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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat

It takes less than five minutes to replace an existing satellite box with a Freesat one.

It takes less than five minutes to replace an existing satellit
published on UK Free TV

If you have an existing Sky or fSfS (Freesat from Sky) installation and want to go to upgrade to Freesat, it is a simple process.

First, buy the Freesat box from a Argos, Curry.digital, Comet, John Lewes or your local independent shop:



In the box you will find the Freesat box:



Also included will be a remote control, and this model also comes with a SCART cable, a HDMI cable and a stereo-with-composite cable. Unpack the ones you need:



You old Sky box looks like this:



Unplug the mains first from the Sky box, then pull out the SCART (or SCARTs) and then unscrew the connection to the satellite dish.



Remove the Sky box and fit the Freesat box. Reconnect the satellite cable (take care as to not damage the connection) and then the SCART and finally connect the mains power:



The box will look like this:



The box also contains the manual, which has full installation instructions. Finally fit the batteries into the remote control.



The TV screen first displays the box's logo



The first set-up screen allows you to select the TV type, widescreen mode and resolution:



Next the box checks for the satellite signal:



Then there is a check for updated software:



Then you enter your postcode and the box checks it:



The next step is a scan for channels. This takes about 30 seconds:



And that's it. You can now view channels, like 108 for BBC HD:



Or press the GUIDE button for the EPG:



(Apologies for the photos not being of the top quality)



Help with Free satellite?
What can I do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fau1
Can I receive UK TV in Ghana?2
What is a CA module?3
My box says "No Satellite signal being received"4
Is there any way I can get free channels via satellite and have the kind of hard5
In this section
Freesat adds a plethora of new channels in time for Christmas including channel 1
A tale of a two Freesat boxes2
Yesterday, Drama and Really joining Freesat this month3
PBS America joins Freesat for Halloween4
Fixing the Freesat Freetime internet connection problem5
Satellite TV operators FRANSAT, TIVUSAT and our Freesat launch FreeTV Alliance 6

Comments
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:12 AM

Mark A.: For "copyright" reasons, the HD channels are displayed using composite signals only to non-HDMI connected devices, not the usual "high quality" RGB signals.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Paul M. Timmins
7:42 PM
Skegness

Mark A.

No I'm not bothered about missing out on the HD channels when i upgrade from Sky+ to FreeSat+ (Humax Fox 500Gb HDD) as long as this will still give me channels that i don't pay for?! I'm just a little bit fed up of paying for Sky and it's constant increases in charges. As long as i can still get the other "standard" channels that FreeSat+ has then i'll be in heaven! Also I've just checked my satellite dish and it's a Quad LNB so (I'm thinking ahead here :) i may put my Sky+ box on the TV in the bedroom, or even better, leave the Sky+ where it is (with it's non-subscription card inserted for Sky's Freeview?) & put the Humax Fox in the bedroom where i have a small HD TV?!

Regards And Thanks For Answering My Probs... You're the only one who has..... So Far!!!

Paul M. Timmins
(Skegness, Lincs.)


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Paul M. Timmins's 6 posts GB flag
Paul's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Friday, 1 April 2011
E
Ernie from Sandy
2:41 PM

I have just unsubscribed from sky and moved to BT. I thought that I could use my sky digibox(DS4 3ON)on another tv in the kitchen, to receive pictures via the sky dish.

However I cannot now ( 1 week later )get any channels even on the original TV via the sky box.

Do I need a digibox for the kitchen? do I but a new tv and split into the other ariel coax HELP !


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Ernie from Sandy's 1 post US flag
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

2:30 PM

Paul M Timmins It may be a better option if your SKY receiver is in the Lounge to have your Humax replace it there as your SKY plus will not be able to record as it is disabled from recording when you unsubscribe from SKY.
With your Humax remember to peel back the clear protective strip under the front flap as it can sometimes affect the remote controls handshaking with the receiver sensor giving a less positive switching of functions/Cnannels. It's not that easy to see but you will be able to peel it back with you finger nail, OK.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Paul M. Timmins
2:14 PM
Skegness

Les Nicol:

Many thanks, i'd got a funny feeling that SKY would switch of my SKY+ :) Thanks for your comments, i had sent for some satellite cable in advance but that i can use if we ever change the room around (you know what these women are like :)), i've got two Humax Fox's to install, one for myself and the other for my mate along the road when his SKY is switched off later this week, i hope i don't have any problems, as i've been told and seen it on here is just a matter of taking the SKY box out and putting the HUMAX FOX in it's place?! Although i have bought a cheap meter incase anything happens to the dish while im out or the weather moves it slightly, i live in a static mobile home here in Lincs and the dish is bolted to the floor! Don't suppose you know if the SKY insurance (name not known) will still cover this new box or not? I pay £9.99 a month incase any of my equipment gets damaged they come out and replace it! I don't think it's a SKY company so it should be, reckon i'll have to give 'em a ring to be sure! Thanks Les for your comments, very useful! and if you have anymore you think i should know, please do let me know, yeah?! Thanks again my friend!


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Paul M. Timmins's 6 posts GB flag
Paul's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

7:20 AM

Paul M Timmins - Your New Receiver won't br covered by a SKY insurance. The SKY insurance at £9.99 month seems expensive given you are living in a static mobile home. I would expect it is a standard policy. Your paying over the odds for this, in your situation. I would think you could get something somewhat less than this and I am not sure it's necessary. Your Humax will have a warranty of 2years at any rate. Domestic and General might be the ones to try as they are usually the company most of the multiples deal with for that sort of cover.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
Friday, 8 April 2011
Paul M. Timmins
9:05 AM
Skegness

Les Nichol - Thanks again for the info, and it is actually Domestic & General who I'm with and It's £9 a month that covers not only Sky dishes but STB's no matter what they are! But I've just cancelled the D/D because i think I'm actually overlapped as i have a good House & Contents policy so that's saved me another £9, which all-in-all has probably saved me around £50 a month changing to FreeSat and with the knowledge I've received from you guys and online help, I'm gonna attempt the conversion myself, as well as my friends just down the road, so watch this space! I might be able to help others or pass on any tips like you guys have with me! Thanks again....

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Paul M. Timmins's 6 posts GB flag
Paul's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
L
Lorraine
11:33 AM

We have a sky+ subscription, we are happy to keep this but want to receive BBC HD, we don't want to pay extra for the Sky HD subcription as we only want the freeview HD channels can we buy a second hand Sky HD box, plug this in place of our sky + box and continue to use it as before (sky+) but with the freeview HD channels?

Hope this makes sense

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Lorraine's 1 post GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

3:11 PM

Lorraine: No, you will only get the free-to-air public service channels in HD, BBC One, BBC HD, ITV1 HD and (soon) Channel 4 HD. All other channels require payment to Sky.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
D
darren
1:08 PM

Can i just get some advice from anyone reading this ? I have 2 Standard Sky boxes i have taken the 2nd Sky box away and put a Standard Freesat in its place i have just had a new Sky Dish and wire put in as well but i can not just get the Freesat box to load most of the channels it cant be the dish or wire otherwise the Sky boxes would not work ! What can be the problem ? I have tried a number of post codes from around the country and still the Freesat box wont load the channels ? Any help would be great ! Thank You !

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darren's 16 posts GB flag
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