The zeroth position
If the transponder was invented today the dials would probably be numbered one to eight as the current fad is to mask the underlying architecture of how things work from the user.
Me, well I still like my zero to F hexadecimal thumbwheel channel selectors. Alas I had to abandon 'em 'cause the customers complained. We've struck a compromise. The new ones go 0-15, the punters would prefer 1-16 but they've learned to live with the zeroth channel God love 'em.
I'll have to go dual BCD wheels on systems with more than 16 remotes though, I can't see the clients accepting 63 for the 99th remote! Like the man said there are only 10 folks in this world who dig binary, those that do & those that don't!