Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users - Discussion
Comments
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I think you answered your own question in your final paragraph there David.
However, I can tell you that variations on the basic program were considered but the probable number necessary - to take account of the sort of things you mention - made it obvious that it would quickly become impossible to maintain.
For example, my daughter, for whom the Heinz program was originally devised, has now changed to Sky Talk Unlimited because Sky will LLU her exchange this summer meaning she can get free broadband and 'free' 24/7 calls to UK 01/02 numbers and to 10 countries for £5/month. That's version 2.
Another possible variation would be someone who, like yourself, has no free or inclusive calls package and routes all calls through 18xxx. That's version 3.
Please remember I make a point of saying in a footnote to the program: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.
By the way, the basic program is not only suitable for someone on Primus Saver Option 2. Anyone on Primus Talk1 (the £1.49/month with £5/quarter rebate Uswitch-exclusive package which is the same as Primus Saver Option 2) or BT's £3.95/month BT Together Option 2 can use it without alteration - as can anyone on any other CPS package giving them free or inclusive evening and weekend UK 01/02 calls.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 -
It would be good if we could retain control of CWClient account but also have the ability to receive the emails from Orchid and have your adjustments applied, but then tweak out those where it thinks we have free calls - minimal adjusting but always on top of latest deals?
I will stick my home phone on the list as we have Primus there and will just have to manually tweak work to fit for now
I think there really only needs to be 3 "simple" settings as you have stated
1) No free calls
2) Eve & weekend free
3) 24/7 free (although why anyone would bother with orchid then is beyond me )0 -
David_Mee wrote:It would be good if we could retain control of CWClient account but also have the ability to receive the emails from Orchid and have your adjustments applied, but then tweak out those where it thinks we have free calls - minimal adjusting but always on top of latest deals?
- that an update is available;
- of any new carriers (if there is a need to sign up to a new service);
- to force their V4/V4+ diallers(s) or Ranger 400(s) to 'phone home' if they want to pick up the new program.
As you will have seen, I posted in this thread on 13/2/07 that I had updated the program. That was so those with a subscription to this thread but not registered for the Orchid service would receive an e-mail (from the MSE forum) within which was a link to the new post. That new post contained a link to the program - in which the change is highlighted and obvious.
Can I suggest that simply subscribing to this thread would achieve almost exactly what you want - to automatically be made aware of any updates to the basic program but not have them imposed upon you.
* The program does NOT necessarily specify the cheapest way to make every type of call (e.g. no use of gateway providers is made because, with them, charging commences halfway through dialling) but is a compromise taking into account money-saving, reliabilty, an infrequent need to change and ease of use.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,
Thanks for the update - it all went seamlessly, and was both painless and effortless. :j
I for one am happy to let someone do ALL the work for me for nothing and not complain that it isn't what I wanted :mad:Jumbo
"You may have speed, but I have momentum"0 -
I believe most people would regard dialling 123 to find out the time or to get an accurate time check as unnecessary now that numerous sources of the precise time (e.g. radio-controlled clocks and watches, Teletext), are so readily available.
Calls to BT 'TimeLine' (123) are charged at 30.1p (fixed fee) at all times and, following the ethos of MSE, I am considering adding a 'BAR 123' rule to the program for Orchid diallers.
Doing so would, of course, have a possible added advantage of preventing 'toddler' calls (the 1, 2 and 3 buttons do appear to attract little fingers - particularly those in the very early stages of grasping the rudiments of counting).
Before I do so though, has anyone any strong views against?
EDIT 00:10 6/3/07 - unless any strong 'anti' views (with reasons) are forthcoming before I post the next program update, a 'Bar 123' row will be added at that time.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 -
nope not by meCurrently 4 me its Rogers Contract cell phone, REBTEL.COM is the best mobile making and receiving calls to/from UK and Canada:beer:0
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Heinz wrote:I believe most people would regard dialling 123 to find out the time or to get an accurate time check as unnecessary now that numerous sources of the precise time (e.g. radio-controlled clocks and watches, Teletext), are so readily available.
Calls to BT 'TimeLine' (123) are charged at 30.1p (fixed fee) at all times and, following the ethos of MSE, I am considering adding a 'BAR 123' rule to the program for Orchid diallers.
Doing so would, of course, have a possible added advantage of preventing 'toddler' calls (the 1, 2 and 3 buttons do appear to attract little fingers - particularly those in the very early stages of grasping the rudiments of counting).
Before I do so though, has anyone any strong views against?
None from me, good idea0 -
No objection here either!
At the same time, may I make another money saving suggestion. I see you currently recommend 118226 as the best value DQ service (23.5p per 2 enquiries). Now that 118118 has introduced their 'advertising supported' free DQ service on 0800 118 3733 (= "Free" on the phone key pad) may I suggest this number is used in future.
V0 -
Victor_Delta wrote:No objection here either!
At the same time, may I make another money saving suggestion. I see you currently recommend 118226 as the best value DQ service (23.5p per 2 enquiries). Now that 118118 has introduced their 'advertising supported' free DQ service on 0800 118 3733 (= "Free" on the phone key pad) may I suggest this number is used in future.
V
I'm at a loss to understand why a service allegedly funded by subjecting users to advertisements when they call requires any 'registration' whatsoever.
Looking at the website via which potential users must register for the 118 FREE service, it is immediately obvious that the amount of personal detail which has to be revealed could easily be used, at the very least, to build a cold callers' and spammers' dream database.
Sorry, I think it would be unreasonable to 'endorse'/'recommend' 118 FREE (making it part of the program would amount to that) in the circumstances.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 -
Agreed if you can only use this service after registration.
However, at the moment it seems to work without registration - I wonder how long this will continue to be the case?
V0
This discussion has been closed.
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