Dialing Prefix: Non-Issue (Almost)

[wmccain]

When you have a PBX in your house, as I do, it is necessary to set a "dialing prefix" so that the receiver, in this case an HR20, can get an "outside line" when it needs to "call home" (for PPV purchases). With the HR20 (like most DirecTV receivers except the TiVo models), you have to access the hidden diagnostic menu to set the dialing prefix. On the HR20, this is done by pressing Active and Right simultaneously on the front panel.

As I reported on the "Issues - 0xCC" thread (just before 0xD1 was released, so it got ignored), the HR20 does not issue the dialing prefix when you test the phone connection (using System Test). This differs from all previous DirecTV receivers that I have tested over the past eight years (nine of them: two SD Sonys, two HD Sonys, an HD RCA, an HD Panasonic, an HD LG, an SD DirecTiVo, and an HD DirecTiVo). All previous models have issued the dialing prefix during System Test (and they might even be making the actual call to DirecTV for all I know). I can tell whether or not the phone test is working by watching the buttons light up on a nearby proprietary "feature phone" that works with my PBX. When the receiver goes "off hook", its "extension" button lights up; and when it issues the dialing prefix, one of the "outside line" buttons lights up.

During a System Test, the HR20 goes "off hook", but it never gets an outside line (so it is not issuing the prefix, which I have also tested by other means). Of course, it "passes" the System Test because it "hears" a dial tone — but it's the dial tone from the PBX, not from the telephone company.

With the assistance of a CSR, I was able to verify today that the dialing prefix actually does work. The CSR sent a signal over the satellite that forced my HR20 to "call home". In this test, the HR20 not only went "off hook", it also got an outside line (and made the call). So the "dialing prefix support" is implemented and it works.

I still consider this to be a minor issue, because the difference in implementation (that is, using the dialing prefix to make an actual phone call but not during System Test) makes it hard to test this feature in any home with a PBX. (Okay, not that many folks have a PBX in their homes. But I have worked with the "custom audio/video installer" industry for about 15 years, and I can tell you that virtually every "rich person" that uses a custom installer does have a PBX. And many of them have a lot of DirecTV receivers. One client that I worked with had twelve of them!)

This "difference in implementation" also suggests strongly that the software in the HR20 is "all new code". Surely, DirecTV has internal "design specifications" that cover many details of the way that their receivers work. When the receivers were designed by outside engineering teams (RCA, Sony, LG) there were some differences but there were also many key similarities (including the way that the dialing prefix worked). So I would assume that the HR20 "engineering team" has the relevant specifications (and probably access to the actual code of some, if not all, of the previous receiver models). They just haven't "read this part" ...

William C. McCain
Palo Alto, California

[Jeremy W]

So the CSRs do have the ability to force a call. Glad to see you got this taken care of.

[wmccain]

So the CSRs do have the ability to force a call. Glad to see you got this taken care of.Yes, they do.

In fact, there is more to this "land-line connection" issue than most folks realize. It's not just for PPV. Calls to an "800" number always pass the caller's telephone number — it cannot be blocked. They can "force a call" if they suspect that you have run a cable to your neighbor's house (which is "theft of service", considering the difference in cost between and additional receiver and a full subscription). Of course, a crook that knows this could also run an extension of their own telephone over to the neighbor's house, too.

They also use it to verify your address (for sports subscription "blackout" purposes). That is the main reason that they say you can't use a cell phone (there are cell phones that will pass modem signals). For land-lines, there is a more-or-less fixed relationship between zip code and area code, but that is not true for cell phones.

Bill

[Jeremy W]

Of course, a crook that knows this could also run an extension of their own telephone over to the neighbor's house, too.
Or even easier, just don't connect the neighbor's receivers to a phone line. Even though DirecTV says that the phone line is required for mirroring, it's not enforced. I have never had any of my receivers connected to a phone line, and DirecTV has never given me any crap about it.

[matto]

They also use it to verify your address (for sports subscription "blackout" purposes). That is the main reason that they say you can't use a cell phone (there are cell phones that will pass modem signals). For land-lines, there is a more-or-less fixed relationship between zip code and area code, but that is not true for cell phones.


thank god for number portability :)

[GA20646]

Why not bypass your PBX and connect the jack that feeds your receiver directly to the telco line? Most calls are most at like 5am so it shouldn't interfere with normal operation. Of course that won't work with ground start trunks unless you buy a GS-LS adapter. I don't think many homes use PBX's. Most multi-line systems now are hybrids that use loop start lines or VOIP.

If you're tech savvy with your PBX, you could look at the CDR to see what number is being called and use LCR to pad a 9 (or whatever prefix you use) to just that particular number.

[tommyb]

Hold down the active button and the right arrow on the receiver at the same time and then release them. This will give you a service menu that you can add your dialing prefix to allow the unit to call out.

[911medic]

Hold down the active button and the right arrow on the receiver at the same time and then release them. This will give you a service menu that you can add your dialing prefix to allow the unit to call out.From the original post in this thread:On the HR20, this is done by pressing Active and Right simultaneously on the front panel.;)

[tommyb]

OOPS!!!! Getting late! Usually more observant than that. Thank you for not flaming me worse. I deserved it!!!

[911medic]

Nahhh....
Easy to overlook that.
And I'd never flame anyone who was just trying to help.

[jcolson]

just the thread I was looking for! Just a note to say thanks!

[josetann]

The ANSI isn't that big of a problem, if you have it dial out via voip you can use any number you wish. I use Asterisk at home, I can't remember if it was FWD or another voip provider that offered free toll-free calls (some charge for toll-free calls), but one did let the DirecTV receivers make a successful call to DirecTV's toll-free number the majority of the time. The TiVo daily call never worked, but that's because it needed a much higher baudrate; I suspect the DTV call uses a very low baudrate, giving voip at least a chance at working.

I just have my Asterisk server route that specific toll-free number via FWD (or whichever voip provider it was, I'd have to check), though I could use a prefix if I wanted. I think more and more people will be looking at installing a pbx, once you have one you'll never go back. No more telemarketers (unknown callers can be given a message saying they have to press 1 to connect the call, an automated dialer won't do this), no more late-night calls (phones won't ring through at hours you set, though you can still have the number shown on your TV screen or laptop giving you the opportunity to answer if you happen to be awake), ability to make cheap calls via voip, multiple incoming lines with little cost (incoming number can be had anywhere from $0 and up), etc. Oh, and you can even hook up your cellphone. Who needs a lot of cellphone minutes when you have two phones with unlimited mobile-to-mobile, one that's hooked up to a pbx (hint, dial from one phone into the other that's at the pbx, then make a call as though you were physically at the pbx).