phone unless TIVO’s phone cord is unplugged, regardless of whether the TIVO has power or not…

Any ideas? Would getting a new unit solve my problem? Or would the new unit just do the same, since it seems like so many are having this problem with newly purchased TIVOs? Or would re-doing Guided Setup solve it? :confused:

Thanks, y’all! And I’m glad there’s a forum like this for us to help each other out. Long live the net! ;)

[Derek79]

I was just given a series 1 tivo from a friend. From the beginning I have been having the same problems you have. It can't dial unless you plug it in when it starts to dial. And when it is done downloading, it won't disconnect. Have you had any success because this is very annoying to have to do it manually everyday. Please help!!!!!!

[jtobin]

Originally posted by Derek79
I was just given a series 1 tivo from a friend. From the beginning I have been having the same problems you have. It can't dial unless you plug it in when it starts to dial. And when it is done downloading, it won't disconnect. Have you had any success because this is very annoying to have to do it manually everyday. Please help!!!!!!

Derek79,
I'm having the same problem. But I don't know that it's the machine. It worked at my old house, it still works at my father-in-law's house, but at my house, as soon as it starts "preparing to call" it sends some signal to my phone that makes the recorded operator say "If you'd like to make a call, pls hang up." I've turned off the phone detection. I've added pauses before dialing.

Thank you for your post, though, as you've given me a way to at least get data into my machine. If anyone knows why it's doing this, please let us know. I think it may have something to do with low phone voltage, but that's a guess... :confused:

[ccwf]

Jim and Derek79, if the two of you have not yet done so, you should try going through the items in DaveLessnau's list up above.

Additionally, there were a couple of people who reported having issues with weird phone systems that allowed TiVo to successfully dial only if the line were connected just as TiVo starts to dial. However, they did not report the inability to disconnect that the two of you have reported.

[jfrank100]

I have a Philips HRD31202 that is about 4 1/2 years old. While I was on vacation 2 weeks ago, my nightly dial in stopped working. I am seeing exactly what the two previous people mentioned. Tivo cannot dial in unless plugged in just before it tries to dial. I also have the problem where it won't release the phone line unless I unplug it.

It seems that the problem is that the modem is picking up the line early, without dialing during the 'preparing' phase, and before it can get to dial, the line gets the annoying MRRT, MRRT, MMRT... (which on some carriers is replaced with the nice "if you'd like to make a call" message).

What I can't figure out is why after 4 1/2 years this started happening. None of the other suggestions worked. I don't have the patience (or memory) to dial in manually and fiddle with the cord.

I would like to hear peoples thoughts on why this might be happening. In the meantime I may examine the broadband rout, though with a series 1 machine it may not be possible.

--John

[JimSpence]

I suspect that the modem in that unit has died. Look in the underground forum for solutions.

[jfrank100]

Of course I have thought that the modem might have died, however, if you plug the phone line in just before it wants to dial as mentioned above, it dials, handshakes, downloads and hangs up perfectly fine.

I'm not sure though. Anything is possible. I'm not well versed in all of the ways modems act when they begin to die.

Does anyone have a link to a place to make a HDR 31202 series 1 use the internet? I saw the vendor provided ethernet cards, but I don't really have the extra $70 right now, and I'm pretty technical, so if there are links to articles on where to buy generic cards with instructions on how to set them up, that would be great. I checked the underground and all I found was a lot of articles on upgraded the hard drive size and getting new disk images.

[ccwf]

Originally posted by jfrank100
Does anyone have a link to a place to make a HDR 31202 series 1 use the internet? I saw the vendor provided ethernet cards, but I don't really have the extra $70 right now Then there's the PPP over serial option.

[Luhmann]

I just wanted to report that I have the same problem.

I can connect manually, but if I leave the TiVo plugged in to the phone line, my other phones don't work and the line eventually goes dead.

I suppose I will eventually need to upgrade to a series 2 TiVo, or put an ethernet card into the this one. But I don't have the time or the money to do either right now.

I tried turning off dial tone checking, but it didn't help.

[Kr1spy]

I am having a similar problem. Mine wont connect manually or automatically. Either way i try i always get the same message "Failed-Phone Busy". I have tried all of the tips that DaveLessnau has suggested but i still can not dial outwards. I am on a Phillips HDR212. Any more suggestions?

[Monkeyface23]

I'm sorry for all of you having trouble. I am having the same problem only difference is I've had my Tivo for 3 years and have never had this problem before. It is a Sony 2000. I get the phone busy message as well. I have tried all your suggestions already and nothings working. I've got 3 days of info left. HELP!

