Can I use my ex-contract sky digital satellite receiver to get Freeview channels?
You can get the following Freeview channels on with an ex-contract digital satellite receiver (once it is connected). Items marked with a star require either a Freesat from Sky (fSfS) card, or a expired Sky subscription card to view.
Click here for the list of questions
Click here to ask a new question
Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom
First comments 
Earlier comments ◊ Later comments
Latest 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.
Marselle Buys: Yes, it will work. M
michaelTuesday 17 May 2011 2:48PM
michael: Please read the article at the top of the page. M
michaelTuesday 17 May 2011 4:03PM
Sorry for beung thickmichael: Yes, you don't need a card for the free-to-air channels. D
DipsTuesday 17 May 2011 8:16PM
I have a satalite dish in my garden for which the wire has been cut at the aerial connection point.
i have no sky box or any other. My question is once i replace or repair the wire should i buy a free sat box or sky plus box? ebay have both for sale.(sky plus boxes more expensive)
i dont want to pay any monthly fees and believe this is the best option, also what is the difference. i believe you need a viewing card for the plus box?....
M
michaelTuesday 17 May 2011 10:42PM
M
m.whitbrookWednesday 18 May 2011 7:53AM
m.whitbrook: They worked OK the other day for me, which system are you using? Dips: I would advise you buy a Freesat box, a Sky+ box will do nothing special without a contract. R
rayWednesday 18 May 2011 7:49PM
ray: No, you can't record on a Sky+ box without a Sky contract. H
HiggyThursday 19 May 2011 10:09AM
How will I record my favourite programs in HD now?R
Ryan3395Saturday 21 May 2011 5:10PM
V
vickyMonday 23 May 2011 6:52PM
G
gwynTuesday 24 May 2011 9:03PM
G
gwynTuesday 24 May 2011 9:36PM
R
Roger QuintonThursday 26 May 2011 2:10PM
R
Roger QuintonThursday 26 May 2011 3:11PM
Roger QuintonG
gillyThursday 26 May 2011 3:29PM
G
gillyThursday 26 May 2011 4:13PM
gilly: You should check in the "Sound Settings" menu on the Sky box to see if the sound has been turned down there. Also check in the same menu that your selected language is "English" and you don't have "Audio Description" enabled. L
leahSaturday 28 May 2011 3:06PM
leah: No, you won't. You will have to pay Sky an additional "Multiroom" fee each month to have the same channels (and also the ability to record/pause/play). S
sheilaSunday 29 May 2011 5:34PM
sheila: You can't use a Freeview+ (or indeed Freesat+) box to record from the Sky box. J
JIM HARLEYMonday 30 May 2011 6:31PM
JIM HARLEY: ITV HD is already in the Sky+HD lineup on 178... G
GemmaWednesday 1 June 2011 10:59AM
H
Harry Wednesday 1 June 2011 12:15PM
Sky uses a satellite dish and Freeview uses a rooftop aerial.
It doesn't matter about whether your TV's have built in Freeview or not.
If you have a Sky box working downstairs, you can use an aerial extension lead from the RF2 output on the Sky box and run it up to the second TV upstairs. You will not need another Sky box upstairs if you do this, the lead just plugs straight into the RF in socket on the TV. You will need to turn on the RF output on the back of your sky box, you can do so by doing this - 
How do I change the RF output channel on a Sky Digibox? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
Once you have done all this, tune your TV upstairs to the appropriate RF channel and you will be able to view the Television Picture from downstairs. You will not be able to change the Television channel from upstairs though. (OL37EA) G
GemmaWednesday 1 June 2011 1:33PM
Yea we're watching the tv through the dish as there's no aerial on roof & the other small aerials dont get good enough signal. If I did want to watch different chanel to the one thats currently on downstairs, I'd have to have another sky box right? Would this 2nd sky box need to be directly connected to the dish on the roof, or is there another way? Sorry I'm a bit of a beginner at this :)H
Harry Wednesday 1 June 2011 1:37PM
Oldham
Just give Sky a ring and ask them about Sky multiroom and an installer will come out and supply the new Sky box and wire it to the dish for you. G
GemmaWednesday 1 June 2011 1:44PM
LondonH
Harry Wednesday 1 June 2011 1:48PM
Oldham
Another thing to consider, when you do connect your second box upstairs to the dish, you will only be able to receive the free channels and no subscription channels (unless you phone Sky and ask them to upgrade your package). If you only receive the free channels downstairs anyway though, then you won't need to phone Sky. E
eliseWednesday 1 June 2011 5:50PM
L
lizzieWednesday 1 June 2011 6:14PM
elise: No, you don't need to connect the box to a phone line. K
KeithSaturday 4 June 2011 7:19PM
D
davisSaturday 4 June 2011 10:26PM
Also Dad gave me card fro free channels but sky box saying its not the right card - argghh- only 3 channels and bad audio !!R
riccumeWednesday 8 June 2011 12:11PM
I'm going on vacation to Spain and the flat there will have a Sky box but no card. I don't have a Sky box (or card) and don't care about premium channels. Can I purchase an expired card on eBay to watch the free channels? Any compatibility issues I need to be aware of?
Thank you!riccume: You don't need a card to watch the free-to-air channels. It only provides access to PICK TV, 5* and 5USA.
If you want to buy a card, get it direct from Sky on 08442 411 602. C
Catherine Wednesday 8 June 2011 6:14PM
B
BenThursday 9 June 2011 5:35PM
My question is: are the cables currently in the flat ok to use with FreeSat?
02:21
