Orchid V4, V4+ Programing Tool Support

Heinz

ian_h wrote: »

I've not used a v4 for a couple of years but now need to reactivate it after a change of broadband supplier.

Kevin's excel sheet is a fantastic tool, but is there some way of interrogating the v4 and retrieving the current routing tables so I can just tweak rather tan start again from scratch?

Cheers

As Quentin says, no.

However, once you've 'written' your own program using Kevin's as a template, the actual loading into the Orchid itself is a very quick job provided you have a suitable analogue modem.

johnniegif

ian_h wrote: »

I've not used a v4 for a couple of years but now need to reactivate it after a change of broadband supplier.

Kevin's excel sheet is a fantastic tool, but is there some way of interrogating the v4 and retrieving the current routing tables so I can just tweak rather tan start again from scratch?

Cheers

No way to do this that I'm aware of. You'll have to start from scratch. Kevin's spreadsheet contains the latest version of the Heinz Programme and is tailored accordingly. It fits most people with a BT line & 18185 account or BT line, Primus CPS & 18185 account very well.

If have a Sky/O2/TalkTalk etc landline, you can use it as a good basis for them too - except you have to use the 18185 "cable access" number for 18185 and remove any 1280 programming as you cannot jump back to a BT line in most cases.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

How do I re-programme the dialler without using a computer?

I think the times of day for using certain call providers is out, as I'm getting charged for calls which should either be free ect.

Lplates

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

How do I re-programme the dialler without using a computer?

I think the times of day for using certain call providers is out, as I'm getting charged for calls which should either be free ect.

To set up an Orchid dialer without using a computer, all you need to do is to enter the programming sequences using the keypad on the attached phone. The required sequences can be determined either from the original Orchid documentation, or from examination of Kevin Lawry’s spreadsheet (assuming you have a computer with Excel). It’s quicker using a modem between the computer and the dialer, and arguably less prone to finger trouble, but the end result should be the same.

There are four principle categories to Orchid programming:
1) carrier codes
2) routing tables
3) time-related programming (set time, define day, evening and weekend periods)
4) other settings (local area code, managed/non-managed, dial a prefix on all calls etc)
From what you say, I think you should first look at the time-related items. Maybe the Orchid is set to the wrong time or date, or maybe one or more of your call providers has changed the times at which they change from peak to off-peak rates. Check the latest information from your call providers, and use this to get appropriate programming sequences for day, evening and weekend periods. Enter these, and then set the Orchid internal clock to the correct day, date and time. This may well get you back on track.

Heinz

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

How do I re-programme the dialler without using a computer?

I think the times of day for using certain call providers is out, as I'm getting charged for calls which should either be free ect.

Are you sure the problem is not simply that the Orchid's internal clock needs re-setting?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=1830574&postcount=2

the_devil_made_me_do_it

It could be to do with the fact the call providers have altered the times in which calls are low rate or free. I haven't updated since the clocks went forward in the spring.

markja_2

I am a little confused over version numbering of the Excel tool and the references in the message#1 sticky.
The text at the top says a new version was posted on 9 April 2010. At the bottom of the message there is a link to the latest stable version with a 'posted date' on the line below the link of 14 Jan 2010. I don't understand this discrepancy in dates.

When I download this file with name Auto_Routing_Table_v1_9.zip I find that it is labelled internally as ver 1.8.5.

How do I know I ave the latest correct version?

Tks,
Mark J

Lplates

markja wrote: »

I am a little confused over version numbering of the Excel tool and the references in the message#1 sticky.
The text at the top says a new version was posted on 9 April 2010. At the bottom of the message there is a link to the latest stable version with a 'posted date' on the line below the link of 14 Jan 2010. I don't understand this discrepancy in dates.

When I download this file with name Auto_Routing_Table_v1_9.zip I find that it is labelled internally as ver 1.8.5.

How do I know I ave the latest correct version?

Tks,
Mark J

Unzip the distribution file, and open the result in Excel. Click on File, Properties, and in the ‘General’ tab you should see that the file name is Auto_Routing_Table_v1_9.xls. You should also see that the ‘Created’ date is 09 April 2010. This is sufficient to verify that you have opened v1.9.

Disregard contrary indications in the banner on the ‘Main’ sheet and in cell C2 on the ‘config’ sheet – though if you wish you could of course change these yourself for consistency.

markja_2

Lplates wrote: »

...Click on File, Properties, and in the ‘General’ tab you should see that the file name is Auto_Routing_Table_v1_9.xls.

Not quite the same in an OFF2007 or later ribbon based interface. However this is no different to just looking at the filename.

Lplates wrote: »

You should also see that the ‘Created’ date is 09 April 2010.

Hmm. OK. I guess it will be if I d/l it again. But it is soon lost when I save the file or it gets autosaved etc... The created date is not a good way to confirm a version.

Lplates wrote: »

Disregard contrary indications in the banner on the ‘Main’ sheet and in cell C2 on the ‘config’ sheet

OK. So you confirm the version number inside is different (and incorrect) to that in the filename. May I suggest the author (or someone) update the internal version references to match that of the filename version. It can be very confusing to someone coming to this thread well after the fact.

Lplates wrote: »

– though if you wish you could of course change these yourself for consistency.

Yes. And I probably will. But that is not quite addressing the root cause.

Also...
Can the 'posted date' text not be changed to match the release date shown at the top. Or better still just remove it to avoid the conflict.

Tks,
mark J

Heinz

It boils down to Kevin updated the file (as a consequence of a change to the program I suggested on 4-4-2010) but omitted to update the labels.

It makes no odds, the version linked to in post #1 in this thread is the latest and that is confirmed by the fact that Carrier Code 4 therein now reads 1280#08001183733.

In any case I would imagine that many people use Kevin's spreadsheet as their starting point and adjust it to suit their own individual needs (e.g. I programmed an extra Carrier Code and an extra Routing Rule for an elderley relative's V4 so that she merely has to key 88 on her phone to call me).