Question re: Using Dish at Summer Home

[coffeeme]

We are in the process of switching from Directv to Dish Network. We have a summer weekend cabin that we had a Directv Dish on and on the weekends that we go up there we take the receiver from our house and hook it to the dish on the cabin to watch tv. We are only there for a few weekends every summer so I don't want to purchase a subscription that we will only use for a few days. Will we be able to do the same thing with Dish Network, I can buy a dish off eBay or someplace else to put on our cabin. Will we be able to take up our receiver on weekends that we use the cabin. Thanks for the information.

Mark

[retiredTech]

should work ok

only "locals" might be exception IF you are out of the "spotbeam" at the cabin

[James Long]

Don't connect the phone line at the cabin. If your receiver calls in from the wrong number it could get deactivated.

JL

[Mike Richardson]

If the DirecTV dish is single LNB then you can reaim it at the 119 location and get AT120 channels. If your locals are on the 119 location you can get them too. A single LNB dish looks sorta like this:

http://www.ncppd.com/IMAGES/dish.gif

If the dish has two LNBs on it then I'm not sure if you can use it as a DISH 500. It might have special stuff in the LNB that won't work with DISH Network.

You can also buy an official DISH 500 from wherever and install it and reuse some of the existing wires.

[jgoggan]

Don't connect the phone line at the cabin. If your receiver calls in from the wrong number it could get deactivated.

Anyone know if that is true? Does Dish really use ANI/CallerID features to determine which number your IRD called from. It just seems hard to believe based on calling customer support:

1. I call from the phone line of my account.
2. Then I have to push in the phone number of my account.
3. Then the dang CSR _still_ asks me my account phone to access my account!

If they're actually checking the number that your IRD calls from -- you think they could get the Customer Support system to not have me give it three times in three different ways! heh.

- John...

[Mainstreet]

Anyone know if that is true? Does Dish really use ANI/CallerID features to determine which number your IRD called from. It just seems hard to believe based on calling customer support:

1. I call from the phone line of my account.
2. Then I have to push in the phone number of my account.
3. Then the dang CSR _still_ asks me my account phone to access my account!

If they're actually checking the number that your IRD calls from -- you think they could get the Customer Support system to not have me give it three times in three different ways! heh.

- John...

I GUARANTEE they use ANI. They just ask you for your number for verification. A lot of people call from different places than their home - work, friends house, etc. I have called in for tech support (re-hits, smart card errors, etc) many times and have not even had to give them anything but the customer's name for verification.

I also know of a customer who had DISH a couple years ago and then switched to DirecTV. When locals became available a few months ago she wanted to switch back to DISH because it would be cheaper than upgrading her DTV to the oval dish. She called us to get set up, and we found out that she didn't qualify for the new customer promotions. She apparently hang up and called DISH directly from her cell phone, and gave her information instead of her husband's along with her cell phone number. DISH sent an installer out from Tulsa (over 200 miles) on a Sunday to do her install. He spent a few hours doing the install and adding a line for the second receiver. He went to call in the activation, and used her home phone. The CSR automatically pulled up the customer's old account and wouldn't activate the new system! The poor installer had to totally undo the DISH install and re-install her DTV system. The customer called us steaming, believing that we had turned her in, but it was the ANI from her home phone that got her!

[jgoggan]

I GUARANTEE they use ANI. They just ask you for your number for verification. A lot of people call from different places than their home - work, friends house, etc. I have called in for tech support (re-hits, smart card errors, etc) many times and have not even had to give them anything but the customer's name for verification.

How can that be? As soon as you hit "1" for "existing customers", it asks you to push in the account number. So, you've given it to them that way, right?

In any case, I get asked for my phone EVERY time I call. Even if I call from the account phone and enter it manually into the automated system.

I also know of a customer who had DISH a couple years ago and then switched to DirecTV. When locals became available a few months ago she wanted to switch back to DISH because it would be cheaper than upgrading her DTV to the oval dish. She called us to get set up, and we found out that she didn't qualify for the new customer promotions.

You "found out" how? Are you saying that she called, gave NO information about herself -- and they just said that she didn't qualify? Or did you give the old phone number?

