Can I use a ex-Sky box to receive aerial Freeview?

I am afraid not.

The satellite receivers cannot receive Freeview and vice-versa. Whilst the underlying technology is the same (DVB) the satellite receivers do not have the capacity to receive the DVB-T terrestrial transmissions, only the DVB-S satellite ones.

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R

ross
Wednesday 27 April 2011 9:48PM

I'm on FSFS with a Sky Digibox. It connects to my TV by SCART.

I've just got a BT v+box. It has an Aux port for DVD player, etc.

Can I send the signal from the sky box into the Aux port of the BT V+ then into the TV? Wont the V+ box just see the signal coming into the aux port as a signal that could be straight from a DVD player?

Cheers

1 post

Briantist
Thursday 28 April 2011 7:54AM

ross: Yes, you can. Put the BT Vision box into stand-by mode to access fSfS.

37,271 posts

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kelly
Wednesday 18 May 2011 4:33PM

Hi, I have a humax freeview box currently connected to a fairly new ariel on roof. I am moving to a house with no ariel on roof but a satellite dish on wall. Can I connect to this or will I need another ariel on roof to continue with freeview viewing? Thanks

1 post

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Harry
Wednesday 18 May 2011 5:30PM Huddersfield

You will need another aerial on the roof to recieve freeview. Contact an installer to get it sorted.

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George
Monday 4 July 2011 12:05PM

Keyon:
Yes, but not all the channels. You also have to know the channel numbers that are free to select otherwise it is a case of paging through them. A Freesat box only shows the channels you can actually receive.

Cheers

3 posts

M

mark
Monday 22 August 2011 10:26PM

can i hook up a bt vision box to a satellite dish to recieve the freeview channels? i'm missing the rf in rf out leads. are these needed if so where can i get them,and do they go by another name?

1 post

Briantist
Thursday 25 August 2011 8:48AM

mark: No, BT Vision is a Freeview box and can only be attached to a rooftop aerial.

The leads you describe are called "aerial fly leads".

37,275 posts

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donald kirkbride
Thursday 25 August 2011 10:35AM

a neighbour gave me a sky box which he had spare and will have to get a dish for it
will be using it for freeview only so do i need a card for the card slot to view freeview?
also can i get other itv regions via freeview or am i locked by my postcode to stv north?

13 posts

Briantist
Thursday 25 August 2011 12:05PM

donald kirkbride: Please can you see  Compare Freeview and Freesat-from-Sky TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for details of the difference between the Freeview and fSfS channels - and also  Can I stop paying Sky and use my satellite receiver to get Freeview ? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

On Freeview (via and aerial) you can only receive the regions that your aerial can pick up. On Freesat you can watch whatever regions you like.

37,275 posts

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mitch
Thursday 29 December 2011 1:40PM

I have an old Amstrad dr100 sky box.
Should it decode terrestial free view channels if I just plug a coax normal aerial in. ( or are the freq different etc).

2 posts

M

mitch
Thursday 29 December 2011 2:47PM

It seems not DVB-s vs DVB-t

2 posts

Briantist
Tuesday 17 January 2012 9:13AM

mitch: See Compare Freeview and Freesat-from-Sky TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice please.

37,275 posts

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dave jones
Tuesday 7 February 2012 6:59PM

hi, have a BT VISION box, can I record freeview on it without a bt freeview contract, I already get sky, so just want it for freeview

1 post

Briantist
Tuesday 7 February 2012 8:31PM

dave jones: No, you must have a BT Broadband connection to the box for it to work.

37,275 posts

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andrew
Sunday 25 March 2012 10:49PM

i have a sky plus box, but just been told i cant use it as i have a roof top airel, is this true and i have to get a sky dish or can i use a roof top aerel?

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J

jb38
Monday 26 March 2012 7:37AM

andrew: What you have been told is quite correct, as normal aerials (rooftop or otherwise) are for the reception of terrestrial Freeview and not satellite based Freesat.

4,694 posts

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dan
Sunday 15 April 2012 7:58PM

can i use a sky pace box and use a digital aeial to get freeview channels just with using the pace box

thanks
dan

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Wandeder
Tuesday 17 April 2012 6:17PM

dan:As I am aware you can use a Freeview Aerial ( preferably external) connect to your Freeview box and update.
Please note there is difference FREESAT and FREEVIEW.
With Freesat you can use the Sky Box just update channels when finished with the installation.
Please note.
Check your signal strength the sky box has this facility.

3 posts

W

Wanderer
Tuesday 17 April 2012 6:21PM

andrew: See my posting under the name Wanderer, misspelt wandeder.

3 posts

S

sandy
Wednesday 2 May 2012 8:32PM

Hi, i have no tv aerial on my house at all, only cable. can i purchase a sky plus box or equivalent to watch tv channels and will it work if i plug the sky + box into the virgin cable please?
thank you

1 post

Briantist
Friday 18 May 2012 7:00PM

sandy: No, that won't work. You need a DISH for satellite reception, an AERIAL for Freeview reception and a CABLE SUBSCRIPTION to use the cable connection.

