Orchid V4, V4+ Programing Tool Support

Heinz

GTG wrote: »

However, after all these years I was getting a bit sentimental about making my trusty Orchid dialler redundant. So I presume I can find the 0808 numbers on the relevant websites just in case my caller profile changes or I encounter some exceptional circumstances? I use CPS services as per Heinz's table.

If you only used 18185 as your IA provider, the alternative number you need (0808 1 703 703) is already in the Heinz program as Carrier 5.

So, all you need to do is change your Routing table by replacing the digit 1 with the digit 5 wherever it appear in columns J, K & L (a quick check shows 9 Routing Rules need such changes).

seanhodges

In reply to GTG;
I just reprogrammed my Orchid today. I managed to track down the little usb-modem I bought, and all the cables, struggled to reacquaint myself with all the reprogramming codes, found out how to obtain the COM port number, edited the table as best I could, and fired it all up. After listening to the interminable dialling, and fixing the time, the local code, and all the extras, I finally finished and tried it out.

Result? It appears to have worked perfectly first time. I did a few test calls to fixed lines, and mobiles, and all worked fine. The only thing is it takes forever to finish dialling and make the connection - do we really need *5* pauses? - but if you wait long enough it rings through.

Finally I went on the Sky website and checked my charges for the next bill (it lets you see the accrued call charges immediately). Although there were nearly £4 of charges for a few trivial calls (Sky prices are outrageous if you don't buy an inclusive bundle), there were no sign of the 0808 calls the Orchid was making. I'll check for a few more days, but it looks promising so far.

Meanwhile, the comment a few messages above got me investigating VOIP phones. I might see if I can get a cheapish one and give it a try. Ideally I would switch my home number over and use it as my only phone, but it seems you have to pay a fair bit to get what I want.

Ultimately VOIP may be the future of telephony, but at the moment I'll keep wrangling the Orchid. It's good to have choices.

Heinz

seanhodges wrote: »

The only thing is it takes forever to finish dialling and make the connection - do we really need *5* pauses? - but if you wait long enough it rings through.

At times it probably won't need 5 (seconds of) pauses but sometimes it does!

It helps if you can remember to add a # at the end of your target dialled number - that saves a few seconds.

seanhodges

Heinz wrote: »

At times it probably won't need 5 (seconds of) pauses but sometimes it does!

It helps if you can remember to add a # at the end of your target dialled number - that saves a few seconds.

Thanks for the tip, but how/why does it work?
I presume you mean the # should be put into the number in the phone memory?

Heinz

If you ever bother to listen to the whole "Welcome to ....." message (who does?) it tells you to end your dialling with a # so adding a # to a stored phonebook entry should work too.

I assume the # tells their system you've finished dialling and they can start connecting the call.

GTG

Heinz wrote: »

If you only used 18185 as your IA provider, the alternative number you need (0808 1 703 703) is already in the Heinz program as Carrier 5.

So, all you need to do is change your Routing table by replacing the digit 1 with the digit 5 wherever it appear in columns J, K & L (a quick check shows 9 Routing Rules need such changes).

Thanks Heinz, problem is, I do not have a modem and my modern laptop (4 months old) does not have an RJ (what ever number it is) socket. Even if it did, would windows 8.1 still be equipped with the software to set it up? Unless there is a work around to this I will have to go the manual route. Question on that, what happens if I get an incoming call when I'm busy inputting the codes, does that mean having to start again?

Sean, thanks for your reply. It sound like you've got yours sorted, wish me luck sir

Quentin

If you get a call come in whilst programming manually you are likely to forget where you are up to as the phone rings and will probably feel happier if you stop any incoming calls distracting you!

Unplug your phones from their sockets whilst programming manually to avoid this.

Victor_Delta

NB Some Orchid boxes - like mine - lose their time settings when unplugged...

GTG

Quentin wrote: »

If you get a call come in whilst programming manually you are likely to forget where you are up to as the phone rings and will probably feel happier if you stop any incoming calls distracting you!

Unplug your phones from their sockets whilst programming manually to avoid this.

Thanks for the tip I did n't think it was possible to program the dialler manually with it disconnected from the telephone socket.

Good point Victor_Delta, I thought the V4's lose all their settings once disconnected from the telephone socket. I'm a posh bar steward I've got the one with the mains power supply on, the V4+, so I should be ok

Victor_Delta

GTG wrote: »

...I thought the V4's lose all their settings once disconnected from the telephone socket...

Thankfully mine only loses the time settings (which are relatively easily reset), otherwise any short interruption in service would mean a reprogramming nightmare!