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

Heinz

It looks like just the 'force home' procedure is different from the V4/V4+ (in fact, that looks remarkably similar to the key sequence used to force a Ranger 400 DECT home).

newbuilder

and the low radiation LR329 TAM

voxmagna

Hi, I've been using my Orchid V4 for quite a few years. Right from day 1 I was nervous about the CWclient server being removed or the company folding. You can't just leave a V4 programmed, because every time the clocks change you have to update the V4 internal clock.

Manual programming is very hard and you don't really know what you have in the box afterwards and can't check if there are any routing table errors. If somebody knows an easy way to empty all programming and start manual programming with an empty table please let me know!

They claim the Orchid V4 server is becoming too expensive to support and the active V4 customer user base has shrunk. I'm tempted to think their server PC probably runs a DOS or Win95 App. as it is about 10 years old.

I've suggested they make their server software available to anybody willing to offer support - but I think that means hosting a large number of dialin modems for the V4's to call home. It certainly explains why after a clock time change their system is unavailable as V4 owners are all trying to phone home to get their clocks right. If you don't do this you can find yourself billed for more expensive calls instead of free calls as the internal clock can be out of sync at 18.00 hrs.

I've asked if they might consider distributing the host software so individual users with a diallup modem could setup their own server to run CWclient locally - but haven't had any enthusiastic replies! Even the serial protocol and programming command table would be useful to know.

I'm going to try something before CWclient goes. Yes you could probably drive a dialup modem hanging on a V4 - but you may need 48V dc POTS line emulation to simulate the On/off hook signal to get the V4 into dialhome mode unless you do all this on an active telephone line which is all a bit messy.

I have one of many free Apps which runs on WinXP and outputs CCIT key tones to a sound card. These Apps allow long strings of key tones to be named and saved to a filename. My idea is to construct a simple line emulator and use a pc sound card to send the (manual) key tones to the V4. This may need an op-amp buffer to get the audio tone levels right, but it's far neater to do it this way than search for a dialup modem and driver software to run on XP/Vista etc. With this setup it would be useful to know if there is a 'clear all' command string which makes sure there is nothing left behind before new program strings are added.

These are just a few ideas, if anybody has contacted Orchid Telecom and got any further, please share your experiences. I was told the CWclient server would be turned off by 31st March 2009.

newbuilder

To clear the Routing Code table enter the following code:

** # 0000 * 1111 * 6

To clear the entire Carrier Code table enter the following code:

** # 0000 * 2222 * 6


See here for the manual

http://www.orchid-telecom.com/Diallers/v4.html

voxmagna

Thanks for both replies.

That suggests the V4 is using the off hook line voltage change to signal end of manual input code string?

L73Uq..... what you did is where I started. But I think you need the 48 volt dc changes, or a modem and the V4 connected in parallel across a line. I was looking for a solution to program my V4 that doesn't need a line. Using the line means lowering the REN with another device (modem), and could interfere with broadband use whilst programming the V4.

Have a look at this DTMF Dialler: I trialled many. The App. front end picture isn't brilliant, but I found very few with copy/paste/string memory and able to dial long strings.

http://www.silverstones.com/DTMFDial.html

Quentin

voxmagna wrote: »

I was told the CWclient server would be turned off by 31st March 2009.

On their website it says:

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

And, also this (more helpfully):

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

INSPIRED

We have had a dect phone right from the beginning.

We have subscribed to Heinz's programme (many thanks once again, Heinz) and "forced home" everytime an email came in from Orchid.

We have a BT line with BT unlimited weekend plan, a 18185 account and a Primus account.

All very simple.

I have been reading all the recent posts and am thoroughly confused. I do not have the time to attempt to understand all the info about excel spreadsheets, dialup modems and whatever. It is another language to me!

Am I right in thinking that as long as we have all the recent updates, once the server(?) is shut down, all new adjustments will have to be programmed manually? If so, how can we check that we have programmed the dect phone correctly? Is there a way to check that the date and time are correct?

We have frequent power cuts in our remote area and I always have to "force home" to reset the phone. Where do I find the instructions on how to reset the clock etc?

In the email from Orchid it said
" For DECT (digital cordless) you can dial in the code while the phone is On Hook (no dial tone) then Press the Dial key, put the phone to your ear
and as soon as the last digit (beep) has been dialled hang up the call."
Do other DECT owners hear "the last digit (beep)"? I have tried again tonight but I just hear the dial tone.

I read in some of the posts that people hear "Welcome....." when dialling a number. I have never heard this - just eg "zero pence per minute"

I would be grateful for some reassurance and an idiot's guide to maintaining the Heinz programme in the future.

Thank you.

Heinz

Do you have a standard Orchid V4, a V4+ or a Ranger 400 DECT (the one with the Orchid dialler built in)?

INSPIRED

Heinz wrote: »

Do you have a standard Orchid V4, a V4+ or a Ranger 400 DECT?

s.

Hello Heinz

We have a Gotalk Dect which I presume is the same as a Ranger 400 - seem to remember we had a Ranger at the beginning but Orchid replaced is when we had problems.

voxmagna

If you are technically challenged, my V4+ used to keep its clock running something like an hour after a power cut. Orchid use a capacitor to hold the voltage, probably the same in all their products.

I replaced mine with a couple of Farads from RS and the clock (cpu) now keeps running all day without mains.

I'm taking screen dumps from CWclient so I've got all my present routing table setups and I'm preparing the manual entry dtmf tone strings so I can test them before their server gets switched off. The crunch for everybody in UK will come on Sunday 29 March 2009 when the clocks change. I think It would have been kinder if the Orchid people had dumped their server at the end of April. It's going to be like the year 2K bug all over!

I'll try hooking on my serial analyzer 'scope and see what it spews out after phoning home.