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General discussion

VoIP (Vonage) problems w/ DirecTV & Brinks using phone line

by wahnula Jan 29, 2006 12:43AM PST

Hello,

I switched to Vonage last year, for the most part I'm happy, except...it seems my Brinks alarm system cannot call out on its own, and the DirecTV has problems dialing out also.

I have RoadRunner Cable Internet (Toshiba modem) on battery backup, along with a Motorola Vonage modem. I always have a dial tone.

I have hooked my laptop to the DirecTV phone line and successfully dialed up & connected to the Internet at 48 kbps via my secondary emergency dialup account.

When I converted to VoIP, I disconnected Verizon's wiring, terminated it, and plugged the Vonage modem out into a phone jack to power the house. Wiring is Cat3 phone line, new house.

DirecTV gave me a different phone # for DirecTV dialup for Vonage (long distance) and it works but the receivers dial the number 20-30 times a day, resulting in 1200 minutes a month! I would like to use the local number, to which DirecTV cannot connect.

I already have my Vonage 'bandwith saver' set to highest quality for phone calls.

I have tried running a cable directly from the DirecTV receiver to the Vonage modem with the same results.

The Brinks system tests fine, so they are receiving signal, but it has problems when it calls out on its own every dang day.

I have scheduled Brinks service to come out & have a look, but if there's a cheap fix I could do myself (attach filter, amplifier etc.) I would appreciate the info and $$$ saved. Thanks!

Tony

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Here's why.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 29, 2006 12:54AM PST

The directtv unit has a MODEM. Said modem doesn't play well over VOIP connections. This is one of the limitations of VOIP. Read it again.

VOIP = Voice over IP. Not MOIP. Brinks might have a modem too.

Bob

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If my laptop would not connect I would agree with you...
by wahnula Jan 29, 2006 2:25AM PST

...but its modem connects fine, robust and fast connection too (for dialup). Likewise my PC modem when I send or receive a fax. DirecTV connects fine over a 212 area code # but has trouble connecting locally.

I have researched a bit at the Vonage forums and found Brinks uses a pulse-dial modem by default for its daily call. It sends distress and test data via tone dialing so that connects fine, but for some unknown reason they use a 35-year-old connection method for daily calls.

A tech visit is the only fix since there is no UI. Buggers!

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Modems drive owners crazy.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 29, 2006 2:29AM PST

Even on phone lines you would be hard pressed to explain why one modem works and another does not. VOIP adds another reason for modems to fail.

Disagree if you must, but as an electronics designer I see why it's going to be flakey.

Bob

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Trial & Error
by emurray68 May 20, 2006 11:30AM PDT

Try http://www.tivocommunity.com for help. There isn't one solution that works for everyone, but there are many suggestions listed there. With trial and error you'll discover a dialup number and settings that work for you.

Hey Bob- please don't bother responding if you aren't going to actually say anything helpful. Your posts just sound like the ramblings of a negative, cranky, old man.

:Elizabeth

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THIS is a little late but maybe will help others
by C.W.Solutions Apr 23, 2009 3:25AM PDT

in order for your alarm to dial out it shuts off all other phone jacks
then dials out so when you plug your vonage into a phone jack then try to dial out on alarm it shuts off the very phone jack the vonage is connected to. and alarm has two phone wires as inputs (generally orange and orange&white) and two as outputs generally (blue and blue&white)
the ring and tip from telco aka phone lines from provider go into a box on the outside of your house the the alarm wiring is ran out to the box aka N.I.D. usually the orange pair is hooked up to the telephone companys line and the blue pair is hooked to your in house wiring.
thus when alarm is triggered it shuts off all phones in the house so you cant pick one up and disrupt the alarms monitoring system.
sinces directv boxes dial out with internet like connections sometimes they wont dial with voip especially when the alarm is connected wrong. to connect properly you should consult a service pro. aka any sort of outside phone wiring specialist or the alarm company by not being connected properly you might as well shut off the alarm.

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