menuMENU    UK Free TV logo Freesat

 

 

Click to see updates

Upgrading from Sky to Freesat

It takes less than five minutes to replace an existing satellite box with a Freesat one.

It takes less than five minutes to replace an existing satellit
published on UK Free TV

If you have an existing Sky or fSfS (Freesat from Sky) installation and want to go to upgrade to Freesat, it is a simple process.

First, buy the Freesat box from a Argos, Curry.digital, Comet, John Lewes or your local independent shop:



In the box you will find the Freesat box:



Also included will be a remote control, and this model also comes with a SCART cable, a HDMI cable and a stereo-with-composite cable. Unpack the ones you need:



You old Sky box looks like this:



Unplug the mains first from the Sky box, then pull out the SCART (or SCARTs) and then unscrew the connection to the satellite dish.



Remove the Sky box and fit the Freesat box. Reconnect the satellite cable (take care as to not damage the connection) and then the SCART and finally connect the mains power:



The box will look like this:



The box also contains the manual, which has full installation instructions. Finally fit the batteries into the remote control.



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:



(Apologies for the photos not being of the top quality)



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, 8 August 2011
I
ian from notts
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

11:07 PM

lesnicols,
cheers for the answers mate,
went with a skybox as it was by far the cheapest option to give me an rf output and provide bbc red button service

link to this comment
ian from notts's 253 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
A
abbey
10:14 PM

hi pple, i just recently moved into a new house with my family..and we decided to install freesat instead of the usual sky. after istalling the freesat, a new satellite dish and freesat box, which is working fine.
now am intrested in some tv channels/programmes from the usual sky and the free channels/views on it, so i want to ask if the sky box will work with the freesat dish connection ? if i connect the sky box to the cable frm the dish?

link to this comment
abbey's 1 post GB flag
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

6:33 AM

abbey: Yes, the connection is the same and the services use the same satellites.

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Friday, 12 August 2011
B
billy mcdowell
12:15 AM

Equipment- sky+ decoder, Wharfedale pvr, 120Gb hdd.
My question is, can i transfer programmes from my sky+ hdd to my
Wharfedale pvr hdd, edit said programmes (remove ads, etc) then dub
to disc?

link to this comment
billy mcdowell's 1 post GB flag
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

1:15 PM

billy mcdowell: No, you can't do that. Sky+ has only analogue outputs, and the PVR only digital recording, and no editing faculties.

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Jake Smith
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

8:07 AM

jim IOW: On the IOW, I would have thought Freeview reception would be relatively good. Maybe an aerial, cable, and receiver upgrade might be better. It would be much cheaper to buy all of those components, than set up for satellite. If you do wish to go for satellite, i'd advise on the maplin 'satellite suitcase', for Astra 28.2, i've found it to be relatively good (and I picked it up at a car boot for £2 :D ).

link to this comment
Jake Smith's 25 posts TR flag
Thursday, 18 August 2011
M
MattB
8:20 AM

I have recently switched to Freesat on a boat using a portable kit (Labgear28208lab) which runs off 12v. I am impressed with the general ease of use, but many channels although found have no, or very occassional reception. For example I can receive BBC South reliably, but not BBC East Midlands, or BBC North - I get a 'no signal' message. Also I cannot see how to get a BBC Red Button service. thanks

link to this comment
MattB's 1 post GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:07 AM

MattB: You must have a "branded" Freesat box to be able to use the red button services, as the MHEG-5 system is required.

The different BBC regions are on different transponder with different polarity settings, you may have a problem with the LNB not setting the correct polarity.

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Friday, 19 August 2011
F
Frithe
6:10 PM

Hiya. I have cancelled my sky subscription. I can receive channels, but not sure how many as the programme guide lists all those on Sky as you know! I haven't had to purchase a freesat from sky card, but still get the channels. Can you please tell me the benefits of buying another freesat box as opposed to just keeping this sky plus box going? Would I get more channels or something?
Thanks

link to this comment
Frithe's 3 posts GB flag
M
Mike Dimmick
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

6:27 PM

Frithe: You would actually get slightly fewer channels with a Freesat box, and the possibility that your local ITV1 region would change (some ITV1 regions are encrypted, requiring a Sky box and viewing card to decode). However, you would be able to purchase a Freesat+ recorder - recording and timeshifting requires a minimum £10/month payment to Sky if you have a Sky+ or Sky+HD box - and the EPG will only show the channels you can actually watch.

There is a comparison of channels at Compare Freesat and Freesat-from-Sky TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

link to this comment
Mike Dimmick's 2,486 posts GB flag
Select more comments

Your comment please
Please post a question, answer or commentUK Free TV is here to help people. If you are rude or disrespectful all of your posts will be deleted and you will be banned.







Privacy policy: UK Free Privacy policy.