Generating an ESN

by Maldoror

This article explains how the Electronic Serial Number (ESN) is generated based on the serial number stamped on the phone by the manufacturer.  This will not aid you in cloning, but this will aid you in cross-referencing phones, as well as deciphering ESNs to identify the type of phone making the call.

Serial Number to ESN Conversion

  E.F. Johnson: 131 + 0's + 4-, 5-, or 6-digits of serial number.

            GE: Serial number is the ESN.

        Harris: Serial number is the ESN in hexadecimal.

   Technophone: Serial number is ESN in decimal.

           Oki: Remove first 3-digits and letter, add 129.  (Serial No. 603E00109249 --> ESN 12900109249)

           NEC: Remove first 2-digits, add 135 plus 0's to equal 11-digits.  (Serial No. 70-207470 --> ESN 13500207470)

       Novatel: Serial number is ESN.  (Serial No. 14200007306 --> ESN 14200007306)

        Walker: Serial number is ESN.  (Serial No. 15200010842 --> ESN 15200010842)

Audiovox BC-20: Remove first 4-digits, add 174 plus 0's to equal 11-digits.  (Serial No. 7104007592 --> ESN 17400007592)

    Mitsubishi: The ESN is written on a sticker on the transceiver labeled "Sec. Code".

     Panasonic: Remove first 2-digits, add 136 plus 0's to equal 11-digits.  (Serial No. 117591 --> ESN 13600117591)

        Mobira: Add 156 plus 0's to equal 11-digits.  (Serial No. 154056 --> ESN 15600154056

       Hitachi: Put 13200 in front of serial number.  (Serial No. 157921 --> ESN 13200157921)

Manufacturer Decimal Codes (Use As In Above)

       Alpine: 150
         AT&T: 132 or 134
     Astrotel: 129 (same as Oki)
    Blaupunkt: 148
      Clarion: 140
   DiamondTel: 134
 E.F. Johnson: 131
     Ericsson: 143
      Fujitsu: 133
           GE: 146 (except Mini)
       Harris: 137
      Hitachi: 132
      Hyundai: 160
      Kokusai: 139
   Mitsubishi: 134
       Mobira: 156
     Motorola: 130
          NEC: 135
        Nokia: 165
      Novatel: 142
          Oki: 129
    Panasonic: 136
     Phillips: 170
    Satellite: 161
      Shintom: 174
Sun Moon Star: 178
  Technophone: 162
      Toshiba: 138
       Uniden: 172
       Walker: 152

Several phone companies share manufacturers, and the ESN code will be that of the manufacturer:

  • Alpine 9510 use Fujitsu 362A - ARA.
  • AT&T 1300, 1800 use Mitsubishi.
  • AT&T 1100, 1200, 1400, 1440, 1700, 1710 use Hitachi.
  • Audiotel 1000, 3000, 500, BC-40, 400, 450, 550, 600 use Toshiba.
  • PC 100, 200 use Technophone.
  • BC-20, CMT-125 use Shintom.
  • Tactel use Toshiba.
  • Blaupunkt, most are Panasonic, but some are Blaupunkt.
  • GE Mini use Mitsubishia
  • Glenayre-301 use Mitsubishi.
  • Mitsubishi 460 use Toshiba.
  • USA A&B use Mitsubishi.
  • Walker Pocketphone use Technophone.
  • Western Electric use Hitachi.
  • Western Union use E.F. Johnson.
  • GTE Bronze uses Sun Moon Star.
  • Tandy/Radio Shack uses Nokia.

For serial numbers over 999999, you will need to subtract 737856.

Example:  01123456 - 737856 = 385600

Then convert this to the ESN (GTE Bronze, for example): 17800385600

If you have any questions, try to find some of Tesla's books, and you'll have a lot more.
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