Here we go again! No response from dial up servers! - Page 3

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Edited by tomhoffmanjr - 9/23/12 at 10:23am

-wrong thread- please disregard/delete

I've had the SS over 10 years and two 5xxx models about 8 years. All of them have been relatively trouble free. I still consider downloading guide data problem not serious because I'm able to fix it with a little effort. The SS responds slower to remote commands than the 5xxx boxes and still has to use a phone line for updates. Otherwise, I still enjoy and use it.

I was sure it tried connecting every day, too. There were 5-6 error messages spread apart by 3 days when I looked. Well no, everything set to record is during the day. But yeah, the connections could have been intermittent until 7-8 days went without anything. I managed to get guide data at 1 am this morning from a nearby secondary primary phone number in the same area code. It took awhile at 14.4 but I'll raise it up again soon.

I didn't know if I should start a new thread since it seems to be the same issue. My dad's replaytv 5040 has to be on dialup for several reasons I won't get into here. It worked fine until about 6 months ago when Comcast finally switched to full digital and gave him the DTA. Earlier in the week I set up the IR codes for the DTA and it worked fine while hooked up to an Ethernet connection (in another location) but it won't dial-up. If I listen on the phone, I know it's calling and communicating etc., so I'm assuming it's related to something on their end again. I tried several of the tips here to find and try different numbers with no luck. When I change the zip and area code, I assume the Replay then dials their 800 number but that never gets past "setting clock" before giving a connection error code (844c0002).

Based on what I read so far, I just need to wait until the issue is resolved. But if the ReplayTV management team really looks at this forum, this post can help flag the return of the problem.

In the meantime, if there's anything else I should try, please let me know.

You're doing the right thing (changing zip, etc) just keep on trying every so often until you get a brisk connection (and cancel when you don't). Then force a net connect right away. (I like to change the zip to one close by, still within my coverage area, so I don't have to change the zip back.)

zip codes are used for lineups.
phone numbers are used for dial-in numbers.

In this case, there's no reason to change the zip code.

Robert

______________________________

I freely and respectfully admit I don't know why changing the zip (or phone #) works, but it has reproducibly worked for me without exception over a dozen times this year after my connection has failed and my Program Guide has stopped updating.

I realize I don't actually need a new line-up, but connecting to the Mothership somehow fixes something in my RTV and restores its ability to refresh the Guide. I can't explain it, and certainly don't have a fraction of the knowledge and experience of the forum experts on this topic, but it works reliably for me.

Hi and Happy New Year!

Dial-up disaster:
I'm in NYC. Have three 5000 units. No broadband (very limited funds).
Other than the times that there were (verified) problems with the server (that were eventually resolved) I've had minimal connection issues.
Suddenly (as of 12/27/12) I've had no successful connections on any of my units!
"Initializing modem".......then "dialing".......then "connecting". Beyond that point.....nothing!
They sit on "connecting" for several minutes and then disconnect. This has happened each time I try forcing a connection (many times) and overnight as well.
No messages have been generated by any unit. My guide is slowly dissapearing!
I called Replay and spoke to Jackie (nice guy). He said that mine was the very first call (I didn't want to call immediately..... and then came the weekend).
I'm confused, since I've had this problem since last Thursday.
This appears to be the exact same thing that happened back in August, yet he seemed to think that the problem was on my end.
I tried everything (even changing the area code and first 3 digits). I was unable to retrieve a new list of phone numbers to try, as there was no connection to the 800 number either. Phone service is working fine (as well as a fax machine).

Anybody else having the same issue (especially in the NYC area)?

It truly surprises me that Jackie said that I was the only call regarding this problem!
It would have been far less frustrating if he had heard of this problem from others!
Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

slprp1 ... Not so surprised that this issue has not been reported since it has been so common this year with dial-up that many have learned to deal with it (as I have), or have gone to an internet-connected RTV (or have bailed altogether).

Since I know that my (primary) number is good, my established process, briefly, is:

To restore Guide download, change Setup to another zip within TV service area, cancel when connection is not brisk, try again later. After success, immediately force a net connect.

