Beware phone company charges for your DVR

md0110 · 01-11-2006, 09:34 AM

Hey everyone,

I wanted to pass along a tip that may save those of you with DVR boxes a few bucks a month.

Here in the 704 area code of North Carolina, we have to dial the area code on all phone calls. So then does my HR10-250 box when it calls back for guide updates. Now, I have unlimited long distance for my phone. All calls should be free, BUT, the $#!* phone company has a "local toll call" area, that you also have to dial 1 then the area code for, in order to avoid $0.10 per minute. The call will still go through without dialing 1, you just get hit for the charge.

Sure enough, the number my DVR box dials up lies within that "local toll call" area, and was racking up a call a day of one or more minutes in length. So this was an unexpected (and unnecessary) expense of the DVR.

This is easily fixed by going into the setup options and going to the dialing prefix menu (it won't let you add the 1 directly into the dialed number), and telling it to dial 1 before the number.

Saves $3-$5 per month.

So if have a DVR box, and you live in an area code where you have to dial the area code for all phone calls, even if you have "unlimited long distance", check your phone bill; it might keep a few dollars from falling through the cracks.

md0110

Fl_Gulfer · 01-11-2006, 10:10 AM

I have a HD10-250 and 2 regular TIVO's and If I plug them in I get a 25 cent charge for each call, because it calls the next town, so it cost 75 cents a day (if they only call once each) so I have to plug mine in once a week, and I just don't worry about the HD10-250. I wonder why TIVO dosen't have a tollfree number?

md0110 · 01-11-2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fl_Gulfer

I have a HD10-250 and 2 regular TIVO's and If I plug them in I get a 25 cent charge for each call, because it calls the next town, so it cost 75 cents a day (if they only call once each) so I have to plug mine in once a week, and I just don't worry about the HD10-250. I wonder why TIVO dosen't have a tollfree number?

Sounds like you might want to check out unlimited long distance with your phone company. It's probably Bellsouth down there. (I know they serve Jacksonville.) It's about $27.00 per month for me via BellSouth here in NC. Check out what you currently make in long distance calls and add up the TiVo calls; there's a good chance you'll come out ahead.

800 numbers cost the owner of the number money; the cost may be call-volume-related.

md0110

warzonevi · 01-11-2006, 11:03 AM

Actually TIVO does have a toll free number, and if you don' have a Local number in your area for some reason, then you can get permision from DirecTV/TIVo to use this number.

Call and find out

lwilli201 · 01-11-2006, 07:04 PM

When I got my Tivo reciever, I was told the number for the updates would be a long distence call since I live in a small town. The Rep realized real quick that I was not pleased with that, so he put me on the 800 number.

Fl_Gulfer · 01-12-2006, 09:56 AM

I have free long distance but this 25 cent fee dosen't apply. and they told me at TIVO that I need to unplug them said they didn't have a tollfree number

And I've had tivo since 99 when they came out.

md0110 · 01-12-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fl_Gulfer

I have free long distance but this 25 cent fee dosen't apply. and they told me at TIVO that I need to unplug them said they didn't have a tollfree number

And I've had tivo since 99 when they came out.

Sounds like your situation is just what I started with. Try the Dial "1" as a prefix option in the box; it may absolve you of the $0.25. If in doubt, call the phone company and ask them if dialing 1 would eliminates charges when the box calls.

Another Idea: Try using the "search for alternate numbers" feature on the TiVo box. As I recall when I went through this, it suggested some numbers up to 50-60 miles away. That should be "long distance" enough to satisfy the phone company.

md0110

totallylost · 01-12-2006, 09:39 PM

There is always switching your telephone over to Vonage or another Voip service.....you can call all you want, have all the bells and whistles..call waiting, forwarding...etc and your bill will be around 27.00 a month after taxes.

Our Bellsouth was running 42 a month for basically the same bells and whistles but we did not have the expanded local service and that is why I made the switch.

One VERY important note. Vonage is great. I have never, ever had a problem with it or having service go down OR having my Tivos connect. There are thousands of stories on the net about people not being able to connect to vonage with their Tivos. There are work arounds, fixes, codes, prefixes and such out there that will help you connect if you have a problem.

http://www.vonage-forum.com/forums.html

The problem with connecting Tivos with Vonage is much better now than it was a few months ago from what I have heard.

Again, I never had a problem but, there are many that have.

Just an idea

Fl_Gulfer · 01-12-2006, 09:51 PM

Yes I have a router with Vonage built in but they don't have 911 service in my area thats the only reason I haven't switched we're at the years we need 911...

.
Do they make a spliter for the internet cable that you use from the PC to the Router. I have one Tivo hooked to my router and finally got it to work today. The other unit that calls is at the other end of my house and my wifes PC is there too, I have her pc connected to the router by a 100ft cable and I'd hate the have to run another one for the Tivo. Plus my router only has 3 internet inputs so its full.

totallylost · 01-13-2006, 01:06 PM

Well, you could always get one of those little dual phone adapters...you know the type that you plug into the wall and one side is a phone line, the other a fax line? Thats a pretty crappy yet effective way to do it

Also, Im sure most of you know that your Tivo does not need to be connected to a phone line at all times. Before I suspended my service, I have one that had not been hooked up to a phone line since I activated it. You get a nag screen every now and then but, its not that bad.

The guide listings come over the sat, not the phone line. From what I gather, updates ARE done over the phone line but, the hd tivos will not be getting another update to their firmware.

If you have the other tivos, maybe upgrade them once a week or so if you are that concerned with keeping everything up-to-date. Run the phone line back and forth and be done with it.

Also, some of those tivos can be networked wirelessly to connect and update to the net, router or serial adapter.

