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  ◊  Later comments Latest comments

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N

Nelson
Thursday 10 November 2011 8:21PM

-today I have suddenly lost ITV1,2,yesterday, with the set top box( a humax pvr 9200t) showing plety of signal (84%) but no data integrity (between 0 & 10 %)

this has lasted from about 2 pm to now (8.15)
I have 2 sets, each with its own outdoor aerial, and BOT are affected!

In the past this used to happen to BBC- I lost all channels during the summer, and used analogue - but the BBC sems to have got its act together now
Any ideas? It seems to be sync problems?

2 posts

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Martin b
Thursday 10 November 2011 9:37PM Cardiff

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Briantist
Thursday 10 November 2011 10:20PM

Nelson: If you could provide a full postcode it might be possible to provide some specific information.

37,279 posts

Briantist
Thursday 10 November 2011 10:26PM

Martin bindon: Can you have a look at Householder guide to satellite dishes | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ?

37,279 posts

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joe goodwin
Sunday 27 November 2011 9:40PM

hi, my sister asked my opinion as i am more technical than her (not that good though) about getting freeview boxes for 3 tv's in her house that do not work because of the switch over, the ariel goes in to a booster which then does tv downstairs and the said 3, one upstairs should work as it is flat scren digital but doesn't so i thought as she has a sky dish she might as well get freesat and then a splitter and a couple of more boxes once it was working ok. tried it today but it just says 0% signal, is it because she no longer has sky? any help greatfully appreciated

1 post

P

Peter Henderson
Sunday 27 November 2011 11:48PM

Joe:

(1) It may be the booster that is causing Freeview not to work post DSO. A decent aerial installer should be able to remove it and advise you if this is the case.

You should also check with Digital UK's postcode checker just to see what transmitters you should be receiving:

 Digital UK - Postcode checker

(2) Freesat does not work with splitters. You need to change the LNB to a multi feed LNB (Check to see what type of LNB is on the dish). These come in various forms i.e. dual (two feeds) Quad (four feeds) and octo (eight feeds) enabling a variaty of Freesat receiver/PVR (recorder) combinations. You need at least a dual LNB to run one Freesat PVR. An octo LNB can accommodate 4 PVRs or 8 receivers, or any combination in between e.g. 1 PVR and 6 receivers, 2 PVR's and 4 receivers etc.

Hope this helps.

12 posts

P

Peter Henderson
Sunday 27 November 2011 11:56PM

P.S The booster is probably a distribution amplifier.

Have you checked that the TVs are actually capable of receiving Freeview ?

Just because it's a flatscreen TV doesn't mean it can receive digital TV.

It may simply be a case of buying a few Freeview boxes.

12 posts

D

Derek Butlin
Tuesday 29 November 2011 3:23PM

I have recently had the Freesat dish and set top box installed on 2 of my older tvs which have been installed and are working well. I have 2 small older tvs stil on terrestrial.
Question 1: I have had to get a RF modulator box to put on, to go with the Bush set top box as I do not have scart sockets on tv. Also the tv remote only lets me change the 4 channels and volume, so how can I get the tv to connect with modulator and set top box. TV is Orion C14LXG teletext
Question 2: the other older small TV is Toshiba but does not work off a remote, so is it not possible to fit Freesat set top box?

1 post

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jb38
Tuesday 29 November 2011 4:38PM

Derek Butlin: There isn't really any great problem involved with what you intend to do, as the TV's in question simply receive the modulators output signal irrespective of what it (the modulator) might be connected to.

Both your TV's will have to be left on the channel that matches the modulators output, this found by simply carrying out a re-scan on each of the TV's whilst connected to the modulator, then storing the channel found.

As far as the remote is concerned, you don't require one, as you will just continue as before with the TV that doesn't have a remote, that is manually switching it off and on and adjusting the volume, the remote on the other TV simply being used to control the volume plus switching off and on.

You could connect the RF modulator into one of your Freesat boxes and run a lead from the modulator to the two TV's, although these would have to view the same channel as the Freesat box is on, as the channels cannot be changed on the TV's connected to the modulator as they have to watch the same programme as on the Freesat box.