Others have their own process, as posted earlier in the thread; this one always works for me. YMMV

I have six 5000/5500 units.

I use WiRNS 3.0 (free), and a $25 yearly subscription to Schedules Direct to provide guide data for my Replays.

If you have dial-up, you can use WiRNS 3.0, too. All you need is to have your RTV's on a LAN...

If you really had to, you could use WiRNS on a beater lap-top and a cross-connect cable to make it work.

I gave up on the DNNA servers a year and a half ago.

Cheers!
-Doug

I didn't bother to call since I know they are maitaining the replaytv service at a bare minimum and I figured no one would be around to answer a phone call about this problem. Then I read that they occasionally monitor this forum.

Maybe they blacklisted my dad's replaytv since for the last 4-5 months it was still plugged in and hooked up to the phone line. It was probably dialing up once a day and requesting the guide for a comcast line-up that no longer existed. It wasn't until last week that I was able to visit him and do the IR code update for the DTA and set up the new comcaast line-up for his area (Boca). It may help if I do call Jackie later this week. If anyone does call, let them know about this thread.

slprp1, I guess it would depend on if you have Internet at all in your place. I might assume that since you can post on this forum that you have some kind of Internet, maybe dial up. But, maybe you go to some other location or use a smart phone for accessing this forum.

If you have Internet at all in your place, even if it's dial up, you could setup a dial-up router, you could even run Windows dial-up client networking thing, and then you could network your 5000's to get better access. I'm assuming that now a days that dial-up Internet is a fixed amount per month regardless of the connect time, so leaving it connected all the time so that the 5000's could download EPG shouldn't hurt anything.

Or, using Doug's idea, if you wanted to use WiRNS to consolidate your EPG download and minimize your Internet usage, you could use WiRNS 2 to give you free access to the EPG and allow the 5000's to download it from WiRNS. You can even set this up to only have the WiRNS Windows computer running a short period of time per day to download EPG and then serve it to all three of your 5000's. Doug using WiRNS 3 is freeing him from all requirements of DNNA being operational. But, there isn't any reason that you couldn't use WiRNS 2 for now to at least try to get into this environment to solve your EPG problems.

Of course, Doug and I are assuming that you have some kind of Internet at your place. Obviously the 5000's don't require Internet service as they connect to dial-up service on their own. So, if you have no Internet service at all, then you're pretty much out of luck.

It's curious that you can't get the 800 number to work to at least download phone numbers for your area. That should not be a regional problem, although I can't say for sure that the 800 number doesn't use some kind of local resource to provide the access. You might want to listen on the line while the 5000's connect to see if it sounds like they are dialing properly and that a modem is answering on the other end and that they are establishing a connection. Other than that, just try having the 5000's dial the 800 number repeatedly to see if you can get them to get through. It may be that you just need a different local number to use, but you need to complete the 800 number call in order to get the list of possible local numbers.

I use New York all the time for my connections on dial-up on my showstopper. The last time it missed was on 10/31/12. I'm in New Orleans and have found the NY phone number reliable.


Don H

slprp1 what type of phone service do you have? Phone company POTS (Plain old Telephone Service), cable? (probably not VoIP since you don't have broadband).

How do you access the internet to post here? Post from work? Dial up internet?

Robert

Thank you very much for taking an interest!!
I sincerely apologize for the long delay in responding!
I had issues that took me away from home suddenly and unexpectedly.
I had no internet access where I was located. In general it can take me longer to respond, as I don't have internet service at home (so please bear with me).
As it turns out I did continue to communicate with ReplayTV by phone.
I was almost certain that this was a server issue. They claim that it's not (after investigating my area..... supposedly .....and not receiving other calls from my area....supposedly).

