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'The Heinz Program 19 February 2008'
Heinz
Posts: 11,191 Forumite
Having suggested to my daughter that she take advantage of the MSE 20% discount (which was available at the time) and get an Orchid V4 LCR dialler to 'tame' her family's telephone use, I was looking for a list of 'recommended settings' for her to [EMAIL="sales@orchid-telecom.com"]email to Orchid[/EMAIL] as her 'Initial Programming Requirements'.
Not finding one, I had to come up with my own - taking into account that she had a BT landline and their Unlimited Weekend Plan (formerly BT Together Option 1), Primus Saver CPS (free evening and weekend UK 01, 02 & 03 calls), a www.18185.co.uk account and five children. Yes, you're absolutely right, that last bit wasn't really relevant to the programming - but it was the reason the Orchid was needed! :kisses2: Like father, like daughter!
01, 02 & 03 numbers ►►
Weekday daytime (8am to 6pm Mon. to Frid.) - 18185 prefix
Weekday evenings (6pm to 8am Mon. to Frid.) - no routing (via CPS ¥)
Weekends (0001hrs. Saturday to 23:59hrs. Sunday) – 1280 prefix (route via BT) ►
01481 & 01534 numbers
At all times - 18185 prefix
0500 (Freephone) and 055 (VoIP) numbers Ф►
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT)
056 (VoIP numbers) Ф
At all times - 18185 prefix
06 (New Personal Numbering range) numbers
Bar
070 (Personal Numbering) numbers►
Bar
075, 077, 078, 079 (UK mobile) numbers
Weekday daytime (6am to 6pm Mon. to Frid.) - 18185 prefix
Weekday evenings (6pm to 6am Mon. to Frid.) - 18185 prefix
Weekends (0001hrs. Saturday to 23:59hrs. Sunday) – 0808 1 703 703 (18185's freephone gateway)
080 (Freephone) numbers[FONT="] □[/FONT]
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT)
0843 & 0844 numbers
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT)
0845 numbers
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT) ►
0870 numbers
Weekday daytime (6am to 6pm Mon. to Frid.) – 18185 prefix
Weekday evenings and weekends – 1280 prefix (route via BT) ►
0871, 0872 & 0873 numbers
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT)
09 (Premium Rate) numbers
Bar
00 (international) numbers
At all times - 18185 prefix
00800 (UIFNs - Universal International Freephone numbers)
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT)
00979 (UIPRNs - Universal International Premium Rate numbers)
Bar
118xxx (Directory Enquiry) numbers
At all times - Digit Translate 118xxx to 1280#118226 §
123 (Timeline / Speaking Clock)
Weekday daytime (8am to 6pm Mon. to Frid.) – Bar
Weekday evenings and weekends – Digit Translate to 020 7043 1320
192 (the old Directory Enquiry number)
At all times - Digit Translate to 1280#08001183733 §
¥ Provided different 'evening' times are taken into account (BT's are now 7pm to 7am), this would also work for those not using Primus Saver as their CPS calls provider as long as they are on BT's Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan or any CPS (Carrier PreSelect) calls provider which gives (just) free evening and weekend 01, 02 & 03 calls. However, you should ensure your calls provider has not changed from CPS to WCLI (Wholesale Calls, Line Independent). The adoption of WCLI removes CPS (see the last paragraph of 3.4 on Page 19 HERE) and that means use of the 1280 prefix no longer has any effect whereas, on CPS, it allows you to route individual calls via your line provider, BT. It appears Sky Talk, AOL, Orange and Talk Talk have done so (thereby forcing subscribers to pay their own rates for calls despite them carrying the 1280 prefix). Others may follow suit.
► For local 01 and 02 calls (i.e. calls to numbers in the same STD code area as you), Orchid diallers auto-insert the 3, 4 or 5 digits of your 'home' STD code - so you don't have to dial them.
► Routing local, 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 calls via BT at weekends means these calls (which are inclusive in BT's Unlimited Weekend Calls Plan and their Unlimited Evening & Weekend Calls Plan), will then automatically count as 'qualifying calls' for free Caller Display and/or basic 1571.
