[Seneca]

Ok...

I have Series2 Tivo. For some reason it's not connecting (it uses dial-up).

I checked the system information. The last time it connected successfully, was on September 30th. Yes, I got the messages that the program info was running low, I guess. Didn't really pay attention to it until now. Now it's going to run out tomorrow or sometime today. Finally got my attention.

So, I ran the testing of the phone connection. Several times. Even changed the number. It always says "Service not answering".

After pressing select, says that "there may be a problem with your current dial-in number (P08)."

And, yes, I unplugged the telephone lines and connected it back. And ran the testing connection again. No dice.

Honestly, I'm not sure what to do. It has used the same dial-up connection since 2004. And as already stated, I did change the numbers several times.

What other information should I have provided in order to trouble-shoot this problem?

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

 

[classicsat]

Try dialling the number on a phone to see if the number still is a modem number.

Otherwsise search for other numbers you can set up the TiVo to call, or network your TiVo to a broadband connection.

 

[mick66]

You could also try restarting the Tivo to see if that clears up the problem.

 

[Seneca]

Well, I rebooted it. Should have done that earlier...

Went back to the phone connection....

You know how it goes through "preparing", "connecting", "getting info", "disconnecting", and "loading info"?

It's been on "getting info" for like the past hour and half!!!!!!!!!

Is this normal?

Edited to add this....

Oy vey!!!!!

It's stopped working...

Went back to the testing the phone connection, and again, it says "service not answering"....

Tried flipping to another number again......

Huh, that actually worked.

Now it's back to connecting.....

I'll update this if it works. Fingers crossed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited Again!!!!!!!!!!

What do I do????????

When it gets to the "Getting info" part, and stays on that, then it says that "call interrupted"!!!!!!!!!!!! Again for like the third time!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm now officially going slightly bonkers.

It can't be because it's not connecting, since it is connecting. It can't be because it wasn't rebooted, since it was. It can't be because the phone line wasn't working because how else could the connection have worked???????

 

[Seneca]

Well, in case anyone else has some other suggestions, I would be more than happy to hear them...

Story so far, called tivo, talked to someone who said basically because I kept doing the phone connection thing, that it sort of reset it, and to leave it alone and it'll connect eventually on its own in several calls.

I tried to explain to her that the situation has been like this since Sept 30th, and I didn't touch the tivo until yesterday, meaning testing the phone connection, changing the numbers and all that, so, it had a lot of time between Sept 30th till yesterday to "connect".

She kept reiterating the same statement...and I kept trying to explain the timing of it and how it had a lot of time to resolve it on its own and if there was any other potential problem to troubleshoot. She really wasn't interested in trying to troubleshoot it any other way.

This is not a slam against Tivo's service center. I'm just explaining what I went through, is all.

Well. I guess I'll leave it alone again for several days, even though that means my shows aren't going to get recorded because it has no guide data at all.

Other than that, if it still doesn't work, any other suggestion?

I do believe something else is at work here because, as I said, it had A LOT of time to resolve the connection to Tivo's servers, and it didn't. And, as far as I can tell, everything is fine at my end. So, ideas?

Maybe I'm just overdoing this whole thing?

 

[stahta01]

Sounds like it is trying to download a new version of TiVo SW.
The last time I had trouble with this, I un-pluged every phone connection except for the TiVo and forced a Call. My Wireless phone seemed to be interrupting the connect sometime.

It may take several hours to complete the update, I normally waited 2 hours and it was done but your connection could be slower.

Tim S

 

[brnscofrnld]

I would agree with the above poster. Some newer phones will check for a dial tone every once in a while. I think this is a voice mail feature on some models.

Also, do you have all waiting? Sometimes that might be an issue if someone "beeps" in. You might want to set the prefix for blocking call waiting while it makes its call. *67 i believe.

If you can, the best setup is the broadband option, especially with service updates.

 

[Seneca]

Thank you stahta01 for your advice.

I did that...and it worked! Now a question...

You know the phone connection page? If you check it, and see the last status? Well, mine says "Pending Restart".

I'm not sure what that means. Do I reboot it or not?

Edit

Never mind, I rebooted it (it's "preparing" the service update). Hopefully, it'll have its guided data and all that.

As for broadband connection, I do have that option. Just never got around to it (meaning, the thing to buy to connect it to the router). Too lazy.

Anyway, just glad that it got its service update, and I don't have to think about it anymore. That is the whole point of tivo, oui? Funny thing is that I don't even watch that much these days, but my time management skills still sucks!

 

[stahta01]

Thank you stahta01 for your advice.

I did that...and it worked! Now a question...

You know the phone connection page? If you check it, and see the last status? Well, mine says "Pending Restart".

I'm not sure what that means. Do I reboot it or not?

It means that it should re-boot tonight by itself, but I normally re-boot it myself.

Tim S

 

[Seneca]

It means that it should re-boot tonight by itself, but I normally re-boot it myself.

Tim S

Yeah, figured that out...as you can see from my previous edited post. Thanks again.

Now another question. Sorry!

Um, it finished "preparing" the service update and all that...and I guess the new interface is cute...

But, the guide data is not there!!!! When I turn on the live tv, it doesn't show what the shows are and all that. Everything is "To be announced"!

So....now what?????

 

[usmaak]

Yeah, figured that out...as you can see from my previous edited post. Thanks again.

Now another question. Sorry!

Um, it finished "preparing" the service update and all that...and I guess the new interface is cute...

But, the guide data is not there!!!! When I turn on the live tv, it doesn't show what the shows are and all that. Everything is "To be announced"!

So....now what?????

I went through this today, except not through dialup, but through broadband connection. Long story short - I messed up the network connection and it hadn't received new info since last Friday. I had to unplug the wireless adapter and plug it into an different jack.

What it loaded was the Fall update. It didn't load any programming information. You're going to need to connect again to get that. I had to connect twice, and it now has all the programming information in addition to the Fall update.

You can either force the connection or wait until it makes the daily connection.

 

[Seneca]

okay doky. (how do you spell okay doky? Is it okay dokey or okay doky?)

The connection is being forced, and let's hope it'll download the program's data.

gosh, this has been the longest time I've ever had to think about my tivo, and this is the same machine that I've had since 2004!!

Well, it has been and continues to be (knock on wood) a good run, so, shrugs. Guess it's life.

Thank goodness for forums like that that save you from going bonkers....

Edit

Yay!!!!! the program information has only been loaded up to 50% as of now, but if you switch to live tv, it shows the program's information!!!!!!

oh finally, the end of the road has been reached!!!!!!

Thanks to all of you again!!!!!!! Really appreciate all the tips!