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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JustTuesday 22 December 2009 7:00PM
I cancelled sky after a few years of being with them and I have my sky box, card etc. Now I am in the Czech Republic and have recently been advised to buy a big sat. The signal strength is full and the quality is about 80%. Yet, I can only watch the following.
Channel Five
Fiver, Fiver plus 1
Sky 3
Most of the news channels
I am keen to get BBC 1 & 2, ITV1 and also Channel 4. Does anyone know what I need to do to get these?
Thanks in anticipation!Graham SimmsTuesday 22 December 2009 8:37PM
Sheringham I am in an area where our tv transmitter does not tranmit freeview so buying a freeview set top box is useless. However I have heard that you can watch freeview on a personal computer using a USB box. Do we have to be in a freeview area to be able to do this MichaelWednesday 30 December 2009 3:12AM
I am now getting an on screen message that says
" FOR YOUR INFORMATION"
Go to sky.com/replacement for a new viewing card to maintain full viewing,
And another that says something like
"You wont be able to view this channel soon"
Does this mean i will have to buy a card?
Can these messages or changes be stopped by removing the phone line connected to the Sky Box?
Can certain pins be shorted across the csrd to fool the receiver into thinking this card is ok?SteveTuesday 5 January 2010 10:18PM
I have wired up my old sky box to my sat dish and receive BBc 1, 2 and channel 4 and five plus a load of other channels I am not really bothered about, however I dont receive ITV, any way around this please?alexMonday 11 January 2010 12:16PM
Does it possible watch HDTV (High Definition)channels with Freesat box?
Does this Freesat box requires Sky viewing card or subscribtion?MikeCTuesday 12 January 2010 12:03PM
alex - you can watch HDTV channels - limited at the moment to BBC & ITV (when they are showing !)with a freesat box - you need a dish (not aerial) pointed at 28°E to get the signal. Better still - if you had a motorised dish set up and a European set top box that is HD - such as a Technomate 6900 Super HD combo - you could watch a greater variety of channelsLutonFanWednesday 13 January 2010 6:57PM
alex- My apologies if you knew this, but there are two types of Freesat boxes: HD and SD.
You obviously need to purchase an HD box in order to watch HD content and no, you do not need to subscribe.MogadorMonday 18 January 2010 10:58AM
You write "All ITV channels are free-to-air." Does this mean that it should be possible to receive them (signal strength permitting)
(1) on a simple satbox? (2) on a Sky digibox
(possibly using 'Other channels') without
needing a card?
In Finland I cannot get Astra 2D nor 2A/2B
south beams. But two years ago on lyngsat.com
I found a north beam transponder listed carrying C4 London and E.Yorks.ITV. I set this up using 'other channels' and can still receive them (so I could watch the Queen's Christmas message)
- but it needs an old Sky card and keeps
asking me to renew the card. I've lost the
transponder details and cannot retrieve this
info from the Sky box.
(3) How can I find which transponder I am using, so I can use another simple satbox to see whether this is really 'free-to-air'?
(4) Is it possible that the Skybox repeated
requests for card renewal are part of their
revenue strategy and unrelated to the technical availability of these channels?
kandyWednesday 20 January 2010 4:32PM
would i still be able to use my sky + facility with freesat???MichaelThursday 21 January 2010 1:26AM
I am now getting an on screen message that says
" FOR YOUR INFORMATION"
Go to sky.com/replacement for a new viewing card to maintain full viewing,
And another that says something like
"You wont be able to view this channel soon"
Does this mean i will have to buy a card?
Can these messages or changes be stopped by removing the phone line connected to the Sky Box?
Can certain pins be shorted across the csrd to fool the receiver into thinking this card is ok?
I am still getting this message and it is getting worseMichael SpurrierMonday 25 January 2010 6:40PM
If I buy a second hand sky+ box but it has no card will I be able use the recording and other facilities etc of the box as well as view the free channels....Thanks
Hopefully the Briantist is somewhere out there tonight....simonFriday 5 February 2010 11:26PM
when is freesat getting nat geo discovery crime and history chanelsPanosTuesday 9 February 2010 8:03PM
Hello,
i cancelled my Sky + subscription, i kept the equipment(sky box and dish) and i disconnected the telephone line. Some people told me that i can get free European sat channels with the existing equipment? Is this right? i tried to look around the 'services' options 1-8 and i cant find any option to lead to a change. the frequency is and the symbol rates are 27.5 and 22. there is nothing else except radio stations on 27.5
Could you please advise me if there is anyway with this equipment to watch free sat european channels?
Many Thanks PanosTuesday 9 February 2010 10:57PM
Thanks so much for replying. Just a silly question, is that means that if i point the dish to a different Satelite (eg hotbird for european channels) for example will it work? Sorry if it sounds silly but i havent got a clue. do you know also why i cant find the following on my sky + box?
