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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat

It takes less than five minutes to replace an existing satellite box with a Freesat one.

It takes less than five minutes to replace an existing satellit
Published on by 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)







Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom

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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.

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
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.
Steve
Monday 19 March 2012 11:13AM
Can I run 2 freesat boxes from 1 satellite input ie the input on the wall.
jb38
Monday 19 March 2012 1:48PM
Steve: No, as satellite receivers require individual feeds, this because when you select different channels on a sat box you are continually switching the polarity of the signal being received, this achieved by the sat box sending instructions (2 voltages) up to the dishes LNB, and this is why they cannot share the one lead as both boxes would require to be on the same signal polarity or the voltages would clash with each other.


Steve
Monday 19 March 2012 2:25PM
Ok, Cheers mate
bottomdollar
Wednesday 21 March 2012 11:02PM
I have just replaced my Sky+ box with a Sky HD Box etc. I understand that I can have someone amend my LND so that I can use my old box in another room but this now no longer has a card. I am I right in thinking I will get Freesat on this even without the card? Also will I be able to record like I could when it was the main box?
jb38
Thursday 22 March 2012 8:15AM
bottomdollar: You can use your old Sky+ box perfectly OK without a card to receive most of the normal non-dedicated Sky channels you had before (excl: Pick TV) and which up to a point are very similar to that on Freesat, the only point is that you will not be able to use anything associated with the recorder side of the box as Sky permanently retains access to that, this including the playing back of anything you might have stored on its hard drive, so anything important should be transferred to an external recorder beforehand.

As far as the LNB is concerned you "might" already have a quad type fitted, have a look at where the two coax leads enters the block to check if it has two spare outlets, if not then the dual block fitted will require changing over to a quad version and an additional coax run from this to wherever you are wishing to use the Sky+ box.

By the way I only mentioned running a coax (singular) from the LNB as although the Sky+ box has two inputs the second one wont really be of any use when you cannot use the recorder, although I suppose you could opt for twin leads in case you make any changes in the future, like purchasing a twin tuner Freesat PVR which does require dual inputs.
Richard
Saturday 7 April 2012 5:03PM
Mark Aberfan Aerials: Hi, I had Sky HD, could I still plug a Free Sat box in to that connection?
Briantist
Monday 9 April 2012 8:18PM
Richard: Yes.
aziz
Wednesday 11 April 2012 1:36PM
can i know any one have satelite box , i want watch all free n asian n sports channels...i have virgine broadband line...

please,,,contact through e.mail
Mark Agius
Friday 13 April 2012 7:52AM Haywards Heath
Re: aziz
You need to attach your satellite receiver to a satellite dish.
Your virgin broadband line uses your telephone line, which is a different system.
So you will need a dish as well as a satellite receiver box.
Briantist
Saturday 14 April 2012 5:02PM
Mark Agius: Actually, Virgin Broadband isn't ADSL, but uses the coaxial cable. You can happily have Virgin without a phone line at all.
Steve
Tuesday 24 April 2012 11:05AM Sheffield
Help! Bought a Samsung 8700 Freesat+ box and got rid of my SKY box which gave perfect reception on all channels. I did a scan and it read 86% signal strength and 10% signal quality. It found 143 channels. I keep getting the message "Cannot receive the programme. Please check connection" on different channels. Some days the channels appear normally, sometimes I get this message. Red button services cause this message to appear and so do radio channels. I am puzzled. It appears to be a reception problem, but why did the SKY channels work so well??? Any help appreciated.
jb38
Tuesday 24 April 2012 12:25PM
Steve: Are you sure that you are not getting the numbers mixed up? as the 8700 series are a range of TV's, do you mean SMT-S7800 which is a PVR? if so then there is no reason why you should be getting this problem unless there is a single strand of the screened braiding wire intermittently shorting onto its inner core inside the "F" connector plug, unscrew it and carefully check that "all" of the braiding is folded back over the plastic cable covering.
Steve
Friday 27 April 2012 8:46PM Sheffield
JB38 - thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I took the satellite connections out and found one was squashed; I straightened it and carefully re-inserted; result - all channels performing normally. Thanks once again.
jb38
Friday 27 April 2012 9:04PM
Steve: No problem! and pleased to hear that you have discovered the problem and everything is now back to normal.
douge
Saturday 12 May 2012 10:45AM
can i run a tv in bed roon from the back of
a freesat box
jb38
Saturday 12 May 2012 2:55PM
douge: Not in the same way as you can with a Sky box "if" this is what you are possibly thinking about, the reason being that Freesat boxes do not have built in modulators.

