[CHaynes112]

Greetings,

I have dial-up Internet access (as there is no DSL or Cable) available in my area. I am also on waiting lists with two different companies to be able to receive Internet via satellite. So at this time, dial-up is my only option. Here's the problem... If I have only my PC (modem) connected to my phone line, the Internet works fine (fast for dial-up and no dropped connections). But the moment I connect any of my receivers to the phone line (primarily for the Caller ID feature, but to order PPVs as well), my Internet connection becomes so slow and starts dropping connection. It's so bad that the PC can't be used for Internet purposes. I can understand if I was on the PC modem and wanted to order a PPV, then maybe there would be an issue... as it would be attempting to use the same phone line. However, I only purchase a PPV movie every few months. I also understand that maybe the receivers need to "Callback" sometimes, but it's like they are constantly trying to use the phone line?! I have even went online and changed the privacy settings to Opt Out, hoping that this would stop the receivers from messing with the phone lines. I even went under my home and ran all new CAT6 cabling to each receiver, in the hopes that bad wiring was causing the issue. The problem still remains. I have to keep all the receivers disconnected from the phone line at all times to use my dial-up Internet? I have called DirecTV about this a couple times and they can't even understand the problem?! Two of the receivers were just installed within the last month (both HD DVRs). The problem seems to happen on every receiver and in every room... this tells me it's not the receiver or the phone line going to a certain room. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

-Thanks

 

[spartanstew]

Why not just keep the phone line disconnected?

 

[dpeters11]

It really depends on how important the caller ID feature is. You can still order PPV via the web without a phone line, you just cant do it via remote.

 

[jimbo56]

I would definitely leave the phone line disconnected to the DTV box and order my PPVs via Internet. Or you can still order your PPVs via the remote (the box will store your purchases) and plug the phone line in at night when you'll be asleep so the box can call in your purchases.

The only thing you'll be losing is on-screen caller ID. Don't know how important that is to you, though.

 

[CHaynes112]

The entire purpose is to have on-screen Caller ID. Yes, I know I can simply unplug the receivers (that's what I am doing now), but this doesn't address/resolve the issue. Also, it takes forever to load DirecTV.com and actually order a PPV via a dial-up Internet connection... hence why the phone line into the receiver comes in handy.

There has to be some solution to this, right? I mean, a few years ago (before broadband was so wide spread), most people did keep there phone line plugged in. I'm sure if what I'm seeing was "normal", then there would be hundreds of complaints.

 

[sonofcool]

The only reason that I can think of is an open or bad connector is causing noise on the line and increasing your error rate. You have multiple receivers at different jacks and even if you plug in just one, your dial up slows down?
If you plug an extra phone in to we're you normally have a receiver and dial a digit to quiet dial tone do you hear any noise on the line? Will just having the phone plugged in slow your Internet?

 

[CHaynes112]

The issue happens when any of the receivers are plugged in. This tells me it can't be a bad phone port on the receiver (as I know all three can't be bad... and two have been replaced within the month... the two receivers that they replaced did the same thing). Also, as I noted, I have ran all new CAT6 cabling (and new jacks) to each room, so I don't see how that can be it. I don't have an extra phone to test, but as I said... there is basically no way it can be the caling/jacks.

 

[usnret]

Maybe you could sweet talk your phone co. into giving you a 2nd phone line??

 

[Laxguy]

Maybe you could sweet talk your phone co. into giving you a 2nd phone line??

Or replace the phone with a pair of wireless phones, one of which has caller ID and you can place by your remote; no need for TV message.

 

[carl6]

Most dial up modem have a phone in, and a phone out, jack. Internally they will automatically disconnect the phone out jack when the modem is on-line. Run the phone line from your phone company directly to the modem and plug it into the phone in jack. Then plug a line into your house phone wiring into the phone out jack. That way, when you are on-line nothing else will be connected. When you are not on-line, your phones will automatically be connected to the phone line.

 

[NewForceFiveFan]

I've never used the feature but I think Caller ID in the D* boxes has always been hit-or-miss. I had a problem on regular incoming/outgoing telephone calls when the phone jack on the HR24 in living room shat the bed. Maybe it's the same thing causing your trouble. Incoming calls wouldn't come in (caller would hear two rings then line disconnect) and outgoing were extremely crackly and broken up. We didn't realize till after the third service call by the telephone company what was causing the problem. It even made the DSL not work. Disconnecting the receiver from the phone line solved the problem completely.

 

[awblackmon]

I am amazed how important caller ID on the Directv screen is to people. The modem in the Directv receivers are horrid for causing problems. Just ask my Century Link installer brother and he will tell you how often he rolls out to a phone line trouble call only to disconnect the Directv or Dish receiver and the phone service works again.

 

[RBTO]

I have dial-up at two locations, one of which I've never had the problem you're describing, but at the other, I have to remove 110VAC from the receiver to use the dial-up for my computer. That might be a hint. It could be 110VAC leakage from your receivers (to the telephone line) that's the culprit rather than the receiver modem itself (well, it is the receiver modem that's providing the leakage path, but you get my drift).

You might try using one DTV receiver and placing it on a wireless telephone connection (you can get these fairly readily - see below) to isolate it from the actual telephone line. It would still function for caller ID and other receiver related modem functions, but its actual connection to the telephone line (which might be causing this problem) wouldn't exist.

If this works, you might do the same for your other receivers, but you would have to have different RF channels for each of the wireless telephone adapters or they would interfere with each other.

http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Phone-Jack-Extension-Unit/dp/B000I3T3K2

 

[ds2992]

The correct answer is you need to put a filter on any line connected to your dtv receiver. you can get these from an electronics store like best buy or your phone company. they cost at most 2 dollars each. They are called line conditioners or dsl filters. they stop they back feed of data from interfering with your phone system which dial up is a part of.