I have recently got Sky HD (mainly cause I was fed up with the poor sky sports channel picture). Everything is fine except for the fact that SKY HD cannot use Sky Active. Rang Sky who went through various checks and said that the provider is probs blocking certain numbers.

Rang Tiscali and they admitted that the line is tagged and so you cannot use Sky Active with HC. They will not remove the tag so I am basically stumped. I am not that bothered but a bit annoyed that HC could block a dial up connection in this way.

Anyway I have connected a couple of times which has enabled me to do what I wanted to do (Remote record) . So I have obviously by passed the tag at times.

Anyone else have the same set up as me? and if you have have you found a solution? Is the info I was given correct or was it just a brush off (which I suspect)

Any help appreciated I dont want to leave HC (broadband is good and reliable) but may have to if they cannot provide the service I want and pay for

Sky Active - this is the "Interactive" button service or the on demand internet service?

It may be that Sky CS are getting confused with their Internet provision and their Interactive provision.

There should be no reason why you can't use Sky's Interactive services through the box - just make sure that you have good quality ADSL filters in all phone sockets - OR a high quality face plate filter at the master socket.

Sky's Interactive services are just simple modem based services and if Tiscali are blocking access to these I would suggest a complaint to Ofcom as this is anti-competitive behaviour.

Do your calls go through Tiscali rather than BT, and do you still pay your line rental to BT? If so, I believe in one of the installer menus you can set a dialling prefix - set this to 1280 to force calls to go through BT rather than Tiscali.

Thank you Zapomatic I am so pleased this now works without fault. I presume that any call charges will appear on my BT bill?

yup, using the pre-fix 1280 will use BT as your calls provider, and therefore any call charges will appear on your BT bill for every call you make using 1280.

Many thanks, from looking around on the internet this is a common problem with non BT call suppliers. They sure do keep it queit.

Anyway call charges appear the same between BT and tiscali outside the free 01 and 02 numbers anyway.

I wonder why it sometimes works with Tiscali not bothered just interested.

The 1280 info is in bold text on the letter you get from BT just before they switch your calls to your new provider... not exactly the best kept secret...