View Full Version : How Long To Leave Receivers Plugged Into Phone Line?
chevyguy559
11-03-08, 04:31 PM
Ok, had my system installed today and the installers hooked up 3 of the receivers up to the phone line and said to leave them plugged in for 24 hours.....since there are no phone jacks near any of them, the installers left long phone cords running over the floor, so the sooner I can get them off the floor, the better :) I did check my Vonage acct and there have been 3 phone calls to 1-866-709-2073 and 2 calls to 1-800-531-5602. Can I disconnect the phone connections yet? I'd like to have it cleaned up before the wife comes home :D:D THANKS!!!
say-what
11-03-08, 04:37 PM
You only need to connect a phone line if you want to order PPV or other programs with the remote. You can disconnect now.
Stuart Sweet
11-03-08, 04:39 PM
Yeah, disconnect them if you need to. Wife trumps installer.
chevyguy559
11-03-08, 04:42 PM
Haha ok, I'll take them down now :D Thanks! So far I'm VERY happy with my decision to dump comcast.....now I just have to see how well the wife adapts to the new GUI and DVR controls :D
If the receiver does not "check in" with DirecTV following the installation, the installer can be penalized (financially) for not doing the job "correctly". That is probably why he asked you to leave them installed for at least 24 hours.
It is a shame that is still a requirement when many customers no longer have a home phone line, or have a VOIP line which may or may not work properly with the analog modem in the DirecTV receiver.
chevyguy559
11-03-08, 04:52 PM
If the receiver does not "check in" with DirecTV following the installation, the installer can be penalized (financially) for not doing the job "correctly". That is probably why he asked you to leave them installed for at least 24 hours.
It is a shame that is still a requirement when many customers no longer have a home phone line, or have a VOIP line which may or may not work properly with the analog modem in the DirecTV receiver.
Thats what I thought I had read on here, that they get penalized.....but is it safe to say they have already "checked in" being I have had 5 calls to 1800 and 1866 numbers since the install? Is there some way to check on the actual receiver to see if it has "checked in" I'd hate to remove the lines and have him get charged.....also I have Vonage, will the receivers be able to dial with Vonage??
I don't think there is any way that you can confirm if they have properly checked in or not. As to it working through Vonage - it's a coin toss. Chances are the calls you see logged were good and worked okay, but it is possible they did not.
joe diamond
11-03-08, 05:54 PM
If the receiver does not "check in" with DirecTV following the installation, the installer can be penalized (financially) for not doing the job "correctly". That is probably why he asked you to leave them installed for at least 24 hours.
It is a shame that is still a requirement when many customers no longer have a home phone line, or have a VOIP line which may or may not work properly with the analog modem in the DirecTV receiver.
Carl,
Don't forget the thoughtful HSP installers in Florida who warned the customers the receivers would catch fire if not connected to phone lines.
Or have we played enough with that?
Joe
curt8403
11-03-08, 06:53 PM
Yeah, disconnect them if you need to. Wife trumps installer.
and wireless phone jack trumps long phone cords
curt8403
11-03-08, 07:20 PM
Carl,
Don't forget the thoughtful HSP installers in Florida who warned the customers the receivers would catch fire if not connected to phone lines.
Or have we played enough with that?
Joe
Carl and Joe,
what the cust needs to do is to call one of the BGI drones, and have them check the receiver tab for last call back date.
call back date is there indicates check in. no date, no check in.
Carl,
Don't forget the thoughtful HSP installers in Florida who warned the customers the receivers would catch fire if not connected to phone lines.
Or have we played enough with that?
Joe
Fires, nice.
I usually play the Caller ID spiel, especially with DVRs. Let them know that if they see someone they know calling, press pause and answer the tele. Quite a few folks have been written up about the phone line deal...
joe diamond
11-03-08, 10:55 PM
Fires, nice.
I usually play the Caller ID spiel, especially with DVRs. Let them know that if they see someone they know calling, press pause and answer the tele. Quite a few folks have been written up about the phone line deal...
There you go,
A practical application that will benefit the customer.
It doesn't quite rise to the costs involved in some upgrades to run cable to recorders but it is a start.
I charge more than a sat installation for most phone work anyhow.
Good one,
Joe
There you go,
A practical application that will benefit the customer.
It doesn't quite rise to the costs involved in some upgrades to run cable to recorders but it is a start.
I charge more than a sat installation for most phone work anyhow.
Good one,
Joe
It does as long as their land line has Caller ID, other than that is just displays Incomming Call. (Good for the hard of hearing, at least)
Carl and Joe,
what the cust needs to do is to call one of the BGI drones, and have them check the receiver tab for last call back date.
call back date is there indicates check in. no date, no check in.
BGI Drones?
BGI Drones?
+1 BGI Drones?
theninny
11-04-08, 01:31 PM
When I upgraded to HD, I was told I did not need a telephone line. The installer did not even ask if I had a telephone line. So it must be a crap shoot.
-LC
curt8403
11-04-08, 01:36 PM
+1 BGI Drones?
what used to be called main Bank, is not called BGI (Billing and General Inquiry) Drones because almost everyone starts in BGI and moves up from there
and wireless phone jack trumps long phone cords
On that subject, we bought a set of GE "Instajacks" (wireless phone jacks). They lasted a few days after the expiration of their warranty and then failed. Got a second set and precisely the same thing happened again. Needless to say, we won't be buying any more of those!
joe diamond
11-04-08, 06:08 PM
When I upgraded to HD, I was told I did not need a telephone line. The installer did not even ask if I had a telephone line. So it must be a crap shoot.
