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Upgrading from Sky+HD to Freesat+HD

What to do if you want to stop subscribing to Sky+HD but do wish to record/pause/play free HD television.

What to do if you want to stop subscribing to Sky+HD but do wis
published on UK Free TV

You might get a glossy magazine every month, but what do Sky really think of your custom?

"Give me a f**king name on a direct debit and it's mine for life,"
- Sam Chisholm, former boss of BSkyB.


Perhaps you responded to an offer like the one blow that promised a gratis Sky+HD box (for new customers taking their first Sky+HD package) with free standard set-up



But you were so excited with the thought of a £50 M&S voucher that you didn't think to follow each of the little daggers and little stars to quite read all the terms and conditions:



So, your twelve months of commitment are over and, for reasons of budget (or politics) you have decided you want to keep all the features of Sky+ - live pause, high definition, extended electronic programme guide, series record, and recording two programmes at once whilst you watch another - but don't want to fork out every month on top of your TV Licence - and you still get hundreds of free TV channels

Here's what you can do.

First you need to buy a Freesat+HD box. There are many on the market, and can be bought from Argos, Currys DIGITAL, John Lewis, Comet and online at Amazon, as well as other stores.

When you use a Freesat+HD box NO SUBSCRIPTION HAS TO BE PAID. NONE. NOT A PENNY TO ANYONE.

Installing

This will take no more than ten minutes. First you will need to disconnect the Sky+HD box mains from the wall socket.

Then you will need to disconnect the cables from the back of the Sky+HD box.

Pull out the mains power connection (1), carefully unscrew the satellite dish links (2) and (3), and then take out the HDMI lead (4) to your HDTV. If you have an "surround sound" amplifier, you may also have a digital audio connection (5).

Remove the Sky+HD box and put the Freesat+HD box back in the same position.



Then reconnect the cables: the mains power cable (1) - but not to the wall just yet, screw the two satellite dish links (2) and (3) and connect the HDMI cable (4) to your HDTV. If you had one, reconnect the digital audio connection (5).

If you have an Ethernet router, you can connect it to the Freesat+HD box at this point (5).

With everything in place, turn on the mains power and power up the Freesat+HD box.

The TV screen first displays the box's logo



The first set-up screen allows you to select the TV type, widescreen mode and resolution:



Next the box checks for the satellite signal:



Then there is a check for updated software:



Then you enter your postcode and the box checks it:



The next step is a scan for channels. This takes about 30 seconds:



And that's it. You can now view channels, like 108 for BBC HD:



Or press the GUIDE button for the EPG:



And that's it.

Help with Free satellite?
What can I do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fau1
Can I receive UK TV in Ghana?2
What is a CA module?3
My box says "No Satellite signal being received"4
Is there any way I can get free channels via satellite and have the kind of hard5
In this section
Freesat adds a plethora of new channels in time for Christmas including channel 1
A tale of a two Freesat boxes2
Yesterday, Drama and Really joining Freesat this month3
PBS America joins Freesat for Halloween4
Fixing the Freesat Freetime internet connection problem5
Satellite TV operators FRANSAT, TIVUSAT and our Freesat launch FreeTV Alliance 6

Comments
Thursday, 5 May 2011
M
Mike Dimmick
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

6:27 PM

Reg Burns: Very few Freeview devices have an RF modulator output and none understand Magic Eye, as far as I know. You can get plug-in RF modulators that connect to the box's SCART socket, and other infra-red remote control extenders, but I don't know of any generic remote control extenders that piggy-back on the TV wiring.

If you're not bothered about watching recorded programmes in the bedroom, you could just get a regular Freeview or Freeview HD set-top box.

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Mike Dimmick's 2,486 posts GB flag
Sunday, 8 May 2011
P
Pete
3:42 PM
Glasgow

I have a Sky dish and HD box and my Sky subscription (after 12 years)ends at the begining of June and would like to know if by obtaining a Freesat viewing card from Sky
what features of the HD box will be available

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Pete's 1 post GB flag
Pete's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Monday, 9 May 2011
K
Keith
4:19 AM

I have just terminated my Sky subscription does any one know how to view the remaining recordings that I have left on the Sky HD+ box

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Keith's 1 post GB flag
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

7:38 AM

Keith - I would normally advise anyone who is contemplating terminating their SKY subs to make sure they view their recordings prior to taking this step or during the period of notice to do so. It is possible to remove the hard drive and requires specific software to do this and not a process for the faint hearted. SKY disable your products ability to record when you stop your subscription - which you probably are aware of. "Freeesat" DTR's aren't open to this restrictive practice an action that makes SKy's offer to provide it's customers with a "Free" as advertised in their promotional material as somewhat of a "sham".

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
S
Steve
10:21 AM

If I terminate my Sky+HD subscription when the digital changeover occurs in my region can I still use my SKY+HD box to receive and record & playback FREESAT TV ? Or do I have to buy a new FreeSAT box? What do I have to do ? How much do Sky charge for retaining their Recording/Playback feature...? Thanks...

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Steve's 2 posts GB flag
I
Ian Rangeley
11:41 AM

Hi Steve, Sky have it tied up so you can not legally record Satelite programs once you terminate your contract. I now use a Humax HD Freesat system with 320GB drive for recording. There are lots of programes inc film channels that you can veiw and record for free. All with no subscription and new channels being added regulary
Regards Ian in Devon

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Ian Rangeley's 3 posts GB flag
M
Mike Dimmick
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

2:35 PM

Ian Rangeley, Steve: I don't think there's anything legal about it, they just consider recording an extra service to pay for and their boxes won't record, or let you play back recorded programmes, if you don't have an active subscription.

It's reportedly possible to get them to just activate recording, but they want £10 per month.

You can migrate to Freesat at any point - it's already up and running, you don't have to wait for your region to switch over. Switchover only affects TV through an aerial - satellite TV switched over to digital 10 years ago.

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Mike Dimmick's 2,486 posts GB flag
S
Steve
4:44 PM

Thank you to both Ian & Mike for helping to clarify my understanding ~ much appreciated. Steve.

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Steve's 2 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
G
Greg
11:10 AM

Hi,I have a sky+ HD box installed and am running a tv in the bedroom and one in the office from it. I can only watch the same programmes on both tv's and wish to view programmes independently from each set. If i get an extra sky+HD box and have that connected up will i have too pay an extra subscription also?
Many thanks

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Greg's 1 post GB flag
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

12:23 PM

Greg - Yes. You could get a "Freesat" HD or HD DTR recorder Which will allow you to view and or record dependent on the model chosen. "Freesat" is supported by the BBC and ITV. Whilst you wouldn't get all what
you can get on SKY dependent on your subscription package you will receive over 200 channels and several hundred more with a receiver that can switch between the "Freesat" EPG and European standard FTA EPG - free to air. Effectively this gives you the ability to watch alternative channels from that on your existing SKY box You will require feeds from you existing dish which will have two spare connectors on the dish LNB to facilitate this. - Not expensive if you have to have a rigger to do this. Sky themselves would charge you their standard charge about dougble that of a local reputable tradesman.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
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