Dish Network Location Code

[Teehar]

You can check your Location IDs at any time (MENU - MENU.)

That's not to say that they don't change constantly.

Sent from my iPhone 4S using Forum Runner

Yep.One of these days they will have sat receivers with gps in them.ET won't have to phone home then.

 

[dishcomm]

There is an easy way to avoid this. Connect the boxes to the land line in the home.
I am usually not at home. If they call I and I am here, I will not answer anyway. I NEVER answer my home phone.
I look at the caller ID and let it go to voice mail.

 

[3HaloODST]

There is an easy way to avoid this. Connect the boxes to the land line in the home.
I am usually not at home. If they call I and I am here, I will not answer anyway. I NEVER answer my home phone.
I look at the caller ID and let it go to voice mail.

That's what I did. They left a message to call back.

Sent from my iPhone 4S using Forum Runner

 

[GaryPen]

It's some sort of arithmetic calculation,not sure what all they can derive from the location id,but the entire process,including the location id,helps Dish determine if all receivers are in the same home they are supposed to be.I'm almost certain that 2 of our receivers had the same or almost the same location id.The others were completely different.

It's like those SecureID tokens people use for logging into work.

 

[Teehar]

There is an easy way to avoid this. Connect the boxes to the land line in the home.
I am usually not at home. If they call I and I am here, I will not answer anyway. I NEVER answer my home phone.
I look at the caller ID and let it go to voice mail.

What if the customer has no land line?There are way more cell only customers now than ever.

 

[navychop]

Internet should work as well, but that still leaves some people lacking both.

 

[3HaloODST]

Internet should work as well, but that still leaves some people lacking both.

My Hoppers and Joey are all connected to broadband (only) and I got the call.

Sent from my iPhone 4S using Forum Runner

 

[harshness]

It's some sort of arithmetic calculation,not sure what all they can derive from the location id,but the entire process,including the location id,helps Dish determine if all receivers are in the same home they are supposed to be.I'm almost certain that 2 of our receivers had the same or almost the same location id.The others were completely different.

There's no GPS or geolocation magic going on here. They verify that you can read a number from each receiver within a relatively short amount of time. That's how they can tell that they are all in the same place.

 

[Teehar]

There's no GPS or geolocation magic going on here. They verify that you can read a number from each receiver within a relatively short amount of time. That's how they can tell that they are all in the same place.

And you know this how?Do you work for Dish?Sure there isn't gps,but there has to be a little bit more to location id than simply reading them the numbers.

 

[Hall]

There's no GPS chipset in the receivers and unplugging the network cable eliminates any chance of "geolocating".

 

[Teehar]

There's no GPS chipset in the receivers and unplugging the network cable eliminates any chance of "geolocating".

Yes,I'm well aware there is no gps,duh.So,whats the point of reading the location code to them?They also ask for basic system info,so if there is nothing to the location id,why bother with it.Seems the other information would be sufficient.

 

[n0qcu]

The location id is the mathematical result of the receiver id and the time of day in ten minute intervals. That prevents you from "writing down" the location id numbers before you call.

 

[TheKrell]

They also ask for basic system info, so if there is nothing to the location id, why bother with it?

Because it changes frequently. Anybody could write down RO and SO numbers, and just read from a piece of paper while pretending to be reading from the TV.

 

[Bobby]

If they had GPS they wouldn't need to make the phone call. They could see the exact location of every receiver..

 

[harshness]

Sure there isn't gps,but there has to be a little bit more to location id than simply reading them the numbers.

Why?

If you can read the numbers as they instantaneously appear on each receiver, you presumably have all the receivers located within a short walking distance of each other. Low tech works just fine (unless you're Slinging them).

 

[harshness]

If they had GPS they wouldn't need to make the phone call. They could see the exact location of every receiver..

The failing in this theory is that GPS doesn't typically work indoors. They would need to use an AGPS system or similar that involves terrestrial signals that can be received indoors.

 

[DNSTrainer]

I got the call a few days ago while I was away from the house. I knew exactly what was going on, and called him out on it. Equipment Verification and Signal Integrity used to be part of the FSS300 training that I delivered often in my time as a DNS trainer.

So, the same guy called back a few days later when I just happened to be at home. Had a long, polite discussion with him. I really didn't mind reading off the info since I have nothing to hide. He told me the reason I was flagged for a call was that the MAC address of the connected router is included in the "call home" your receivers make, and my two Hoppers were reporting different MAC addresses. Simple explanation is that one of my Hoppers is connected directly to my router that supplies DHCP, and the other is connected to a separate router that is acting as a wireless access point, as well as a switch for ethernet connected items in that room. My guess is that they are trying to identify people who might be trying to use a VPN to have receivers at different locations but still report the same IP address.

It actually ended up being a good conversation, and he was glad that I knew about the audit process, and was able to help him identify the reason behind the different MAC addresses.

And yes, the Location ID does consist of hexadecimal code derived from a time/date related algorithm, along with a code that relates to your CAID. Try checking that number several times in a day and you will see that the first half changes frequently (I think someone mentioned every ten minutes), but the second half after the : remains the same for each receiver.

 

[neljtorres]

Got a phone call from Dish Network saying I needed to update my receivers. On the first receiver, a VIP 211K, they had me go to System Info and read the R00 number in box e, the Device number in box h and there was also a Location code number I read to them. On the second one, a 722, just the R00 and the Device numbers. After getting off the phone I went back through the process but could not find the Location Code any where but distinctly remember reading it to them when we were on the phone. Can anyone tell me anything about this "Location Code" and why it was not on the info page when I went back?

Could be the audit team they call me like six months ago

 

[Teehar]

Because it changes frequently. Anybody could write down RO and SO numbers, and just read from a piece of paper while pretending to be reading from the TV.

Not quite that simple,besides the location id,they require receiver and smart card #,s/w revision,the sat signal info,such as type of lnb,For instance dish 1000.4,3 sat,then you have to tell them what sats are locked.So it's pretty through.It would take a lot of writing to get all the information they require.

 

[TheKrell]

He told me the reason I was flagged for a call was that the MAC address of the connected router is included in the "call home" your receivers make... My guess is that they are trying to identify people who might be trying to use a VPN to have receivers at different locations but still report the same IP address.

I think your guess is most excellent! So... I note you have Hoppers w/Joeys. Did they also ask you to report info as viewed on a Joey as well?