37,275 posts

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clare
Sunday 20 May 2012 7:59PM

hi in have a bt vision + box and ive been into maplins today and bought an aerial conetion which fits on the sky dish cable but im not getting a picture please can you help me

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J

jb38
Sunday 20 May 2012 9:12PM

clare: A BT Vision box is a Freeview box that can also work on-line via a broadband connection and as such has no connection whatsoever with a satellite dish, and so you require a normal loft or roof mounted aerial or you could maybe even use a set top type depending on your location to the nearest transmitter, your post code, or one from nearby, allowing your signal possibilities to be assessed.

4,694 posts

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neil
Wednesday 23 May 2012 11:05AM

HELP!! I have just moved into flat, I am on the first floor. I have BT Vision, can get on demand but no free view. I figured it can not be the ariel on the roof otherwise everyone would have the same problem?? I tried to tune in free view on my tv, it found all the channels (with strong signal)but the picture had snow, like an old analogue tv, but as its digital I assume it must be a tuning issue with my TV..... any one have any ideas to help?

1 post

J

jb38
Wednesday 23 May 2012 11:57PM

neil: This could be caused by instability in the tuner and which if so can cause all sorts of odd problems to occur, you really require to provide a post code for your location so that the signal levels expected for your area can be assessed, as you might be receiving an excessively high level of signal.

This said assuming that you have coupled the BT vision box into the TV via a scart connection.

4,694 posts

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Rob
Tuesday 5 June 2012 10:01PM

Hi, i have a coax cable coming from my wall, and a tv and freeview box with no f connector. Can i put something on the f connector to turn it into a male or female connector to put in the freeview box? Not sure if i can use an adaptor to change the f connector, or whether it needs something more complicated. thanks in advance.

1 post

J

jb38
Wednesday 6 June 2012 6:31AM

Rob: Adaptors can be obtained for every configuration of connectors, so "if" you have a cable end fitted with an "F" connector then you require an adaptor called a "female F to male coax plug" adaptor, these might be obtainable from places such as Maplin's although numerous e-bay outlets sells them.

The only thing I will say though is, to make sure that the lead you refer to doesn't from a satellite dish, or if it doesn't that's it wasn't originally connected onto an aerial amplifiers power supply, as most use "F" connectors on the aerial down lead and with a coax connector on their output that goes to the TV.

4,694 posts

S

samboholt
Thursday 21 June 2012 10:26PM

Hi,
I have just bought a 3d TV and currently have a Humax HD box for recording. My previous TV did not have freesat or HD that's why I got the Humax.
Do I need to buy a new recording machine as the new TV has both HD and freesat. I am in a non cable area for Virgin media and BT vision and Sky is so expensive so I can forget 3d for the moment. Any ideas please?

1 post

J

jb38
Friday 22 June 2012 7:43AM

samboholt: I cant quite understand the point of your question, insomuch that your Humax HD PVR (recorder) whether it be a Freesat or Freeview (normal aerial) model can be used with any of your TV's no matter what they might be, although to get the benefit of the Humax's HD capabilities requires the TV its connected into (via and HDMI lead) to be at least an "HD Ready" model, otherwise the connection would be via a normal scart connection between the two devices giving a standard definition picture.

In other words, if your new TV can either receive HD or display it because its an HD Ready device the Humax will work with it, whereby any TV's in other rooms will require separate recorders.

4,694 posts

S

sophia
Tuesday 26 June 2012 7:49AM

Hi there, I've just moved into a new house and there is no aerial. There is a dish outside on the wall and inside there are wires coming out of the wall saying cable and wireless. These wires don't fit anywhjere onto my tv as they have a screw mechanism on them. Please can someone advise how I can watch tv. My tv has freeview installed already! Thanks

1 post

C

Carlos
Monday 2 July 2012 10:42AM

I have a humax pvr150t Freeview+ box and want to subscribe to sky sports.i already have espn through my box but am told i need a top up TV box to suubscribe to sky sports why is this?

2 posts

S

Sam
Tuesday 3 July 2012 3:28PM

I have a Sky HD Box that I no longer use and was wondering if I connect that to a normal TV ariel (which is not the main one) will I be able to recieve freeview, if not is there a way that I can?

1 post

S

Sam J
Tuesday 3 July 2012 3:30PM

Can I use a sky box as a freeview box without having to connect it to a dish or the main ariel just a standard tv one?

1 post

J

jb38
Tuesday 3 July 2012 4:48PM

Sam J: No! as Freeview is a terrestrial based non-satellite system and likewise uses a normal aerial, Sky boxes in common with Freesat types always require to be connected to a dish.

4,694 posts

T

TONY
Wednesday 4 July 2012 12:12PM Lincoln

I am an ex sky customer I could get bbc regonal news until today whats happend?

