Orchid V4, V4+ Programing Tool Support

KevinLawry

I have just posted the latest version of the spreadsheet, it incorporates an enhanced reset procedure that is needed for some modems connected by serial port, and a few other internal tweaks to the code.

The config page now includes many more options, almost all of which you should never need to touch, but will make tweaking for a particular modem a bit easier if I can figure out what needs tweaking.

I have changed the way the com port is recorded on the sheet, you now just have to enter the number, mainly that is to stop me having to double check that it has been entered correctly.

You can find the new version here

http://208.56.23.24/mse/Auto_Routing_Table_v1_4.zip

Experience is showing that USB modems seem to cause the fewest problems, Serial port connections are fussy but work eventually, and that internal modems in desktop PCs seem most problematic - that was always the case for their intended use so no surprise there I guess.

If you are obtaining a modem to use this program, I would suggest you choose accordingly

KevinLawry

Le73Uq86Uv

Just to be a pedant, the modem you gave me the link for is ISA not PCI, although that shouldnt matter a hill of beans in this instance.

Your results suggest that we can at least talk to the modem correctly and reset it so there is some hope - let me know how you get on after using a direct connection & we can fault find a little more after that if needed.

bungle82

If I remove my Orchid V4 from the socket, will it retain the settings programmed via this tool?

Thanks.

Heinz

bungle82 wrote: »

If I remove my Orchid V4 from the socket, will it retain the settings programmed via this tool?

Yes, but not the time/day/date.

Victor_Delta

This may be a dumb question... Does the modem have to be plugged in to one of the Orchid's phone sockets or can it be elsewhere in the house connected to another phone socket (on the same line, of course!)?

My Orchid dialler and computer are in different rooms on different floors - the former connected to the master socket and the latter on an extension.

V

KevinLawry

It depends on how your house is wired, so long as the modem is on the same side of the orchid as the 'phones that are serviced by it it will work, if the modem shares the BT side of the line then it will not - i'll try & sketch what I mean in a bit, but I have never posted an image here so I dont know if I can get that to work yet.

Ah Ha - thats how you do it :-) I hope that makes sense, sorry the green was faded a bit by the scanning process (you will notice that I am not a natural artist )

Victor_Delta

Kevin

Brilliant diagram - many thanks. Unfortunately, my set up is the red variety so I'm going to have to do some head scratching!

V

jem16

KevinLawry wrote: »

It depends on how your house is wired, so long as the modem is on the same side of the orchid as the 'phones that are serviced by it it will work, if the modem shares the BT side of the line then it will not - i'll try & sketch what I mean in a bit, but I have never posted an image here so I dont know if I can get that to work yet.

The green way is the way I used my laptop successfully.

I think the red way is how I was trying my PC which was unsuccessful although I think the main problem was still the modem. So to be sure I hooked the PC up the green way and still the same problem so it's definitely the modem.

KevinLawry

do your extentions connect to the master socket by plugging in, or are they wired in to the back - you could move your V4 to the master socket and have it serve all the 'phones in the house, that is what I have done, and it works nicely.

Less aesthetically pleasing, but if you have a recent BT (I am assuming BT but the principle is sound) master socket, you can undo and remove the face plate to which the extentions in the house will be connected, revealing the 'true' master socket behind, you could connect your V4 in line there - would look a bit messy though.

Found a reasonably good image of the type of socket I meant here

http://www2.farina1.com/blog/blog.aspx?blog_id=1&mg_blog_control=blog_view_archive&post_id=21

jem16

KevinLawry wrote: »

do your extentions connect to the master socket by plugging in, or are they wired in to the back - you could move your V4 to the master socket and have it serve all the 'phones in the house, that is what I have done, and it works nicely.

Extensions are all wired into the back.

Less aesthetically pleasing, but if you have a recent BT (I am assuming BT but the principle is sound) master socket, you can undo and remove the face plate to which the extentions in the house will be connected, revealing the 'true' master socket behind, you could connect your V4 in line there - would look a bit messy though.

I could do that as it's hidden.

I'll think about doing this if you manage to figure out a way to get the spreadsheet to work with my modem.