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  • #1

    Can't get external modem to work

    I've got an original Philips Series 1 with lifetime and apparently the modem has died. I found an external modem on Craigslist for a few bucks but I'm having trouble getting it to connect. The Tivo basically stops on "Dialing" and nothing ever happens. When I turn off or disconnect the modem, the Tivo will eventually show an error message but until then it won't do anything. None of the dialing options make any difference in this behavior. I never hear any dialing tones so I don't think it's even getting that far.

    The first indicator of a problem is that all the lights on the modem light up when I connect it to the Tivo. That seems weird to me -- as though the Tivo is sending out information or signal over the serial line constantly.

    That makes me wonder if my connections are correct. The modem is a SupraExpress 56K and has a female DB9 connector. My Tivo serial cable has a male DB9 so these connect just fine. But online I'm reading about DB9-to-DB25 converters and such and I cannot tell if those are special or if it's just a generic gender changer.

    I did follow the instructions to set up the external modem into the right state (I got an "OK" message after each instruction in my terminal program), but if that didn't work, what kind of error would I get? Would all the lights on the modem lighting up mean that I didn't set it up properly?

    I cannot find any diagnostic info on the 'net about how to figure out why an external modem isn't working. All the sites have the exact same instructions and simply say, "It should work." But none give any help as to what to do if it doesn't work!

    To summarize:

    1. Is my cabling correct or do I need special cables?

    2. How do I figure out if I've set up the modem with the correct communication protocols?

    Thanks for any help! This is driving me crazy.

    -- Marc
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Random modems do not work with TiVos. Only certain modems work, and even then, they have to be specially programmed.

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    • #3
      Skeptical

      Seriously? How the heck does that work? Isn't a modem a modem?

      Why isn't this documented anywhere? Everything I read made it sound easy to connect any external modem to a Tivo. I wish I known that before I wasted time and money!

      Is there a list of valid modems that will work?

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      • #4
        We've spent hours and hours testing modems, and we basically can only tell you that we know that ours work, and even ours need to be programmed with very, very specific NVRAM settings, or they, too, will fail.
        Been here a long time . . .

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        • #5
          Instructions for setting up Tivo w/external Modem

          I've purchased two external modems from Weaknees for my mothers series 1 Phillips Tivos a year or so ago. Although she only needed 1 at the time, I bought another as a back-up...just in case. And I must say it worked beautifully!

          Since then, my own modem on my Phillips Tivo no long works. Some how I've misplaced the instructions on how to set-up my Tivo for the external modem. Can some one help me with that?

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          • #6
            TIVO MODEM KIT INSTRUCTIONS

            (c) 2001-2007, weaKnees.com

            Instructions for Attaching a weaKnees TiVo Modem Kit



            1) PHYSICAL CONNECTIONS

            a) Attach the Stereo-to-DB9 cable to the 9-pin connector on the modem. Be sure that you do not connect the round/stereo end of this cable into the pink or green connector on the modem--The modem serial connector has 9 pins. (The Stereo-to-DB9 cable came with your TiVo originally, but you may also have ordered one from Weaknees.com with your modem Kit.)

            b) Attach the stereo/round end of the Stereo-to-DB9 cable to the Serial jack on the back of your TiVo. Make sure not to plug into the IR jack.

            c) Attach the power adapter to the modem, and plug the other end into a power outlet.

            d) Remove the phone cable that is attached to your TiVo and attach it to your external modem's line in jack. This is the jack next to the green connector. There are two phone line plugs on the modem; the phone cable must be connected to the LEFT plug (as you are looking at the back of the modem).

            e) Press the round black button on the back of the modem - your modem should light up.



            2) SETTING THE TIVO TO USE THE MODEM (see below for the note if you are in Guided Setup)

            a) Press the TiVo button on the remote to get to your main TiVo menu.

            b) Choose Messages & Setup.

            c) Choose Recorder & Phone Settings.

            d) Choose Phone Connection.

            e) Choose Change Dialing Options.

            f) Choose Set Dialing Prefix.

            g) Enter: , # 3 1 9 (enter this as: Pause -Enter - 3 - 1 - 9 ). (If you have any data entered here currently, this must be entered before the existing data.)

            h) Test and then accept the settings and you're done!



            NOTE: If you are in Guided Setup, start with line F.

            Troubleshooting Tips:

            -The most common problem people have is omitting the leading COMMA (pause on the remote)

            -Plug a phone into the jack you are using and see if it can dial out

            -Listen on another extension as the modem tries to dial and see if you hear it dialing

            -Try a different TiVo dial-in number - you can find a link to the numbers at our FAQ

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            • #7
              Thank you, thank you! It worked!

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              • #8
                What are the pink and green jacks for???

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