All working well for a month, now 23 failed calls in a row!

[Hoverbod]

08450800300 still not working.
Connected for approx 5mins, then dropped out stating call interrupted

[millsb]

An update on this:

There is an ongoing problem with using the 0845 0800 300 number for dialing into AltEPG. Most calls are failing with a time-out after 3 minutes. Resetting the modems doesn't seem to have fixed the problem. We are short of ideas at present as to what is causing this, however the problem does not affect the 0161 232 9094 number so if you have run out of guide data we recommend switching to the alternative number until the 0845 number problem is fixed.

[dsbowskill]

Thanks for letting us know

I'm continuing with the Manchester (0161) number and apart from the odd unspecified error every now and again, still receiving data.

It's worth noting that I only connect the phone line and get data twice a week. Seeing as this is a community/free service, I see no point in causing unnecessary strain and congestion on a limited modem pool by dialling up every day. It also saves a little on the phone bill. I encourage others to do the same

Cheers guys,

--

DSB

[mrtickle]

It also saves a little on the phone bill. I encourage others to do the same
DSB

Depends on your POV It means that at weekends when more people dial in, the calls are longer because there's a backlog of slices that all have to be downloaded - so at that time when more people want to call, the lines are tied up for longer.

Whereas if people dialled in every day the demand would be smoothed out with more shorter calls - albeit costing the caller a bit more. And they would get the schedule changes! Eg this Monday night after I watched Panorama I heard the announcement about the extra episode they are showing tonight, and managed to edit the data in time. Only people who called in yesterday or today will have that in their schedules.

http://www.altepg.com/serverStatistics.html shows roughly 1000 calls/day in total (including broadband). Last couple of weeks the min. modem calls was 345 and max was 561, so not a huge spike at weekends. I don't think it's a real issue though as tivo just redials later if the line is busy anyway

There's still a large number of TiVos doggedly calling in at midnight just before the new data is available, which is really frustrating, as they will get the oldest most out-of-date data possible by calling in at that time. The 8am peak is also a bit perplexing as it'll be new data but at a more expensive time for modem users, within the daytime peak hours.

[abarthman]

Is there any update on this issue?

On BT Basic, a typical 10 minute EPG download call to an 0161 number costs over £1, but a ten minute call to an 0845 number after 7pm costs less than 10p.

I've been using the EPG on my Humax PVR for the past couple of weeks, but it really isn't a patch on the trusty old TiVo EPG.

[millsb]

Sorry, no news. The situation is that we're getting frequent but intermittent timeouts on the 0845 number. In theory timeouts are recoverable but the TiVo software's only recovery mechanism is to fail the call and try again later. We still don't understand why the timeouts are occurring. If anyone has any ideas on how to diagnose the problem we'd be more than interested in hearing from you!

[garyc]

Hi,

having switched from the 0845 number to 0161 due to failed calls now the 0161 is also showing failed calls, is there any other number to use?

cheers gary

[millsb]

Gary

There's only 2 numbers that have been set up for use with unmodified TiVos. No other dial-up internet service will work because it won't direct your calls to the right server. So for example the 08451112111 number (which I think you've tried) will not work.

The server logs are not showing any drop in the level of successful calls to the 0161 number. If I've got your service number right (ends "49") then it looks like a lot of your failures on the 0161 number are "no carrier" which I think either means your modem is failing or you have a dodgy phone line connection.

[garyc]

Hi,

Its stange I get failure call not answered on the 0161 number which I have been using without any issues for about a month or so then the 0845 starts downloading then does the failure after a minutes of downloading?

I don't think its the line but is there anyway to test the modem and can you still get hold of them?

Regards Gary

[DX30]

The TiVo modem isn't something you can easily replace as it is part of the motherboard, so if it is faulty another TiVo is probably the easiest way to fix it. Or you could upgrade to a network card.

First however have you tried running the modem at a slower speed? That can overcome some problems. Set the dial prefix to ",#096,,01612329094,," and see how that behaves.

Another thing to try is take your TiVo round to a friend (preferrably one who uses BT) and try dialup from there. If that works then it points towards you having line problems.

[garyc]

Hi,

Thanks for the info.

It shouldn't make any difference I'm in the channel islands via Jersey Telecom?

Regards Gary

[DX30]

It shouldn't make any difference I'm in the channel islands via Jersey Telecom?

I don't know but it might. Some telecom companies use VOIP which is bad for data calls such as TiVo. Running the modem at a lower speed can help in those cases (that what the dial prefix ",#096," does). I suggested trying BT if possible because they don't use VOIP.

This link gives some background, although some of the advice doesn't apply to UK Series 1 TiVo's (e.g. using an external modem doesn't apply to us).

http://www.tivopedia.com/tivo-modem-issues.php

Edit:
Although they are primarily talking about Tiscali and TalkTalk this link gives some background on VOIP problems and solutions from a UK perspective

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/sh ... p?t=408738

[garyc]

thanks again for info.

we only really have a few telecoms providers in jersey so not much choice and no BT!!!

is it difficult to install a turbonet card (had one for years but never installed) and would this be my best route and would you mind pointing me in the best guide direction of how to install?

cheers Gary

[DX30]

Unless you have existing recording that you cannot live without I'd recommend installing the AltEPG Image which comes with all the drivers already installed. It's the easier option but the downside is losing existing recordings.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=626


If you really want to stick with the existing TiVo software here is the forum

http://forum.technicalpeak.com/

You'll also need to do this

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=480


As far as physically fitting the card the technicalpeak link outlines the procedure. Whichever route you follow involves putting the TiVo drive in a suitable PC to change the software.

[garyc]

Hi,

The new tivo hard drive can that be a used drive just formated?

Cheers Gary