There's a great Tivo application called TiVonage, which allow you to listen to and return Vonage calls right from your TV. It requires HME, which means that it's only compatible with standalone units or hacked DirecTV Tivos running the 6.3x software . That leaves out a lot of people, so I got to thinking about how it could be done on earlier software versions. If you have a hacked DirecTivo running the 6.2x software, and won't be upgrading (so as not to lose MRV) than this will at least let you hear your messages. Here's a list of necessary software:
1) Create a folder on your Windows computer for your converted messages, then add a folder named MP3 inside it. Make sure it's in a shared directory, ie:
XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Voicemail\MP3
Vista - C:\Users\Public\Voicemail\MP3
2) If you haven't already, install JavaHMO and get it working, then add the Music plugin. Add your new Voicemail\MP3 folder to the list.
3) Install Sox and Lame. Sox is needed to convert the Vonage file from CCITT u-Law to PCM. Lame is then used to convert to an MP3 that the Tivo can actually play.
4) Edit the batch file to make sure the locations for Sox, Lame and your MP3 folder are correct, then drop the edited batch file into the \Voicemail folder.
5) You need a way to get the voicemail files onto your computer. I use Voicemail Retriever, which works well with Vonage (I run it on boot and keep it minimized, checking for messages and downloading them into the \Voicemail folder.) You could also have the files emailed to you and auto-save the attachments. It might also be possible to email the files to a GMail account and use GMail Drive to access them. Whatever; just get the wave files into \Voicemail (not the MP3 folder).
6) Use Task Manager to call the batch file at a repeating interval. When called it will grab the latest voicemail, parse the name for caller-id info, convert it and save the mp3 , delete the wav and write a log entry. If there are multiple vms it will go through them all, one at a time.
This is a good way to archive your voicemails, too. They'll be saved as MP3s, with all the caller-id information in the tag.
1) Create a folder on your Windows computer for your converted messages, then add a folder named MP3 inside it. Make sure it's in a shared directory, ie:
XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Voicemail\MP3
Vista - C:\Users\Public\Voicemail\MP3
2) If you haven't already, install JavaHMO and get it working, then add the Music plugin. Add your new Voicemail\MP3 folder to the list.
3) Install Sox and Lame. Sox is needed to convert the Vonage file from CCITT u-Law to PCM. Lame is then used to convert to an MP3 that the Tivo can actually play.
4) Edit the batch file to make sure the locations for Sox, Lame and your MP3 folder are correct, then drop the edited batch file into the \Voicemail folder.
5) You need a way to get the voicemail files onto your computer. I use Voicemail Retriever, which works well with Vonage (I run it on boot and keep it minimized, checking for messages and downloading them into the \Voicemail folder.) You could also have the files emailed to you and auto-save the attachments. It might also be possible to email the files to a GMail account and use GMail Drive to access them. Whatever; just get the wave files into \Voicemail (not the MP3 folder).
6) Use Task Manager to call the batch file at a repeating interval. When called it will grab the latest voicemail, parse the name for caller-id info, convert it and save the mp3 , delete the wav and write a log entry. If there are multiple vms it will go through them all, one at a time.
This is a good way to archive your voicemails, too. They'll be saved as MP3s, with all the caller-id information in the tag.
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