Ф Apart from (freephone) 0500, the use of the 05 number range is relatively new but BT published rates show that there are two specific rates for chargeable 05 calls (charge rates g6 and g21). However, because 18185 doesn't carry 055 calls (14 sub-ranges of which are BT g21 rate and 3 of which are BT g6 rate) but treats 056 numbers (all of which are BT g21 rate) the same as standard UK 01/02 numbers (i.e. 5p connection and 0p/minute), it is the obvious choice of carrier for such calls. Other providers either don't publish their g6 and g21 rates or their rates are extremely difficult to find so, as with the routing of 0843/4 and 0871/2/3 calls, routing 055 calls via BT will eliminate any possibility of 'surprise' call charges.
■ If you are on Primus's Penny Mobile 2 CPS calls package, LUCKY YOU, but remember to override the dialler by using the 121 prefix if you know your call to a UK mobile is going to be over 2 minutes. That is the approximate point at which Primus Penny Mobile 2's capped price of 20p for up to 20 minutes becomes more cost-effective than the program's use of 18185 and 0808 1 703 703.
[FONT="]□[/FONT] Primus went through a period of charging for 0800 and 0808 (freephone) calls in error and, although customers obtained refunds without difficulty and it's unlikely to happen again, this programming eliminates the possibility.
§ 118226 currently appears to be the least expensive standard DQ provider - charging a flat rate of 32½p for up to two enquiries.
§ A free DQ service, funded by making users listen to advertisements when they call, is available from 118FREE (0800 118 3733).
There may well be cheaper options for some calls (e.g. without doubt, 18185 is not the cheapest to all international destinations and better rates for calling UK mobiles become available from time to time) but the above is designed for ease of use and, as far as possible, to eliminate the need to review or change settings more frequently than, say, once a month or once every couple of months.
Now that Orchid has ceased their support of CW Client and switched off the server, using Kevin Lawry's MS Excel spreadsheet and an analogue modem is the easiest way (apart from using a telephone's DTMF keypad) of programming Orchid V4 diallers.
Not finding one, I had to come up with my own - taking into account that she had a BT landline and their Unlimited Weekend Plan (formerly BT Together Option 1), Primus Saver CPS (free evening and weekend UK 01, 02 & 03 calls), a www.18185.co.uk account and five children. Yes, you're absolutely right, that last bit wasn't really relevant to the programming - but it was the reason the Orchid was needed! :kisses2: Like father, like daughter!
01, 02 & 03 numbers ►►
Weekday daytime (8am to 6pm Mon. to Frid.) - 18185 prefix
Weekday evenings (6pm to 8am Mon. to Frid.) - no routing (via CPS ¥)
Weekends (0001hrs. Saturday to 23:59hrs. Sunday) – 1280 prefix (route via BT) ►
01481 & 01534 numbers
At all times - 18185 prefix
0500 (Freephone) and 055 (VoIP) numbers Ф►
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT)
056 (VoIP numbers) Ф
At all times - 18185 prefix
06 (New Personal Numbering range) numbers
Bar
070 (Personal Numbering) numbers►
Bar
075, 077, 078, 079 (UK mobile) numbers
Weekday daytime (6am to 6pm Mon. to Frid.) - 18185 prefix
Weekday evenings (6pm to 6am Mon. to Frid.) - 18185 prefix
Weekends (0001hrs. Saturday to 23:59hrs. Sunday) – 0808 1 703 703 (18185's freephone gateway)
080 (Freephone) numbers[FONT="] □[/FONT]
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT)
0843 & 0844 numbers
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT)
0845 numbers
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT) ►
0870 numbers
Weekday daytime (6am to 6pm Mon. to Frid.) – 18185 prefix
Weekday evenings and weekends – 1280 prefix (route via BT) ►
0871, 0872 & 0873 numbers
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT)
09 (Premium Rate) numbers
Bar
00 (international) numbers
At all times - 18185 prefix
00800 (UIFNs - Universal International Freephone numbers)
At all times - 1280 prefix (route via BT)
00979 (UIPRNs - Universal International Premium Rate numbers)
Bar
118xxx (Directory Enquiry) numbers
At all times - Digit Translate 118xxx to 1280#118226 §
123 (Timeline / Speaking Clock)
Weekday daytime (8am to 6pm Mon. to Frid.) – Bar
Weekday evenings and weekends – Digit Translate to 020 7043 1320
192 (the old Directory Enquiry number)
