Upgrading from Sky to Freesat

Published on 8th May 2008 at 14:31 by Brian Butterworth on UK Free TV

If you have an existing Sky or fSfS (Freesat from Sky) installation and want to go to upgrade to Freesat, it is a simple process.

First, buy the Freesat box from a Argos, Curry.digital, Comet, John Lewes or your local independent shop:



In the box you will find the Freesat box:



Also included will be a remote control, and this model also comes with a SCART cable, a HDMI cable and a stereo-with-composite cable. Unpack the ones you need:



You old Sky box looks like this:



Unplug the mains first from the Sky box, then pull out the SCART (or SCARTs) and then unscrew the connection to the satellite dish.



Remove the Sky box and fit the Freesat box. Reconnect the satellite cable (take care as to not damage the connection) and then the SCART and finally connect the mains power:



The box will look like this:



The box also contains the manual, which has full installation instructions. Finally fit the batteries into the remote control.



The TV screen first displays the box's logo



The first set-up screen allows you to select the TV type, widescreen mode and resolution:



Next the box checks for the satellite signal:



Then there is a check for updated software:



Then you enter your postcode and the box checks it:



The next step is a scan for channels. This takes about 30 seconds:



And that's it. You can now view channels, like 108 for BBC HD:



Or press the GUIDE button for the EPG:



(Apologies for the photos not being of the top quality)

First comments Earlier comments  ◊ 

Your comments are always welcome. Please use the form below to add your thoughts or questions to this page. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Dave Lindsay
Monday 28 January 2013 10:55AM

Lesley: I would like to emphasise that you should try it whilst bearing in mind that you may only receive PSB channels.

If reception of the full Freeview service isn't possible or might require a new aerial then another alternative is to use your satellite dish to receive free-to-air services via the Freesat service. These two systems are identical as far as the dish is concerned.

A comparison of Freeview vs Freesat channels is here:

  Freeview/Freesat | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice

For example, Dave and Yesterday are available from full-service Freeview transmitters (i.e. COM channels) but not Freesat.

All services carried on the PSBs are available on Freesat.

3,887 posts

Dave Lindsay
Monday 28 January 2013 10:57AM

Lesley: You will need to click the "P24" tab below in order to see my other reply.

3,887 posts

Dave Lindsay
Monday 28 January 2013 11:00AM

Lesley: You will need a Freeview receiver, whether built in to your TV or a set-top box. The Sky box will not function as a Freeview box.

3,887 posts

Lesley
Tuesday 29 January 2013 10:48AM

Thank you Dave - you have been very helpful. Again, I am sorry I keep asking such basic questions.

Thanks again for the info.

4 posts

Dave Lindsay
Tuesday 29 January 2013 11:22AM

Lesley: Happy to help. Hope you get it sorted.

3,887 posts

Anne
Thursday 31 January 2013 9:31PM

Please I need help l have just bought a freesat box it works fine, then l recorded a programme but the channel was on when the record started wont allow me to change channels plus it records the programme l am watching and saves it for 2 hours AHHH

2 posts

jb38
Thursday 31 January 2013 11:17PM

Anne: If you are referring to an actual Freesat box and are recording from this onto a DVD or HDD (hard disk) recorder then this is quite normal as you are only dealing with one tuner, however if you are meaning a Freesat "twin tuner" PVR (personal video) recorder that uses two inputs from the dish then are you sure that its not set up for single feed operation?

Maybe you could indicate the model number of the device in question.

4,521 posts

Anne
Thursday 31 January 2013 11:39PM

Thanks for that, we have two feeds, perhaps we need more practice at it, we just are not technology literate

2 posts

jb38
Friday 1 February 2013 12:24AM

Anne: It would be of assistance if you indicated the model number of the box in question, but if it is a Freesat twin tuner PVR then you can record one programme whilst watching another or record two programmes at the same time whilst viewing one that's already been recorded.

4,521 posts

David
Wednesday 20 February 2013 2:13PM

I have a 12volt free sat box that I bought from Maplin which works OK works OK except that when powered off (disconnected from supply) and then plugged in again in the caravan I have to retune all the channels and also favourite channels.
The Sagem that I have in the house does bot do this when power is switched off and it runs on a transformer, so I think I will get another one for the Caravan.