[ccwf]

Originally posted by Kr1spy
I am having a similar problem. Mine wont connect manually or automatically. Either way i try i always get the same message "Failed-Phone Busy". I have tried all of the tips that DaveLessnau has suggested but i still can not dial outwards. Similar problem to which poster? Various people have reported different symptoms in this thread.

If the line is busy, try dialing the number manually to see if the number is, in fact busy. If so, there's a problem at the POP (place modems call into), and TiVoBill or someone should be PMed to take care of it. In the meantime, you could try a different number.

[zigmo]

I, too, am having connection problems.
I have a Phillips series 1 TiVo, software version 3.0-01-1-000 and my account is in good standing.
For the past few years, the TiVo has worked fine in this house and my previous house.
Recently, it has been unable to make the daily call, test call or even call to get phone numbers. Whenever I try I always get the same error - "Failed - can't connect."
I know the modem works as I've listened in on the line and heard it dial out and connect. It seems that it's not handshaking, though.
Troubleshooting steps I've tried:
It was originally working on a split phone line but I moved it to a new phone jack anyway - no luck.
I restarted the recorder and reset the modem (unplug phone line, unplug TiVo, wait and re-plug in)
I've used a different phone cord.
I've verified both cords work by attaching a phone to them and dailed out from the jack the TiVo is plugged into.
I've unplugged every other phone in the house and tried to call.
I've plugged the TiVo directly into the cable modem (it's where my phone line comes into the house)
I've set the Phone Available and the Dialtone Detection options to OFF.

I'm very frustrated as the problem simply appeared and I'd done absolutely nothing to the phone system before it happened. Any suggestions to help me restore functionality to my TiVo would be most appreciated.

[ccwf]

Originally posted by zigmo
I know the modem works as I've listened in on the line and heard it dial out and connect. It seems that it's not handshaking, though. Are you familiar enough with the handshaking sounds to tell if the problem is at your end or the POP's? POP's do have a modem go into a bad state now and then.

If you're not sure, try a different dial-in number to see if it's a problem with the local POP. (And maybe try a number far away since a single POP can have multiple phone numbers.)

Also, filling out your location (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/member.php?s=&action=editprofile) in your account info will help to see if anyone else in your area is having problems.

[zigmo]

Well, if I dial the number on my phone, I can hear the tones (from what I guess you're referring to as the POP - don't know what that stands for) so I guess the POP's modem is working - at least well enough to make a tone. Not familiar enough to know if it's a "good" tone or not.
My first stage of troubleshooting was going to be try a different number. Unfortunately, when I enter my area code and it tries to retrieve a list of numbers, I also get the "failed - can't connect" error message.
I got a list of alternate numbers online that I was going to try, but I can't find a place to manually enter the new dial-in number. The only place I ever remember seeing a choice is after it dials in to get a list of available numbers.
btw, thanks for the location suggestion, too. I have filled it out. For the record, I'm in Rockway, New Jersey in Morris County.

[ccwf]

Originally posted by zigmo
Unfortunately, when I enter my area code and it tries to retrieve a list of numbers, I also get the "failed - can't connect" error message. Are you repeating guided setup? Don't repeat guided setup when a modem may not be working since you can't get out until the call goes through.

If you're not in guided setup, you can force a call to any number by entering the complete number as your custom dial prefix.

[zigmo]

No - I didn't repeat the guided setup. I read about the problems that could happen if you already can't dial in.
Thanks for the custom dial prefix suggestion. I'll try that and see what happens.
Now's the time for a Christmas Miracle!

[zigmo]

Well, I tried setting another dial-in number as a prefix and while it did dial in, it still didn't work. Just to be sure, I tried a few different numbers, but no luck on any of them.
On a suggestion from a friend, I put a new surge supressor on the TiVo and ran the phone line through it, but that didn't work either.
Barring any other suggestions, I fear I may have to call Phillips and cough up the $20.

[jfrank100]

For the record, I have posted to this thread in the past with the same problem everyone else is having. It was suggested to me (as you can go back and read) that the modem may be failing.

I really disagree with that assesment. I think there is a software problem or some kind of PROM/EPROM problem that could be causing the issue. My problem started back in August, and still exists. In that 4 month period, the modem has not died. It just gives the busy message. My analysis is that the modem is picking up the phone line too early, on the "Initializing" status, instead of on the "Dialing" status. By the time the unit goes through housekeeping, the phone line has been picked up for too long and the call fails. Some people get the 'Doo-doo-doo - please hang up and try' and others don't. The issues is still the same. The modem picked up the phone line to eary and held it too long without dialing.