I have two 5000 units that, other than known, established server issues, have been quite reliable dialing out to the network. I have time Warner digital phone service. It has been very reliable with the Replay units for over three years.
Insofar as I am concerned, it's not my phone service (although the people at ReplayTV insist that it is).
I had my line checked out and it's doing fine. I exchanged my modem twice....no help.
I am working with a very tight budget and I cannot afford internet access. I have no computer at home. I access the internet at a friend's home (or elsewhere).

All the time that I was away there wasn't a single successful connection to the network. I brought a unit to my friend's home yesterday. He's three miles away and also uses Time Warner digital phone service. The unit dials out and it maintained a 25 minute connection with complete success!

ReplayTV insists that the problem is either with the unit or with the cable line. According to Time Warner cable, the line is normal. I proved that the unit is OK by connecting it elsewhere. Still, I can't connect with the network. I honestly tried everything (as I specified in my previous message).
It stays on "connecting" for several minutes and then hangs up!
Overnight it says that it wasn't able to find the server.
This is so bizarre!!
I am in trouble because I'm going to lose my entire program guide....again!
ANY IDEAS....PLEASE??....THANK YOU!!

Now that you have explained that you have digital phone service, that is a key piece of information. It may be as simple as adjusting your ReplayTV's modem speed setting as explained here. The fact that you say that it worked fine at another location seems to indicate that it has something to do with something at your location. I would have thought that Jackie at ReplayTV would have had you try adjusting your modem speed setting, I would have assumed that he would have asked you if you had digital phone service, but since you don't have anything about that in your post, then I don't know for sure. But, if the unit works at another location, I would certainly try lowering the ReplayTV's modem speed setting and see if that doesn't get you connected.

I've always thought cable-tv phone service used a VoIP back end rather than a fixed bandwidth digital PCM encoding like a traditional phone switch.

If that's the case, you'll find modem connections hit and miss and dependent on what else is going on the cable system at the time and how many channels your cable company has allocated to phone service. It's possible you're on a different head-end from your friend and they have reduced the bandwidth available to phones. Of course good luck getting an answer from their customer service or even technical folks on this. They don't necessarily know how the stuff works.

I would recommend you try polling late at night or during the day when phone traffic (and maybe pay-per-view viewing) should be lighter.

Robert

ReplayLurker:
Thank you for responding!

It was suggested to me to try various modem speeds.
I did....all of them, in fact.....to no avail.....same results (unfortunately)!

Bear in mind that my TWC digital phone service has worked very well for over three years (consistently, using the default setting and the same phone number).
BTW.....I also tried multiple other phone numbers.....nothing.

Is it possible that Time Warner did something to change their platform. etc.?.....and they're keeping it a secret for some reason (or hidden agenda)!
I discussed my particular issue with a level three (highest level for this issue) tech at TWC. He seemed very knowledgeable but didn't have an answer for me. My incoming cable line appears to be normal.

This literally occured from one day to the next (on approx. 12/27/12).

BTW....Does anyone know how many servers are located in the NYC area?
Is it possible that my friend (three miles away) is using a different server?

I'm totally baffled!!


Robert:
Thank you as well!

I've tried forcing a connection basically at every hour of the day (in desperation).....same problem!
I was told by the level three tech at TWC that several years ago they had a problem such as mine (with fax machines as well) but they resolved it after too many complaints from customers. When I switched my phone service to TWC, I had no issues from the outset.

Just curious.....Does Verizon Fios phone service work with the Replay units (for dial-up, not broadband)?
I have a friend who is considering Fios but has a Showstopper. Will he have a problem if he makes the switch to Fios?
Is there a track record for this?
Edited by slprp1 - 1/16/13 at 12:03am

Is it at all possible that I have some type of weird noise issue on my incoming line?
My phone conversations are perfectly OK. No extraneous noise and the level is consistent.
Is it possible that when TWC checks my line they're unable to detect this potential noise or interference?
Is there a type of noise that I can't hear on my phone that will interfere with the Replay dialing out sucessfully?
Is there a filter that I could try?
Is any of this relevant?.....I'm really getting desperate!!!!

Thanks!!

If you want PM me and we can schedule a time for you to call the LaHo dialup line when I can hear this end try and connect.

