Dish Now: Obtaining New Smartcard

[r10fret]

They put up a new option, but it doesn't work, what kind of company operates this way, oh wait don't answer that! geesh :-(

He said you should never have to speak to an agent, and that the automated system should handle everything by getting, first, your receiver #, then the New Smartcard #(and maybe the old one that it needs to replace), and the automated system should do it all on it's own, and send out the info via the satellite.

Dish reps should never say "never," anyone who is just now calling in to request that the new card be shipped to them will undoubtedly still need to speak to a live human who can take their name, address, and R#.

 

[STEELERSRULE]

Well, I called again at around 9pm EST.

I went through the options, and I thought it had accepted everything, but my receiver still has the Attention 129 screen.

The automated service took my receiver number, and then took my new G3 smartcard number, and paired them up.

The automated service then said for me to go ahead and order programming, but I didn't. I want/wanted to make sure the damn thing "took", if you will.

Well, I then hung up and called back(1-888-347-4132), and went through the process again, but after giving my receiver number, the automated service would tell me that I already added the new smartcard to the receiver.

I got a CSR who proceeded to tell me that the, indeed, my new Smartcard Number is tied to my receiver number, and that they were having problems with the system, and that it may take more than 24 hours for my receiver to get the info from the satellite. But according to her, the info was in the system correctly as far as my receiver number and smartcard number being "married".

Just waiting for a ping from the satellite to send down any info to my receiver, for the guide and maybe software/firmware update, so I can try to add more programming to see if it works OK.

the CSR said I didn't have to do anything, and that the receiver should eventually get the info it requires, and that Attention 129 will go away. She said I could leave it on, or turn it off. It didn't matter.

I did a hard reset, for the hell of it, about 10 minutes ago(10:05pm EST), just to let the receiver begin to get the info from the transponders off of 110/119. Still get the Attention 129 display on the screen, so the info is not being sent to my receiver, yet.

I knew this would be a pain the butt, and not go smoothly. Oh well, all I can do now is wait and see.

 

[r10fret]

for an instant rehit,

dial back, select tech support option (now option 4),enter R#, have tried troubleshooting before say no, say yes to having problem with picture, select 1 or say yes to on screen message, enter 129 , say "ready," turn off box wait 60 seconds, turn box on. Problem is rehit without programming may not work and activatiuon hit and programming rehit are 2 different things.

Then there is also that business with getting a zip code sent to the smart card so it can calculate a location id.

 

[STEELERSRULE]

Well, further update.

I went to check the receiver, and it still had Attention 129 on it, so I decided to call.

I got the CSR, and told her that according to the automated system, my smartcard and receiver number are "married" within the system. She took down my receiver number to look.

While I have her on the phone, all of a sudden I get the Contragulations icon(I cannot, for the life of me remember the number associated with it), you have successfully updated your smartcard.

I thought she may have done something or sent out a, "ping", if you will, to my receiver, but she claimed that the system was down(this is their typical response when they have no idea what the hell to do), and that she had done nothing.

The icon said I had nothing else to do, so I clicked OK, but I still am not receiving any programming from Dish. Nothing on the free channels that are offered now, or anything.

I have nothing ordered in programming, as of now, so I am not updet or anything.

But something weird did happen after I OK'd out of the Congratulations screen.

I went into the channel guide, and all of a sudden I noticed that I had all the PPV, Porn, Sports, International, Superstation, etc.... channels listed in the guide.

At first I got excited, thinking that they are going to start giving a chance to prepay for all these new channels. Some of them were in Red. Some were in Green(weird), and some were in the pale Blue/gray.

I highlighted one of the PPV channels, and the unit asked me if I wanted to purchase it for $3.99. I said NO, just because i had no idea what the hell was going on.

Then I exited out of the channel guide, and went into the Menu, and went into the system info screen(Menu, 6, 1, 3).

I looked at the DNASP, and noticed it had changed from S02 Dsh809 to the current 241 DshH02 for some reason. My location ID has changed as well, but I have noticed that seems to change regularly for some reason, even though I never move/change the zip code.