1 post

frances henry
Tuesday 12 March 2013 3:13PM

Hi i had a sky plus subscription which i have now cancelled. I bought a freesat recorder but there are 2 leads from the satelite dish going into the skyplus box an there is only space for one lead on the freesat recorder. Do i need an adapter to change the 2 leads into one?
Many thanks
frances

4 posts

jb38
Tuesday 12 March 2013 3:30PM

frances henry: You can use any one of the two leads from the dish as both are technically identical.

Just out of interest though, what model of Freesat recorder are you referring to?

4,521 posts

frances henry
Tuesday 12 March 2013 4:29PM

Thanks jb38, its a panasonic, but both the leads from the sky dish are screw in type, the one on the freesat box is a push in?

4 posts

Mazbar
Tuesday 12 March 2013 4:42PM

frances henry: no satellite connection will be push in all satellite receivers use f connectors freeview use aerial plugs that are plug in are you sure it is freesat

260 posts

jb38
Tuesday 12 March 2013 4:50PM

frances henry: Push in (coax plug) connectors are not used for Satellite purposes as devices used to connect to a Satellite dish always use "F" type connectors, are you sure that the box you have isnt a "Freeview" type that uses a normal aerial? as what you have said strongly suggests that it is.

This can be checked if you supply the model number.

4,521 posts

jb38
Tuesday 12 March 2013 4:52PM

Mazbar: Clash not intended, as I just noticed that you had replied stating similar to myself.

4,521 posts

frances henry
Tuesday 12 March 2013 6:18PM

Its a panasonic DMR-HW100EBK HD Digital TV recorder. It says on box 'freeview +HD'. Have i bought the wrong box or is there some way i can use it? Really appreciate your help; thank you

4 posts

Mazbar
Tuesday 12 March 2013 6:24PM

frances henry: it will need a tv aerial not a dish so it's either have one fitted or change it for a freesat box

260 posts

jb38
Tuesday 12 March 2013 8:25PM

frances henry: Yes, I suspected that might be the case when you had mentioned that the "one" on the box was a push in, and with this being the reason why I queried it.

Being unaware as to the circumstances with regards to the purchase of the box, insomuch whether its second hand or not? but what Mazbar has said is really your only option, and so you will have to weigh up the cost of paying for a suitable aerial being installed against that of purchasing a reasonable quality Freesat twin tuner recorder for use with the dish installation thats already installed.

When I say "quality" I am referring to such as seen in the link.

 Humax FOXSATHDR-G Freesat twin tuner 320GB PVR (Grade A) - HUMAX UK Direct Sales Website

4,521 posts

frances henry
Wednesday 13 March 2013 6:12PM

Thanks for all your help guys. I got a guy out an the box is now working although the remote which came with the box wont operate the tv for volume an turning off and on. Its an Acoustic Solutions tv. How do i get the remote to operate the tv? Once again thanks so much for your help, i am so green on technical issues

4 posts

Neil
Wednesday 13 March 2013 10:59PM

Frances Henry I had a quick look at Page 83 of the instruction manual on the Panasonic website and I can't see Acoustic Solutions mentioned so maybe it doesn't support that make of TV & you won't be able to use the remote to control the TV

57 posts

jb38
Thursday 14 March 2013 12:18AM

frances henry: Just out of interest, what model of Acoustic Solutions TV are you referring to?

4,521 posts

ian from notts
Thursday 14 March 2013 9:11AM

francis henry- while watching sky if you press "interactive" on the sky remote and select "sky customer services" you wiil find a page to help you program your sky remote to control the tv

141 posts

michael r
Tuesday 21 May 2013 11:13PM

the satellite dish on our rented property has 2 pairs of cables coming from it. one pair comes into the living room,the other onto a bedroom. i want to get a freesat plus box. do i need to have both pairs of cables connected to the box to be able to record tv? if so,is there an extra connector on the back of the box or do both pairs have to be connected by a common port?
many thanks.
Michael

1 post

KMJ,Derby
Tuesday 21 May 2013 11:52PM

michael r: To record tv on a satellite PVR you need one pair of cables from the dish. There are two input connections on the receiver, hence a pair of cables to supply signals to the box.

1,451 posts