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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jb38Sunday 16 October 2011 3:41PM
A
Arthur McParlandSaturday 22 October 2011 4:58PM
Gateshead
Thank You Arthur McParland: I have no idea why you were told you are in a bad Freeview reception area, as you can get a perfect service from the Chatton transmitter, as long as you use a rooftop aerial. L
Lynn ForbesMonday 24 October 2011 4:30PM
HoveJ
jb38Monday 24 October 2011 5:56PM
It might also be worth replacing the co-ax down leads at the same time, just in case dampness has crept in over the years.
By the way the aerials being "Vertically" mounted at pointing towards the transmitter at 94 degrees.
Online TV FM DAB Aerial sales L
Lynn ForbesTuesday 25 October 2011 9:10AM
HoveJ
jb38Tuesday 25 October 2011 11:02AM
Chester
Although the aerial installers will know this, but the only Freeview channel out of the six that's presently operating that will give a rough idea of what like the reception will be next March is Mux Ch48, the channel that is presently used for BBC4 / CBeebies / BBC Parliament, this transmitter being on higher power than the rest although still well under what it will be next March. (according to Ofcoms listings)
By the way, meant to previously mention that although the analogue signal will cease to exist come next March, it is received from exactly the same direction as Freeview.L
Lynn ForbesTuesday 25 October 2011 1:46PM
HoveL
Lynn ForbesTuesday 25 October 2011 1:48PM
Hove
Cheers LynnJ
jb38Tuesday 25 October 2011 9:40PM
Although if it is only two aerials that you are thinking about then what is the plan for feeding two aerials into four flats?(one having two points) as you shouldn't really loop aerial sockets from one to another in the same way as is done with electrical power sockets, as although in many cases this arrangement might work OK, however its not always guaranteed to depending on what someone in another room might be plugging into the socket, as using the same lead for more than one device automatically means less signal to each, and when dealing with Freeview signals that's the last thing you want.
That said, in the flat that has two floors you might get away with looping, but even in that case its still far better to use a simple two way powered splitter feeding the two outlets, as this is guaranteed not to cause problems.
Its because of this type of potential problem that I suggested a distribution amp / splitter from one aerial.
By the way, although being an engineer I am not really connected to the company in the link, but just recommend them as they, like myself, are inclined to favour log aerials and offer a good selection of them.
L
Lynn ForbesWednesday 26 October 2011 2:33PM
Hove
Thanks again - you really are a star! (didn't feel like a total moron when I spoke to them!) All Best LynnJ
jb38Wednesday 26 October 2011 9:10PM
The company you have ordered from are extremely helpful people, and especially so if you have purchased from them, but should you have any further queries don't hesitate to ask on this site.
Regards / jb.
J
JackMonday 31 October 2011 7:38AM
But I'm also wondering about Freeview HD.
Can you advise what I should do.J
jb38Monday 31 October 2011 8:30AM
As it is though, you will obviously have to get a suitable aerial installed for your new TV, and which by what you say doesn't appear to be of an HD built in type, this meaning if you wanted Freeview HD it would have to be done via a separate HD box.
A
AmyWednesday 2 November 2011 11:52PM
Amy: As it says at the top of the page, just stop subscribing. A
AngieThursday 3 November 2011 10:21PM
I currently have a sky box and dish but pay no subscription, the previous owners left the box which I view tv through. I want to buy a tv recorder but not sure what type would be best and would it work connected to sky box? R
RichardFriday 4 November 2011 3:18PM
I have just cancelled my Sky subscription and I am using my sky hd box for freestat viewing but not able to record or pause with my handset How can I attivate my handset M
MazbarFriday 4 November 2011 3:49PM
K
Keith BThursday 10 November 2011 10:23PM
My TV does sometimes not record the programme that I am watching and stops and starts (possiblely due to bad weather.) or do I need to get a new ariel fitted, or can I connect my freeview box to my ols sky satellite dissh ?
I have also got a DVD player linked up to my freeview box and then onto my TV, can I record on my DVD, it is NOT a digital one.
Many thanks for your help KeithB
BryanSaturday 12 November 2011 8:02PM
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tomSunday 13 November 2011 6:08PM
Les NicolSunday 13 November 2011 7:09PM
Tom - a £20.00 card now at £25.00 is the Freesat from SKY card - The "Freesat" service backed by the BBC and ITV requires you to purchase your own receiver,but having done so there is no charge for a card nor are there any subscription charges to pay.U
USunday 13 November 2011 8:58PM
U
UMonday 14 November 2011 1:16AM
tom: The card provides access to PICK TV, 5USA and 5*, however 5USA and 5* will be going free-to-air shortly. Bryan: Please see the maps on the https://sat.ses.com/webservice/images/7405243 . There are no differences in the broadcast of television and radio services. L
louiseTuesday 22 November 2011 11:11PM
Basically, i have a sky plus box and am a bit fed up with paying so much money to subscribe to sky for loads of channels i dont watch. Im moving house soon and there is a sky dish there, so can i just plug in my sky box when i get there (having cancelled my subscription) and receive free view channels? Would i have to do anything to get the 'free sat' or would i automatically receive that? Also, the main thing im wondering is if theres any way of receiving sky sports 1 and 2 through my sky box without having to subscrive to any of the other tv packages through sky (obviously happy to pay for just the sports subscription, or for a sports card or something, but dont want to have to pay for the rest of the rubbish). Is there any way that can be possible?.. Thanks!A
AlanSaturday 26 November 2011 4:43PM
B
Bill BullockMonday 28 November 2011 9:40AM
Today around 0900, the Breakfast show came to that part where they say "and now for the news where you are" and for about 1 second before the red screen came up we saw the presenter for London, my local channel. If they can display that on freeview channel 50, why don't they just leave us on 50 to avoid constantly changing channels even if it's not in HD.