Then I go back into channel guide, and I am back at the normal guide that I had before. Crap!! I thought I was going to be to enjoy, on a prepaid basis, PPV, The Superstaion Package, Sports Packages, etc....

But the system is running, but I still have no picture coming through from the free channels like 480 , which is just a Dish info page/channel.

I will wait and see. Maybe I have to do a hard reset/unplug it again to get the info, but it was very weird how I was on the phone, and all of a sudden this all occured.

I keep you posted.

 

[r10fret]

Do you have the word dishnow next to model number on sys info screen?

Try a hard reboot by unplugging, you should be seeing several free info channels in the 80s and 200s.

What you describe about seeing ppv in guide is normal for an activated card before it goes into dishnow mode, it may be until you order something your card will not show dishnow on sys info screen and behave as expected. Or it could be you still need another type of hit.


DNA 241 H02 is correct for the new S19 card.

 

[STEELERSRULE]

R10fret,

I did what you suggested, and as of 6:45pm EST on 4/3/09, and after over 3 days, it appears everything is up and running just fine.

I unplugged the unit, and then after a minute or two, I plugged it back in and rebooted.

It all seem to go smoothly, as I was sent to to the Dish 500 channel which I think is channel 9900/D500.

In the System info page I have DP301 Dish NOW!, and P396 in the Software section of the d section in system info. All appears well as of now.

I am going to try and order some simple/cheap programming on this new G3 smart card. Something like Cinemax/Showtime/Starz/HBO for a day or two, and let you know if all is well.

 

[STEELERSRULE]

Well, I just ordered 1 day of HBO.

At first, in the sutomated process, I went into the "have there been any changes to your satellite system?" I said , yes, and then entered the change for the smartcard info.

I typed in my new smartcard, and the automated system said it did not recognize it, and that I would have to enter my old smartcard number until I get the new one installed. This is, of course, is wrong since I have already installed the new card.

I just hung up, and called back. This time I said there were no changes to my satellite system. I then proceeded to add 1 day of HBO, and right after the voice prompt confirmed my HBO by saying, "Allright I am sending the signal to your receiver now. It may take up to 15 minutes for your programming to start"; it went staright to that female voice of, "Please hold ....."

So I just hung up, and went to my channel guide. Lo and behold the HBO's were colored blue/gray, and I went right to HBO, and it is on. I pressed cancel on the remote, and get the screen I have always gotten. Warning me, in red on the bottom, that I have only 2 days worth of programming left.

I have never, ever seen any warning about making sure to change smartcards, even before all of this. I just did it for the hell of it.

All seems normal, for now. So it appears that the system is registering my receiver and New Smartcard as one, or I figure it never would have allowed the programming to my receiver. Even though, like I said, in that one part of the automated system, it did not recognize the new smartcard number.

But apparantly their system see's them as "married" to each other.

I will keep you informed, but for now, all seems well.

 

[r10fret]

Congrats, all should be fine now as far as this prepaid issue goes and since you already are on G3 you will never see the pop ups.

What an ordeal, right? 12 prepaid customer yellow smartcard swaps down only 30,000 more to go. good luck dish!

hermitman, what ever happened, did you get yours up and running yet?

 

[snewkirk]

programmng lost?

I am still waiting for my promised smartcard to arrive via USP.

I still have 12 days of the 'Silver' package left, will those cary over when I swap out the card, or will they be lost?

Scott

 

[r10fret]

If it's done correctly the days will be transfered to the new card when activated, however, you would be wise to wait until you have 1 or 2 days remaining before you activate the new card just in case things go wrong. Unless you have already lost programming that requires G3.

 

[Hermitman]

I have tried several things without positive results.

My paid programming was up yesterday so I experimented some. At midnight last night, I put the new card in and the normal 129 message came up. I then left it that way all night hoping the nightly data updates would download the activation hits. I had previously verified with Dish folks that my receiver number was married to the new smartcard number in their computer. No help, in the morning still 129.

Then tried the automated phone method for a while. Went with option 3 (activate new smartcard) and after entering the receiver number, I got the "Hold for CSR message". Then tried the option3 (trouble with new smartcard) and got the "Hold for CSR" message.

