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.
2:10 PM
Mark B:
1) Yes, most of the transmissions are 'free-to-air', they are not encrypted and only need a standard decoder. There are a few (e.g. Pick TV) which are encrypted but can be decoded by any Sky card, even if you're no longer subscribing.
2) No. A Sky+ box's recording and time-shifting features only work if you have an active subscription. You also can't play back anything you've previously recorded. It's reported that you can restore these functions by paying a £10/month subscription but I can't find it specifically on Sky's website.
If you want recording and time-shifting functionality you'll have to get a Freesat+ box. (You can also get non-branded free-to-air satellite receivers, which can receive all the channels, but you have to tune it yourself, including retuning as and when services move to a different frequency, and it won't have access to Freesat's accurate recording data.)
The Freesat box won't be able to decode a few channels that a Sky box will. For a comparison of what's available, see Compare Freesat and Freesat-from-Sky TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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12:26 PM
Hi, I have cancelled my SKY subscription and connected my SKy Plus box to a non digital TV. I can get the SKY menu but cant figure out how to set it up. I check the signal strength on the menu and its zero?
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1:34 PM
MJM: You should not really require to set anything up "if" you have the Sky box connected into the TV via a scart lead, if though you are using the Sky boxes RF1 modulated output and feeding this into the analogue TV's aerial socket, then all you require to do is re-scan the analogue TV and it will find the channel number used on the Sky box.
I though "no signal" is seen on the Sky boxes signal checking screen (Services - 4 - 6) then unscrew the "F" connector plug and make sure that there isnt a single strand of wire shorting onto the inner core.
Another point to remember being, that you only require to use the LNB 1 input on the Sky box, as LNB 2 was mainly for recording purposes which you will not be able to use now, and so if one dish lead shows no signal then swap it over to the other lead.
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8:17 PM
I have a tv that has inbuilt freeview. I also have a Sky+ box. I want to connect them together just for recording purposes. (The Sky box cannot be connected to the satellite as I am using it for Freesat in another room). Is it simply a case of connecting the two with a scart lead? I have tried this but I still get the default No Signal message. Any help is most welcome!!
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7:34 AM
Mike: You cannot use a Sky+ box (or even a Freesat or Freeview PVR) as a recorder, as these devices can only record from their own internal tuners, and as well as that if you do not have a Sky subscription then you would not be able to record anything on the Sky+ box even if it was connected to the dish, as Sky permanently retains access to the recording side of the box.
If you want to record Freeview channels then you will require to purchase a Freeview PVR, or alternatively a standard DVD recorder, this of the hard drive type if you do not want to record onto DVD's all the time.
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3:51 PM
Hi Guys,
I have moved into a new house. It has a sky dish installed already. Please can someone advise how I can use this dish to watch free sat channels, if at all possible.
Brgds,
Avi
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4:07 PM
Dunstable
Avi:
If you have a TV with a Freesat tuner, just plug the cable straight in to the lead coming from the dish. If not, get a Freesat box and plug that straight into the lead coming from the dish. If you have two leads coming from the dish, you can get a Freesat+ box which enables you to record one programme while watching another. Freesat branded boxes (as opposed to Freesat from Sky) require no subscription, so once you have bought your box, there is no more to pay.
Hope this helps,
Adam.
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Adam's: mapA's Freeview map terrainA's terrain plot wavesA's frequency data A's Freeview Detailed Coverage
4:10 PM
Dunstable
Avi:
Sorry should have said (first sentence) "TV" not "cable"
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Adam's: mapA's Freeview map terrainA's terrain plot wavesA's frequency data A's Freeview Detailed Coverage
3:18 PM
Not sure I've seen the answer to this question here but I am planning to cancel my Sky subscription. I have a Sky HD box - will I still be be able to receive HD versions of BB1,BBC4 ITV 1,2,3,4?
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6:45 PM
Antrim
i have sky+hd in my living room, is it possible to have two additional freesat boxes that are not sky freesat to two bedrooms from my satellite dish
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deedee's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage