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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
Monday, 6 June 2011
M
Mal Deay
6:15 PM
High Wycombe

Hi,

We currently can't receive digital channels through our TV antenna in our area so we currently have Sky+ - If I purchase a Freesat box for upstairs and just connect another cable to the Sky dish and we'll get the free to view digital channels??

Thanks

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Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:25 PM

Mal Deay: No. If you want another receiver, get a FreeSAT box and attach it directly to one of the spare outputs of your dish's quad LNB.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
B
Bill
10:28 AM

Briantist! Thanks very much for your help

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Bill's 2 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

6:14 PM

Bill: Thank you.

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D
Doug Balmer
11:06 PM
Knaresborough

I had a look at a Panasonic Freesat box today - liked the idea of it having a builtin CD/DVD player.

The salesman gave the impression that this sort of configuration was only available on Panasonic boxes.

Is he right?



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Doug Balmer's 3 posts GB flag
Doug's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

7:47 AM

Doug Balmer: Yes, I think that Panasonic are the only box makers that provide that particular configuration.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Thursday, 9 June 2011
E
Edwina
12:13 PM

Hi, we have UPC at moment but did have Sky before and still have both dish and a couple of sky boxes. Could I set it up at this stage even if I haven't been with sky in a few years. Also how do I go about doing it? Thanks

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Edwina's 1 post IE flag
P
Penny
4:40 PM

hi, i currently have v+, can i connect a freesat+ box to my virgin connection like you can sky. I still want to have record, pause and rewind feature.

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Penny's 4 posts GB flag
Friday, 10 June 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

8:22 AM

Penny: No, if you use cable you have to rent your equipment from Virgin Media.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

8:30 AM

Edwina: Yes, you can, see the instructions at the top of the page.

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