She apparently hang up and called DISH directly from her cell phone, and gave her information instead of her husband's along with her cell phone number. DISH sent an installer out from Tulsa (over 200 miles) on a Sunday to do her install. He spent a few hours doing the install and adding a line for the second receiver. He went to call in the activation, and used her home phone. The CSR automatically pulled up the customer's old account and wouldn't activate the new system! The poor installer had to totally undo the DISH install and re-install her DTV system. The customer called us steaming, believing that we had turned her in, but it was the ANI from her home phone that got her!

Hmmm... Interesting story. I'm not saying that it is impossible. I just think it odd that, if they are using ANI, that they have to get my phone number from me THREE TIMES every time I call (once via ANI, once via touchpad, and once verbally). Very annoying...

In any case, I don't even have my box hooked to a phone and never have -- so I guess I can't say much more about it.

No biggie.

Of course, it still doesn't mean that they actively use ANI for dial-ins by the IRD to verify/check anything... Which is what started this discussion. I was just more curious about how/when/if they use ANI at all for Customer Service call-ins... Apparently, they can based on what you've said.

- John...

[Mainstreet]

Of course, it still doesn't mean that they actively use ANI for dial-ins by the IRD to verify/check anything... Which is what started this discussion. I was just more curious about how/when/if they use ANI at all for Customer Service call-ins... Apparently, they can based on what you've said.

- John...

I call DISH every work day to do activations or customer service duties. If I use my cell phone to call in an activation, it confuses the heck out of the CSR's. any cell phone from my wireless provider puts out the same ANI phone number - XXX-497-3999. Apparently, some customer put that number as their account phone number. Now, I always have to explain, "No, I am not calling for Daniel Ledbetter, I am using my cell phone, and here is the customer's home phone number..." Their use of ANI is very aggrevating to me.

To test this, call 888-233-3474, and select option 3. Then ask the CSR to tell you if it pulled up your account.

As far as the receivers polling and giving DISH the phone numbers to which they are connected, I'm not 100% positive that they do. However; I have accidentally hooked a receiver up to a customer's second line while installing a phone line for an additional receiver and had a message pop up on the screen. I am not certain the reason for the message because it just said something to the effect of "Please call XXX-XXX-DISH to avoid disruption in your service.." The customer may have just been late on his bill. But I thought that it was odd that the message popped up shortly after the phone line was plugged in.

With that said, that is supposed to be the whole point of DISH wanting all of the receivers plugged in to the phone. They are supposed to be able to use that for "security" to verify all of them being in the same location. Like I said, not 100% sure, and can't prove it, but that's the way it's supposed to be.

You "found out" how? Are you saying that she called, gave NO information about herself -- and they just said that she didn't qualify? Or did you give the old phone number?
No, we entered the information that she GAVE us, and the retailer web site said "Our records show that this is a previous or existing customer. Equipment reimbursements may not be paid. Do you wish to continue?" We told her we couldn't help her, and she called DISH. The ANI problem came when her DISH installer called the activation in from her home phone.

[tampa8]

They know if your number is on their system, no question about it. When I call the system asks if XXXX are the last four digits of my number, which it is. I then only have to verify my name. They already have my account up.

[jgoggan]

Hmmm... I remember when I was younger, that ANI could not give immediate information on some numbers in some rural areas. I thought all of that went away once everyone got "level-5" switches or whatever (been a long time -- I've forgotten most of it now). I do live in a small rural area that has fairly low-end equipment (we can't get DSL (or cablemodem for that matter) here -- and it isn't expected any time soon). I wonder if maybe I happen to live somewhere where, for whatever reason, ANI doesn't pull my phone into their system...

In any case, I'll try some more testing tonight -- since I'm curious now -- and see what I find out. Because they never seem to have my number when I call -- I always have to give it. Twice.

- John...

[ride525]

They know if your number is on their system, no question about it. When I call the system asks if XXXX are the last four digits of my number, which it is. I then only have to verify my name. They already have my account up.

It does exactly the same for me, the automated system asks me if the last four digits of my phone number are XXXX (which are the last four digits from my calling number).

