Once I get past the 800# problem by entering that prefix and getting directly to my local dialin number, what setting does the phone prefix need to be going forward for routine dialing in?

The other issue is that my local channels no longer are showing up in the menu guide and I can't enter the channels directly from the remote. Any suggestions there? Thanks.

You can leave the prefix in - it really won't hurt, it just forces that number to be used.

The locals can take 24 hours, or a call to DirecTV to have them "re-hit" your access card with the locals should pop them on right away.

..OH MY GAWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I started this *journey* at around Noon on Saturday, and I JUST finished the Guided Set-up at 12.22am! How WAS the weather outside today?? LOL
So when I read Michael's comment, "replace the Xs with the local number" I counted the Xs and counted 10. Area Code, 3; Prefix, 3; Last 4 = 10.
The base of my telephone has a Speakerphone, AFTER watching the screen say 'unable to connect', I decided to hit the Speakerphone button and Lo & Behold what do I hear? "You must dial a 1 when dialing that number"
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? LOL
So I changed my 209.343.5405 --> 1.209.343.5405 and the call went RIGHT thru!!!! **Cheering**

Phone #

Should I dump the phone number and add the number to the prefix instead?

Phone

Have tried it all ways, to no avail.
I am about to abort, if DirecTV doesn't care why should I?

First time

FYI
I have had the TiVo for 5 years, and it has been setup fine and working well all 5 of those years.

See the other thread . . .

I don't know what is happening when I manually try to connect, or test the system.
Having said that when I look at the settings and software version of the system it gave me yesterday's date and a 2:30AM time for a successful connection with the remote computer.
It just doesn't work when I try to "force" it to.
Is the TiVo USB connectivity chip worth the effort if I have a wireless connection?
Sorry for my cluelessness on this posting thing. Not even close to being good at reading or posting.
Thanks for all your help.

USB doesn't work at all on DTV units.

What error do you get when you force a connection?

same/similar problem

my directv tivo hasn't been able to make the daily call for three weeks. the error message varies, but most often it says "failed. service not answering." i called directv and, without much attempt to troubleshoot, they offered to replace ("upgrade," she said) my unit. of course, i didn't know until the unit arrived that it wasn't the familiar tivo format, but their proprietary DVR (R15?). during the set-up process, it also failed the phone test, so at the suggestion of the tech support rep, i replaced the phone cord. thereafter, the R15 passed the phone test, so i assumed the cord was the cause of the original problem with the tivo unit as well, and i reconnected/reactivated it because i absolutely hated the R15. unfortunately, as before, the tivo unit is still not able to pass the phone test/make its daily phone call.

to further complicate matters, i have received conflicting information from the directv reps as to the necessity of this function. two of them said that the system MUST make the call to perform necessary updates, while another told me that i only need the phone connection to use my remote for pay-per-view. although i've read elsewhere (including in the user guide) that the phone call is connected to tivo's functionality in some way, i can't identify any other problem with the system. it appears to be downloading guide information, updating my to do list, and recording programs normally, so i'm uncertain of the effect of its failure to dial in.

i tried the dial prefix solution suggested above, to no avail, and i'm not sure what else to do, or if i need to do anything at all. (should i try all the local phone numbers until one works? i tried four.) i'm thinking of calling tech support again and insisting that they help me troubleshoot instead of trying to "sell" me their crap equipment, but i'm already quite frustrated with them .

kindly advise.

If your unit is currently functioning but doesn't dial in, then you won't get software updates but it will continue to work. After awhile, once a day, you'll get a nag message reminding you to dial in, but that's about it.

You might try a different dial-in number.

thanks for your reply.

could you please tell me what kind of software updates you're referring to? i know that they recently added the ability to recover recently deleted recordings...is that the kind of thing you mean?

i've tried four or five different dial-in numbers already. is there any place where i can get numbers that are known to work for everyone, so i can at least determine if the problem is on my end or directv's.

also, i heard some interference on my phone line while i was on a call earlier. i saw that the system was trying to dial in, so i hung up to let it try again. this time, it caused my DSL internet connection to hang, but still wasn't successful. i have filters on all my phone jacks, and have never had any problem with the tivo troubling my internet connection in the past. i'm not sure if that is what is happening now...just exploring the possibilities with those more knowledgeable than i.

any ideas?

thanks once again.

I have 3 D* TiVos with the same issue. Two of the Series 2 D* Standard Def and one HR10-250. It tries to negotiate with DVR service and come back eventually as a fail. This happens using the Prefix hack. The 800 number for new numbers also has the same issue on all three TiVos. I have to do the HR10-250 since the TiVo function wont work with out an update call in.

Do you have VoIP?