The best way to look at it is, that all a modulator does is to provide an analogue TV with another analogue channel in exactly the same way as though its being picked up via an aerial.

4,694 posts

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jb38
Tuesday 29 November 2011 4:44PM

Derek Butlin: Meant to add the undermentioned link as an example of one type.


Programmable Universal Modulator : Video Switches : Maplin Electronics

4,694 posts

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Daniel Madge
Friday 9 December 2011 7:10PM Coleford

hi is south park on sky 3 please let know soon ok by Daniel Madge

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E

Edna Ogden
Sunday 11 December 2011 1:51AM Betws-y-coed

At the moment we have a Sky box, paid once for installation and no further monthly payments so it now costs nothing. Is there any advantage for us in changing to FREESAT with sky. If so, what are they? And if it is advantageous do we need further equipment of any kind?

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R

Rob
Sunday 11 December 2011 2:56PM

I have a Sky HD+ box and have just completed a 1st year of contract. I find very little use for Sky specific channels and have no interest in SkySport or SkyMovies so am getting very little from the monthly subscription. I am thinking of closing the subscription and switching to FreeSat. I understand I can still use the box for this but will I still be able to get HD? Also is there any way I can use the box as a PVR to record or do I have to bite the bullet and purchase something like a Humax Foxsat HDR ?

1 post

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Peter Henderson
Sunday 11 December 2011 6:25PM

Rob: You will still receive the free to air HD channels that are currently available on Freesat i.e. BBC1 HD, ITV1 HD, Channel 4 HD etc.

You will not be able to use the Sky+ HD box as a PVR unless you pay Sky a £10/month subscription.

If you need the PVR facilities a Freesat box might be a better choice.

12 posts

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Martin
Monday 12 December 2011 4:51AM Cardiff

hi just to say i sorted my openbox s9 viewing probs in the end i replaced the lnb from a quad to a single feed and it started working straight away was told i was only getting high banned and not the low band signal channels this was by a neighbour not a pro so not sure just happy all the channels are now working i have an aerial in my attic pointing at the wenvoe mast but the signal is terrible would a booster help or should i put it outside of my house my post code is cf3 0bf cheers .

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J

jb38
Monday 12 December 2011 7:55AM

Martin: Regarding the LNB, if replacing it cured your problem then it must have been faulty, as all blocks used for Sky purposes are dual band in operation.

On the subject of your aerial, albeit that its likely that you are, but you should first of all check to make sure that you are receiving Wenvoe (@ 9 mls / 241degrees) as although being further away (@ 29mls / 135 degrees) Mendip is indicated as being superior for reception, so carry out a signal check on BBC1 / ITV1 / ITV3, noting the channel numbers and cross check them against these.

Mendip: (BBC1)Ch61 - (ITV1)Ch54 - (ITV3)Ch48

Wenvoe: (BBC1)Ch41 - (ITV1)Ch44 - (ITV3)Ch42

If you are receiving Wenvoe, then your aerial should be perfectly OK in the loft provided you don't have any form of roof insulation of the more modern metallic content variety.

4,694 posts

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Martin
Monday 12 December 2011 2:13PM

hi jb 38 i will try looking at what the channel numbers are when i get off as working until tomorrow but thanks for your help

10 posts

M

Martin
Monday 12 December 2011 2:32PM

hi it seems to be the wenvoe mast im picking up as getting bbc1 on channel 41 and itv on channel44 and not getting itv3

10 posts

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jb38
Monday 12 December 2011 5:21PM

Martin: If when looking at the programme list EPG10 is missing (ITV3) then you should try manually tuning it in on Mux Ch42, if however EPG10 is shown but the screen is blank, then go into the signal strength check screen as it might be just slightly under the reception threshold, whereby moving your aerial to another position within the loft could well have a big effect in what's received, as it usually does in most cases.

I will say that the indications shown on the trade predictor (for what its worth!) would suggest that some form of an obstruction problem exists between you and Wenvoe, as Mendip at 29 miles away shouldn't have the edge on Wenvoe at only 9 miles, and maybe this is the reason for the SDN mux (ITV3 etc) not being picked up properly, as a transmitter of 50Kw at only 9 miles away should be picked up perfectly OK with any loft mounted aerial, if though it still doesn't get it, purely for a test try manually tuning in Mendips SDN on Mux Ch48.

