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)
6:24 PM
frances henry: it will need a tv aerial not a dish so it's either have one fitted or change it for a freesat box
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8:25 PM
frances henry: Yes, I suspected that might be the case when you had mentioned that the "one" on the box was a push in, and with this being the reason why I queried it.
Being unaware as to the circumstances with regards to the purchase of the box, insomuch whether its second hand or not? but what Mazbar has said is really your only option, and so you will have to weigh up the cost of paying for a suitable aerial being installed against that of purchasing a reasonable quality Freesat twin tuner recorder for use with the dish installation thats already installed.
When I say "quality" I am referring to such as seen in the link.
Humax FOXSATHDR-G Freesat twin tuner 320GB PVR (Grade A) - HUMAX UK Direct Sales Website
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6:12 PM
Thanks for all your help guys. I got a guy out an the box is now working although the remote which came with the box wont operate the tv for volume an turning off and on. Its an Acoustic Solutions tv. How do i get the remote to operate the tv? Once again thanks so much for your help, i am so green on technical issues
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10:59 PM
Frances Henry I had a quick look at Page 83 of the instruction manual on the Panasonic website and I can't see Acoustic Solutions mentioned so maybe it doesn't support that make of TV & you won't be able to use the remote to control the TV
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12:18 AM
frances henry: Just out of interest, what model of Acoustic Solutions TV are you referring to?
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9:11 AM
francis henry- while watching sky if you press "interactive" on the sky remote and select "sky customer services" you wiil find a page to help you program your sky remote to control the tv
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11:13 PM
the satellite dish on our rented property has 2 pairs of cables coming from it. one pair comes into the living room,the other onto a bedroom. i want to get a freesat plus box. do i need to have both pairs of cables connected to the box to be able to record tv? if so,is there an extra connector on the back of the box or do both pairs have to be connected by a common port?
many thanks.
Michael
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11:52 PM
michael r: To record tv on a satellite PVR you need one pair of cables from the dish. There are two input connections on the receiver, hence a pair of cables to supply signals to the box.
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7:58 PM
HI JUST MOVED IN TO A HOUSE WITH SAT DISH WITH TWO LEADS COMING FROM IT BUT NO SAT BOX.
CAN I RUN A LEAD TO TWO DIFFERENT ROOMS TO TWO HUMAN SAT BOXES TO RUN THE TWO ROOMS INDEPENDENTLY ?
I WOULD THEM CONNECT EACH BOX TO THE TV VIA A HARD DRIVER RECORDER.
It's either this or buy two tv aerial but its a shame not to use the dish.
Would I lose any tv channels by using sat instead of arial?
WOULD THIS WORK
ANY HELP OR COMMENTS GREATLY APPRECIATED
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8:52 PM
DAVE: The two leads are completely independent of each other and so you can use them in whatever way you want so long as each of is being used for a receiver and not a Freesat recorder, as both would then be required.
If you wish to use two Freesat recorders then you can change the LNB on the dish for a quad type and run an extra pair of cables to the second location, but though as far as the LNB is concerned have a look at where the two cables enter the block and see if there are two spare ports, because in recent times Sky engineers fitted quad blocks as standard.
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