Then tried the option 4 (troubleshooting), both the normal and new pin method and everytime I entered my receiver number the computer would ask If I received my new smartcard yet. If I said yes, it must be activated and would take me back to option 3.

Put old red card back in and receiver booted up normally. Tried to order some programming. When I enter the receiver number, it would ask if I had received the new smartcard and if no, was it more than 10 days ago that it was ordered. The only way past this was to say no. Ordered some movies and programming was authorized without problems. I then waited 3 hours (watched a movie) and went for a automated rehit.

Put the new card back in a got the message 129. Called the automated system and went throught the phone procedures for the rehit without problems. Then waited 30 minutes for good measure and still had the 129 message showing. Again, the activation hit never got sent or the receiver never accepted it.

Put the old card back in, the receiver booted up normally and the programming was still there. Obviously, the programming is tied to the receiver number and not the smartcard number/receiver number.

There was a post on the other Dish section about new smartcards being delayed. Maybe that's true, maybe there's more problems than Dish thought. I just know that it shouldn't be this hard. Its almost as if Charlie told his folks he wanted to go Narga 3 on a certain date and people are running around patching, repatching and patching patches to try to make the deadline. Unfortunately, if that's the way things operate there, hidden problems will raise their ugly heads for some time to come. And the poor CSRs aren't the problem since they're not kept in the software loop. Good luck to all others out there. I'll keep trying until my receiver goes dark.

 

[STEELERSRULE]

Hermitman,

If you have tried this, sorry for repeating it.

Insert your G3 card, and wait for the Attention 129 message to come up.

Then call the automated Number(1-888-347-4132). I am guessing you have already done the Option #3, New Smartcard. Enter in your receiver #.

If the prompt comes up for sending you to a CSR, hang up. If the prompt asks you to enter in the new smartcard #, do that. If the prompt says that the/a new smartcard has already been activated, go back to the main menu.

Now go to option #4, Troubleshoot my system.

***NOW THESE NEXT STEPS, I AM TRYING TO REMEMBER IN THE CORRECT ORDER, IF THEY WORK AT ALL***

Instead of going to the picture problem, and saying YES, for it to send out a hit, do the complete opposite, and say NO. In other words, when it asks you, "Do you see a black or blue screen?"; say NO. It should either ask you another question, or send you too a representative. I am not sure which, but if it asks you another question, say NO and let it send you to a representative.

When you get to the CSR, just calmly explain that you have inserted the new card to the receiver, and have already used the automated system to attach/marry(if this true) the new smartcard to this particular receiver. And all you want to do is to make sure that the new smartcard #, and your receiver # are no linked together.

The CSR should ask for your receiver #, and go away.

For some reason when I did this with the CSR on the line, going in the above order, my smartcard received the CONGRATULATIONS ICON. My CSR claimed she did absolutely nothing. She did not send out any ping, or anything. It just seemed to all come together while I was on the phone with her.

Now, that could just be "dumb luck". Or, it could be I did the absolute opposite of what I should have done in the "Troubleshoot my system" part of the automated system. Like the system sent out a "ping", or something just to locate that receiver, and that soemhow cleaned things up, and I was rolling. I don't know.

It would be like George Costanza on Seinfeld when he realized all his life he had been doing the wrong thing, and that the opposite of what he thinks he should do, was actually the correct way to do things.

I know, sounds dumb, but what do you have to lose.

Also, it appears that Showtime is available again. I ordered 1 day of it tonight for the WBC/WBO Light Welterweight title fight tonight.

 

[r10fret]

Hermitman,

If you added programming and it was authorized and came up on your old card then the prepaid dingbats lied to you, If your R# was really remarried to the new S# then you would never be seeing programming you just added come up on the old card.
This is also why the 129 msg is not going away because no hits are even being issued to that card yet.

Did you try the other option when you order it asks if there has been "any changes to your system?"

Keep trying.

 

[r10fret]

For some reason when I did this with the CSR on the line, going in the above order, my smartcard received the CONGRATULATIONS ICON. My CSR claimed she did absolutely nothing. She did not send out any ping, or anything. It just seemed to all come together while I was on the phone with her.

