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.
5:34 PM
Dave: A lot of people come off Sky and go to Freesat, but also get Now TV, which you can buy pretty cheaply as a streamer box, or via an app on LG TV's. 14.99 or thereabouts, plus a 'pass' for Now TV. Since they do a Sports pass, it might work out cheaper for occasional viewing.
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MikeB's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
10:32 AM
Hi,My Sony TV has built-in Freeview.I just stopped my Sky subscription, can I now access the Freeview channels using the SkyHD box?Apologies if this kind of question has already been answered.Regards,Ken
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2:11 PM
Trowbridge
Ken Hughes:
No. The Sky HD box is a satellite receiver with a record facility built in. It is not capable of receiving any signals that do not originate from a satellite and received via your dish. Freeview is transmitted from ground based transmitters around the country and can be received using a UHF aerial, not a dish, and a suitably equipped TV set like yours. The aerial can be connected into your Sony TV in the conventional way. (There is no such thing as a 'digital' aerial, all UHF aerials can receive transmissions used for TV services irrespective of whether they are analogue or digitally encoded. So don't get 'fleeced' into buying a 'digital' aerial.)
However, you may be able to still get the free-to-air channels on your Sky box via your dish, but you will not be able to record or playback (Sky turn that off when your subscription ends).
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MikeP's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
11:36 AM
should my sky hd box connected to a satelite dish but with no sky card or subscription to sky be able to recieve freesat channels?
At the moment it only receives bbc1,2 and 4,itv, no channel 5. and some additional channels up at channel 135.
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11:49 AM
John Murray: Yes, it will receive all the channels that are on the Freesat boxes, and more if one counts the Adult channels; only one is currently on the Freesat programme guide ( Babestation)
An extra scan is required to get them on a Freesat receiver, and it isn't easy on the modern Freesat boxes.
Freesat aldo gives access to BBC iPlayer, etc, which maybe available on the Sky box too. Someone else should answer that question!
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1:29 PM
HI I have a sky box in one of our rooms which gives me picture could I use the sky ariel and change connector to plug into freeview tv thanks.
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10:31 AM
Trowbridge
Alex:
No! Sky does not use an aerial, instead it uses a dish and LNB combination to receive signals from a set of satellites in geo-stationary orbit on the Equator above East Africa. Normal Freeview recpetion requires the use of an aerial of a Yagi or log-periodic design aimed at your preferred transmitter. 'Preferred' here meaning the one that gives the best reception.
If you enter your full post code into this website you will be shown listings of available transmitters and which direction to have your new aerial aimed for best reception.
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MikeP's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
6:40 PM
I have just moved to an appt. there are 2 satalight cables in the living room. How do I get them connected To my TV so I can watch free channels?
I do have wifi, but no sub to any satalight channels.
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10:09 PM
Dave: Firstly, check that they are for a sat. system - an F fitting can be used for cable or even a terrestial system. However, if its a sat. system, you need to check the back of your TV first. If you've got a F fitting on the back of the TV, you can just use that - it means there is a sat. tuner built into it. Older Panasonics and some LG's had Freesat, whilst newer Sony's and LG TV's have generic tuners built in. Mid to high level Samsungs for the past 4-5 years have had Freesat.
If you dont have one, then get a Freesat tuner/PVR. You can get a manhattan one for 43 quid - just a reciever, but it will also give you Iplayer via ethernet. My Freeview version of the box freezes up every so often, so Humax would be even better. They do just a tuner, but the PVR is a better bet. 500gb , wifi (and all 4 channels on demand) - 189.
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3:41 PM
I have a sky+ box and am going to stop sky subscriptions shortly. Can I still record free view on the sky box. And how many channels on free view will I get. Lots of sites tell you differ t things.
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