For 4 months I have been connecting successfully using Monkey69's solution of keeping the phone line unplugged, making the call manually, and when I see the status switch to "Housekeeping", I plug in the phone line. Within 10 seconds the status changes to "Dialing" and everything works fine, and the call completes. When it hangs up, I reach around and unplug the phone line again until the next time I remember to dial in.

Good luck with your system.

[zigmo]

Well, I coughed up the $20 and Phillips pretty much confirmed that my modem is working. They've suggested a location test (ie - take it to someone else's house) which I will do.
I harranged my phone provider (optimum voice) and they reluctantly confirmed that they don't support analog phone connection devices (TiVo series one and my fax machine, for example). The fact that it worked for 8 months previously they attributed to my good luck.
I'm going to have their technicians attempt to find out why my lines used to work, but in the meantime it has been suggested that I purchase an analog-digital converter dongle for my phone jack as that might help. So, that's my next step in the odyssey to revive my TiVo.

[epcohen]

Zigmo- I am from NJ, have OptiumVoice (Voice over IP) and experiencing the same problem. I have gone over 6 months with no problems up until this month. It has been over two weeks since my last call and my TIVO is dead (not really, I just can't use it). After reading your post I went right to Radio Shack to pick up the analog-digital converter for $10. I wish I could tell you it work, but it didn't. I then called OptiumVoice and they told me there have been numerous complaints from OptiumVoice/TIVO customers and started an investigation. They said they can't do much for me and suggested that I call TIVO. I called TIVO and waited 45 minutes for a CS representative. They say that the OptiumVoice must have widened the bandwidth which is not preventing the analog TIVO system to communicate over my digital phone service to my TIVO unit. Their only suggestion is to upgrade to a series 2 unit. I really don't know what to do now. All I can do is hope that OptiumVoice has a solution because the guy I spoke to said they might have to enable a prefix of some sort. Anything you find out please let me know ASAP because I don't know how long I can be without the unit functioning. I unfortunately am stuck in Guide Setup because I thought I had to get another number.

[zigmo]

Thanks for letting me know about the Analog-Digital converter. I hadn't had time to pick one up yet - now I won't bother.
It's frustrating, because, as you know, everything *did* work until recently. I can hear TiVo dialing up and the POP responding, but there's just a little something missing on the line that I guess it needs to connect.
You'll be happy to know that I've been bugging OptimumVoice (I also have phone drop-off issues) about this. I even went so far as to demand they restore my service to the level it was a month ago. When they said they couldn't, I told them to consult their change logs and put everything back the way it was. I knew they wouldn't, but It was fun to say.
Needless to say, I escalated the problem and I'm having another technician come over tomorrow to try to fix the problem they insist they won't support. I'll keep you updated.

[seanh]

Hi everyone,

I just got my series 1 TiVo, and I'm having the same problems as everybody else. One difference, though, is that when I pick up the phone to listen in on the TiVo dialing in, I can hear the dialing and the dial tone, etc, but I also hear a horrendous static-type noise. Is that normal for a TiVo?

I've checked the code and the jack, and it's not coming from either of those pieces.

Thanks,

Sean

[seanh]

Cord. I checked the cord. Not the code. Doh.

[jebaad]

I too live in Rockaway NJ and started having the same problem with the phone connection on 12/16/04. Nothing's changed in my setup and I'm been using the TIVO for 4+ years here. Tried all the fixed that were suggected in this thread and nothing works. Any other ideas?

[ccwf]

Originally posted by jebaad
started having the same problem with the phone connection Posters have reported various phone problems in this thread, so what symptoms are you seeing, specifically?

[seanh]

Actually, I was able to work around it by apply a version of a solution I read on here--the "don't plug the line in" one.

I've timed it so that I know when it's about to pick up the line to make the call. If I come onto the line on another phone before it picks up and dials, all is well. If I miss it, even by half a second, I pick up and hear terrible static and noise--not normal modem noise, mind you.

Anyway, that's how I'll have to get around it until I can work on getting it onto a network.

The symptoms I've been seeing are the same as everybody else has reported here--error messages saying no dial tone, no connection, etc. Either plugging the phone line in or picking up the phone just before dialing seem to prevent the problem. This happens on the 2 setup calls and on regular update calls.