[TonyM]

Hmmm... I remember when I was younger, that ANI could not give immediate information on some numbers in some rural areas. I thought all of that went away once everyone got "level-5" switches or whatever (been a long time -- I've forgotten most of it now).

Most telephone central offices (CO's) are either 5E (level 5) or DMS100 switches, so they support ANI.

If it asks for your phone number everytime, and it is the number on record with Dish, your area must have a real old switch (DMS10 or something).

[James Long]

How can that be? As soon as you hit "1" for "existing customers", it asks you to push in the account number. So, you've given it to them that way, right?

In any case, I get asked for my phone EVERY time I call. Even if I call from the account phone and enter it manually into the automated system.
Perhaps it has something to do with being from Weidman, Michigan.
(Your switch for xxx-644-xxxx is "WDMNMIXGRS0" The RS0 stands for remote switch - I'd have to do some real digging to see from where it is remoted. PS: If this makes you paranoid, say hi to Bretta.)

ANI does not always work. Those that rely on it wish that it did, but it still isn't 100%.

In any case, there have been reports on this forum of people who lost programming because they connected their equipment to a different phone number in another area. It is better to be safe than sorry.

JL

[jgoggan]

Perhaps it has something to do with being from Weidman, Michigan.

Exactly. That's what we just said. :)

(Your switch for xxx-644-xxxx is "WDMNMIXGRS0" The RS0 stands for remote switch - I'd have to do some real digging to see from where it is remoted. PS: If this makes you paranoid, say hi to Bretta.)

:lol: Ok -- you're freaking out my wife now. :eek2:

ANI does not always work. Those that rely on it wish that it did, but it still isn't 100%.

Indeed -- that is my guess -- just isn't working from here.

In any case, there have been reports on this forum of people who lost programming because they connected their equipment to a different phone number in another area. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Agreed. I never really worried about it since I don't even have a phone line connected. We do have two lines here -- and I could have easily plugged it into the other if I ever need to use it to order a PPV or something. Maybe it would matter -- maybe it wouldn't -- but I agree better safe than sorry.

- John...

[Broadband Lab Rat]

You can call 1-800-444-4444 ... It will automatically read back your ANI ...

If this number gets your ANI, so can DISH... and you can not block ANI delivery on a 800 number with *67 .

[jgoggan]

Ok -- I checked from home and the MCI number properly read back my number -- so, obviously, ANI is working from my area.

THEN I called Dish and, for the first time ever that I recall, it did NOT ask me to enter my phone/account number!! heh. Figures! :lol:

So, either every time it didn't work before was a fluke -- or this was some huge coincidence that it is suddenly picking up my our data via ANI -- or, most likely, the Martians had something to do with it...

- John...

[Red Fox]

I would think that it is highly illegal to activate a receiver in your home and then take it with you somewhere else that has a dish but no service.

What would stop someone from activating an extra receiver on their account and then giving it to someone elsewhere in the COUNTRY who has a bum dish sitting on their roof???

You say that unplugging the phone line will make Dish Network unable to tell where the receiver is? I would think that the dish on the roof across the country should be able to notify them that the other receivers on the account are MILES AWAY.

[jgoggan]

I would think that it is highly illegal to activate a receiver in your home and then take it with you somewhere else that has a dish but no service.

Well, you'd likely be incorrect in that thought. It is illegal to pirate the signal -- to not pay for the service that you are receiving. That is not what is being done here. It may be some DMCA violation to receive programming over Dish that is not intended for the DMA that you are in -- but I doubt that is a criminal matter. And, many here would argue that it isn't even a moral issue -- but that's a fight for another day.

What would stop someone from activating an extra receiver on their account and then giving it to someone elsewhere in the COUNTRY who has a bum dish sitting on their roof???

That is a completely different issue and would be a criminal offense -- since it would be providing the signal/service to someone that did not pay for it.

You say that unplugging the phone line will make Dish Network unable to tell where the receiver is? I would think that the dish on the roof across the country should be able to notify them that the other receivers on the account are MILES AWAY.

Um, well, it just doesn't work that way, sorry. A dish sitting on a roof does not have a way to "notify them" about where it is in relation to the "other receivers" on the account. My dish hasn't learned to speak yet -- nor use the phone without being plugged into it -- how exactly did you expect it to "notify" Dish?

