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.
8:23 PM
len
i think your tv is hd but your internal freeview tuner is not. thats why it dosnt pick up the hd channels, i have same problem with old humax pvr, you need freeview+HD tuner to recieve these.
i have a freeview tuner in my sony but i use a humax 9300t freeview set top box so we can record programs, i will upgrade to the humax with HD soon i think
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2:55 PM
I have just had sky + hd installed for my 86yr old mum when she comes out of hospital. They left the original Sony sky box. Can I use this in her bedroom if she wants to stay in bed anytime to receive freestat or any other tv
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3:13 PM
Jinny: Yes, but only if another lead is run from the LNB on the dish as satellite boxes cannot share a lead with another device.
As the Sky+ box uses two inputs then there might be a spare outlet in the LNB "if" the Sky installer has fitted a quad block to the dish, which he might well have done as the cost is minimal over that of a dual LNB, but if not then the LNB will require changing to a quad.
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7:23 PM
I have an old Sky Box (I am no longer a Sky customer which is still atached to my Sky dish. It is no longer connected to my main TV but us connected to a secondry TV (via RF output 2 on the Sky box and Aerial imput on the second TV)
At present I am able to receive the 5 terestrial channels (analog) on my second TV. Is it possible to receive free-to-air channels via this set up or will I need to either 1) Connect the second tv to the analogue aerial via a digobox or 2)Connect the TV to the Sky dish via the Sky box or FreeSat box?
Thanks.
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10:10 PM
I bought samsung hd ready tv i am trying to setup sky box but lnb is not giving good signal as i am ussing setelite finder signal is poor i am i tired to change diffrent lnb what can i do to watch free channal, if i am ussing normal antina to watch free channal showing week or no signal what can.i do , even i am ussing new arrial wire, is it wire is poor or what i do please help me my email id is ( figa_sap@hotmail.com) thanks god bless you.
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11:28 PM
John: if your second TV is a dual standard Freeview / analogue set the you can receive Freeview on it as well as Sky from its RF1 output.
What you require to do is, that provided you are in an area where Freeview can actually be received? (your location being unknown) then you feed the normal aerial into the Sky boxes aerial input and the Freeview signals will pass through the box (joined by the RF modulators analogue signal) then both sets of signals travel along the co-ax to the second TV.
To view Freeview you simply set the 2nd TV to its DVB input rather than analogue for the Sky box.
This said taking it that you still have the dish connected into the Sky box for purposes of being able to receive "free to view" channels from Sky.
You will have to ensure that your Sky boxes RF output doesn't clash with any of the Freeview transmitters, but only the provision of a post code can enable appropriate advice to be given on what channels to avoid.
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11:52 AM
I get Eurosport via an old analogue dish but I don't know where to get a TV guide, as it isn't British Eurosport. Is there any website that I could use?
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6:40 PM
Dave Rhodes: Just replaced my old single LNB with a Quad so I can get a Humax Freesat PVR and use the old Freesat box in the bedroom. After connecting the new LNB I get 100% reception but only 80% quality. Is that OK for HD reception?
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9:23 PM
Bob H: Well its really a case of what readings you get on the old Sky box, as they are basically a better standard to judge on because all the readings obtained are from the same default transponder, so if on a Sky box you see about 75% (or more) signal and quality being indicated then this is fine.
Humax Freesat devices can vary slightly from one model to another as well as them changing between high and low channels, Sky boxes generally don't vary because of the aforementioned reason.
This said assuming that you are referring to indications seen on the Humax? as if so its still OK.
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