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.
7:52 PM
Hi Les thanks for that. Do I have to pay the extra £10 even if I don't want the HD channels. We have recently brought a plasma TV and my brother thinks that the picture would be really good through a HD box.
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8:44 PM
Michaela - I myself don't have SKY that's why I suggested you contact them to clarify the options available and any cost implecations. Perhaps Briantist or other contributors to the site can give you a more difinitive answer here.
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8:48 PM
Kelly - It may well be OK but you would really need to get it checked out and would suggest a recommended local dish installer. If serviceable might need minor upgrading.
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8:49 PM
Kelly,a freesat receiver should pick up all astra 2d and eurobird 1 channels provided that it is connected and aligned properly.Dish should work if LNB is in working order.A sky dish and Thomson LNB gives best results for freesat.I have 80% signal strength on all freesat channels using second hand equipment,some oh it rescued from a skip.
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11:01 AM
I do not have equipment for testing for aligning dish for freesat signals.The best method is to select a high frequency channel such as CBS Reality opn your EPG,then move dish until strong signal is received.If reception is satisfactory,then dish is aligned for macximum signal.I have tried and tested all sorts of equipment.All obtained from my local council recycling centre.
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12:26 PM
Hi just installed freesat,all working fine in the channel settings menu you are able to add some freeview channels if you know the mhz the channel is being broadcast on.
Can any one help me with the mhz of a channel called yesterday which is on freeview but not on freesat.
thanks
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lee rose: Yesterday is not free-to-air on satellite, but part of the Sky subscription packages. You can't add it to Freesat, even if you have the frequency.
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5:03 PM
Hi,
I have just connected a old sky box to my sky dish , I know i should receive Free to Air channels but currently am only able to receive BBC1 BBC2 ITV 1,2 Cannel4 but not channel five.
Question, what channels should i be able to receive?
Question, other than the above mentioned all other channels on the listings say viewing card required, should i be able to view say sky 3 on F.T.A ?
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9:19 PM
Hi, If I buy a sky+ box and dish off ebay and just connect it all up, without a card, would i be able to view all the free to air channels and be able to use the record and pause functionality that you get with sky+
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