Can I stop paying Sky and use my satellite receiver to get Freeview ?
Yes, but only "sort of".
Freeview is the name of the (BBC-backed) digital TV system that uses hilltop transmitters to rooftop aerials. It is run separately from the "Sky" satellite-to-dish service.
free-to-VIEW is a term for satellite channels that need a viewing card to watch, but not to collect a subscription. free-to-AIR channels are ones that can be received without needing a viewing card or subscription.
The free-to-AIR satelite service backed by the BBC and ITV is called Freesat. The free-to-VIEW service operated by Sky is called fSfS or Freesat from Sky.
As long as you have finished your first year, you can leave Sky when you want.
To do this just give Sky a call and tell them you don't want to subscribe any more.
If you stop subscribing you will be able to watch the hundred or so free-to-air channels listed on free channels list. This service is called Freesat from Sky (fSfS).
Some of the channels on the Freeview service are subscription only on satellite, specifically: 4Music, Challenge, Dave, Dave ja vu, Quest, VIVA and Yesterday . See these links to compare the TV channels on Freesat-from-Sky and Freeview, and to compare radio stations on Freeview and fSfS. Many homes have free satellite and Freeview to get the full range of channels.
You will still need to keep your Sky viewing card. If you stop subscribing on a Sky contract, you can keep using that card to watch 5USA, 5* and PICK TV, the so-called "free-to-view" channels. (All ITV channels are free-to-air).
It is not possible to plug an aerial into a Sky Digibox to receive Freeview channels because the boxes have not been designed this way.
You will continue to get the full Sky EPG listings; you just will not be able to watch subscription channels.
If you want to go for High Definition, HD, you can swap out your Sky box for a Freesat one very easily.
A card is not needed to watch BBC services, but it is needed to get the correct BBC ONE and BBC TWO regions on 101 and 102.
Another option is to disconnect your Sky Digibox altogether and Upgrade from Sky to Freesat - ukfree.tv. If you have an HD-Ready TV and a standard Sky box, this is a good option.
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MocoFriday 25 February 2011 8:35AM
Oswestry Briantist
Thank you very much indeed.
Frustrating. But I'm not prepared to pay for Sky and the horrid dish that goes with it, nor move nearer to a decent mast, so I shall have to stick with what I've got.
BT Vision, while limited to the 18 channels, does at least mean I can record things and pause things, so it's just about worth it.
I know that, in the public interest, I ought to continue to talk to BT about their 'training' issues. I've already raised a couple of other issues where I've been given duff information. But, frankly, I've had enough for the time being. Moving house and getting this far has proved interesting, to say the least.
I'm old school, bash the tele to stop the black and white lines wobbling type of thing, so am grateful for a definitive answer here.
Many thanks
MocoJen BolterFriday 25 February 2011 10:24AM
Newtown I have a sky dish to 2 televisions in downstairs rooms, and would like to have freesat in an upstairs room can the dish be used for this and what would I need, I also have a high grade arial in the attic with old coaxil, only get bbc channels and would like ITV..... thanksJen BolterFriday 25 February 2011 10:32AM
Newtown Forgot to give postcode SY164DA .....MocoFriday 25 February 2011 11:46AM
Oswestry OK. Continued thanks.
I have had a quick look and am, of course, boggled by it all.
Before I consult the troops about this freesat idea, please could you just explain something terribly simple to me.
If I get the freesat, does that stop me getting BT Vision?
It seems to get E4, which has been called for in this house, although still no cricket. I shall have to remain with Radio 4 and the team on there.
Off to look at link re hidden satellites....Moco: Yes, you can have BT Vision and Freesat, there is no problem with that. Freesat does have E4, and Radio 5 Live Sports Extra for the cricket. Jen Bolter: Yes, you can use the dish. There should be at least one spare output on the quad-LNB package (unless you have to Sky+ boxes).
All you need is a Freesat box and a run of satellite-grade coaxial cable. MocoFriday 25 February 2011 1:16PM
Oswestry Thank you again. Right. I shall definitely consider. And may return for more advice if I get stuck trying to sort it out!
Moco: OK, please let me know how you get on. DarioFriday 25 February 2011 3:23PM
thanks brian
MocoFriday 25 February 2011 4:06PM
Oswestry Will do. Don't hold your breath, though. This may take me a while! Jen BolterFriday 25 February 2011 11:33PM
Newtown Ok thanks for reply, we do have two sky boxes, so there are two cables connected to the dish,can you only have two? also would there be a logical reason for my high grade loft aerial connected to a bedroom freeviw tele to only get BBC? JENNIFER BOLTERSaturday 26 February 2011 3:11PM
Newtown Hi just bought a Grundig GUFSAT01HD freesat box, given up on loft aerial..... just to confirm I am already using three cables from my sky dish to boxes for sky+ and sky will one cable be enough for Grundig as one outlet left on dish, or will I need a new freesat dish, sorry to be so dense, I have learned so much in the last few days it's mind boggling, I am doing it myself to keep cost down, thanks for your invaluable help.....IanSaturday 26 February 2011 8:08PM
Jennifer
Just order an octo lnb for the dish plenty of feeds for you're needs.