I know that my TiVo (1st gen) was a refurb, but I don't know what was and wasn't touched. I just received it for Xmas and set it up last week.

Sean

[zigmo]

In diagnosing other phone problems I had a long talk with the technicians and the confirmed that Cablevision received far more phone customers than they expected. That's why our bandwidth sucks and our series 1 Tivo's stopped working.
I eventually gave up and got a series 2 - though even that had some trouble dialing in. It eventually worked and now I use that.
My old series 1 is destined for hackdom.

[cmccallion]

I live in Northern NJ and have Optimum Voice and experienced the same thing last month (December 04). My Series-1 Tivo had been dialing in successfully for months using my Optimum Voice service, but since December, I get the "Failed. Can't connect" error message. I tried all of the fixes and thought my modem had died, so I ordered an external one from weaknees, but that did not work either. It must have to do with a bandwidth change on Cablevision's end. I will try pestering them for a solution. Please post if anyone finds a solution.

[jebaad]

I too live in northern NJ, Rockaway. I had the same problem starting around 12/6/04. Figured out that when I took the TV over to my neighbors that I could connect to no problem so I figured the Tivo was OK. Got the phone company out 3 times and on the third visit the guy suggested that we disconnect some of the wires on the Tivo everything but the coxial out to the TV. Well it work, connected right up. So started plugging things in one by one and testing. Turns out the cable in was the problem. If I disconnect the cable in I can make the phone call and then reconnect the cable. This is a Series one Sony 2000 box.

[zigmo]

So the Coaxial in to the TiVo was causing the problems?
That is bizarre.
Well, I still have my Series 1 - I guess I'll hook it up to another TV and try that.

[thurman]

has tivo made any changes to make this work...has anybody had any luck in using tivo with optimum voice ?

[zigmo]

Not that I know of. I wound up upgrading to a series2.
My Optimum Voice has been better so it might work now.

[mec1991]

Amazing...

4 new posters in this one thread whose user ID begins with the letter "j"

jwauto
jtobin
jfrank100
jebaad

No point really, just strikes me as odd...

[cartb]

to all that posted fixes for the "modem" problem
the workaround sux but at least i got connectivity again
still don't understand how it worked in previous home but not in this one

[azucker]

I went on vacation and returned to my Series 1 Phillips receiver not being able to call out. I tried all the troubleshooting tips and still get a Failed Line Unavailable prompt. The line is good and I have tried everything.

Does anyone have any fixes for this. I paid lifetime a long time ago and don't want to start from scratch.

Thanks

[ccwf]

I went on vacation and returned to my Series 1 Phillips receiver not being able to call out. I tried all the troubleshooting tips and still get a Failed Line Unavailable prompt. The line is good and I have tried everything. I assume you have tried turning off the line availability detection?

Don't despair: there are a number of workarounds, including an external modem, modem repair kits, repair services, PPP over serial, and network cards (TurboNET, CacheCARD, AirNET). I generally recommend an external modem since you can find external 28.8kbps modems for about $15 (although these are getting scarce) and 56kbps external modems starting at about $30.

[dbranco]

Are you repeating guided setup? Don't repeat guided setup when a modem may not be working since you can't get out until the call goes through.

If you're not in guided setup, you can force a call to any number by entering the complete number as your custom dial prefix.

I got a message on my TiVo this morning that says that the dial-in number that I have been using is no longer in service (and to set up a different dial-in number thru Msgs & Setup). Unfortunately, there is a catch-22 here - it needs to use the *current ly-set dial-in number* to dial in and get a new number!!

So that I can follow ccwf's excellent suggestion above, could someone possibly provide some dial-in number(s) for me to try? I am located in Massachusetts in the 978 area code (Lowell). Other towns that are local to me are Billerica, Dracut, Methuen, Chelmsford, and Westford. If someone could possibly provide dial-in number(s) for any of those towns, I would MUCH appreciate it!

An 800-number would be sufficient as well.

Thanks so much,
Deb

[dbranco]

FOUND IT!

TiVo website allows you to enter your area code and get a list of local dial-in numbers.

http://www3.tivo.com/tivo-misc/popfinder.do

Deb

[zigmo]

You can get a list of dial-up numbers here --> http://www3.tivo.com/tivo-misc/popfinder.do

Good luck

[hitchmag]

I have two Series 2 TiVos. Beginning Aug. 31, they both stopped successfully connecting to the service at night. This day happened to coincide with my upgrading our DSL service with SBC to DSL Pro (which both TiVo and SBC say shouldn't matter).

