Is my ISP brain damaged... or is it me?

[stevieray]

Earlier tonight I was trying out some apps on Windows 8. As I opened the Maps app, it asked if it could use my internet connection to set up my location; I said OK. It then opened up a map of my "home"... in Helena, Montana! Ummm... I live 2000 miles away in New Jersey.

My Weather app also is absolutely sure I live in Big Sky country...

Does anybody know why my ISP, based in Long Island, NY, would tell everybody I am in Montana?

Weird... :huh:

 

[Zepher]

Main data center is in Montana maybe?

 

[profdlp]

Might be what Zepher said.

It could also be that Montana was set as the default location (maybe that's where the software developer lives?) in the software. I know with my weather app it always defaults to NYC.

 

[A Guy]

Do you have a location set within windows? Start> In search box type location> Click on Enter a default location

Is there a Montana zip code set up?

A wild chance, but I know that your browsers can geolocate you as well.

A Guy

 

[stevieray]

OK, the plot thickens...

I ran Speed Test in Eight, which first finds your location, and it said I was in Montana. Then I went to control panel looking for the window A Guy posted, but it is not there. Instead, that window looked like this:

I signed into Seven and ran Speed Test. Lemme tell you, I get GREAT speeds for a guy who lives in Helena State Forest (about a mile off of Grizzly Gulch Road! heh.). Then I found the window A Guy posted, added my zip code and ran Speed Test again... I am back home in New Jersey. Finally!

Signed back into Eight and ran Speed Test once again. Somehow my NJ location stuck... at least for the test. My Map App is still wrong however.

On the snip I posted there is something called Windows Location platform. I'll have to track that down and see what's there.

 

[profdlp]

...On the snip I posted there is something called Windows Location platform. I'll have to track that down and see what's there.

I believe that is for tablet and phone users, etc, who use their mobile device for GPS purposes.

 

[soho1]

Might you be living in a trailer? Have you looked out the window lately?

 

[profdlp]

Might you be living in a trailer? Have you looked out the window lately?

Maybe one of those tornadoes got 'im. stevieray, if you see Kansas pop up as your location look under your house - you might find a witch!

 

[stevieray]

Might you be living in a trailer? Have you looked out the window lately?

Maybe one of those tornadoes got 'im. stevieray, if you see Kansas pop up as your location look under your house - you might find a witch!

I hate when that happens!

 

[Hopalong X]

You just thought you lived in New Jersey.

In the Outer Limits of The Twilight Zone you never know for sure. :shock:

 

[stevieray]

You just thought you lived in New Jersey.

In the Outer Limits of The Twilight Zone you never know for sure. :shock:

You mean my whole life is but a dream? Cool! Maybe I can dream up a supermodel girlfriend and dream away all my bills!

 

[Hopalong X]

Sure that is what others thought. Then they met Christie Brinkley.

Welcome to your Nightmare

 

[fseal]

The Montana thing was because in absense of any real information, websites, programs etc will do an IP address location look up to try to find out approximately where you are. These are notoriously dodgy for locating a physical presence. Part of your IP address block may in fact be used in Montana, or your ISP may have bought the rights to that block of addresses from someone in Montana and the locator service hasn't been updated with that info. (Not sure who's responsibility it is to update that info actually)

Try this:
Get your external IP addredd from here: What Is My IP Address? Lookup IP, Hide IP, Change IP, Trace IP and more...
then use that address here: IP Address Lookup
And see where it thinks you are

 

[stevieray]

The Montana thing was because in absense of any real information, websites, programs etc will do an IP address location look up to try to find out approximately where you are. These are notoriously dodgy for locating a physical presence. Part of your IP address block may in fact be used in Montana, or your ISP may have bought the rights to that block of addresses from someone in Montana and the locator service hasn't been updated with that info. (Not sure who's responsibility it is to update that info actually)

Try this:
Get your external IP addredd from here: What Is My IP Address? Lookup IP, Hide IP, Change IP, Trace IP and more...
then use that address here: IP Address Lookup
And see where it thinks you are

Thanks for the advice. I just ran them, and both get my location right. But I set my default a few days ago (as A Guy recommended upthread)... before that it was blank.

Perhaps the Montana thing was just a temporary glitch in my ISP. I don't think it was a default in the new Map App, as Speed Test also thought I lived in a park two thousand miles away.

I'll be reinstalling Eight many more times in the next few months. I'll see what happens after the next one.

 

[gilbert32]

your isp is like cable providers in lebanon... sometimes you're in lebanon sometimes in bahrain or iraq