Good luck
Ian 123 aerials oxfordJENNIFER BOLTERSunday 27 February 2011 12:52AM
Newtown Thanks for advice Ian did not know what an octo lnb was, so googled it, thank goodness for the internet,so much info at your finger tips,really glad I found this site well done to all of you.........Neil Sunday 27 February 2011 5:18PM
I live in a new apartment block with shared sky dish and a twin sky connection behind the tv. I don't currently have sky, but was wondering if I bought a freesat HD+ box, would I be able to plug this into the existing sky dish that serves the apartment block? and would I receive all the channels through the sky dish. I asked at Maplin's for advice, and they said sky dish is positioned differently to an astra dish which they freesat box uses - so I might not receive all channels. Can anyone help before I buy a freesat box? ThanksNeil: Maplins told you utter rubbish. Freesat and Sky are the same transmissions on the same satellites.
Just grab a box and plug it in and go. NeilSunday 27 February 2011 8:29PM
... 
http://www.maplin.co.uk/m….pdf
Just found the manual for the freesat box - and it does mention making sure the dish is oriented to ASTRA 2 28.2 degrees east.
Is this the same as sky? I'm concerned that I won't get all the channels if the dish is oriented to Sky satellites? (WS28DE) Hi Neil,
It is the same satellite & the same transmissions so you will be fine.
Btw A humax is a better rated box & is available from argos & from richer sounds where you will get much better advice than you did at the previous shop, they dont deserve your custom after advice like that !
Mark Aberfan Aerials parsnipSunday 27 February 2011 11:00PM
I am looking for a Freesat + HD box.
Argos charge approx £250 for a Humax. Is that an average price?ChrisSunday 27 February 2011 11:44PM
My Sky contract ended yesterday and with it has gone non-freeview channels, sky 1, Living etc. But my recordings remain on the sky+ box and it has even recorded things today. I can still pause and rewind live tv also. Will the sky+ box continue to do these features or will this somehow stop and act as just a receiver and nothing more?Chris: Yes, unless you pay a minimum of £10 a month to Sky the box will revert to a normal receiver.
If you want to play/pause/record you will need to replace the box with a Freesat+HD box. parsnip: The price depends on the recording capacity of the hard drive on the whole, you can see a range of prices here - Google . ChrisMonday 28 February 2011 9:13PM
Thanks! Still not reverted but I will buy a box and replace it, ready for the inevitable it would appear!
Thanks again!Chris: I would use the "over" time you have to copy any recordings from it. RexTuesday 1 March 2011 8:39PM
Maldon I have a Skye already installed is it possible to have the single LNB changed for a 4 Port one.Will this then enable 1 feed to the Tv and one to the DVD recorder.I would have this in set up in two seperate rooms.
Thus would this allow us to watch one channel and record another one at the same time.
All sets are Digital DV3
Thank You for any help you can offerjaneThursday 3 March 2011 5:05PM
hi i have a skyplus box but would like to get freesat for the bedroom ,the only problem i have is that my housing assocation has made our sky dishes no operational and have put a commual ariel for the whole street . My sky tv ariel is connected to that ariel we have a ariel connection in the hose which sky is plugged into i was wondering if i could connect freesat without a dish. hope you can help gavid hicksThursday 3 March 2011 8:18PM
hi
I recently purchased a sky box (not +) with a viewing card in it. I plugged it into my dish and it has worked normally with all free channels (gold, watch and history channel etc.). I turned it on this evening and now i only seem to receive terrestrial channels on it. I can't even get dave! Is there something wrong with it? Can anyone help?
thanks
Gavjane: No, you can't have Freesat without a dish.
However, you should be able to ask the housing assocation to fit you another satellite point. They will charge for this. VictoriaSaturday 5 March 2011 5:57AM
Newport Pagnell Hi
This site seems the most helpful that I have come across so hopefully you may be able to help me too!
I currently have freesat running through my sky dish and old sky box with viewing card still in (no subscription to sky anymore). This is great and works fine, however, upstairs I have terrestrial running from one of the little inside ariels that you put on top of the telly (or end up holding while standing on one leg with your finger in your ear to watch some programs).
I realise that this will no longer work after the digital switchover and am wondering how to solve this. it needs to be the cheapest way really but I don't know what options I have. I do have a spare old sky box with the viewing card still in but don't have a second link from the dish. . Is this even an option or will I need a roof tip arial and freeview box?
My postcode is MK16 0AY
Many thanksVictoriaSaturday 5 March 2011 6:18AM
Newport Pagnell I forgot to add that I was given a freeview box readt for the changeover by a family member but this doesn't work at present as I have no roop top ariel.