You should also verify that your aerial is actually pointing in the correct direction for Wenvoe (241degrees)

4,694 posts

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Mike Smith
Thursday 15 December 2011 4:29PM

Hi, Can anybody suggest the name of a weekly or monthly magazine giving Freesat programs that are available. Thanks MIKE.

1 post

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Martin
Thursday 15 December 2011 5:07PM

i use whats on mag as my epg not very good what channels are you looking for most are in the mag not all but Enough for me though

10 posts

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Vernon
Thursday 15 December 2011 7:44PM

Last year 2010 I discontinued SKY Sub Service and moved to their Freesat. I was told that If I wanted to pause, rewind etc, I will need to retain my Sky+ Box and pay £10 per month for this. I am currently doing this, but in spite of having a HD Ready, HDMI TV, I cannot get HD Channels. I am told by SKY that to get HD I would need to purchase a HD box. I get the feeling that I am paying Sky £10 per month just to use their Sky+ box as a recorder. What's the score? Do I need to buy a box which offers all the facilities and allows me to record/playback.

1 post

J

jb38
Thursday 15 December 2011 9:29PM

Vernon: Sky are quite correct in what they have said as Sky+ and Sky+HD are two different things, the latter being a later addition to cater for HD transmissions.

Unless you particularly want to record Sky programmes then you would be much better in the long run to buy a Freesat HD twin tuner PVR, as it would be totally compatible with your twin feeder dish arrangement so that once plugged in you start viewing, after of course having carried out the set up procedure.

4,694 posts

S

Sean Harris
Monday 19 December 2011 8:40PM

Mark Aberfan Aerials: I have freesat coming through a 4-way splitter and I'm thinking of changing two of the boxes to HD boxes. Is it as simple as buying the boxes, putting the cables in, switching them on then installing the channels. Or will I have to get the dish re-aligned?

1 post

L

Lynn Metcalfe
Tuesday 20 December 2011 4:23PM

Hi. I have just moved to an area that does not receive digital. I have 2 freeview boxes that are showing no signal. there is a satellite dish outside, two wires with screwable nuts on going into the flat.
Please could you tell me how to install a free sat box using these wires, I am wondering if everything I need will be in the box, or maybe I need some extra connectors?
Thank you so much.
Lynn.M

1 post

J

jb38
Tuesday 20 December 2011 5:02PM

Lynn Metcalfe: The previous occupier either had Sky+ or a Freesat PVR, as both devices require two inputs.

If you intend to purchase a Freesat box then only one connector is used, but if you decide on the aforementioned Freesat PVR (excellent devices!) then you use both, as that enables you to record one channel whilst viewing another.

By the way the connector you see just screws (by hand) onto the input socket on the Freesat box, then you go into its menu and set it up as you would with Freeview with the exception that it will request your post code, this purely so that it allocates the correct local news channel for your location.

4,694 posts

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jb38
Tuesday 20 December 2011 8:21PM

Lynn Metcalfe: By the way, meant also to say that if you do just purchase a standard Freesat box and not a PVR, then its perfectly OK to leave one of the leads unconnected, as these leads are totally independent of each other so you can use any one of the two for a Freesat box.

4,694 posts

B

barry
Friday 23 December 2011 3:12PM

i have had freesat installed but have a old sky box i would like to use as the receiver instead. when i connect it say there is no signal...

is it not the same for both...
it seems to work the other way around....
so is it possible to use a sky box where a freesat was used previously....

thx
barryy

1 post

J

jb38
Friday 23 December 2011 5:12PM

barry: If you have Freesat installed that's working OK, and you then unscrew the "F" connector from the Freesat box and transfer it to over to the Sky box, then it should receive "Free to view" programmes (once it scans for channels) without having to alter anything, if it doesn't then the box is faulty, or there is an iffy connection on the "F" connector plug.

