ASK DBSTalk: Why is my 921 dialing out?

[jamullian]

I got my 921 on Monday, and connected it to a phone line to it just like E* want me to.

Yesterday and this morning I am seeing it dial out for about 30 - 40 seconds. I have no way of determining what number it is dialing.

Did I unwittingly agree to having my viewing data uploaded somewhere or can I sue for invasion of privacy?

[Slordak]

Did you make any pay per view purchases? Or any other "impulse" purchases using the remote control? If you did, the 921 will want to dial out. Additionally, it will also want to dial out once every month or so, just to sort of touch-base with Dish Network, although if you don't have a phone line hooked up in this scenario, there's no harm done.

Since you just received it, it likely is doing this call-in. It is not uploading your viewing data. If you don't like this (it calling in once a month or so), remove the phone line connection and the unit will continue to function just fine indefinitely.

[jamullian]

Did you make any pay per view purchases?

No. I think I would have noticed that.

Additionally, it will also want to dial out once every month or so, just to sort of touch-base with Dish Network, although if you don't have a phone line hooked up in this scenario, there's no harm done.

Well that's just so sweet and touching. I should have my other electronics do this more often with their manufacturers/vendors. Wait - my cellphone does that all the time, to stay registered at the cell. Maybe my refrigerator should call GE to tell it how it's doing. My TV call Sony to tell them if it's being treated well - dusted daily and so on. But the only reason my computers would do that is if there was spy/ad/malware running.

I see no other justification for E* saying "You must keep each receiver connected to an active telephone line."

[Mark Lamutt]

There is no spyware in the 921. And, it should not be calling out on its own unless it has purchases to report. So, if you didn't order any PPV, perhaps someone else in your household did, or perhaps your neighbor did, and your 921 picked it up because you're on the same remote address.

What time are you noticing the dial out, and how are you finding out that the 921 is dialing out? Is it happening at the same time every day? If so, then your 921 has a problem that will probably require replacement.

[jamullian]

There is no spyware in the 921. And, it should not be calling out on its own unless it has purchases to report. So, if you didn't order any PPV, perhaps someone else in your household did, or perhaps your neighbor did, and your 921 picked it up because you're on the same remote address.

What time are you noticing the dial out, and how are you finding out that the 921 is dialing out? Is it happening at the same time every day? If so, then your 921 has a problem that will probably require replacement.

I noticed the dial out shortly after 6am PDT on Tuesday, about 6:30 on Wednesday morning. There is nobody else that has access to it apart from myself, nor are there any neighbours with 921's anywhere near (I live in the boonies). (What do you mean by "same remote address" anyway?)

I see it dialing out because I have another Caller ID box in series on that phone line, and it starts a timer when the line is picked up. When I saw it happen I hit the Power Off button on the remote - didn't slow it down (not that I expected it to). Then I pulled the phone cable out of the connection to the 921: stopped immediately.

Having waited 3+ years to get my 921 I should now send it back!!?? Pardon my reluctance to let it out of my clutches.

[jsanders]

Personally, I wish there was an option that you could switch on to allow the 921 to call in bug reports to the Eldon guys. If they want to get reports every time it reboots unexpectedly, or every time a timer countdown goes off, but doesn't record, I would be more than willing to let my 921 call in that info too, in addition to PPV purchases. It would hopefully give them a lot more info on what scenarios/edge cases were causing problems, hopefully speeding up the development cycle.

[David_Levin]

There is no spyware in the 921. And, it should not be calling out on its own unless it has purchases to report.

I thought they periodically phone home with a special number that always identifies the caller location/number(even if you have caller id blocked - 800 numbers do this too since the person your calling is paying).

This is to help stop you from activating an extra box on the Everything Plan for $5 and re-renting it to your neighbor.

They sent out some letters asking people to hook up their extra boxes, but can't follow up on any threats since many people no longer have land-lines.

[Slordak]

David Levin is correct; Dish Network receivers will actually dial out once in a while even if there are no pending purchases, simply to let Dish know that they are at the correct address / phone number (as noted above). The number they call is toll-free, so Dish picks up the bill but knows the telephone number of the calling receiver. This prevents account stacking.

Again, it's not spyware, it's not malware, and there's nothing wrong with the receiver. It's probably insane how many "No problem found" returns the 921 gets for confusion over the 721/921 UI and the various software bugs. If you're that worried, you can just remove the phone line. If you don't have the 921 attached to a phone line, ever, nothing bad will happen. It won't de-activate or cause Dish to bill you extra (that only applies to certain other receivers).

[Mark Lamutt]

There is nobody else that has access to it apart from myself, nor are there any neighbours with 921's anywhere near (I live in the boonies). (What do you mean by "same remote address" anyway?)


There are at least 19 different remote addresses available (and I've seen reports of up to 32) for Dish receivers that you can set. Basically, that many different variations of remote command set codes that the receiver can accept. The purpose is to keep neighbors from being able to control your uhf receiver with their uhf remotes. With the uhf remotes that come with the 921, 811, and 522 receivers, the remotes can control boxes from 500 or 600 yards away (and sometimes more under the right conditions), so if you have a neighbor with one of those receivers that close, you may want to change the remote address of your 921.

The procedure is this:

1. Bring up the system information screen (Menu-6-1) or SysInfo button on the front of the 921. Note the remote address currently in use at the bottom of the screen.
2. Press and hold the SAT button for about 3 seconds until the red lights start blinking across the top of the remote.
3. Enter new 2 digit remote address on remote keypad - ie for address #9, enter 09.
4. Press the # button on the remote.
5. Wait for red lights on the remote to stop flashing.
6. Press the REC button on the remote.
7. You should now see the new remote address listed on the system information screen.

[SimpleSimon]

Mark, Slordak: How do you KNOW the 921 isn't sending viewing information, eh?

We KNOW Tivo does it - they even say so - so the technology exists.

[jsanders]

Mark, Slordak: How do you KNOW the 921 isn't sending viewing information, eh?

We KNOW Tivo does it - they even say so - so the technology exists.

I was kind of figuring that there were just too many bugs in the 921 to have something like that working yet.... :rolleyes:

[Mark Lamutt]

I can't say that I KNOW it because I haven't seen the code anymore than you have...but I can and will say that I trust and believe the person that told me that the 921 does not send back viewing information.

[BarryO]

David Levin is correct; Dish Network receivers will actually dial out once in a while even if there are no pending purchases.

Yup. I can hear the relay click on my 6000 every once and a while, even though it has no PPV on it (it's not hooked up to a phone line).

if you look at the Terms and Conditions, E* says that you "must" have your receiver(s) hooked up to phone line, so you can't really claim surprise here. They only enforce this requirement currently if you have alot of receivers on your account, but it is in the Terms.