Verizon Call Assistant
Sheryl82449
Newbie
It worked fine until a couple days ago when I did the mandatory update.  Now it will not work and I get the constant message "connection with the server is down.  Please try again later.  Can I get it working again?
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vpac1
Enthusiast - Level 2
Go and open My Computer,then go and open, the "C" folder then go and open, Program Files folder then go and open Verizon then go and open Call Assistant folder,then go to DCClient_Retail right click on it to edit(in notepad) ,then go edit line HostIPAddress" value="www36.verizon.com" to HostIPAddress" value="www36p.verizon.com", then save the file and restart the computer. This should fix the problem and you can use Call Assistant

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TerryB
Newbie
I ordered mine on 5-27-09. It's been nothing but a pain to get evrything working. I've probably talked to twenty different Verizon techs on the phone since then. I'd guess 90% didn't even know what I was asking about. On 6-4-09 I was transferred no less than five times before I was finally told there were bugs in the system  that were that had to be worked out. My server has been down for two days now. I can access from my account, but I shouldn't have to. The pop-up feature also does not function yet. I spent a good hour and a half on the phone to find this out. I know this feature is free, but the upgrade I had to switch to wasn't. All I've gained so far is voicemail and my DSL is a little faster. I'm sick of calling and getting the run around by people that don't even know their own product.
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HenryFarpolo
Contributor - Level 2
Call assistant has been down since the update. Verizon says their techs are working to resolve the issue. Looks like they pushed out the update without proper testing.
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Don_Hao
Enthusiast - Level 1

I'm also getting the same message since the mandatory update. Until then everything worked perfectly. I've uninstalled and reinstalled but still can't connect to the server. I hope there's a fix for this soon. I miss my call assistant.

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Justin46
Legend

@Don_Hao wrote:

I'm also getting the same message since the mandatory update. Until then everything worked perfectly. I've uninstalled and reinstalled but still can't connect to the server. I hope there's a fix for this soon. I miss my call assistant.


What mandatory update? How were you notified about it? I have had CA for probably a year or so, no updates, and no problems except for an occasional "lost contact with server" type of message. It is working for me right now, and has been for many months. It sounds like some new client version has some severe problems but the old client just keeps chugging along.....

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.2, Build 08.58
Keller, TX 76248

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TerryB
Newbie
I was also told by a verizon tech that there were problems with an update and a newer version would be up and running at the end of the month.
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Justin46
Legend

@TerryB wrote:
I was also told by a verizon tech that there were problems with an update and a newer version would be up and running at the end of the month.

I wonder why they don't just put the old version back up on the website for download until they fix the problem?

FWIW, whenever I want to get a program (any program, not just the CA client) I download it first and install from the download, I don't just install it directly from the website. That way, if I have trouble with a newer version I still have the older version to go back to. Works most of the time.....

I am still confused about how people got a newer version the client, I was never offered or told to get a newer one. Not that I am complaining because my old one is still working, just one of life's little mysteries I guess.....

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.2, Build 08.58
Keller, TX 76248

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HenryFarpolo
Contributor - Level 2

@Justin wrote:

@TerryB wrote:
I was also told by a verizon tech that there were problems with an update and a newer version would be up and running at the end of the month.

I wonder why they don't just put the old version back up on the website for download until they fix the problem?

FWIW, whenever I want to get a program (any program, not just the CA client) I download it first and install from the download, I don't just install it directly from the website. That way, if I have trouble with a newer version I still have the older version to go back to. Works most of the time.....

I am still confused about how people got a newer version the client, I was never offered or told to get a newer one. Not that I am complaining because my old one is still working, just one of life's little mysteries I guess.....

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.2, Build 08.58
Keller, TX 76248


On Friday when I started my PC, when CA opened there was a popup that stated there was a mandatory update for CA. When I downloaded the update, CA stopped  functioning....it couldn't access the server.

Seems like a long time to wait, if it won't be fixed until the end of the month. You are indeed fortunate, that you missed this one!!

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Justin46
Legend

HenryFarpolo wrote: 

On Friday when I started my PC, when CA opened there was a popup that stated there was a mandatory update for CA. When I downloaded the update, CA stopped  functioning....it couldn't access the server.

Seems like a long time to wait, if it won't be fixed until the end of the month. You are indeed fortunate, that you missed this one!!


Henry,

Thanks for the info.

