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.
11:54 AM
K. parr. No rhere are is a full range of receivers by different manufactueres. These include:- Standard Definition - High Definition- One HD with a single tuner that can record. and several Others that are HD and have two tuners. The single tuner though does require an external storage add-on in the form of a high capacity pen drive or external HDD. The dual tuner receivers have internal HDD's (Hard Drives).
| link to this comment |
11:59 AM
P.S> Starting price standard definition - just under £50 going up to - around just under £250 for an HD twin tuner receiver.
| link to this comment |
9:57 PM
Hi,
afew days ago i asked for help with a sky digital reciever....i could get most free channels,except itv1...(although could recieve itv2,itv2+1...in fact all itv channels apart from itv1)
Briantist kindly gave advice (method 3) which i tried....still no luck! Thought i should point out the box hasn't been used for over 2 years untill now.I am no longer a subscriber,but as i say, most channels are available apart from itv1...!The error message is 'to view this service you need a viewing card' or 'programme not available'...my old viewing card is still in the slot by the way. is there anything else i could try?.....much appreciated!
thankyou.
| link to this comment |
12:51 PM
help!
weve had sky digital now for 15 years (mostly just the entertainmet pkg and nick etc for the kids) and never got offered any of the deals that others talk about, just plodded on and paid the bill, i got fed up of hearing everyone tell us how they were harrassed into gettting free sky plus or hd or multi room whilst we were never offered anything so i got my husband to cancel,
im now home alone with a very poorley child whos crying for peppa only to find out that nick wasnt one of the freebie channels, any idea if we can get nick free any other way.
im desperate enough to call sky again and its only been two days without out it
| link to this comment |
9:54 AM
hi les, james here from widnes, just calling to see if you can tell me the cost of a instalation of a diseq system, i have all the gear ie,receiver, 80cm disk tk brackets, pole. motor, any help please thanks , regards james.
| link to this comment |
4:59 PM
I'm not TV;Sky;HD savvy
I've bought a second hand SkyHD box with No viewing card. Can I obtain multiroom subscription without having to purchase a box from Sky? I don't want HD package (Not that bothered really!) Just want Living!!!
| link to this comment |
6:04 PM
hi, sky cards, james here i was hoping to have a venture about , ie other satellites, but here in widnes who ever i ask about setting-up diseq does not have any idea, i thought sorry was told i would need a dish atleast 80cm,all me ear has been laid up for the past year,so i was thinking of giving it a go when this weather bucks-up! any help please? thanks again regards james.
| link to this comment |
Ruth: Sky Living is a subscription channel, you have to subscribe to Sky (or Virgin) to get it.
| link to this comment |
Mark Aberfan Aerials: Thanks for the information about the TM-5402.
| link to this comment |
11:39 AM
A great way to view digital free to air channels is via a very well made FTA satellite receiver from Spanish manufacturer, Televes.
I recently installed one of their receivers and was most impressed with the video quality that I obtained, the stable way that the box performs and its ease of use.
It receives all of the free to air channels with, of course, no subscription to Sky TV or any other provider.
Another very good feature is its ease of customization; it can be set to store all of your favorite channels easily and will receive any BBC or ITV 1 region that you care to store in your prefered order.
Another pro point - it comes pre-tuned as well, to most satellites beamed towards Western Europe, but can also be tuned in manually.
The Televes FTA satellite receiver is available from www.cpc.co.uk and in my opinion, is well worth the £49 that I paid for it.
| link to this comment |