1. Press the [SERVICES] button and then press [4] [0] [1] then [SELECT]
When i click on 'services the options are 1-8
Thanks so much in advancePanos: Press the buttons as described. Do not attempt to use any other buttons such as [UP] or [DOWN]. MichaelThursday 11 February 2010 3:22AM
I am now getting an on screen message that says
" FOR YOUR INFORMATION"
Go to sky.com/replacement for a new viewing card to maintain full viewing,
And another that says something like
"You wont be able to view this channel soon"
Does this mean i will have to buy a card?
Thisis still happening to me from Xmas to nowMichaelFriday 12 February 2010 3:00AM
Thanks Brian.
I am puzzled about Channel 5 is it part owned by Rupert Murdoch, as this channel is similar to Sky 3?
In that it is card dependent.
Although i saw the instructions on the link to get it free again.
Five is not part of the News Corp group, i think it is a part of the german RTL Group Michael: Rupert Murdoch missed out on having FIVE because he didn't bid enough money for it. satandpcguy: Yes, FIVE is owned by RTL. cassieTuesday 23 February 2010 2:28PM
Haverhill I dont subscribe to sky anymore and i will loose my free viewing unless i pay £20 is this the cheapest way for me? i have only got the digi box and sat aerial no rooftop aerial or freeview box.cassie: if you no longer want to subscribe you will still be able to receive and watch the free to air TV channels - BBC ITV 4, 5 and 200 plus others - these free to air require NO viewing card to view at all.
You do need a sky card (freesatfromsky, exsubscription or subscription) to watch the free to view channels Fiver, Five USA, Sky 3, Viva, Liverpool FC, and 6 ITV1 regions. JanieTuesday 23 March 2010 9:08AM
If I cancel my sky viewing subscription can I still record programmes on my sky plus box for free after my contract is up?Iain DaviesTuesday 23 March 2010 12:18PM
Weston-super-mare NO! You have to subscribe to 1 basic package to keep Sky+, be warned copy anything you want off the hard drive before you cancel as you will not be able to access the hard drive after.Iain DaviesTuesday 23 March 2010 12:21PM
Weston-super-mare Janie, added comment:- If you want to record free to view sat. go for a Freesat PVR, it has all the same functions as Sky+.MichaelSaturday 27 March 2010 1:04AM
Can you take the Hardrive out of a Sky + box and shove it into a computer and view what is on itGailSaturday 27 March 2010 8:18PM
i live in spain, is it possible for me to have a sky digibox with a freeview card? along with a satalite dish? some friends of mine have a 1.9 dish and a pace sky box, with a card....... can i get one, and who do i get it from? Gail xGail: No card is required to watch most of the free channels. You can get the dish locally, you can get Freesat boxes in the UK from most stores. John WatsonSunday 4 April 2010 8:03PM
Lossiemouth I have SkyHD and a quad LNB. If I run cables from the 2 spare ports on the LNB, buy a Freesat box and fit these to another telly will it work?HiJohn,
You can run two freesat boxes or one freesat hd recorder fron the spare ports on the dish.
If you buy a freesat hd +recorder ( the humax is our favorite) you will get very high quality hd recorder similar to your sky hd but with out the never ending fees.
Mark Aberfan Aerials chrisTuesday 6 April 2010 10:04AM
could you tell me what i would need to access sky in my caravan on holiday in uk.
i have a sky box and but not sure about dish size,viewing cards,satelite finders etcjayneWednesday 7 April 2010 1:53PM
could someone help had sky now don't now can't get itv or channel 5 could someone helpmTuesday 13 April 2010 12:02PM
so when I left sky I didn't need to waste £20 on a freesat card?John Simon KnightTuesday 20 April 2010 9:40PM
Sheffield I live in Sheffield S10 4GF & receive TV from Belmont. I receive most of the channels but none of the Sky ones. Will I be able to view them after the analogue switch of? Is there anything I can do to view them before switch over?John Simon Knight: You stand a much better chance of getting them from Emley Moor than from Belmont, perhaps moving your aerial (after the engineering work is done in a few months) to point n-nw 345° to the Yorkshire transmitter? Jim McIntyreThursday 22 April 2010 2:05PM
I have Sky HD+ and Sky+ boxes but intend to cancel Multiroom as my daughters have gone to University. Will my Sky+ box with current viewing card show Freesat channels or will I have to purchase a Freesat from Sky viewing card? Is there any difference if I decide not to purchase a Freesat from Sky viewing card? many thanksJim McIntyre: Your existing cards will do the same as the fSfS cards. You won't be able to play or record with your Sky+ box, so you might have to change that for a Freesat+ box. mrs. jackie gibbonsThursday 22 April 2010 9:29PM
Conwy i paid £20 for a new sky freeview card at last years switchover. from this morning 22/4/2010 i can no longer get FIVE FIVER ETC.
why is this and how can i get them
many thanksmrs. jackie gibbonsThursday 22 April 2010 9:30PM
Conwy John ChambersSaturday 24 April 2010 1:27PM
URGENT UPDATE
Grundig Sky box 'lockout'
Further to my message earlier today, and reading other self-help sites, I checked
the 'default transponder' and found it set
at 12.523-V-27.5-2/3 and the red reset to
it to 11.778-V-27.5-2/3 since when it looks
as if status quo has been restored.John Chambers: Yes, that would explain it. 
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