At all times - Digit Translate to 1280#08001183733 §
¥ Provided different 'evening' times are taken into account (BT's are now 7pm to 7am), this would also work for those not using Primus Saver as their CPS calls provider as long as they are on BT's Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan or any CPS (Carrier PreSelect) calls provider which gives (just) free evening and weekend 01, 02 & 03 calls. However, you should ensure your calls provider has not changed from CPS to WCLI (Wholesale Calls, Line Independent). The adoption of WCLI removes CPS (see the last paragraph of 3.4 on Page 19 HERE) and that means use of the 1280 prefix no longer has any effect whereas, on CPS, it allows you to route individual calls via your line provider, BT. It appears Sky Talk, AOL, Orange and Talk Talk have done so (thereby forcing subscribers to pay their own rates for calls despite them carrying the 1280 prefix). Others may follow suit.
► For local 01 and 02 calls (i.e. calls to numbers in the same STD code area as you), Orchid diallers auto-insert the 3, 4 or 5 digits of your 'home' STD code - so you don't have to dial them.
► Routing local, 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 calls via BT at weekends means these calls (which are inclusive in BT's Unlimited Weekend Calls Plan and their Unlimited Evening & Weekend Calls Plan), will then automatically count as 'qualifying calls' for free Caller Display and/or basic 1571.
Ф Apart from (freephone) 0500, the use of the 05 number range is relatively new but BT published rates show that there are two specific rates for chargeable 05 calls (charge rates g6 and g21). However, because 18185 doesn't carry 055 calls (14 sub-ranges of which are BT g21 rate and 3 of which are BT g6 rate) but treats 056 numbers (all of which are BT g21 rate) the same as standard UK 01/02 numbers (i.e. 5p connection and 0p/minute), it is the obvious choice of carrier for such calls. Other providers either don't publish their g6 and g21 rates or their rates are extremely difficult to find so, as with the routing of 0843/4 and 0871/2/3 calls, routing 055 calls via BT will eliminate any possibility of 'surprise' call charges.
■ If you are on Primus's Penny Mobile 2 CPS calls package, LUCKY YOU, but remember to override the dialler by using the 121 prefix if you know your call to a UK mobile is going to be over 2 minutes. That is the approximate point at which Primus Penny Mobile 2's capped price of 20p for up to 20 minutes becomes more cost-effective than the program's use of 18185 and 0808 1 703 703.
[FONT="]□[/FONT] Primus went through a period of charging for 0800 and 0808 (freephone) calls in error and, although customers obtained refunds without difficulty and it's unlikely to happen again, this programming eliminates the possibility.
§ 118226 currently appears to be the least expensive standard DQ provider - charging a flat rate of 32½p for up to two enquiries.
§ A free DQ service, funded by making users listen to advertisements when they call, is available from 118FREE (0800 118 3733).
There may well be cheaper options for some calls (e.g. without doubt, 18185 is not the cheapest to all international destinations and better rates for calling UK mobiles become available from time to time) but the above is designed for ease of use and, as far as possible, to eliminate the need to review or change settings more frequently than, say, once a month or once every couple of months.
Now that Orchid has ceased their support of CW Client and switched off the server, using Kevin Lawry's MS Excel spreadsheet and an analogue modem is the easiest way (apart from using a telephone's DTMF keypad) of programming Orchid V4 diallers.
Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
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Comments
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Post copied and bumping
0 -
I thought Heinz was worried his OP was gone, but it's here anyway, copied and rescued in advance by Edilass
(copying renumbered this one as recent)0 -
Yes, she did that at my request back in September when Martin closed the original thread it was on (preventing me updating it any more).I thought Heinz was worried his OP was gone, but it's here anyway, copied and rescued in advance by Edilass
As it therefore became a thread that was 'started' after 29-6-07, it's not one which has been lost at the moment.
