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.
7:41 PM
Andrew Weeks:
You Sky box does not receive Freeview services but it would be able to receive FreeSat services, which are similar but the channel mix differs. They should not be confused with each other.
AFAIK, Sky will disable the recoding function of a Sky+ box when the contract is terminated - but some have been lucky enough to have use of the function for a bit longer.
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11:49 AM
I understand that if I cancel Sky subscriptions and take Freesat from Sky my recording function will cease on the Sky+ box. Is there any way to put another recorder in line, between Sky+ and the TV? Or would I be better off getting Freesat with a recorder built in?
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7:35 PM
Hi, I have a normal TV in my bedroom. It has a magic eye connected to the sky + box in the lounge. I was given a freeview TV and want to put it in the bedroom. Can I connect it to the sky box/magic eye? What do I do if I only want to watch Sky?
Thanks
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Jude Sharkey: Yes.
It will require capability to receive analogue signals in order to view the output from the Sky box. Knowledge of the make and model number should allow us to ascertain whether this is so.
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6:12 PM
I hava sky box and receive free to air channels, can I use a freeview pvr to record free to air channels received by the sky box. Please describe connections needed.
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9:01 PM
Peter Scott:
You are receiving either the Sky free channels or FreeSat - both of which operate differently from Freeview. A Freeview PVR cannot receive any signals from a satellite, but a FreeSat PVR can. A Freeview PVR needs a terrestrial aerial to receive the Freeview multiplexes available in your area and cannot be connected to a dish.
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2:44 PM
I have a samsung tv with built in freesat I would like to connect my sky dish to it to receive freesat but the dish has two wires coming from it and the tv only has one socket. Will it work if I only connect one lead and if so which one should I use
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5:55 PM
Simon: You can use either one - they work in exactly the same way.
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9:29 PM
I have just moved to a new house which has aerial connections in all the rooms for sky (the screw type). I have already connected my tele downstairs for free sat as it has a aerial connection for screw aerials and i have received freesat so i can only assume the satelite dish works. How can i get free sat in the bedrooms. Is there such things as an adapter so i couk use the wires available to screw int the freeview type aerial in my older televisions and if i did this would i get free sat
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