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.
4:12 PM
My query is that we have one Sky+ box that is used all the time and 3 other standard Sky multi-room subscriptions, which we don't really make much use of.
Is it possible to keep the Sky+ box on subscription but cancel the multi-room ones and just keep those boxes for the free channels?
Thanks
| link to this comment |
5:13 PM
Stuart Ratzakli: You are quite correct regarding using the favourites method as I forgot about that option, but regarding your own query, there is nothing to stop you provided that you are outside of the initial contract period.
| link to this comment |
5:30 PM
Thanks jb38
I had hoped that would be the answer! :-)
| link to this comment |
6:48 PM
A neighbour who had Sky+ installed 18 months ago began to have problems,channels missing,low signal strength in others,never above 30%.I offered to take a look at the dish,rachable only with an extension ladder.No insulation tape had been attached to either cable where screwed into LNB. The Andrews LNB had not been firmly locked into its bracket.However this was easily rectified.Sky box was tested on my freesat system.Result box not working after 18 months.Before I looked at system, Sky Ireland quoted 100 euro as call charge.I rang Sky and told tham about the unsatisfactory installation.Next call by the suscriber resulted in an offer from Sky to replace the box free of charge. However this was declined.For less than the monthly fee of 44 euro Upc cable supplied two Digital+ boxes,one HD and promised no call out charge ever.
| link to this comment |
12:07 AM
We can watch sky on all our TVs but only the channel currently on the main TV. Will we be able to do this when the analogue channel is turned off. It is currently on the analogue signal on number 6.
| link to this comment |
Pam: Yes, that won't be a problem.
The only thing you should be aware of is that if you replace any TV it must have an analogue (as well as digital/Freeview) tuner, the analogue being needed for viewing the Sky box. However, manufacturers will probably stop making them. You will have to be wary of this if/when you do buy a new TV.
| link to this comment |
8:55 AM
Thanks to Dave Lindsay. We are just above to replace an old analogue only TV in the bedroom and will now make sure it has the right tuner.
Currently struggling with the switchover. Its mainly ITV. When it works fine in the sitting room it breaks up in the kitchen. When only the kitchen is on then its fine. Hoping this will sort itself out in the final tune. Is that likely?
This site is marvellous. Thank you, thank you.
| link to this comment |
9:45 AM
Little bit more information to add to above in the hope that someone can help. The signal strength on some channels on one of the TVs is poor on 22 and 24 but good on 23 so I assume the aerial is OK. Not sure exactly what 22 and 24 are. Are they ITV i.e. old channel 3. Trouble is I do not get a picture when retuning so cannot tell what channel it is. It is odd because eg BBC1 and 2, ITV3 and yesterday are all OK but ITV2, Ch4 and 5 and ITV1 all break up. This is a new TV.
By the way I am not a young GEEK but a rather old pensioner and feel proud if somewhat surprised at how much I have done already!
| link to this comment |
Pam: Only BBC standard definition services (on C23) are at full strength. The rest will increase in strength on 18th April.
Refer to the Crystal Palace page (click the link) for the UHF channel numbers to tune to. 22 is indeed ITV1, C4, C5 etc.
Different receivers have differing levels of sensitivity (i.e. some might "hear" a signal that others won't in borderline cases). Also, any aerial lead will have a degree of loss, so the signal level will be lower where it comes out to when it went in; there's nothing you can do about this. These points may explain why one TV works whilst another doesn't.
It's likely that everything will work fine come 18th April. However, you probably wish to get it working in the mean time.
You could take the kitchen TV to the lounge where the aerial cable comes in from the roof and connect it directly to that. Then manually tune in (i.e. add) any missing channels. The objective of this is simply to get the channels stored in the TV's memory.
If you find that ITV1 doesn't work on the kitchen TV when you get it back in the kitchen, then don't retune as it won't get the signal back and will just result in the loss of the service from your TV.
| link to this comment |