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.
4:06 PM
To:
StevensOnln1
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum
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.
Sorry - only just seen your reply. Sorry so late.
Box has an address in Wales and puts BBC Wales in 101 102
Do you know a channel for ITV1 that should work?
And can you explain something else? When there is a storm to the south I can lose channel 101 102 but I can still usually get BBC1 2 on 978 972. But surely they are what are set as 101 102?
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4:46 PM
Elaine Harrison: It isn't technically Freesat, but you will get all of the Free To Air (FTA) channels on a Sky box without a viewing card, although leaving the expired viewing card in the box will keep the correct BBC/ITV regions on 101/102/103 and give you access to a couple of Free To View (FTV) channels. There is no retuning necessary as the Sky box is already receiving all of the FTA channels, just carry on using it as normal (although you won't be able to watch any subscription channels or make/playback any recordings).
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4:51 PM
stephen p: ITV Wales is still broadcast in both SD and HD and should therefore appear on 103. The BBC channels in the 960+ range are all the different national/regional versions of BBC 1 & 2, apart from the correct region for your postcode which will be on 101/102. Loosing channels during a storm is a common problem as the weak satellite signals can be blocked by heavy rain (it used to happen to us when we had a Sky SD box years ago) although I haven't personally seen it happen with either a Sky HD or Freesat box. Are any other ITV channels missing such as ITV2/3/4/Be?
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7:07 PM
stephen p: Have a read of this: "No ITV Wales on 103"
No ITV Wales on 103 Digital Spy
The remaining ITV SD channels are to be found here:
10891 H 22000 5/6 QPSK
----------------------
ITV [Border Scotland]
ITV [London]
UTV
ITV [Granada]
ITV+1 [Central]
ITV Wales
ITV [Meridian East]
ITV+1 [London]
CITV
ITV3
ITV4
ITV2+1
----------------------
10906 V 22000 5/6 QPSK
----------------------
ITV [Channel Islands]
ITV2
STV [Grampian]
STV [Scottish West]
STV [Scottish East]
STV [STV NE]
ITVBe
ITV+1 [Meridian]
ITV4+1
ITV [Central West]
ITV+1 [Granada]
ITV3+1
----------------------
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10:15 PM
To show the regions referenced in the preceding link, here is the current bun BSkyB (and Freesat) bouquets/regions summary in excel format:
https://www.sendspace.com…lfbt
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4:42 PM
I have recently stopped my sky TV in my bedroom returning the sky box and remote back to sky. I thought I would receive the normal TV channels, could you please help by telling me which equipment I need to get these channels, thank you, cynthia
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6:23 PM
Cynthia flint: Do you have an aerial connected to your TV? If it's an old TV that doesn't have a digital tuner (most will have the Freeview logo somewhere) then you will need a set top box.
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5:43 PM
Hi need some help getting back to normal t v programmes after having a sky box plugged into my sons old tele it has a non sudcription card in and was wondering after having got rid of my sons big heavy tv if I can get my smaller bedroom tv to work in its place the T v has been used in our bedroom ..Ican I connect up to the old Sky box and should it work Thank You
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11:18 PM
Henry Tench:
If your smaller TV has the relevant connectors for the sky box to connect to, there's no reason it shouldn't work.
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4:52 PM
I have an old Sky Box DSB50 from when I first joined Sky over ten years ago and which now use just to watch Freesat channels.
Three nights ago without warning a message suddenly appeared "No digital signal is being received"
The box lights up and I can see there is an input about halfway along the signal strength indicator but the signal quality line is empty.
I have done the recommended rebooting but to no effect. I have also jiggled the aerial to see if the alignment is out, but it a fairly new installation and is extremely securely fixed.
Please can you advise where the fault most likely lies. Is it with the aerial, or is it with the Sky Box? Has the box been made obsolete and if so is it worth getting a reconditioned replacement. Sky would not be interested as I hav not been a subscriber for several years and am no longer in their records.
Any help would be welcome. Many thanks!!!
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