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.
1:41 AM
Hi, I have sky plus in our lounge and an ordinary sky box through multi room in the bedroom, though i don't pay for sky HD.I'm thinking of getting a Smart TV with 3D and HD
freesat/view. Can i swap between the 2 to make use of the HD on the freeview?
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2:51 PM
Dave C: Although not quite clear about what you are intending to do, but if you are referring to swapping the two Sky boxes over so that the one with access to the "free to view" HD channels can be coupled into your intended new purchase then yes, the only point being, that if one of boxes is just a standard model then it will only have one single coax feed and so a second one will require to be run from the dish, or alternatively just diverted from its present position should its cable length allow, although this can be extended by using "F" connector couplings onto a length of sat grade coax.
Should you be meaning other than this then please clarify.
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11:14 AM
Hi i have sky hd in one room, can i use a freesat box in another room at the same time, the dish has a quad type lmb so i was hoping to get one with a hard dive to record
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12:07 PM
rod: Yes, as The Freesat recorder requires two feeds from the dish exactly the same as your Sky+HD box, and so the quad LNB's four outputs will be used.
By the way there are no technical differences between Sky or Freesat reception as far as anything connected to the dish or feeds from are concerned.
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2:50 PM
having read a lot of the posts here I just want to make sure I am understanding this right.
I have sky+ but I think only one cable from dish to box. I want to cancel my subscription. When I do then I'll be able to watch some channels but not record or rewind - is that right?
I was thinking of going Freesat+ but to watch one and record another I'll need another cable - is that right?
Cheers for your help and Happy Christmas
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les: Yes, you have to pay $ky for the dubious priviledge of using your box to record.
For satellite reception you need a separate feed (cable) from the dish to the box in order to watch one channel and record another.
From a reception point of view, Sky and Freesat are the same. Thus a Freesat PVR ("Freesat+" box) requires two cables from the dish, just as Sky+ does.
The bit on the arm of the dish to which the cables connect is the LNB. LNBs are available from sources such as eBay for around £10. If your LNB has only one port (one connection) then it can be replaced with a dual or quad and an additional cable run from it to your TV's location.
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4:11 PM
les: With reference to that said at the start of "your" second paragraph regarding the one cable from the dish to the box, if you genuinely have Sky+ then you "must" have two cables unless you have the box set to single feed operation, which if you had would result in you being seriously limited in what you would be able to record, this being because that anyone using that mode can only record programmes on the same polarity as the programme that is being viewed hence the reason for twin feeds being necessary, and as mentioned by Dave Lindsay.
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10:05 PM
I have an old sky box about 10 to 12 years old up to a few weeks ago was working fine, but now I just have picture with very low fizzing sound. Have tried turning on and off, which jenrerly works but not this time. Can you help ? It's just a standed box no + or HD. Thanks.
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11:45 PM
James B: Very few Sky boxes of that age are still operating because of them having developed power supply problems, your particular fault possibly being caused by the same reason that of defective capacitors.
But though press "services" then 4 - 6 and check what the signal levels are indicating, as both strength and quality have to be around 60% of the way along the scale for reliable reception, anything less than that is liable to cause problems.
Just out of curiosity, does this noise you refer to alter any when you change the channel?
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12:02 AM
James B: Also meant to add, that to double check the scart connectors just to make sure that they are both firmly seated into the sockets, this preferably done by removing then reinserting them again as this action cleans the contacts.
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