Yet after downgrading the DSL Pro back to DSL plain (Sept. 8), one of the TiVos was able to start making calls again.

But the other one has not. I have followed all the tips on the TiVo site and this forum, and spent about an hour on the phone with TiVo support. They left me with "try a shorter phone cord," but that has not worked either. Yes, DSL filters are installed on the phone lines and have been for a solid year.

I would assume the modem is dead, except that the TiVo *will* connect successfully to get access numbers. It's just in trying to connect to either of the two access numbers (I'm in Oklahoma City) that it fails every time.

Thoughts/suggestions? A TiVo friend here in OKC also reported having sporadic connection problems, but nearly two weeks of failed connections is far from sporadic. Thanks!

[brenrher]

This past week and a half is my turn with this issue. Actually the first problem I have had with my TiVO Series 2 ever. After two years plus, my TiVO stopped dialing out. Failed. Line unavailable. I have tried every fix suggested in this thread. I know it's not the modem, not the number, not my telephone lines, not the phone company, etc. Urghhhh! Guess I have to go wireless....

[hitchmag]

Since I posted this problem, my original TiVo has made a grand total of one successful call, on the day it was to run out of programming info. Now it's back to unsuccessful. I even replaced the phone in our house, thinking maybe it was a noise interference issue. No go. I give up.

[TheMagicSponge]

Alright, same problem as many of you but the proffered solution isn't working.

Had my system for years w/ lifetime subscription - just stopped calling out end of october. Tried all of the fixes from above, including plugging in when TiVo is "dialing," nothing has worked. Some observations that I hope mean something to the rest of you:

1) As soon as I plug the phone line into Tivo, it picks up the phone - regardless of whether there is a call being made or not. All attached phones say "line in use" etc.

2) When I plug the phone line into Tivo (and listen on a phone receiver) the dial tone volume immediately cuts in half and then slowly seems to fade.

3) When I initially was dealing with this problem, I had a dial in number - now that is gone too, and I obviously cannot call out to get one (nor can I find the "dial custom number" option that you all speak of).

Any thoughts? Should I just send it in for fix (weaknees has fixed it before) or can I take care of this myself?

[TheMagicSponge]

Some additional thoughts:

-I just switched phone companies, and now appear to have caller ID (same hones, but now people's names are actually showing up when they call). Can this have any effect?

-Problem seems to be that Tivo modem is picking up phone line, but then not dialing - never hear it dial out, only dial tone until error message.

[brenrher]

So since the last post, I went wireless and it worked immediately and just fine! Then we bought another house and I thought...this will be problematic. Hard wired was, wireless was not. So my thought is the modem is kaput. As long as wireless continues to work.....

[af4ia]

Slightly different problem - I have a DSL line from BellSouth with a DSL filter. My new TiVo cannot connect unless I first pick up a phone (thereby initiating the dial tone) before TiVo dials. TiVo service recommended I return the unit because they suspected a bad modem, but the replacement unit does exactly the same thing. My phone settings ignore dial tone and availability, set "*70," for call waiting.

[ccwf]

Slightly different problem - I have a DSL line from BellSouth with a DSL filter. My new TiVo cannot connect unless I first pick up a phone (thereby initiating the dial tone) before TiVo dials. Have you tried adding pauses to the start of your dial string to make the DVR wait between the time it picks up the line and the time it starts dialing digits?

[af4ia]

Great idea to add pauses before the call waiting and local phone string, but that didn't work either. The work-around of picking up a phone when "dialing" appears continues to work, but is a large bother.

[ccwf]

Great idea to add pauses before the call waiting and local phone string, but that didn't work either. The work-around of picking up a phone when "dialing" appears continues to work, but is a large bother. OK. It's possible you might have the opposite timing problem. Unfortunately, I forget the workaround for that. Perhaps someone else remembers.

The other possibility that comes to mind is a voltage problem. If you have a multimeter or a friend/neighbor with one, try measuring the voltage in the wires to your phone jack used by the TiVo DVR to see if they are proper. Telephone miswiring is a too frequent problem (the telephone wiring in my new house was totally botched), and the TiVo DVR modems can be sensitive to such issues.

Of course, since you have DSL, you could just network your TiVo DVR and not use the phone jack at all.

[Lab4man]

I too had problems dialing in October, I got the phone busy error. I went through everything listed above and the only thing that worked was entering the entire dial in number into the prefix field. It seemed to work....until I got my latest phone bill with 252 calls to the number a $0.06 each.