You can of course purchase a modulator that connects into the Freesat box using a scart lead, it sending an analogue RF signal to a remotely sited TV in exactly the same way as does a Sky boxes RF1/2.

This is a link for the type of modulator referred to. (price could be out of date)


Programmable Universal Modulator : Video Switches : Maplin Electronics


Vaughan
Monday 21 May 2012 11:51AM Southampton
I have just upgraded my old CRT TV to a Sony Bravia KDL32W5500. Current setup is an old Pace Sky digibox connected to the main TV and to a couple of others in other rooms. I am thinking of ditching Sky and would like to receive HD programmes. I would also like to keep the satellite signal going to the other TVs. Is there a way of doing this through one box or do I need a different solution?
Les Nicol
Monday 21 May 2012 2:52PM
Vaughan - One option would be to purchase a "Freesat" HD receiver or PVR. You could then keep the Pace SKY box for another location for non subscription use and for the other location get a standard "Freesat" receiver - these are relatively inexpensive from most high street outlets. A replacement quad LNB for the dish - around £10 00 or so and some cabling to the receivers in other locations.

Alternatively you could get yourself a stand alone RF modulator - "Freesat" receivers don't have this option onboard - and distribute the signal in this manner. The first option has the advantage of allowing the reception of different channels in all three locations.
jb38
Monday 21 May 2012 3:02PM
Vaughan: Les Nicol just pipped me at the post so to say, however this is a link for a popular type of modulator that I had intended to include in my own reply, the price may be slightly out of date as Maplin had reduced it a while back.


Programmable Universal Modulator : Video Switches : Maplin Electronics
kev g
Friday 8 June 2012 7:07AM
Mark Aberfan Aerials:Hi hope someone can help,ive had a sky plus box approx 3 yrs now,all was ok till i told them i didnt want to renew my insurance this yr,now box keeps freezing during progs,box switches itself off while we are viewing and we cannot change channel till we switch off at wall ,checked card and the chip is almost see through and card is very warm,not very applince minded infact wife or son do all tec stuff ,please someone helllllllllp
matt
Sunday 10 June 2012 3:11PM
I have a old sky+ box(not HD) I wanted to know if someone i was gonna give it to could use it. They had a freesat(not HD) box which is broke. would they be able to connect mine using their cables or is it different cabling for freesat?
jb38
Sunday 10 June 2012 5:44PM
matt: A Sky box uses exactly the same input connection from a dish as does Freesat and a card is not required to view Sky's "free to view" channels except for Pick TV(152), and so if the box is working OK then whoever you give it to will be able to couple it up via the usual scart lead and all should be OK.

I would give them your mains lead though!

Peter Henderson
Sunday 10 June 2012 6:09PM
I gather Challenge TV and Pick TV are now free too air, so they'll be available under non Freesat mode.

That means there are only 3 channels that are now on Freeview that aren't on Freesat: Dave, Yesterday, and Quest.
matt
Monday 11 June 2012 12:00PM
Thanks jb38.
Kimbo Silver
Monday 11 June 2012 3:55PM
I have sky in my living room. I wish to buy a freesat box for the bedroom. Can I just plug it in to the TV and go? I am a disabled pensioner but not old enough to have free installation and cannot afford sky multiroom for a year; so I am looking at alternatives.
jb38
Monday 11 June 2012 5:51PM
Kimbo Silver: Any Freesat box that you purchase will require to be connected back to the Satellite dish used by Sky, and you might be lucky insomuch that the Sky engineer that fitted the dish might have fitted a dual or possibly a quad LNB on the dish arm, as a separate second output is required for the coax to be connected into for your Freesat box.

If there isnt though, then LNB blocks are obtainable for about £10.00 or so from numerous e-bay suppliers and you would only require that plus a cable to be run from the dish to the bedroom.
Ellieslug
Thursday 12 July 2012 10:09AM
I am currently a Sky subscriber and am thinking of ceasing this for Freesat. I do not connect to a phone line for Sky TV. I have a Sky satelite dish and Sky box and only have this in one room. If I change to Freesat I have been told that I would need a modem. I have one connected to my PC. If I change to Freesat will I still be able to get all of the Sky Sports channels and what do I need to get to connect. Thanks
Peter Henderson
Thursday 12 July 2012 5:56PM
No, you do not need a modem unless you want to watch catch up services such as the BBCiplayer, if the Freesat STB or PVR (recorder) supports this service.