Now, if they are using the service at BOTH their main home and their summer home (i.e. not taking the receiver back and forth with them -- but allowing one receiver in each location and actually using them both at the same time), then there might be some legal argument there -- but even that would be questionable. But, I don't think that was the issue here.

- John...

[Red Fox]

I just find it hard to believe that the current network is setup so that an owner of service can activate say, 5 receivers, and then permanently move any number of them to various locations in the country to friends and family to use at the same time.

[cdru]

THEN I called Dish and, for the first time ever that I recall, it did NOT ask me to enter my phone/account number!! heh. Figures! :lol:
For whatever reason, when I call using my main 2.4 GHz phone I always have to enter my full phone number. When I call using my 900 MHz phones, it askes about my last 4 digits. Either way, the CSR always askes for my phone number and I always ask them why I have to give it to them again even though they know it. :)

[Bobby94928]

For whatever reason, when I call using my main 2.4 GHz phone I always have to enter my full phone number. When I call using my 900 MHz phones, it askes about my last 4 digits. Either way, the CSR always askes for my phone number and I always ask them why I have to give it to them again even though they know it. :)

The CSRs ask for your phone number, even though they already know it, to further verify that you are who you say you are, ie: you know your own phone number. Many companies do the same thing on telephone contacts.

[Mainstreet]

I just find it hard to believe that the current network is setup so that an owner of service can activate say, 5 receivers, and then permanently move any number of them to various locations in the country to friends and family to use at the same time.
THAT is against the residential customer agreement. That doesn't mean the system is set up to prevent it. It just means that it's against the rules.

What we are talking about in this thread is the CUSTOMER who is paying for the service has the ability to use the service at whatever location he wishes, as long as the service is not concurrently being viewed at two locations at the same time. What do you think DISH thinks about RV'ers? They are all over the place with their service.

It is perfectly acceptable to have a second setup at your own vacation home. If there are people viewing the service at the same time at both places, that's when a second account would be required according to the rules.

[James Long]

I just find it hard to believe that the current network is setup so that an owner of service can activate say, 5 receivers, and then permanently move any number of them to various locations in the country to friends and family to use at the same time.
That is basically account stacking, is illegal and will result in the receivers going dead and possibly prosecution if one is caught. And that's why if your receivers are not connected to a phone line (or on an RV waiver) you'll probably get a phone call asking for you to read some numbers off the info screen of every receiver. If you can't read the number, they can assume the receiver isn't home.

For some reason they are APPARENTLY not using the ANI/Caller ID information gained when phone line connected receivers report in, or the given service address phone number, to figure out that the receiver really isn't in the market or town where the service address is listed. That wouldn't be a hard trick to do. There are reports of people plugging in their receivers to phone lines not on their account and losing service. So it isn't impossible.

JL

[Link]

That is basically account stacking, is illegal and will result in the receivers going dead and possibly prosecution if one is caught. And that's why if your receivers are not connected to a phone line (or on an RV waiver) you'll probably get a phone call asking for you to read some numbers off the info screen of every receiver. If you can't read the number, they can assume the receiver isn't home.


JL

I know that Directv used to say that if you had more than 1 receiver, they all must be plugged into the same phone line or you would be charged full price for each receiver. That doesn't seem to be the case because I have friends who have never plugged in their phone lines to their receivers in years.

E* installers never mentioned to me about having a phone line plugged into the receiver unless I wanted to see Caller ID appear on the TV, otherwise I didn't need it. We have 3 receivers and usually don't have them plugged in simply because there is no phone jack near the TV.

[jgoggan]

I have had Dish for over 3 years and have never had any of the receivers connected to a phone line.

However, I did notice that whenever an installer puts a new receiver in, he checks the "connected to phone line" box. heh.

- John...

[Jacob S]

I just talked to a customer tonight that has Dish Network and DirecTv and he says that only 1 in 4 receivers were hooked up to a phone line, the installer put it in that way, said that the other ones should not be connected because of surge issues, and there was a phone jack at each receiver where they could have been hooked up.