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.
7:31 AM
The other day my skydigibox told me to turn off box for 5mins then reboot did this and everything ok yesterday box made popping sound now doesnt work tried another box no luck whats happened
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9:25 AM
Simone
No sky will switch the card of if you cancel you subs, you will only be able to watch the Free channels .
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9:37 AM
Karl Lusby
I need a bit more information to correctly diagnose your fault,when you say not working,is the standby light on? or is it just not getting channels is there any messages being displayed,ie no signal or something like that.
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12:32 PM
thanks for the reply tom, just to clarify i wont be able to watch the recorded programs if i cancel?
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6:22 PM
simone
[Quote:Sunday 10 April 2011 12:32PM
5 hours ago thanks for the reply tom, just to clarify i wont be able to watch the recorded programs if i cancel?]
Simone, you will lose all the nice bits of Sky, if you cancel down to "Free-sat from Sky"
This includes watching stuff you have already recorded on your box!
The only way round it is to "down-grade" to the cheapest Family pack, and ask them to keep your record facility, cost around £19.50. Sky will do this over the phone.
If you have Sky+ HD, this is the best way, as the amount of HD is pathetic, at the moment, on Freeview!
Total cost £19.50+£10.00 per month for Family Pack of your choice + record facility and HD.
Rom.
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10:37 PM
Hi I have moved into a new house that has a sky dish already attached. I bought over a skybox n card that is used in my sisters multiroom at my parents house. Pugged it in hoping it would work in my new house but it jus says no signal being received. Is there a way around this that would stop me having to subscribe to sky for my new house?
Any info would be a great help.
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12:24 AM
Brain,
Assuming the box worked perfectly, when at your Parent's house, there are 2 things you can check out. And a couple of points you will probably have to get checked for you.
1; The "F" plug at the sky-box end, has it got a little piece of the thin inner cable sticking out, just a little, from the plug so that it makes good contact with the box?
2; Follow the cable-run through the house, and make sure it's not damaged, or cut, or got any joins in!! (You must not have ANY joins in a Sky cable, even if it's one of those ones that look good, with the screw ends, they are CRAP)
That only leaves the LNB and dish itself, LNBs do sometimes fail, and the dish can become misaligned, high winds etc. Depending on your abilities, you may well have to get someone to check these last two items for you.
Just a thought, while you have the remote in your hand:
Press "Services",
4-0-1,
"Select"
In the menu you now see, check:
Default transponder, should be 11.778, with "V" in the line below, (not "H").
Then scroll down and make sure the power supply to the LNB is "ON".
If you need to reset anything in this menu, remember to scroll to the bottom and choose "Save settings" then back-up, back-up twice.
If the box was working o.k. at your Parents, I would think these settings would be correct.
Finally, you should get SOMETHING on the box, Sky News, BBC, ITV, etc, even without a card, however WHAT you get, will depend on the card and subs paid etc. The fact that it's in a different location won't make any difference to the box acually WORKING.
Good luck, hope this helps.
Rom.
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