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M

Mark Fletcher
Wednesday 4 July 2012 1:36PM Halifax

Tony,Lincoln.Are you now a freeview viever referring to BBC Look North,Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire regional news from the Belmont transmitter,or are you referring to the BBC East Midlands Today regional news from the Waltham transmitter.I'm not so sure about Waltham as their normal post-digital transmissions does not reach my locality unless in certain inversion effect conditions when i can pick them up seldomly in those circumstances,but as far as Belmont is concerned i'm watching BBC1 Look North,Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire regional news as this very moment in time while i'm texting to your reply as i can definitely pick up BBCA,D3+4 and SDN multiplexes from Belmont mast in my location as such.

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J

jean stevenson
Sunday 15 July 2012 8:08PM

Can I use an old sky digibox to record programmes from my the freeview channels on my samsung tv? If so, how?

2 posts

J

jb38
Sunday 15 July 2012 8:26PM

jean stevenson: You cannot record anything on a Sky+ box box unless the programme originates from its own "internal" tuners, this qualification also applying to Freesat and Freeview PVR's (recorders) and with this being the reason why none of these devices have input sockets.

The other point about Sky+ boxes being that you cant even record anything from Sky unless a subscription is in force, as only then will Sky allow access to the recording side of the box as they retain permanent control over this.

The box though can still be used like a normal Sky box and receive all "free to view" channels.

4,694 posts

C

charlotte
Friday 17 August 2012 1:56PM

I have just moved house it has an outside dish would I be able to just be able to connect freesat to this or would I need a new dish?

1 post

J

jb38
Friday 17 August 2012 2:03PM

charlotte: The dish is 100% compatible with both Sky and Freesat, and so you can just couple the lead from the dish straight into your Freesat box.

4,694 posts

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Karen
Thursday 23 August 2012 11:41AM

Hi I have a BT Vision+ box but I'm not a BT Customer anymore, can I use the box just to record freeview?

1 post

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charlotte
Monday 27 August 2012 2:06PM

Hi, can I use my sky satellite to plug into my new hitachi freeview box? If so, the aerial that comes in from the sky satellite needs adapting to fix the box, what is this called?
Thanks very much!

1 post

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Martin Norman
Sunday 9 September 2012 9:35PM

Hi, I have a Ross HD Free sat box and am subscribed to Sky with a HD box and dish. I have two sections spare on the lnb of the Sky HD dish, can I use the dish to get free sat through my Ross HD box? If so, which type of cable do I need to run as I can't seem to get anything working, does it need to be a twin cable as well like Sky? or do I need to change the Ross HD boxes settings?
Thanks

1 post

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Duncan Flack
Wednesday 19 September 2012 12:36PM

I wonder if anyone can help? I have BT Vision box (old grey style) and a sky + box (to which i don't subscribe). There's a satellite dish to recieve free channels which are fine but no rooftop aerial (house is very remote in a valley) so I've lost the ability to record / pause TV. BT visions still picks up on demand and iPlayer etc - still have BT Broadband - but i can't record anymore.
Is there any way i can transmit the free channels I receive via the dish and Sky through the BT Vision box and thereby record them, if i don't have a rooftop aerial?
Many thanks in anticipation of your replies

4 posts

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Duncan Flack
Wednesday 19 September 2012 12:42PM Tetbury

PS Postcode is GL8 8UG

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J

jb38
Wednesday 19 September 2012 4:37PM

Duncan Flack: I have just fully answered your question under the other heading of "Feedback" that you posted the same query under.

4,694 posts

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marlin
Thursday 11 October 2012 9:51PM

Hi!I used to have aa virgin box freeview. Can I replace it by a sky box?

1 post

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Liam Wilkinson
Saturday 13 October 2012 3:50PM

hi - i have just uninstalled virgin telly - can i use the virgin aerial to go into the back of a freeview hd box? as my normal tv aerial has been sliced?

1 post

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shirley
Wednesday 17 October 2012 10:13PM

I have an LG tv,just moved to my boyfriends house and u have. Changed tv over,put his ESPN card in slot,we can watch it ,but no longer record.why and how do we fix it x

1 post

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agnes
Sunday 27 January 2013 2:36PM

I am looking to buy a Humax freesat recorder. There is a satellite dish at my new address will I need to have more than one cable to enable me to connect to the dish

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jb38
Sunday 27 January 2013 3:04PM

agnes: Yes, as any satellite device that can record (e.g: Freesat or Sky+) requires twin feeds, the other point being that if you only have one feed from the dish then it might only have an original single output LNB fitted and so this would require changing, preferably to a quad type as the price difference is minimal quad block kits being obtainable from numerous e-bay outlets for around £10.00 or so.

You can of course still use the Humax for normal Freesat reception or limited recording if you choose single feed operation when first setting it up, then once the extra cable is installed reset the box and carrying out a second installation.

By the way you will not lose anything you have recorded by doing this.

4,694 posts

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David
Thursday 14 March 2013 12:50PM

I am watching free channels through an old sky box connected to a comunal dish in social housing.i have every freeview channel plus more,exept i cannot watch Dave.any idea why? WF8

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