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.
10:06 PM
Stephen Taylor: Yes, you will get all of the free channels if you connect a Sky box to the dish.
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10:34 PM
StevensOnln1:
If a TV set has a built in Freesat tuner wouldn't that work as well?
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12:35 AM
js:
Maybe you know the answer to my query?
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1:55 AM
Chris.SE: Yes, as long as it isn't a SkyQ type LNB on the dish, it should be fine.
But as you know, Channel 4 HD is no longer available on Freesat and the only music channel left is Spotlight TV.
I have an output from a quad LNB connected to my LG TV.
Freesat UHD, which is flagged so that it doesn't appear in the channel list, is available by entering 998, which brings up the Astra UHD Demo.
Apparently the new Freesat 4K boxes don't show Freesat UHD, which I think is a bit mean.
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10:19 PM
js:
Thanks, thought I'd seen something about no go with a SkyQ LNB. That bit of info about Freesat UHD is interesting. I'll have to get a dish up and start playing.
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4:15 AM
Chris.SE: Absolutely, give it a go! I'm sure you'll find it interesting. The dish/LNB kits on ebay are very cheap, if you are able to DIY. You need do a SE view free of high trees or other blockages to an altitude of about 25 degrees.
I'd go for a zone2.
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11:41 PM
I have been using an old sky box for ages but some months ago it stopped getting ITV1 due to changes.
I managed to find where they moved to and selected them as additional channels but it won't let me watch them without a card, which I have not got.
Am I missing a trick?
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9:29 AM
stephen p: Which ITV region are you trying to watch? ITV recently closed a number of SD regions, which are now only available in HD on satellite, leaving some of the larger regions still available in SD. None of them are encrypted, so you shouldn't need a viewing card for any of them.
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8:03 AM
I have just cancelled my subscription, I am using an old digibox, about 15 years old and a dish, will I still need my sky card to view freesat. Do I have too retune my tv? Many thanks
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4:02 PM
To Elaine Harrison My sky digibox is about that age. It works without a card but I think if I had one it might let me do more things. You don't need to do anything.
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