Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users - UPDATES

Heinz · 22 January 2007 at 11:34AM

PLEASE NOTE ORCHID'S FORCE HOME SERVER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND SO THE 'SEMI-AUTOMATED SERVICE' IS NO LONGER OFFERED.

However, I will continue to post suggestions for updates to 'the Heinz program' together with programming information as to how changes can be implemented using just the DTMF (tone) keypad of a telephone or via Kevin Lawry's Excel spreadsheet and an old dial-up modem.

Heinz · 23 January 2007 at 2:26PM

Baseline:

BT landline;
BT's Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan (formerly called BT Together Option 2) or any CPS provider which gives (only) free or inclusive evening and weekend calls;
A 18185 account.

The program bars 09 calls but simply dialling a 121 prefix bypasses the LCR - allowing such calls to be made (the same applies to 070 calls).

Heinz · 13 February 2007 at 12:38PM

There was a minor update to the program this morning (13/2/07) - the addition of routing all '05' numbers via CPS override (i.e. with the 1280 prefix).

N.B. A further update will be necessary when '03' numbers are introduced.

Edinburghlass_2 · 6 March 2007 at 12:43AM

Thanks to Heinz for this thread and Orchid for the help in keeping MSE users updated with the "Heinz Programme".

I've split off the discussion posts from here and Heinz will update this thread as necessary.

As users can't subcribe to a closed thread I have had to leave this thread open but please use the thread below for discussion.

The discussion posts can be found here.

Heinz · 23 March 2007 at 6:14PM

There were three* additions to the program on Sunday 25/3/07:

(1). Routing calls to '00800' (International Freephone numbers) via CPS override (i.e. with the 1280 prefix);

(2). Bar 123 ('Timeline' / Speaking Clock);

(3). Bar 00979 (International Premium Rate numbers).

* The anticipated inclusion of Routing rules for '03' numbers did not take place because there is no sign yet of their introduction.

Users with requests/suggestions for future program updates - please post on the Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users' - Discussion thread.

Heinz · 1 June 2007 at 9:03AM

There was one* addition to the program on Monday 4/6/07 - routing calls to '056' (VOIP numbers charged by BT at g21 rate) via 18185.

* The anticipated inclusion of Routing rules for '03' numbers has still not taken place because there is no sign yet of their introduction.

V4, V4+ Users with requests/suggestions for future program updates - please post on the Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users' - Discussion thread.

Heinz · 20 July 2007 at 10:47AM

There were two additions and two alterations to the program on Wednesday 01/08/07*:

(1). Routing calls to 03 numbers the same as 01/02 numbers (in preparation for the 03 range being introduced);

(2). Barring 06 numbers (in preparation for the 06 range being introduced as the new 'home' of 070 numbers);

(3). Routing weekend calls to 0845 numbers via 18185 - at ½p/minute - instead of via BT;

(4). Routing weekend calls to 0870 numbers via 18185 - at 2p/minute - instead of via BT;

:j Users with problems or with requests/suggestions for future program updates, please post on the Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users' - Discussion thread, not here. :j

Heinz · 19 February 2008 at 5:43PM

Two additions and one alteration were made to the program on Tuesday 19/02/08:

(1). Routing calls to 01481 (Guernsey) numbers via 18185 at all times (the program previously routed just weekday daytime calls to this, and all other 01xxx STD codes, via 18185).

(2). Routing calls to 01534 (Jersey) numbers via 18185 at all times (the program previously routed just weekday daytime calls to this, and all other 01xxx STD codes, via 18185).

(3). Changing the (digit-translated) routing of calls when 192 is dialled to 1280#0800100100.

The reasons that these two additions and one alteration to the program were considered necessary are explained in HERE.

:j Users with problems or with requests/suggestions for future program updates, please post on the Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users' - Discussion thread, not here. :j

Heinz · 29 October 2008 at 6:36PM

Eleven alterations were made to the program in a download made available to users registered for the semi-automatic update service from Thursday 30 October 2008.

The alterations, originally due to have been available on Sunday 26 October, but which had to be delayed due to a hardware failure on Orchid's server, are:

(1). Adding 08081703703##### (18185's freephone gateway number plus a five-second pause), to the list of Carriers.

(2). Routing calls to UK mobiles via (1) at weekends;

(3), (4) & (5). Routing calls to 0845 numbers via (1) at all times;

(6) & (7). Routing calls to 0870 numbers via (1) weekday daytimes and at weekends;

(8), (9), (10) & (11). Routing local, 01, 02 and 03 calls via CPS override (BT) at weekends.

The reasons that these eleven alterations to the program were considered necessary are explained in HERE.

:j Users with problems or with requests/suggestions for future program updates, please post on the Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users' - Discussion thread, not here. :j

Heinz · 9 January 2009 at 6:05PM

I regret to have to advise that Orchid have this afternoon posted the below announcement on their website:

Changes to programming your Dialler

As of March 1st 2009 the free remote programming service, CW Client, will no longer be available.

Due to the remote location of our new offices BT are unable to supply us with the necessary ISDN 30 which we need to operate this service.

All diallers can still be programmed manually using the touch tone key pad of your telephone and instructions on how to do this will shortly be available on our website.

We will continue to give our utmost support to all your dialler needs.

This announcement is regrettable but, in view of the current economic climate and the non-availability of the necessary ISDN 30 lines at Orchid's new location, is understandable.

Looking on the bright side, manual programming will still be possible and, after a few hours of studying the procedures, I realised that manual programming allows considerably more* flexibility. Yes, it appears to be time-consuming and difficult at first (particularly for those who have been using the 'semi-automatic update service' and have just been forcing their dialler home whenever I updated the program and Orchid sent them an email) but it's a question of learning how to key in your own program - or disconnect your dialler.

* Just as an example, I quickly learned how to program a Routing Rule to bar calls to a specific mobile (i.e. to a single 11-digit number rather than to a whole range of numbers) and then realised that, using a similar procedure, it would quite easily be possible to bar all mobiles except, say, 5 or 6 family ones - the ideal teen-tamer programming!

This will also mean, of course, that manually updating the internal clocks on diallers will be necessary at least twice a year (when the GMT to BST and BST to GMT clock changes take place). In fact, I'd recommend doing so once a month or so anyway to be on the safe side.

Of course, this will not be welcome news but these are tough times and, IMHO, we need to take a pragmatic approach. As I see it, users can either spend a while getting to grips with manual programming of their Orchid (I'll do my best to offer support to anyone having difficulty) or find another LCR.

I've Googled extensively but, as far as I can see, there are no alternatives on the market and to get a new version manufactured (probably somewhere in China) would require considerable up-front finance (for design, prototype manufacture, bug testing etc.) and then further funding for a minimum initial order of, say, 5000 or 10000 units (probably more). Sorry, it's not going to happen, the market is too small.

:j Users with problems or with requests/suggestions for future program updates, please post on the Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users' - Discussion thread, not here. :j

charlieheard · 9 January 2009 at 8:07PM

Silly question, but why don't they relocate the hardware to a site with the necessary infrastructure and then maintain it remotely?

I really don't want to have to enter every routing manually...

Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users - UPDATES

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free