There is a wealth of confusing info here:

http://www./tivo-vb/index.php?

These guys and gals know their stuff and I guarantee if there is a better way to do something, you will find it here

Sorry if I am "reading" too much into your post but, if you have her pc connected with a 100' ethernet cord...why not update it to a wireless pci card? Im guessing you have the linksys/vonage wireless router I have and if you do, that could be another solution. I bet you can get a wireless pci card for her computer for about the same price as you paid for the 100' cord!

Shoot me a PM if I have misunderstood anything..glad to help if I can.

01-11-2006, 09:34 AM	#1
md0110 HD- Nice but it's only TV Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 92	Beware phone company charges for your DVR Hey everyone, I wanted to pass along a tip that may save those of you with DVR boxes a few bucks a month. Here in the 704 area code of North Carolina, we have to dial the area code on all phone calls. So then does my HR10-250 box when it calls back for guide updates. Now, I have unlimited long distance for my phone. All calls should be free, BUT, the $#!* phone company has a "local toll call" area, that you also have to dial 1 then the area code for, in order to avoid $0.10 per minute. The call will still go through without dialing 1, you just get hit for the charge. Sure enough, the number my DVR box dials up lies within that "local toll call" area, and was racking up a call a day of one or more minutes in length. So this was an unexpected (and unnecessary) expense of the DVR. This is easily fixed by going into the setup options and going to the dialing prefix menu (it won't let you add the 1 directly into the dialed number), and telling it to dial 1 before the number. Saves $3-$5 per month. So if have a DVR box, and you live in an area code where you have to dial the area code for all phone calls, even if you have "unlimited long distance", check your phone bill; it might keep a few dollars from falling through the cracks. md0110

01-11-2006, 10:10 AM	#2
Fl_Gulfer High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florida Gulf Beach Age: 56 Posts: 187	I have a HD10-250 and 2 regular TIVO's and If I plug them in I get a 25 cent charge for each call, because it calls the next town, so it cost 75 cents a day (if they only call once each) so I have to plug mine in once a week, and I just don't worry about the HD10-250. I wonder why TIVO dosen't have a tollfree number?

01-11-2006, 11:03 AM	#4
warzonevi High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 42	Actually TIVO does have a toll free number, and if you don' have a Local number in your area for some reason, then you can get permision from DirecTV/TIVo to use this number. Call and find out

01-11-2006, 07:04 PM	#5
lwilli201 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Concordia, Missouri Posts: 274	When I got my Tivo reciever, I was told the number for the updates would be a long distence call since I live in a small town. The Rep realized real quick that I was not pleased with that, so he put me on the 800 number.

01-12-2006, 09:56 AM	#6
Fl_Gulfer High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florida Gulf Beach Age: 56 Posts: 187	I have free long distance but this 25 cent fee dosen't apply. and they told me at TIVO that I need to unplug them said they didn't have a tollfree number And I've had tivo since 99 when they came out.

01-12-2006, 09:39 PM	#8
totallylost High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 59	There is always switching your telephone over to Vonage or another Voip service.....you can call all you want, have all the bells and whistles..call waiting, forwarding...etc and your bill will be around 27.00 a month after taxes. Our Bellsouth was running 42 a month for basically the same bells and whistles but we did not have the expanded local service and that is why I made the switch. One VERY important note. Vonage is great. I have never, ever had a problem with it or having service go down OR having my Tivos connect. There are thousands of stories on the net about people not being able to connect to vonage with their Tivos. There are work arounds, fixes, codes, prefixes and such out there that will help you connect if you have a problem. http://www.vonage-forum.com/forums.html The problem with connecting Tivos with Vonage is much better now than it was a few months ago from what I have heard. Again, I never had a problem but, there are many that have. Just an idea

01-12-2006, 09:51 PM	#9
Fl_Gulfer High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florida Gulf Beach Age: 56 Posts: 187	Yes I have a router with Vonage built in but they don't have 911 service in my area thats the only reason I haven't switched we're at the years we need 911... . Do they make a spliter for the internet cable that you use from the PC to the Router. I have one Tivo hooked to my router and finally got it to work today. The other unit that calls is at the other end of my house and my wifes PC is there too, I have her pc connected to the router by a 100ft cable and I'd hate the have to run another one for the Tivo. Plus my router only has 3 internet inputs so its full.

01-13-2006, 01:06 PM	#10
totallylost High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 59	Well, you could always get one of those little dual phone adapters...you know the type that you plug into the wall and one side is a phone line, the other a fax line? Thats a pretty crappy yet effective way to do it Also, Im sure most of you know that your Tivo does not need to be connected to a phone line at all times. Before I suspended my service, I have one that had not been hooked up to a phone line since I activated it. You get a nag screen every now and then but, its not that bad. The guide listings come over the sat, not the phone line. From what I gather, updates ARE done over the phone line but, the hd tivos will not be getting another update to their firmware. If you have the other tivos, maybe upgrade them once a week or so if you are that concerned with keeping everything up-to-date. Run the phone line back and forth and be done with it. Also, some of those tivos can be networked wirelessly to connect and update to the net, router or serial adapter. There is a wealth of confusing info here: http://www./tivo-vb/index.php? These guys and gals know their stuff and I guarantee if there is a better way to do something, you will find it here Sorry if I am "reading" too much into your post but, if you have her pc connected with a 100' ethernet cord...why not update it to a wireless pci card? Im guessing you have the linksys/vonage wireless router I have and if you do, that could be another solution. I bet you can get a wireless pci card for her computer for about the same price as you paid for the 100' cord! Shoot me a PM if I have misunderstood anything..glad to help if I can.