4,694 posts

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lynny
Saturday 24 December 2011 2:04PM

Hi, my tv recently packed up, it was connected to freesat via a sky dish. I have taken delivery of a new samsung tv with build in freeview today and tried to set it up but no matter what all i get is weak or no signal notice displayed. What am I doing wrong? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks, Lynny

1 post

K

KMJ,Derby
Saturday 24 December 2011 2:26PM

lynny: Are you connecting the new tv to a UHF tv aerial? It will not work with a satellite dish as the tuner for freeview works on a completely different set of frequencies to that used with Sky and Freesat.

1,477 posts

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andrew williamson
Tuesday 27 December 2011 8:10PM

Hello, we have sky multi room with a sky+box and a basic sky box. We want to keep the sky+ and cancel the multiroom part. Can we use the existing basic sky box as a freesat box or will we need a card from sky?

1 post

J

jb38
Tuesday 27 December 2011 9:01PM

andrew williamson: If you do not use a Sky card with the basic box the regional news services will default to London, plus I believe you will not be able to view Pick TV, otherwise everything will be as you wish.

4,694 posts

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Annette Towers
Wednesday 28 December 2011 6:25PM

Hello there can you tell me if it is possible to upgrade my sky freesat with a pvr freesat box. A Humax FoxsatHD for example?

2 posts

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jb38
Thursday 29 December 2011 8:40AM

Annette Towers: You can connect a Freesat PVR or any other Freesat box on to the leads previously used by Sky devices without having to change anything, the only thing being that if you only have a single lead from the dish and you purchase a twin tuner PVR, then for correct operation you will require a second lead to be run from the dish to enable the recording of one channel whilst viewing another.

And with reference to the dishes LNB, this will require to be changed to a dual or quad block (around £10.00) if its only got one output port, a quad block being better as you can use two of its outputs for the Freesat PVR and have an additional cable from one of the other two spare outputs running to a Sky box in another room.

4,694 posts

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Annette Towers
Thursday 29 December 2011 4:06PM Peterhead

Annette Towers: Thank you for your comments and advice. I will get it sorted next week.

Good wishes to you for 2012

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S

Scott Paterson
Wednesday 4 January 2012 4:18PM

We had builders on our roof and since then I get 0% singal.

My freesat is plugged in to an old sky dish.

Not really sure how to rectify the problem - do I need to call someone in to ensure the dish is aligned correctly? What tools do i need if I want to do it myself?

thanks
Scott

2 posts

S

Scott Paterson
Wednesday 4 January 2012 4:30PM

Actually just followed the wires and the dish is just near a window attached to the side of the house (rather than the roof, must be someone else!) but theres still some scaffolding right next/infront of the dish - could this be causing issue?

Previous to this I had a good 80% signal with perfect picture quality, now I get zero signal.

2 posts

Briantist
Tuesday 10 January 2012 6:49AM

Scott Paterson: Yes, scaffolding will prevent the dish from receiving a signal from the satellite.

37,279 posts

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mumzey
Friday 27 January 2012 10:39PM

Mark Aberfan Aerials: can i watch tv in a different room and if so how thanks

1 post

Mark Aberfan Aerials
Saturday 28 January 2012 5:39PM

Hi mumzey, Yes if you have freesat you can either fit a Triax trilink kit to watch & control the same channel from a second location or you can fit a extra freesat box (they start around £30 in argos) & quad lnb & you can watch a different channel at the same time in the second room which is ideal if you dont want to watch the football or kids progs that others in your house may be watching.

Mark Aberfan Aerials

1,060 posts

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Janie
Wednesday 1 February 2012 8:59AM

I had a freesat box in my lounge and had my bungalow refurbished. My son orgainised sky subscription SKY+ HD box in my lounge and a sky box in my bedroom. We don,t use the sky programmes in the bedroom and want to stop subscription for this box so that we can save £10 per month. Is it possible to keep the television in our bedroom and just but a freesat box or do we have to keep the sky box?

1 post

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Mike Dimmick
Wednesday 1 February 2012 11:22AM

Janie: I believe the Sky box in the bedroom would drop down to 'free-to-view' mode. You wouldn't be able to watch subscription channels, but you'd be able to watch all the channels listed at  Compare Freesat and Freesat-from-Sky TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice . You'd no longer be able to pause or record programmes on the bedroom box, if it's a Sky+ box.

Or, you could just unplug the Sky box and plug the Freesat box in, in its place. You'd lose the few channels that are in Sky's free service but not on Freesat - again, see that link for the comparison.

