Tiscali TV/Sky on the same phone line

[TurquoiseShark]

I received a call from Tiscali today to upgradge my package to Tiscali TV for less money, I was on the verge of signing on the dotted line, only to be told I could not use Tiscali and my Sky HD box in the same telephone line?

I was thinking a telephone splitter might do the job, does anyone know if there are any issues associated with Sky and Tiscali using the same phone line?

My contract with Sky expired in last May, so there should be no issues there.

[Toasty]

I think Sky have a BT line exclusive on some of their packages, such as broadband, so maybe HD is too?

If so, you'll have problems if you ditch your BT landline for tiscali. FYI I now have a tiscali phone line and this hasn't affected my normal Sky viewing, but I don't have a HD box.

[TurquoiseShark]

I already have Tiscali broadband on that line and also contracted to Tiscali for my phone, I've not had any issues thus far.

I was given the extra option of Tiscali TV, the operator seemed to think it would cause a conflict to have both set top boxes on the same line

[vagwin]

There should be no issues using Tiscali TV and Sky on the same line, as they use it for different purposes.

Sky use the line for customer usage information uploading and PayTV verification as well as some interactive functions, but use the dish for downstream delivery of TV service.

Tiscali on the other hand deliver the entire service down the phone line - true IPTV; they provide a router, set top box and splitter. The Sky box would plug into the phone line as normal (along with any other phones), with the wireless router connecting to the DSL line, the STB and any other computer equipment you may have. Tiscali STBs also have a Freeview tuner in them, so all those channels are available if you have the relevant aerial.

The main advantage of Tiscali TV as far as I can see is the Video on Demand (VOD) - both pay-as-you-go films and free "catch-up" TV eg 4OD. Sky offer the former via Near Video on Demand (NVOD), but not the latter.

I would go back to the operator and tell them they are talking rubbish!

[TurquoiseShark]

I thought they were talking rubbish, but I just wanted confirmation I wasn't going mad!

Just to take this query further, I already have a router on the Tiscali Line which I also use for Xbox Live/PSN, can I use my router or do I need to use a specific Tiscali router for Tiscali TV?

[MK_Brett]

You will need to use the Tiscali Supplied router as it is the only one that will work with the TV service.