UK mirror sub and caller id

Doodler · 04-03-2004 09:17PM #1

Sorry if this has been asked and answered before. I have 2 UK subs, one of which is a sky+ box, for the last year or so. I am getting the 2nd sub as a cheap "mirror" subscription. Because I am in Ireland I have disabled caller ID when the boxes dial out, so that Sky don't know I am not in UK.

Of course because of this Sky have been unable to establish that both boxes are in the same house so after a few letters from them that I managed to kick for touch on they have finally started charging me top-dollar for the 2nd subscription. A call to Sky has confirmed that they are getting the callback ok but not seeing my number and until I fix this they will keep on charging the money.

What to do?

I was thinking of just taking off the caller id restriction and letting them see that I'm not actually resident in UK - maybe they wouldn't care?

Has anyone got any experience or certain knowledge about this?

TIA, Doodler

Tony · 04-03-2004 10:02PM

Are you saying that the UK sub box is able to dial out to Uk number on your landline?

Originally posted by Doodler
Sky don't know I am not in UK.

watty · 05-03-2004 09:36AM

You can get a UK phone "redirecting service" (forget actual name). Then any of your calls to UK numbers appear to come from your UK number. This might of course cost more than two subs.

Sky don't terribly care about where you are (they won't send around men in Dark Glasses), but if your boxes show up with a non-UK phone number they will cancel the sub/cards pending an explination (I took them on holiday for a week) or fixing it (Sorry I didn't know you don't like me taking my boxes to visit Granny).

I presume Doodler added some kind of prefix or external phone router to let the boxes dial a UK number (ordinary numbers are easy, but 0800, 0850 etc are tricky as an ordinary prefix doesnt work)

Genghis · 05-03-2004 11:07AM

What number are Sky expecting to see? You must have given them a UK number, and presumably an address where they are sending their warning letters?

Just a random thought, it might not be practical, it might not even work. Is there any way you can roughly predict when the callback will be? Would there be anyway you could then utilise some kind of '3-way dial-up call' - between you, your UK partner and Sky UK?

Alternatively, why not take a weekend in the UK, bring the box and let it do its business while you are there?

All of these solutions will cost money and bother. Perhaps paying for a second sub is not really worth it - with Sky+ on one box get free BBC on the other, along with Irish Terrestrials you should be okay. With the level of repeats, time-shift channels, Sky+ functionality, and with a good VCR I can't see how you'd need a mirror sub at all!

spongebob · 05-03-2004 03:09PM

Originally posted by LurkingIcon
You can get a UK phone "redirecting service" (forget actual name). Then any of your calls to UK numbers appear to come from your UK number. This might of course cost more than two subs.

YAC , the call appears to originate in London.

M

watty · 05-03-2004 05:42PM

Originally posted by Genghis
Is there any way you can roughly predict when the callback will be? Would there be anyway you could then utilise some kind of '3-way dial-up call' - between you, your UK partner and Sky UK?

Alternatively, why not take a weekend in the UK, bring the box and let it do its business while you are there?

1) the boxes are instructed via satellite to phone home. No way to predict or else people could cheat on mirror subs

2) A week-end won't sort it. It is a regular ongoing communication, not like a card install via phone up

mickeyboymel · 05-03-2004 08:29PM

I am getting a mirror sub on my Irish card next week and have expressed concerns to Sky regarding my phoneline being in use a lot of the time for dialup internet, and hence the possibility of the callbacks failing

They were able to tell me that my box always does its callbacks in the early hours of the 18th of each month (sub period 5th to 4th of each month) and to ensure the line was available at these times, and that I can ask at any time when a callback is due.

She also agreed that forcing callbacks from both boxes tru the installation menu would also work!

Surely I am being misinformed as this would defeat the whole purpose of random callbacks, enabling sharing of the second box, and returning it to its base when a callback is due???

Doodler · 06-03-2004 12:00AM

Thanks for all your replies. Yes, I had to fiddle around a bit to get it to call the UK number, and it involves a domestic PABX (which I have as I have a few extensions around the house) and programmed quick-dial codes.

I will investigate the YAC idea, and maybe even try it, but not for a week or so, I'm off on hols tomorrow.

If this doesn't work, I will downgrade the 2nd sub either to the basic level or FTV.

Will post results.

Doodler

watty · 06-03-2004 09:20AM

Originally posted by mickeyboymel
I am getting a mirror sub on my Irish card next week and have expressed concerns to Sky regarding my phoneline being in use a lot of the time for dialup internet, and hence the possibility of the callbacks failing

They were able to tell me that my box always does its callbacks in the early hours of the 18th of each month (sub period 5th to 4th of each month) and to ensure the line was available at these times, and that I can ask at any time when a callback is due.

She also agreed that forcing callbacks from both boxes tru the installation menu would also work!

Surely I am being misinformed as this would defeat the whole purpose of random callbacks, enabling sharing of the second box, and returning it to its base when a callback is due???

Call back won't fail unless you are online 24 hours! It will silently check line and try when it is not in use.

There is a grain of truth. It is possible that "phone home" about any interactive or box office charges is at designated times. But while the phone centre people just answer from their script and know littel, there are smart folks in Sky, and any mirror system will do security callbacks at unknown times. I also think they can tell a box when the "mirrored" box is calling so that the boxes know if they are likely on same line (i.e. if line is NEVER busy when the "other" box is calling, something is wrong!).

Mike 1972 · 07-03-2004 05:35PM

Why should Sky care if you are "141ing" your dialout

Arent ex directory numbers usually "ID witheld" by default ?

And arent there still some rural backwaters in both the UK and Ireland where caller ID doesnt work ?

rlogue · 08-03-2004 11:12AM

My house number is ex-directory, but it still sends out the caller ID.

UK mirror sub and caller id

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