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

Victor_Delta

Speedee wrote: »

I never got a reply to this post! I still get the LED coming on every now and again; Do you? :undecided

Speedee

I seem to recall Orchid boxes used to 'call home' from time to time if set to the managed mode. That's certainly the only time my red light used to come on, other than during calls.

When the central server closed, it was important to ensure that the box was not left in this mode (as there was no longer anywhere for it to call). Heinz (I think) posted a code for doing this at the time as I recall (later - I think it is **# 0000 * 0 * 8). Is it possible that your's is still left in this mode - in which case it could be trying to dial the old number 01536 207810 (which is not in use these days)?

V

Speedee

Victor_Delta wrote: »

Speedee

I seem to recall Orchid boxes used to 'call home' from time to time if set to the managed mode. That's certainly the only time my red light used to come on, other than during calls.

When the central server closed, it was important to ensure that the box was not left in this mode (as there was no longer anywhere for it to call). Heinz (I think) posted a code for doing this at the time as I recall. Is it possible that your's is still left in this mode - in which case it could be trying to dial the old number 01536 207810 (which is not in use these days)?
V

That may be the answer! I got my Orchid just before they stopped the update service so it only "phoned home" once! I have 3 units in the family, I can't say about one of them as it's 6miles away behind a sofa !!!!! The main one in this house clicks a lot the other is not in earshot until now! and I haven't heard it! Every 5 minutes is a bit extreme - I thought it was charging a capacitor! I'll Google what you say and investigate further!

Thanks, Speedee :j

Heinz

Speedee wrote: »

That may be the answer! I got my Orchid just before they stopped the update service so it only "phoned home" once! I have 3 units in the family, I can't say about one of them as it's 6miles away behind a sofa !!!!! The main one in this house clicks a lot the other is not in earshot until now! and I haven't heard it! Every 5 minutes is a bit extreme - I thought it was charging a capacitor! I'll Google what you say and investigate further!

Thanks, Speedee :j

Keying the 'de-managed' string may well solve the problem.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=17847895&postcount=611

tamase

If there's anyone still there, I'm having a problem with one of my Orchid dialers - stopped routing calls away from BT, boo hoo. I'm trying to work on it but I am inhibited by the pathetically short lead that was originally supplied. I tried other telephone leads but could not achieve connectivity.
Does anyone know the specification of the lead and where I might be able to get a longer one?

Heinz

tamase wrote: »

If there's anyone still there, I'm having a problem with one of my Orchid dialers - stopped routing calls away from BT, boo hoo. I'm trying to work on it but I am inhibited by the pathetically short lead that was originally supplied. I tried other telephone leads but could not achieve connectivity.

I have never heard of a V4 which just stopped working (although I'm sure it must have happened) - the most common cause of problems I have heard of is simply that the V4 had dropped it'd day/date/time settings.

That can quickly be resolved without disconnecting it - see HERE.

Worth a try before messing about trying to get a new connector lead?

Victor_Delta

tamase wrote: »

...but I am inhibited by the pathetically short lead that was originally supplied. I tried other telephone leads but could not achieve connectivity.
Does anyone know the specification of the lead and where I might be able to get a longer one?

What's the actual problem you are experiencing and why is the shortness of the lead significant? If you need a longer lead could you not just extend it using a normal phone extension lead?

Heinz

I have just learned that Toby Clarke, formerly of Orchid Telecom, moved from the UK to a position with an Australian telco in late 2009. Unfortunately, he did not make contact with me before moving and so I was unaware until one of his former colleagues replied to one of my emails.

Orchid Telecom Limited of Ridlington Park House, Holygate Road, Ridlington, LE15 9AR has set up an auto-divert so that those attempting to visit the former www.orchid-telecom.com webite reach http://www.smallbusinesstelephonesystemsuk.co.uk/ instead. The firm no longer deals in low cost routers (diallers) and, as the name of their new website suggests, specialises in telecoms equipment for small businesses.

I have been unable to locate a UK vendor of the old Orchid V2 or, more importantly, the far more capable V4 or V4+ diallers.

However, those who have working V4 or V4+ units continue to be well supported by Kevin Lawry's MS Excel spreadsheet and the rest of the community of users, mainly on this site. OTOH, anyone wanting to acquire a unit has no option but to hope that one comes up on one of the auction sites (no, I'm not selling any of my spares just yet).

farci

Just switched from BT as my phone line provider to take advantage of the lower line rental. Wishing to review my Orchid V4Plus settings I read this thread and am a bit, er, confused.

I assume I can still take advantage of 18185's excellent rates to certain destinations by programming their non-BT access number 0808 1 703 703 plus some sort of pause?

FYI most of my calls go via Skype Unlimited World but their mobile rates are downright ruinous:rotfl:

Thanks in advance for your help

Heinz

Primus promised Martin that those taking their line rental would still be able to use indirect access providers like 1899, 18185 and 18866 "at least until the end of the year" and, if they keep that promise, you won't need to use the more expensive 0808 1 703 703 freephone gateway number but can continue to use the 18185 prefix.

However, you are right about the pauses being necessary if/when you have to use the gateway number and Carrier Code 5 (column B, Row 9) in Kevin Lawry's spreadsheet, shows the recommended 5 second pause (each # is one second).

farci

Heinz wrote: »

Primus promised Martin that those taking their line rental would still be able to use indirect access providers like 1899, 18185 and 18866 "at least until the end of the year" and, if they keep that promise, you won't need to use the more expensive 0808 1 703 703 freephone gateway number but can continue to use the 18185 prefix.

Thanks for the dialer setup help.

I'm not sure why it should be more expensive to route via an 0808 number than a short code. 0800/8 is free to the caller so is the net cost not still the same as short code?