Can I stop paying Sky and use my satellite receiver to get Freeview ?
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV 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.
5:01 PM
I am receiving your signal in my country Liberia, west Africa. i wish to dealer or agent for your company. how i get the first package in my country.
is it possible you send me only the decoders plus the viewing card.
i look forward hearing from you.
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4:53 PM
I have a Samsung HD+ Sky box, but I am not a subscriber. It allows me to record the free to air channels but I do not have the pin number so am unable to view 15+ rated programmes. Does anyone know how to reset the pin number ? I have tried the default setting, ie last 4 digits of the card.
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5:37 PM
Pete Skeldon: If you havent already done so? then try the procedure mentioned on the following link
Set up or reset your Sky TV PIN | Sky Help
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10:31 AM
jb38, I had already been to this link, but it cannot assist me because I do not have a Sky user i/d or password. When I go into Settings it demands the Pin number to permit me to change it and I can only get this by contacting Sky. Any suggestions?
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8:08 AM
Pete Skeldon: My reply to your query was based on you having said that you can record "free to air" channels as no one is "under normal circumstances" able to access the recording / playback side of a Sky+ HD (or any Sky+ box) without a contract with Sky for this purpose (and only!) being in force at a charge of around £10.50 per month.
The problem, and as you probably might be aware of being, that if you did contact Sky they would ask you for your viewing card number and which would immediately alert them to the fact that you do not have a contract, and as such disable that side of your box by cancelling the access code to it from your card.
However, as things are your only option is to try a complete reset on your Sky+ HD box but which will result in you losing anything previously recorded, but as the procedure varies slightly between models the exact model number of your box would be required.
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8:24 PM
Morpeth
I have an LG DRT389H DVD player/recorder with built-in freeview so, how do I set up freeview through my recorder? I want to ditch Sky!
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Rosemary's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Rosemary: You need a conventional (terrestrial) television aerial. However, it is likely that you will not receive all Freeview channels as you are served by a transmitter which carries only Public Service channels, these being: BBC TV and radio, ITV, ITV+1, ITV2, Channel 4, Channel 4+1, E4, Film4, More4 and Channel 5. It also carries, but the LG model you have won't receive them.
For that reason a satellite receiver could be a better bet, particularly if you haven't got a terrestrial aerial. It would seem a waste having one installed if the limited channels available don't satisfy you.
Freesat is the free-to-air satellite equivalent of Freeview, although there are differences in what channels are available.
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5:10 PM
hi am swhicthing over to talktalk's youview from sky and I was woundering if I could if I can use the sky box to bring freesat channels to the youveiw box as if it was an arieal?
p.s I do have a freeview ariel installed
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jonathan: No you can't.
YouView uses the terrestrial "Freeview" system to receive TV services (other than those that it gets "on demand" over your broadband connection). It isn't compatible with any satellite platform, whether it be Sky or Freesat.
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