Les NicolSaturday 5 March 2011 8:32AM
Victoria - The LNB on the end of the dish boom arm can be upgraded to provide more capacity and give additional feeds which will allow other cable run(s) to either have you utilize your spare SKY box or another SD Freesat receiver. an FSFS SKY card £25 - Freesat SD receiver from Argos £29.99 To upgrade the dish LNB and single cable in around £30/£40 This would be the most cost effective way given you already have a satellite dish. A rooftop aerial installation would be around £150.Dave SmithSaturday 5 March 2011 3:31PM
how many TVs can you run of freesat dish
Dave Smith: The limit is the number of outputs from the LNB package. A single LNB, one, a quad LNB four and a oct-LNB eight.
Freesat+ recorder boxes, like all satellite recorders, take up two outputs. IanSaturday 5 March 2011 5:49PM
grateful for advice on the best connections between Humax Foxsat Freesat HDR, Sony Bravia KDL46EX503U(full HD 1080p) and Panasonic DVD RecorderEX77EB (has HDMI socket).
I will be using the Recorder to 1)play dvds and 2) to copy to DVD, recordings held on the Humax hard drive. I am not sure whether this could be achieved by copying direct to a blank DVD or whether I would first need to copy to the recorder's HD and then from there to a blank DVD.
DaveSaturday 5 March 2011 6:37PM
Hi
I have Sky Sports 1&2 and also ESPN on BT Vision. I want to watch a match on Sky Sports 1 tomorrow but have to be at a family event whom only have sky but don't subscribe.
Will my BTVision veiwing card for sky sports work on a Sky digibox?Ian: You need to be using HDMI to get the pictures from the Freesat box and the DVD, but you will also have to interconnect them with a SCART as recording from HDMI is usually not possible. IanSaturday 5 March 2011 7:07PM
To Briantist
Many thanks for your reply.I have only one hdmi input on the tv.This would be used by the Humax box. For playing DVD's I can therefore only use the scart from the Panasonic recorder to the scart into the tV.Iwould then have to connect the Panny to the Humax with another scart....is this correct?IanSaturday 5 March 2011 8:56PM
Ian have you thought about getting a hdmi splitter box that will solve the problem of only one hdmi in the tv.
Best of luck
Ian 123 aerials Oxford IanSaturday 5 March 2011 10:10PM
Ian 123 aerials Oxford
Many thanks for your reply. I had thought of an automatic splitter but having researched others people's experiences there seems to be problems with compatibility where automatic switching does not work with certain equipment. I am considering the NEET splitter which from Amazon customers feedback may be 'willing' to talk to Humax Foxsat Hdr and my Panasonic DVD recorder. If you have got any ideas on this splitter or others would be grateful for your input.Michele McMonday 7 March 2011 2:00AM
Thinking about getting HD freesat/freeview telly. After subscribing to sky for one year can I keep the equipment and still be able to record on the HD box and view freesat on the SKYdish? MonikaSaturday 12 March 2011 4:41PM
I had Freesat installed few months ago & have had problems since, periodically, with the boxes (apparently refurbished ones) whereby cable tv suddenly disappears - for no apparent reason. The guy who installed insists there is nothing wrong with the installation; also, with a couple of boxes he replaced, claimed that they worked perfectly for him.
However, I am not inventing the fact that sat. tv just suddenly goes off completely - sometimes for hours. So why does this occur?
Two further questions, please: 1) is it usual for the light on box to go red simply when you turn the tv off (but not at mains)? 2) now that I have a satellite dish, can I get an alternative cable service, e.g. Freeview?
Thanks (in hope).
normMonday 14 March 2011 1:43PM
Blackburn i have a basic sky box my contract is up in july ,can i get freesat from sky on my existing equipment? and can i add sky sports if i am on freesat normMonday 14 March 2011 1:51PM
Blackburn i forgot to mention in previous post we are on a communal aerielMike DimmickMonday 14 March 2011 4:03PM
Reading norm: the transmissions are the same whether you're using Sky, 'Freesat from Sky' or BBC/ITV Freesat.
Channels are broadcast either unscrambled - 'free-to-air' - or scrambled using Sky's Videocrypt system. To descramble, you need a viewing card. Channels may have a unique descrambling key, or may use a 'free-to-view' key, which doesn't change very often, and which still works even after you cancel your subscription.
If the free-to-view key changes, Sky charge £25 for a new card.
BBC/ITV Freesat only offers free-to-air channels.
Sky Sports on satellite requires a basic entertainment pack subscription (£19.50 per month) plus the sports pack (£20.25 per month extra). Or, you can buy only Sky Sports 1 or Sky Sports 2 rather than the sports pack at £12.25 per channel per month.
You can get Sky Sports 1 & 2 (not HD) through an aerial if you get either Top Up TV or BT Vision. Your region has already switched over and you have a choice of transmitters providing the full service - either Winter Hill or Pendle Forest. Top Up TV don't require a subscription to their main service, but you do need one of their boxes rather than just a regular Freeview box.
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