2,447 posts

Dave Lindsay
Wednesday 1 February 2012 11:23AM

Janie: You can use the Freesat in your bedroom. Just connect it to the dish, same as the Sky box.

4,073 posts

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Michael King
Friday 10 February 2012 2:32PM

I am already a Freesat subscriber using a HD Humax Box through an LG TV. I also subscribe and pay for Eurosport TV which I watch via my Computer. Is there any way to transmit my eurosport picture onto my TV via my BT Modem (or the Home-plug) adapters that are currently being used to transmit Demand TV and BBCPlayer & IPlayer. (I am aware that I can transmit images etc from my Compter to TV via a VGA hard-wire links but I was wanting to being able to do it using wireless. Thanks

1 post

Briantist
Monday 27 February 2012 6:26AM

Michael King: You can use a "wireless video sender" such as Argos - www.argos.co.uk
but you can't use the devices you listed.

37,279 posts

I

ian from notts
Tuesday 28 February 2012 9:21AM

I am enquiring about the Humax Freesat+ recorder?
It has a thru loop fitted so can i use this to run the Freesat built in my Panasonic tv?
Meaning 2 cables from the dish to the Humax and 1 out of the thru loop yo the tv and all 3 Freesat tuners working normally?
If not what is the thru loop for?

158 posts

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Nick P
Tuesday 28 February 2012 1:22PM

ian from notts: You can't use the loop through this way.
Another cable should be run from the dish to the TV. Hopefully the LNB on your dish has four outlets. If not get a quad LNB. The loop through would seem to have no use. I am very pleased with my Humax freesat + recorder.

4 posts

G

GEM
Tuesday 28 February 2012 1:33PM

I confirm Nick P's comments. The 'loop through' is only meant for use when you only have one sat feed - you feed the second input feed from the 'loop through'.
I have two Humax HD+ PVR's one in UK and one in France. I also have a Humax HD (without recorder) and they work a treat.

7 posts

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Mike Dimmick
Tuesday 28 February 2012 2:56PM

ian from notts: This is general advice for boxes with a dish output connection, I'm not completely sure if the Humax boxes can be used like this.

The output from the Freesat box, marked LNB 1 OUT, *can* be used to feed a Freesat TV or another box, but it has limitations. If the Humax is on, not in standby, or is recording two programmes at once, the TV will only be able to tune into channels that use a compatible mode. The TV only has full control if the box is in standby, and is not recording using LNB 1 IN.

To cram more channels into the space available, while keeping the frequencies on the cable reasonably low, there are two selectable parameters: low or high frequency range, and horizontal or vertical polarization. The receiver has to tell the LNB which signals to put on this output, which it does by passing control signals back up the cable. When the box is on, it controls these signals itself, independently for LNB 1 and LNB 2. It only passes through the control signals from the TV if it's in standby and doesn't need to use that input.

Therefore if you connect the TV via LNB 1 OUT and the box is on, you can only watch channels on the TV that match the mode that the box has selected: taking an example, if the box was showing or recording BBC Three, you wouldn't be able to watch ITV2, because BBC Three is transmitted with horizontal polarization and ITV2 is vertical. You also wouldn't be able to listen to any BBC radio stations because they're in the high band and BBC Three is in the low band.

To get full control from the TV, you need a completely separate run of cable from the TV to a separate output on the LNB.

The Humax manual only shows using the LNB 1 OUT connection to feed into LNB 2 IN if you only have one connection to the dish available. This imposes the same limitations on what you can record on the second tuner, or watch through the box when recording a programme.

2,447 posts

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ian from notts
Wednesday 29 February 2012 8:07AM

Nick P, GEM, Mike Dimmick
Thanx for that,
Mike, it seems i can use the thru loop to control the tv tuner as a 3rd cable is not an option here (2 recorders)
Cheers, Ian

158 posts

C

charlo
Sunday 4 March 2012 4:35PM

ian from notts:
I found I could plug in my redundant Sky box into lnb1 out and watch their progs. - but only if not using Humax ( handy if there is a channel on free sky that is not on Freesat )of course you need a cable from skybox to tv.

13 posts