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Upgrading from Sky+HD to Freesat+HD

What to do if you want to stop subscribing to Sky+HD but do wish to record/pause/play free HD television.

What to do if you want to stop subscribing to Sky+HD but do wis
published on UK Free TV

You might get a glossy magazine every month, but what do Sky really think of your custom?

"Give me a f**king name on a direct debit and it's mine for life,"
- Sam Chisholm, former boss of BSkyB.


Perhaps you responded to an offer like the one blow that promised a gratis Sky+HD box (for new customers taking their first Sky+HD package) with free standard set-up



But you were so excited with the thought of a £50 M&S voucher that you didn't think to follow each of the little daggers and little stars to quite read all the terms and conditions:



So, your twelve months of commitment are over and, for reasons of budget (or politics) you have decided you want to keep all the features of Sky+ - live pause, high definition, extended electronic programme guide, series record, and recording two programmes at once whilst you watch another - but don't want to fork out every month on top of your TV Licence - and you still get hundreds of free TV channels

Here's what you can do.

First you need to buy a Freesat+HD box. There are many on the market, and can be bought from Argos, Currys DIGITAL, John Lewis, Comet and online at Amazon, as well as other stores.

When you use a Freesat+HD box NO SUBSCRIPTION HAS TO BE PAID. NONE. NOT A PENNY TO ANYONE.

Installing

This will take no more than ten minutes. First you will need to disconnect the Sky+HD box mains from the wall socket.

Then you will need to disconnect the cables from the back of the Sky+HD box.

Pull out the mains power connection (1), carefully unscrew the satellite dish links (2) and (3), and then take out the HDMI lead (4) to your HDTV. If you have an "surround sound" amplifier, you may also have a digital audio connection (5).

Remove the Sky+HD box and put the Freesat+HD box back in the same position.



Then reconnect the cables: the mains power cable (1) - but not to the wall just yet, screw the two satellite dish links (2) and (3) and connect the HDMI cable (4) to your HDTV. If you had one, reconnect the digital audio connection (5).

If you have an Ethernet router, you can connect it to the Freesat+HD box at this point (5).

With everything in place, turn on the mains power and power up the Freesat+HD box.

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:



And that's it.

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
Monday, 20 February 2012
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:03 AM

lee bowen: You will not require to do anything other than couple the "F" connector plug into your Freesat box, although if you purchase a twin channel Freesat PVR (recorder) then an additional lead would be required to be run from the dish and of course the LNB changed to a dual or quad version, price difference between being minimal with a quad block being obtainable for under the £10.00 mark from numerous e-bay sources.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Sunday, 11 March 2012
B
barry
12:34 PM

Hi I want to get freesat+ in denmark (slagelse in south west Zealand)..
Can you tell me what size dish I will need.. I want to buy a humax freesat+ box, shall I purchase this from uk so I have uk epg pre-installed. thanks for you help..

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barry's 2 posts SE flag
Sunday, 25 March 2012
C
ChrisC
4:43 PM

All fair and good, but what about all the programmes you've still got left on your Sky+ hard drive? What happens to them? Can you watch them or are they gone forever?

link to this comment
ChrisC's 1 post KH flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

6:27 PM

ChrisC: I am not quite sure about what posting you are referring to, but if its in relating to Tony's posting made back in January, then if a person lets their Sky+ subscription end then they will not be able to access the recording or playback side of the box, as Sky permanently retains the right of access to it unless a subscription of I believe £10.00 is paid.

link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
S
Steve
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

6:44 PM
Sheffield

I've just plugged a Freesat box into my Sky dish but have no HDMI connection on my older TV. On some channels I get a message that this channel cannot be received. Is a scart connection not enough? What purpose does the HDMI connection serve?

link to this comment
Steve's 27 posts GB flag
Steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Thursday, 19 April 2012
M
MARI
11:23 PM
Grays

Since the switchover i cant get any Freeview chanels from my digital TV. i have tried to retune but it comes up no chanels found.what can i do?

link to this comment
MARI's 11 posts GB flag
MARI's: ...
Monday, 23 April 2012
M
MARI
7:24 PM
Grays

MARI: Helpppppppp.....why cant i get freeview since the switchover? I have a digital tv with freeview which worked perfectly b4 the changeover. I have tried retuning but all i get is no chanels available....advice plz?

link to this comment
MARI's 11 posts GB flag
MARI's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:49 PM

MARI: If you have an outdoor aerial that uses a booster then this has to be by-passed as it might be overloading the tuner in your TV, if though this doesn't apply then come back with the model of TV you are using as some models cannot operate with the new transmission modes that came into force at switch over.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
M
MARI
11:42 AM
Grays

MARI:
My tv is TECHNIKA...MY ARIEL IS IN THE
THANKS

link to this comment
MARI's 11 posts GB flag
MARI's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
MARI
11:45 AM
Grays

Mari:
my Ariel is in the loft


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MARI's 11 posts GB flag
MARI's: ...
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