-LC
Exactly,
Nobody will admit where it comes from. Your contract says you will connect to a land line.
Directv says "we" don't require it.
HSPs tell techs to connect all receivers to phone lines or loose money.
There was a time when recorders NEEDED a phone line to update their guide.
I installed jobs where they CSR would not activate without a phone line......since I was activating on the customer's cell phone I just called back and lied.
HSP subs try to get 75% connection but try not to pay more for running phone line.
The FREE basic installation provided 25 ft of phone cord to connect to a jack.
Phone line installation is not part of the FREE deal
Sometimes installers pressure customers to connect the phones because they see the dings in their checks.
I have run into a few installations where the CSR sales rep said they would refuse to take the order unless the phones were connected.
I have run across a few folks who had land lines installed because they were told they had to have them to get DTV.
AND DISH charges $5.00 per month if you are not connected.
The last number I saw was one in six households have NO land line phone or a plan to get one.
Take your pick.
Joe
bsprague
11-05-08, 09:44 AM
I have cell phones and no land line. My three D* receivers have never seen a phone line. I order PPV on the D* website.
You don't need a phone line.
I wish they would remove the installer requirement or have an exemption for cell only/digital system houses.
curt8403
11-05-08, 02:57 PM
I wish they would remove the installer requirement or have an exemption for cell only/digital system houses.
+1
or +2
or +3
or even +4 on that one
If the receiver does not "check in" with DirecTV following the installation, the installer can be penalized (financially) for not doing the job "correctly". That is probably why he asked you to leave them installed for at least 24 hours.
It is a shame that is still a requirement when many customers no longer have a home phone line, or have a VOIP line which may or may not work properly with the analog modem in the DirecTV receiver.
it is not a requirment. The installer had no problems hooking a d11 up to a computer in a room with no phone line.
thespaceghost
11-05-08, 05:52 PM
This is one of the biggest reasons why I left installation for D. At first, it was a charge back for not hooking up phone lines. Then they started issuing crappy work for those who didn't meet the requirements.
My service area is predominantly rural areas that service vacation homes and groups of people who can barely afford TV, so they toss the landlines. I would do good to hit 30%, and thats running phone line to every room.
Johnnie5000
11-05-08, 07:40 PM
it is not a requirment. The installer had no problems hooking a d11 up to a computer in a room with no phone line.
Yes it is. Contract techs get penalized $5 for every unit that they have installed without a working phone line.
In house techs get wrote up and threatened to be fired.
And all techs probably get some jibberish about non-responders every month.
I wish they would remove the installer requirement or have an exemption for cell only/digital system houses.
+1
My service area is predominantly rural areas that service vacation homes and groups of people who can barely afford TV, so they toss the landlines. I would do good to hit 30%, and thats running phone line to every room.
Right there with you.
Both houses I installed at today were cell only. Both were out in the middle of nowhere in the mountains. And one of them didn't even have indoor plumbing.
joe diamond
11-05-08, 07:59 PM
Yes it is. Contract techs get penalized $5 for every unit that they have installed without a working phone line.
In house techs get wrote up and threatened to be fired.
And all techs probably get some jibberish about non-responders every month.
+1
Right there with you.
Both houses I installed at today were cell only. Both were out in the middle of nowhere in the mountains. And one of them didn't even have indoor plumbing.
I read you guys signals and fondly remember the fulfillment companies...DSI, I PRO, DirectSource......the others........who would keep you on hold while the CSR found a "supervisor" to issue a "variance" for the customer who had no land line.
If it wasn't for the waste of time and money involved their attempts to change what cannot be changed would be fun to watch.
I have been paid to repair phones that were damaged by DTV guys who connected to the wrong line or put a staple into a CAT5 and dumped a whole building. Eventually someone will ding an HSP for that kind of damage.
Joe
Mertzen
11-05-08, 08:41 PM
When I upgraded to HD, I was told I did not need a telephone line. The installer did not even ask if I had a telephone line. So it must be a crap shoot.
-LC
Nah, you used the magic word 'upgrade'. Certain HSP don't count upgrades and mover's in their responder reports.
Juggernaut
11-11-08, 01:24 PM
I've have my HR20 hooked up to the phone line mostly for the on screen caller ID. I also have the unit hooked up to the internet for DoD. I noticed in the last week or so, the HR20 is phoning home once or twice a day. I haven't purchased any PPV in months, there's no pending PPV on my card. I thought that the HR20 didn't use the phone line if you had an internet connection. Odd...
I have my HR20 networked and the phone line attached, it has never called home on the phone line for a long time now. It does use the network when I check the sniffer overnight.
jp_reedy
11-11-08, 03:22 PM
I've been ordering PPV with the remote without a phone line as long as I've had D*TV... In fact, only one of my recievers has ever been connected to a phone line...
curt8403
11-12-08, 01:06 PM
I've been ordering PPV with the remote without a phone line as long as I've had D*TV... In fact, only one of my recievers has ever been connected to a phone line...
do you have a network connection, and how old is your account
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