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.
9:19 PM
Marjorie Wann: If you want to use the Freeview tuner built into a TV or STB you will need a UHF TV aerial, in most areas this needs to be mounted outside to receive a reliable signal. You could, of course, continue to use your Sky box which will still receive the free-to-air satellite channels after Sky have "switched off" reception of the subscription channels.
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9:23 PM
Marjorie Wann: An easy way to find out what you will, or will not, be able to view by cancelling your subscription is by removing your viewing card and running through the programme list, a point to note being, that if you have Sky+ or Sky+HD you will be unable to access the recording / playback side of your box as Sky will disable this along with your ability to view programmes dedicated to Sky packages.
By the way, even after cancelling your subscription you will still require the card to be inserted to view Sony TV (157), as even although its a free channel its encrypted.
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7:31 AM
Sandown
Hi I have a sky freeview box I bought on 28th June 2007 with the original card.
I have been using a Sky+ box and paying a subscription.
My question is I don't watch much TV and don't want to record if I cancel the sky subscription will I be able to carry on viewing using the freesat.
Keith
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Keith's: mapK's Freeview map terrainK's terrain plot wavesK's frequency data K's Freeview Detailed Coverage
8:43 AM
Keith Peach: Yes! and you can easily find out what you will, and will not, be able to watch by removing your viewing card then running through the programmes that you normally view, as a "please insert viewing card" message will appear on any that requires the card.
By the way, please ignore Sony 157, as although its a free channel its encrypted for legal reasons and such requires a "free to view" card which your present card will change into on cancelling your subscription.
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12:28 PM
Hi can I use my Sky HD box for freesat and still be able to record programmes if I cancel my sub? or can I use a different Freesat box to connect to my Sky dish to record programmes? Thanks
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4:45 PM
Ali: Cancelling your subscription will in effect render your Sky+HD into being a standard non-recording box, as Sky will disable access to the recording "and" playback side of the box at around the same time as your ability to view subscription channels, therefore if you wish to record programmes you will have to purchase a Freesat PVR (recorder) as your dish is 100% compatible with all Freesat devices.
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2:06 AM
Im currently using an old sky digibox and want a better quality signal from my non sub sky service, I was thinking of buying a sky+hd box so that I could make use of the hdmi feed on my new led tv but am not sure if this will improve all the channels or just the hd channels on my tv or if I need to upgrase my old dish?
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9:45 PM
Al
You certainly don't need to change your dish or LNB is the signals are being received now. The same dish is used for all Sky and FreeSat services and it makes no difference if you already have the correct size dish and a good, working LNB (the bit on the front of the dish). The receiver takes the signals sent doen from the LNB and processes them into picture and sound. A Sky+ box would normally need two feeds but as you appear not to be using a Sky Card, then you would not get any additional Sky HD programmes and could not record/playback any programmes at all (needs a subscription card to do that).
I would suggest it would be better to investigate a FreeSat PVR (Personal Video Recorder) that can use you existing dish and give you all the FreeSat programmes - including the HD ones if you buy a suitable box. That can then be connected using an HDMI cable (don't bother with a 'gold pleased' one, they're just expensive and no better than an ordinary one).
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9:46 PM
Al
Sorry for the typo, it was meant to say 'gold plated' when discussing the HDMI cable.
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12:01 AM
Thanks Mike, I do have a card in the box and the channels I tend to watch are the ones that require the card so would you still advise me to go for a pvr or sky hd box as main goal is better picture qulity but the recording features on the pvr are tempting?
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