You will not receive any of the Sky subscription channels on Freesat (including any of the Sky sports channels or Eurosport).

Basically, Freesat is the same as Freeview, minus a few channles such as Dave and Yesterday. However, Freesat has more channels than Freeview, many of which aren't on digital terrestrial TV.

If you have a quad or octo LNB on your dish you can add multiple boxes (or PVRs) in different rooms.
L Warner
Thursday 12 July 2012 7:59PM
I wish to take afreesat box to spain and connect it to a 1metre dish in setting it up it asks for a post code do I put my english post code I do not think they have the same coding as Britian
Peter Henderson
Friday 13 July 2012 9:48PM
L. Warner: You can put any U.K. Postcode, including your own into a Freesat box.

As far as I'm aware, postcodes from other countries do not work, though you should be able to use the box in non Freesat mode for free to air channels.

I'm not sure how well a 1 metre dish will work in Spain though.
Les Nicol
Saturday 14 July 2012 7:13AM



Peter Henderson: The recommended dish size for Alicante and Torrevieja areas is 1.4 metre Prime Focus Dish and for an offset 1.5 to 1.8.

For Valenica, Murcia and Madrid the recommendation for an offset dish is 1.8 metre
Les Nicol
Saturday 14 July 2012 7:18AM
P>S> Whilst these are recommended dish sizes you might just gate away with a 1 Metre in a particular area. However this should be checked in using an ex-pat unstaller who knows your area in Spain.
Peter Henderson
Saturday 14 July 2012 4:43PM
Les: That's what I would have thought.

Must ask my brother what he's using for his apartment in Portugal.
Kevin
Wednesday 25 July 2012 3:37PM
Hi, we've got Sky Plus HD and want to change over to Freesat Plus HD as we dont want to lose our pause, rewind and record live TV. Just wondered about the connections as we have a twin cable running from the satellite dish to the sky box so there is 2 connections and the demonstration pics above show only one aerial connection (but granted it was a very old fashioned sky box on the pics above). Do you know if freesat plus hd boxes come with 2 aerial connections or just the one, or do you need a seperate adaptor?
jb38
Wednesday 25 July 2012 5:04PM
Kevin: If you have a Sky+ box whether it be HD or not, then if you purchase a Freesat twin tuner recorder (PVR) the two leads from the dish thats presently used in your Sky+ box are simply transferred over to the Freesat device, nothing requires to be altered.
Vj chandra
Wednesday 8 August 2012 10:49PM
I am confused between the differences - channelwise - on freesat versus sky's free view.

I am looking to buy a sat receiver since my house has no arial but has a dish with cabling.

I can either get a used sky box OR a freesat box for same cost. What is the difference?
Peter Henderson
Thursday 9 August 2012 12:10AM
Vj: As far as I'm aware, there isn't really any difference these days as anything that's free to air is available on both Freresat and Freesat from Sky. Channels that are free to air but not on the Feresat EPG can be accessed in non Freesat mode.

At one stage 5 USA, 5*, and Pick TV were only available on Feesat from Sky and not Feesat, but these are all free to air now. Both 5 USA and 5* are also on the Freesat EPG.

The main difference, as far as I can see it, is that you can't use a PVR (recorder i.e. Sky plus) with Freesat from sky unless you pay Sky £10 per month, which kind of defeats the purpose. PVR funtions are free on Freesat should you wish to go down this route.
jb38
Thursday 9 August 2012 12:20AM
Vj chandra: A few channels are obtainable on Sky's free to view that aren't available on Freesat and vice versa, but the biggest differences are that you can choose what region you want to view from on a Freesat device by simply entering different post codes in the set up menu, whereas with Sky there is no way of doing this, meaning that a Sky box might be defaulted to receiving programmes on 103 as though the viewer resided in the London regional news area no matter where they might actually be located in the UK, something which cannot be altered as its done via the Sky card.

The other plus point about Freesat being that you can purchase a Freesat PVR (recorder) for recording programmes whereas "not" on a non subscription Sky box even if it was of a Sky+ variety which has a built in recorder, as Sky retains access to the recording / playback side of the box and only activates the recorder if a subscription is taken out.

The only point to note about a Freesat twin tuner PVR is that it requires two input leads from the dish.