However, since my worries came to BritBrat's attention, he's taught me how to use Google cache - and I've found most of the posts I was worried about.
OTOH, he put me into conspiracy theory mode - worrying about how much of the world Google has cached!Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.0 -
OTOH, he put me into conspiracy theory mode - worrying about how much of the world Google has cached!
Sorry just about everything for some time, I think they delete after 18 months now.
Yes I share the same conspiracy fears and that is why Google cookies are blocked on my system.0 -
My daughter has just moved house, and she has just reactivated her BT line. She has agreed to what they are still calling their Option 1 with line rental £11 per month via Direct Debit, but she has been told that she will get also get free evening and weekend calls. In addition she has signed up for BT Broadband for £17.99 per month on an 18 month contract, plus a one off £162 for a Hub, Engineer to install Broadband and Hub, and line activation fee.
Whether this is good value seems irrelevant, since I am under the impression that she had no choice but to use BT to reactivate her line, which had not been used by the previous Owner. I appreciate that she was not compelled to use BT for Broadband, but she wanted to "get on with it", having been desperate, since she had been without an Internet connection for some weeks.
She has purchased a V4 Orchid Dialler and I have been most impressed by what I have read about the Heinz Programme (which can be installed by Orchid), and she has already signed up with 18185. However, I notice that Heinz has used Primus Saver Option 2 for evening and weekend calls (and Penny Mobile 2 as an add-on), but she has not yet signed up for these, because such calls will now be free with BT.
My question to Heinz is should she now proceed to activate her Dialler with the Heinz Programme, or would there be some sort of conflict with BT's Free calls for evenings and weekends? Apparently Primus can take up to 2-3 weeks before registration becomes active and calls can be taken.
My apologies if the answer is obvious, but I have only just started to follow Heinz's Programme thread (which is all highly impressive) and am upon a steep learning curve!0 -
Welcome to the MSE forums DaisyMay.
You certainly seem to have grasped most of my voice telephony recommendations!
I'm not sure what your daughter's actually signed up for with BT though.
If she has signed up for BT Together Option 1 (now known at the Unlimited Weekend Plan), that gives her free weekend UK 01/02/03 calls provided that she makes at least one chargeable call via BT each month. She will NOT be getting free evening calls on that Plan.
However, if she has agreed to BT's offer of an upgrade to BT Together Option 2 (now known as the Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan), she will be getting free evening UK 01/02/03 calls of up to an hour as well. She should have been offered that plan for no additional cost (i.e. the monthly charge of £3.45, due to go down to £2.70 on 1-4-08, waived as long as she agreed to a 12 month 'rolling contract').
That plan will work with the Heinz (Orchid) program without there being any need to sign up to CPS her calls via Primus - it's just that she'll need to keep her evening and weekend calls down to 60 minutes each and won't have the option to add Penny Mobile 2.Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.0 -
I know that is an old post, but are Primus Saver 2 calls to 01/2/3 not ok until 8am?
Cheers, Des.0 -
Yes, they are but, for simplicity, the program assumes 6am.I know that is an old post, but are Primus Saver 2 calls to 01/2/3 not ok until 8am?
Cheers, Des.Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.0 -
Heinz, a belated thank you for your extremely rapid and most helpful reply to my post of 7/2/08.
You are surely right that my daughter must have agreed to the BT Together Option 2, at no additional cost since she reluctantly agreed to a 12 month contract. But she certainly did not know that this was "rolling".
She does not believe that the BT person mentioned "the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan", simply saying that evening and week end calls would be free (apparently without mentioning the 1 hour restriction).
I have now warned her about this restriction, thanks to your advice.
Unless you say anything to the contrary, I don't think she will bother to sign up to CPS via Primus, since the BT 1 hour call restriction should not apply too often (that's what she tells me, anyway!), and her mobile phone plan apparently gives a fair number of free calls, thus presumably Penny Mobile 2 would not be helpful.
Regards,
DaisyMay.0
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