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.
7:15 PM
Hello , we are going to cancel our sky package as it is too expensive - I have read elsewhere that we would be able to cancel our subscription with sky but purchase a freesat card from them for around £19-£25 and continue using our sky+ HD box is this right ?????? It also stated that we could continue using the recording part of the box for £10 a month. Any clarification would be gratefully received. Jo
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8:29 PM
Jo
It's called "Freesat from sky" - I think they will want to charge you £175 for a box and installation, but if you explain the situation you can just get the card. However, note that most of the channels on this service are unencrypted so may not need it (it used to only be the channel 4 channels that needed the card), so please research - its a couple of years since I had this service.
I believe you can retain the sky+ facilities with a £10 pcm surcharge - maybe think about just keeping the minimum entertainment pack for £15 pcm instead?
Alternatively if you can afford to invest in a freesat (not from sky) box then for a small investment you will be free from them. Your current dish will work just the same - freesat uses the same signals from the same satelites after all!
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1:34 AM
Jo:(QUOTE)Hello , we are going to cancel our sky package as it is too expensive - I have read elsewhere that we would be able to cancel our subscription with sky but purchase a freesat card from them for around £19-£25 and continue using our sky+ HD box is this right ?????? It also stated that we could continue using the recording part of the box for £10 a month. Any clarification would be gratefully received. Jo)
Hello Jo, you won't have to "Buy" a freesat card from Sky. Just call them and cancel your subs, but ask them to leave you with "Free-sat from Sky" (They will probably ask if that's what you want anyway), you can then get all BBC,ITV,Channel 4,and channel 5, and Five's sister channels (Five U.S.and Five*)all on your HD box. This will include any HD programmes that are transmitted by these providers. You will no longer get ANY HD programmes from Sky.
While you are on the phone, ask if you can still use the record facility for £10.per month, if that's what you want, get them to add it at the same time. It' a good idea to get them to reset your pin, if you have forgotten it! This can be done in minutes whilst you are talking to them.
To get ANY Sky HD channels you HAVE to pay the minimum sub of around £19.+ £10.per month for HD.
Hope this helps,
Rom.
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2:01 AM
To Jo, again,
Forgot to mention that if you subscribe to one of the minimum entertainment packs at around £19. This will automatically give your recordability back. To sum up, the cheapest you can do this is: Around £29.00 will give you the Family pack of your choice + recording + HD on the HD channels included in your package.
Regards, Rom.
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11:13 AM
Hi. I have just cancelled mny Sky+ subscription because I only watch the basic channels.
1.I believe I can continue watching the basic Free to Air channels without paying sky anything so long as I keep the viewing card and don't detroy it as they advised.
2. I do however have lots of programs recorded (from the basic stations only). Will I still be able to view these once Sky activate my cancelation or should I start planning a viewing fest now!
3. I presume I won't be able to record any more on Sky+ once I'm no longer paying Sky for the privilege. I don't want to pay them any more; I'm going to buy a Humax box.
4. Can I 'feed' the Humax and old Sky+ boxes in different from the same satellite dish?
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11:15 AM
Sorry.. point 4. should have read
Can I 'feed' the Humax and old Sky+ boxes in different ROOMS from the same satellite dish?
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2:01 PM
Arthur
Sky will tell you anything to try and keep your subs going,the best way is to get a Humax recordable freesat box in your main room, and put the old sky box in a different room,if you have had Sky+ you will have had a quad LNB dish fitted at one time, so you should have two spare outputs from your dish to use.
Tom Fletcher.Alpha Aerials Sheffield.
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6:46 PM
Reading
Arthur: Yes, you need to have a viewing fest. Sky disable the recording, timeshift and playback functions unless you keep paying for a basic subscription.
You can feed as many boxes as you like from one satellite dish, as long as they're using independent outputs on the LNB. You can't split cables, because the box sends signals back up the cable to control the LNB. You need two cables from a recorder (Sky+ or Freesat+) to the dish so that it can select different modes for the channel being watched, and the channel being recorded (or for the two channels being recorded).
If there are no spare outputs on the LNB, it's possible to just buy a replacement LNB rather than a whole new dish.
The Humax FOXSAT-HDR does have an 'LNB 1 OUT' socket on it, which you could plug the Sky box into. However, if the Humax is on, or recording two channels, you would only be able to watch some of the channels on the Sky box - those which have the same mode. It's really recommended to connect directly to the LNB.
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Mike's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
9:11 PM
Dursley
I currently watch TV using a satellite dish and standard Sky box (no subscription)
I have recently bought an HD ready TV with built in Freeview - if I simply swap the Sky box for an HD digital box will I be able to view HD freeview/sat channels ?
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Greg's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
9:33 PM
Norwich
Thank you so much for your comments Mike & Tom. It is heartening to know there are genuine folk out there with a social conscience willing to help the ill-informed and needy!
I think I have a number of options now if I have understood you both correctly.
1a. Replace the Sky+ box in my main room with the Humax and then buy 2 more cables to connect to the dish (if I have a quad LNB?) and connect them to the old Sky+ box in a different room.
1b. If I don't have a quad LNB, then buy one to add to the dish.
2. Feed the Sky+ box with a cable fitted to the Humax 'LNB 1 OUT'.
In the interim, if I were to connect the Humax to the Sky+ "LNB OUT', could I copy what I have recorded on the Sky+ box to the Humax?
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Arthur's: mapA's Freeview map terrainA's terrain plot wavesA's frequency data A's Freeview Detailed Coverage