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.
7:42 PM
MY PARENTS GET THE FREE to VIEW CHANNELS VIA THEIR SATELITTE DISH. BUT CANNOT GET ITV BORDER WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE. DO I NEED TO BUY THEM A SPECIFIC FREE TO VIEW CARD TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE OR THERE SOME OTHER WAY?
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12:38 PM
Fred Long:
Freesat from Sky responds to the card inerted into the slot of the Sky receiver. If there is not one present, it usually shows just the National services or the London ones. To get more local services you need to get a suitable card from Sky.
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10:53 AM
Hi
I just bought a sony tv which has freeview incorporated
In it. Do i nerd an aerial or can i pair it with the sky dish?
Sky subscribtion ends this month.
So need to activate freeview.
Any help much appreciated.
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11:15 AM
Naila: Freeview is received from land based transmitters via an aerial, ideally situated on the roof or in the loft. An indoor aerial may be ok if you're in a strong signal area. You will still be able to receive Free To Air (FTA) satellite channels via your Sky box after your subscription ends, although you won't be able to pause or record.
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Can i connect the two coax cables from a Sky plus dish into a digi box. Since cancelling Sky i no longer have the facility to pause and record, which i would have if i got a new digi box.
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10:45 PM
Duncan Sayers:
No, that will not work at all and could damage both the digi box and the LNB.
If you want to watch Freesat, you need a dedicated satellite receiver into which you can plug the two coaxial cables using the screw-on 'F' connectors fitted to the ends of your cables. The TV would be fed via an HDMI cable from the satellite box plugged into one of the HDMI inputs of the TV set.
Or if you want to get Freeview, you need to have a suitable wideband aerial installed at roof level. That then feeds a suitable Freeview HD set top box unless your TV already has the Freeview HD facility (most do nowadays if it is fairly recent. An HD ready set will not give you all the channels as it does not have the decoder required built in.
Hope that helps?
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Hi, I have an old sky hd box that I wish to use for freeview/freesat. I have plugged in the dish cable into the back(input 1) but it says no signal and initializing etc. Hours later, still the same. Any ideas as to why it's not working or how to set it up? I did see something about going onto services, the 0 1 select for a set up page no but that doesn't work.
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11:00 PM
Jenna:
From what you say it sounds as if the box has failed. I am assumng that you do not have a SkyQ LNB but a conventional one.
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5:05 AM
I am not technically minded (age) I only have a SKY aerial in my flat, I don't subscribe to SKY but I can't get FreeView. I should add my TV is 9 years old.
Is it at all possible to receive FreeView please.
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7:19 AM
Anisor:
If you have a Sky dish connection available, you should be able to get Freesat. For reception of Freeview you need an aerial. Note that Sky does not use and aerial but a dish mounted externally.
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