This is a link where you can compare the channels, use the two right hand columns.

www.ukfree.tv link icon All free TV channels | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Ruth Hughes
Sunday 12 August 2012 6:11PM
I currently have a sky multi room subscription, including 2 sky plus boxes and I want to change to freeview, but would like to be able to retain the recording facility. Is this possible? And if I have to buy a box that records, can you recommend one please?
jb38
Sunday 12 August 2012 7:05PM
Ruth Hughes: When you cancel your contract with Sky as well as them blocking reception of their package channels they will also disable the access code used for the recording / playback side of the Sky+ boxes, and so if you have anything you wish to retain then you will have to transfer it to an external recorder.

The best policy is for you to purchase a Freesat PVR (recorder) as its fully compatible with a Sky box as far as the inputs from the dish are concerned, of course you still wont be able to record any of the previous programmes you viewed "if" they were a dedicated part of a Sky package.

You can check what you will, or will not be able to view by simply removing the Sky card.



Ruth Hughes
Wednesday 15 August 2012 6:06PM
Thanks jb38!
Steve
Tuesday 21 August 2012 10:11PM Sheffield
When I converted from Sky to Freesat I noticed that the NG postcode I put in gave me Central West, because Central East is apparently encrypted. However today when watching the football I noticed the channel 103 had changed to Central East. Somewhere along the line the channel has been unencrypted and the channel switched for boxes using the appropriate postcodes?? Surprised I can find no reference as yet on this website - is this a surprise to everyone ?
john weare
Monday 10 September 2012 11:06AM
I want to replace my sky+ box in bedroom with a free sat box and keep my sky+ HD box in lounge. Currently I can use both boxes at same time and watch one channel while recording another on each box.
If I replace as above will I be able to use freesat box and sky+hd box at same time?
Peter Henderson
Monday 10 September 2012 4:00PM
John Weare: Yes, you can.
Peter Henderson
Monday 10 September 2012 4:03PM
Steve: Check out Digital Spy's Freesat changelog. Any changes such as this are usually mentioned there, or on the ITV regions thread.
Kirstie
Wednesday 12 September 2012 9:48PM
Please can you help me? I currently have Freesat via a Humax box downstairs but have never been able to watch TV upstairs as their is no digital area on the property. Is there a fairly cheap and simple way of being able to watch tv upstairs using the existing dish or humax box? Many thanks for any help you can provide.
jb38
Thursday 13 September 2012 7:03AM
Kirstie: The only two ways you can achieve this is by purchasing a stand alone RF modulator that connects into one of the Humax boxes scart sockets, then you would require a standard coax cable to be run from the modulator to your upstairs TV which would be set on analogue (if not an older analogue TV) and then tuned to the modulators output.

The only other way of doing things is to purchase a video sender such as advertised by Argos and such likes, the transmitter unit of the kit being connected into the Humax (just like the modulator) and the receiver unit into the upstairs TV's scart socket, no wires between both being necessary.

By the way the modulator referred to is sold by Maplin stores, link for below.

www.maplin.co.uk link icon 
Programmable Universal Modulator : Video Switches : Maplin Electronics
viv
Thursday 13 September 2012 9:06AM
Hi just bought a freesat box tried to connect to sky incoming box in lounge then ran tv extension cable upstairs to actual TV when I tried to tune it in it asked for my postcode and then said it didn't recognise this so can't get any further. Please can yoy advise me what to do Thanks
JJB
Thursday 13 September 2012 11:14AM
Mark Aberfan Aerials: Hi There, I currently have 2x Sky hd boxes one downstairs and one upstairs, I was paying for the multiroom facility from sky which ive now cancelled.
This will be going off at the end of the month, One thing im not sure about is what channels i will get and will i get HD channels once they cut me of i.e. BBC 1HD ect.
I have read that i cant record pause or rewind as sky stop that.
Im just a bit confused about freesat freeview ect.

Could anyone help with letting me know what channels i will get please.
jb38
Thursday 13 September 2012 9:06PM
JJB: Its to my belief that you can still get the standard BBC / ITV / Ch4 HD channels but not anything concerning Sky channels that are dedicated to a package, but you should try a test by simply removing the card and running through all the channels to see whats missing as Sky boxes do not require a card to receive the range of "free to view" channels and only the odd exception exists, such as Sony TV on 157.

Even although I might have said remove the card for a test, you will however still require it to be installed as dependant on where you reside the card will still be required for purposes of retaining the correct area local news services.



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