Bill Bullock: Are you saying that in the slot where local news goes, you get a red screen? B
Bill BullockTuesday 29 November 2011 10:59AM
Yes Dave, I thought the whole of BBC1HD went to a red screen during local news broadcasts.
When I say a red screen, it's not just plain red and there's a caption saying They are not able to broadcast local news in HD and to retune to ch1/101 (don't know what 101 is) for local news.Bill Bullock: I've just had a look at BBC One HD on the EPG on the HD television in my house and at 18:30 instead of Look North it says "This is BBC One HD".
Next Monday at 19:30 it is Inside Out (same as BBC One) which varies by region. The synopsis for the HD edition is different to that of BBC One (standard definition). I wonder if the Inside Out on BBC One HD is the London one.
I would say that the reason that you get the message will be to do with feeding the signal into the transmitters.
Think about BBC One. Most of the time the pictures fed to all transmitters come from London. During regional programming, each area has different a programme fed into its transmitters. I remember when we had analogue you could tell on BBC One when a regional programme was coming up (the local news) because a few minutes before there was a momentary blip in the picture (e.g. during the weather at the end of the Six O'Clock News). That would have been so that the local BBC region could insert its own programming into the transmission system.
Now, it stands to reason that in order to do the same with BBC One HD that there would have to be the equipment to input these many different variations. That is, each region would have to have its own. It probably doesn't warrant the cost because it would be a waste if local news programmes aren't filmed in HD.
The reason you see BBC London News momentarily is because of what I said. That is that the feed comes from London. If they were not to display the red screen, and show London News, then it stands to reason that it would be shown all over the UK. This is because in order to show London News in London and the red screen everywhere else there would need to be an opt-out, i.e. two feeds for BBC One HD and I don't think that they would go to such expense, particularly when it's already been decided not to go with regional programming on HD anyway.
Is the BBC One HD slot showing "This is BBC One HD" in the London area as it is here in Yorkshire?
I'm surprised that they don't just replicate what's on the BBC News Channel between 18:30 and 19:00 Monday to Friday. Same goes for other regional news bulletins.
BTW, 101 probably refers to satellite. B
Bill BullockTuesday 29 November 2011 12:52PM
I think I follow that Dave, I'm not as technical as you seem.
Yes I remember those synching signals, "cue dots" I think they called them, usually a small shimmering square at the top right of the screen. I think they appeared for about 10 seconds then off for 10 then back on for 10 and the switch was synched to the end of that last on time.C
CharlotteThursday 1 December 2011 1:07PM
J
jb38Thursday 1 December 2011 5:26PM
However there is a qualification to that, insomuch that you will not get 5* / 5US etc and might not get ITV channels either, as to receive these you require a "free to view" card from Sky costing £25.00 and lasting for an indeterminable time, but this will not let you use the recorder side of your Sky+ box as it has to be subscribed to as a separate item.
The normal aerial cable you refer to is possibly not connected to anything, or its that the aerial is fitted with a mast head amp and you don't have the in-line power supply to feed it, but the point is that its in no way connected to the dish.
P
Peter CainThursday 8 December 2011 4:44PM
A friend told me that if I bought a Freeview box this could be used to enable the Philips to record from a new Toshiba digital TV, model 26DL834B. Is this possible? I am happy to buy one but need to know how it would be wired up before I invest in the kit. Nothing else is connected to the TV and my aerial has line of sight to Emley Moor transmitter - about 15 miles away.
Would be grateful for advice.
Regards,
PeterT
tinaThursday 15 December 2011 5:57PM
Is it better to get a freesat box? I really doubt tv is HD ready!
Many thanks!L
LENThursday 15 December 2011 7:29PM
ThetfordR
R IvesSunday 18 December 2011 3:22PM
J
jb38Sunday 18 December 2011 4:17PM
Sky charges £10.00 per month to allowing recording access.
...and $ky is allowed to get away with this; charging viewers for the privilege of using a function of their own equipment. K
kasalillyMonday 19 December 2011 12:18AM
J
jb38Monday 19 December 2011 8:00AM
AndyMonday 19 December 2011 10:42AM
I am ending my sky subscription just after Christmas. But there are a few things I will want to record, and watch later. If I record something off BBC will I still be able to watch it when Sky is cancelled?P
Peter BrownWednesday 21 December 2011 1:19PM
00:59
Upgrading from Sky+HD to Freesat+HD | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice . 
