Upgrading from Sky to Freesat
Brian Butterworth 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)
8:21 PM
Briantist: Ah! I find that interesting, has this been the case for long? my only reason for asking being that when one of my more distant sons stopped subscibing to Sky he found that after a week or so his card stopped allowing him access to his local ITV service plus 5*, him then having to purchase the "free to view" card.
Would this likely have been caused by an operator error at Sky's base?
| link to this comment |
jb38: Yes, Sky don't want the hassle of sending out new cards when people re-subscribe. Sometimes you have to power off with the card out and re-insert it, but otherwise there is no difference between an ex-subscription card and a "free to view" card.
Cards are only cancelled for two reasons - a new one has been sent out, or it has been "detected" in use abroad.
| link to this comment |
5:07 PM
I have a Sky HD+ box with twin LNB input and want to stop SKY basic subscription or £12.50 a month as we rarely watch Sky, mostly ITV 1&2 but still want to be able to have the watch and record and HD facilities.Is this possible without paying a subscription or changing the box for a Freesat HD+ one?
| link to this comment |
9:27 PM
Briantist: Thanks, I will keep that in mind.
When I was told what had happened I assumed that the Sky base operator had accidentally deactivated everything on his card by mistake rather than just his access to subscription channels, as although they are on the ball most of the time its not exactly unknown for the occasional mistake to be made now and again.
I used to have contacts who worked at the control base, albeit that they could be easily be mistaken for members of the secret service!
| link to this comment |
Peter Lee: The information you need is on Upgrading from Sky+HD to Freesat+HD | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
| link to this comment |
jb38: I was explained to me that Sky would like any of their ex-subscription customers to easily rejoin the subscription service.
Having to send out another card in the post is a "barrier" to getting someone back on-board - the option to "get your channels back immediately" is an "easy win" for Sky.
| link to this comment |
9:24 AM
HI, Was hoping you could help me. Do you know of any HD freesat recorders that can also use a sky freesat card as don't mind paying sky the £25 for their freesat card for the extra channels they offer over normal freesat but want to be able to record the channels too which skys freesat package box doesn't do and don't want to pay the £10 a month they want for the sky+ function.
Thanks for any advice or help.
| link to this comment |
Martin: No, there are none. Upgrading from Sky+HD to Freesat+HD | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for details.
| link to this comment |
12:16 AM
hi have recently stopped paying the rip off sky and bought a openbox s9 box . My sky dish has 2 feeds coming from the dish at first i plugged one into the openbox and one into the sky box also run a wire from the openbox to the sky box so it still had 2 feeds my problem is this at times when watching the openbox i got all the hd channels but now sky has ended i have removed the sky box so only have the one feed going to the openbox but some of the channels are now not working have tried the other feed just in case was also thinking of extending the distance between the sky dish and my house as it already has a little extender arm on it or could it be a bit simpler like the lnb settings any advice or tips more than welcome thanks in advance
| link to this comment |
Martin bindon: The connections to the dish should not effect each other, they are all separate, and the length of the cable should have no effect (unless it is very, very long).
| link to this comment |