Now, that could just be "dumb luck".

Unlikely, something triggered a hit to be sent. Most likely them when they pulled your R#, S# or zip in the system. Another example of the DISHonesty of these people.

 

[Hermitman]

Here's an update of my smartcard saga. Yesterday, I made another attempt to activate my new smartcard. I installed the new card and again got the message #129 (Your receiver is not yet authorized....).

I called the automated number several times, went to option 3 (activate new smartcard) and everytime I inputted the new card's number, the computer would sent me to the "Please hold for a CSR..." message. I finally went on hold and Gloria came on the phone and said the automated system was down and to try again in 2 to 3 hours.

I waited 2 hours and the automated system still didn't work. I waited another 2 hours, the system still didn't work so I went on hold for a CSR again. Ingrid came on line and said she would help me. I gave her my receiver and new smartcard number. She verified that these numbers were already in the computer and that it shows the new card has been activated. I told her I still had the #129 message. She went away for about 3 minutes to use the supervisor's terminal to sent an activation hit. She returned and I told her there was no change. I then asked what's next to try. She said try the remove and re-install smartcard procedure. Did that with the normal message #15 (acquiring satellite signal) and returned to the #129 message. She then said to try turning the receiver off for 30 minutes and seeing if the receiver accepts the activation hit. So I thanked her and turned off the receiver.

After 30 minutes, turned the receiver back on and the #129 message is still there. Called back and talked to Brian, who seemed very knowledgeable concerning pre-paid receivers and their problems. He again verified that my receiver and card number were correct in their computer and shows activated. He sent another activation hit and said to watch for a message #128 screen (your smartcard is being activated) then a #127 screen (Congratulations. Your system has been successfully updated). We waited about 3 minutes with no change. He then sent another hit and we waited again. No change. He said that only 2 options were left - that the smartcard was bad or the receiver was not able to accept the new card. (I did have one subscribed 301 receiver that wouldn't accept the new smartcard) I mentioned that my current card was a red smartcard. He said he'd been working for Dish for quite a while and never heard of a red smartcard. Anyway, he's sending me a new smartcard that should be here in 2-3 days.

So I put my old, red card back in, rebooted as normal and then ordered some more movie programming. The programming was accepted and I'm watching movies as before. When the new card arrives, I try this whole procedure again and hope for the best. If it doesn't work, the receiver is bad and this will be the end of my experiment with pre-paid receivers. We shall see. Good luck to all others.

 

[Smith P.]

So, can you check your DNASP line after hitting menu twice and press Next two times ? Interesting what the "red" card reporting ?

 

[r10fret]

Could be that you got a bad card, but the problem I am having here is if you are still able to add more days to your old card then something else is going on here. It is technically impossible once it is remarried for the old card to get the hit addressed to the new card.

 

[Hermitman]

DNASP reads 206 DSH 725. I wrote that down before the whole card swap story started and its still the same. However, the Loc ID has changed. But I don't think the Loc ID is a direct readout of a receiver's actual physical location. My subscribed 301 receiver has a totally different Loc ID.

As for the receiver accepting programming, I'm going to send you a PM.

 

[Smith P.]

About 'bad' card or 'bad' slot - it's easy to test: insert the new G3 [purple] card, wait for message#12x , then remove the card and wait a few seconds - less then in one minute you'll see sysinfo screen with Sxxxxxxx/DNASP/etc info; if the Sxxxx is not eq S000000000 and DNASP is look normal, then the 'hit' is gone to other place and your card/slot are normal working components.

 

[Smith P.]

DNASP reads 206 DSH 725. I wrote that down before the whole card swap story started and its still the same. However, the Loc ID has changed. But I don't think the Loc ID is a direct readout of a receiver's actual physical location. My subscribed 301 receiver has a totally different Loc ID.

As for the receiver accepting programming, I'm going to send you a PM.

It's definitely G2 card; as to LocationID - this is a hash of your Rxxxx and current time what taken each 10 minutes; so you must see different values each 10 munites, if your receiver working OK and getting good packets from Dish(!) satellite.