I work from home, so I'm at my desk during the business day.

Most likely the problem is time lag, which you can't really control. I have a VoIP phone line for voice. When I had DSL it could reliably dial the LaHo POTS line... when I switched to higher bandwidth Cable Internet, I can't dial LaHo any more (even in my own house!).

Robert

Sorry for the delay. I'm on a computer sporatically and didn't see your response until now.
Thank you for your offer and willingness to help!

I've been back and forth on the phone with level 3 at TWC in NYC. So far, it appears as if it's just "lip service" but they suspect that my particular problem may be due to a firmware update on my modem (that they may have pushed around the time that I could no longer connect with the network).
I also have an old (10 or more years) fax machine which will no longer make a connection (it was fine prior to the issue that I'm having currently). They (supposedly) will attempt to either reverse the firmware or provide me with another modem with the older version firmware (but they're not making any promises and don't call me when the say that they will.....typical of TWC).
BTW.....This same condition existed many years ago (prior to my having TWC digital phone). I know several people (in my general area) that have either Replays or fax machines (or both) that were unable to connect using TWC digital phone back then. They actually had to switch back to copper wire service!
Eventually, TWC resolved the problem (perhaps with new firmware).
Now they have reverted me back to the original nonsense!!.....senseless!!
God bless Time Warner Cable!!!!

Any thoughts?.....anyone?.....Thank you!
Edited by slprp1 - 1/27/13 at 6:52pm

This is a key piece of information! Being able to test with a FAX machine and having the same problem should make your support with TWC go a bit smoother than trying to explain about your RTV's modem! But, that's something that they should be much more prepared to support, a FAX machine, that is, so as long as you have that to test with, it will hopefully give you a much better position with them to get it all working.

Good luck with it all!

Thank you!......still "lip service" from TWC (unfortunately)!
I'll keep you posted.

If you report your FAX machine not working with their digital phone, can't you get them to send out a service technician to look at it? I would think if you had a technician looking at the operation, then they would have to do everything they can to get it working. I really thought that TWC's digital phone service was supposed to be one of the best. I can't imagine a service technician walking away without getting your FAX machine working, which would hopefully get your RTVs working as well.

Greetings.... am new to site, and after reading somewhere in this thread is the issue I am having. My Showstopper had "locked" the drive, I guess. So I turned off and unplugged the unit for a day or two to let it cool off.. Now it has the similar issue as many other users, it attempts to connect with server over POTS and then stops working. Where is it or can someone tell me how to force the Showstopper past this stage to have it work. I have had the unit since 2001, like it would like to continue using it. Thanks in advance for a response.

Sancho ... My usual method to restore Guide download: in Setup, change to another zip within TV service area, cancel when connection is not brisk, try again later. After success, immediately force a net connect via the 243/Zones menu.

I have been trying your suggestion, yet no luck. I am not sure if there is any other way to force connection. I am about to just go over to tivo. thanks

The number has to be a Primary, and VOIP can be problematic; things go better with POTS. If you have one, try a different number, unless you know yours is ok. (Always an option to pick up a 4xxx or 5xxx unit and connect via the Internet; DNNA or WiRNS - all units are now lifetime.)

After you get a brisk connection following a zip or number change, let it complete the download, and follow the prompts, then you can force a 243/zones net connect.
Edited by gring40 - 2/25/13 at 8:14pm

Update, had to refine this a bit after I lost the Guide last week. Took me 4 days to get my brisk connection, but now find I have to let the countdown (after I confirm all the settings) finish; when I didn't and went quickly to the 243-Zones Net Connect, the modem wasn't ready. The SS balked, needed to reboot, and wiped out the Guide I had left - bummer!

The next brisk connection resulted in a brisk Net Connect, but the server seemed to think it didn't need to download any channels or listings - still no Guide.

So I did two 243-Zones Clear Guide operations in a row, after which the next brisk connection following a zip change, and subsequent Net Connect, did finally get the Guide back.