I have done a little looking at what I have. The program that gets executed when I start CA is VZVidgetEngine.exe, which has a version of 2.7.28.0 and it appears I installed it on 4/28/08. Of course there are other CA-related files in the same folder.

I went to the folder where I store all of my downloads and I find a file called VerizonCallAssistant,exe with a date of 4/27/09. So it appears my memory is a little faulty, apparently I did download an updated CA, replacing the original download, but I never installed it, and thus I guess that is the reason mine is still working. And based on what all of you are saying about the new version I am not going to install it!

You are right, it is an awfuly long time to wait for a working version; as I said, I don't understand why they don't just make the old version available again until the fixed new one is ready. Not very good PR in my view....

Edit: Henry, is it worth it to you if I try to go back to one of my backups and pull off the original download version? It is 5 MB+, I could try attaching it to an email and sending it to you if you have enough space in your inbox (I do not have a file server). PM me if you are interested and I will see what I can do.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.2, Build 08.58
Keller, TX 76248

Message Edited by Justin on 06-07-2009 11:00 AM
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courtpassant
Newbie

Call assistant was working fine on my Vista machine, but after it upgraded to new software, it cant connect to the server.

I checked my firewall and all.

Any ideas what to do?

I have uninstalled/reinstalled.

Still wont connect.

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MoopMeep
Enthusiast - Level 3

Me too. I have Vista 64-bit. Call Assistant insisted that I upgrade it a couple of days ago. Since the upgrade, when I try to start it complains that it can't connect to one of the servers.

The ironic part is that I have an answering machine but I also have verizon voicemail. The day after upgrading call assistant, I get a call from verizon that went to verizon voicemail. Since I have FIOS tv, I am assuming they are trying to sell me HBO again :). Anyhow, since I can't get call assistance to work, I can't listen to the voicemail 🙂

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Justin46
Legend

There is a thread over in the FiOS TV forum (wrong place I know) on this same subject, one poster saysthe upgrade was supposedly to fix the Caller ID failure problem that some users experienced:

 

http://forums.verizon.com/vrzn/board/message?board.id=FiOS_TV&thread.id=11200

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.2, Build 08.58
Keller, TX 76248

Message Edited by Justin on 06-07-2009 03:11 PM
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ptr7272
Newbie

I had call assitant activated a few weeks ago, but never tried to use it.

Yesterday  I tried activating on the website, tried again today, and keep on getting this error:

"We are experiencing a delay in setting up your account. Please try again later." 

Do you think it is related to the problem discussed in this thread?

P. 

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guyland123
Newbie

Ha!  I don't know my voicemail access number either.  I have always used VCA.

BTW, you can also just log into the web site to listen to the voicemail, you don't have to use the desktop client.

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TerryB
Newbie
I just looked up my version. It's 2.7.55, installed on 6-2-09. I'm stiil getting the message that one of the serevers are down.
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vpac1
Enthusiast - Level 2
Go and open My Computer,then go and open, the "C" folder then go and open, Program Files folder then go and open Verizon then go and open Call Assistant folder,then go to DCClient_Retail right click on it to edit(in notepad) ,then go edit line HostIPAddress" value="www36.verizon.com" to HostIPAddress" value="www36p.verizon.com", then save the file and restart the computer. This should fix the problem and you can use Call Assistant
CCBhatt1
Newbie
Yes that work out.
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Don_Hao
Enthusiast - Level 1
Thank you! Your advice has my call assistant working again. 
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Flintwood
Enthusiast - Level 1
Appreciate the point on help which corrected the problem.  Two frustrating hours being bounced all over the world, to people (half of whom did not speak recognizable English) I couldn't even find anyone that admitted either knowing or having responsibility for the program.  Had it not been for an automated message from Verizon inquiring how well they had "solved" my problem I would have not found this site.  Thanks again 
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TerryB
Newbie

Okay, I did the new file. But I'm back where I started. I can access my VCA, but I can't do anything beyond checking my calls. When I try to use the drop down menu everything freezes.

Message Edited by TerryB on 06-11-2009 11:29 AM
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dbrennan
Enthusiast - Level 2
Wow, thanks VPAC, this actually seems to have worked for me.  How were you able to figure this out?  Perhaps Verizon Tech Support should be contacting folks like you to assist them in resolving issues like this.  Appreciate your expertise and skill.
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