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.
8:24 PM
Hi, Me and wife caravan and take a sky box. I set up the dish on a tripod and have much success. I was looking at motorising the dish so that it would locate the satelite automatically. Will I need any other equipment or will the sky box control the motor. Any help would be apreciated.
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9:53 PM
Why is it I dont get any radio channels on my freeview when I update the radio channels are there then when I restart the freeview box they are not there can u explain why this is happing thanks
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12:53 PM
I have a built-in Freeview tv but only get 20 tv channels and 11 radio channels from the normal aerial, but is it possible to splice into an existing Sky dish and receive Freeview channels?
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Corneilius: No! This is because Freeview channels come from a transmitter on the ground and the satellite points to a satellite - these are two totally separate platforms.
A small proportion of the population can only receive the Public Service Freeview channels, which I gather is what you have. In some cases a replacement aerial may bring in all channels, but this can only be advised with knowledge of your location, preferably in the form of postcode or a postcode of a nearby property such as a shop.
Your other possibility is to use the dish for Freesat.
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5:00 PM
I just got STUNG good and proper by Virgin.
When they turned my tv off literally left me with 6 channels,then a new trick,they made the channels go red,like you're viewing mars.
I had an old non hd sky box,plugged it into dish,i can now get 100 plus channels without a card!!!!!
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andys:
Good luck with that.
It will only last until the system realises the box shouldn't be receiving channels.
When it stops just get a freesat box from argos, currys etc and it will do the trick.
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10:36 PM
andys: The Sky box will receive the free to air channels without a viewing card in the same way that a Freesat box or generic satellite box does. Mind you, although 100 channels sounds impressive many are either shopping channels or regional variations for BBC1 and ITV!
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2:42 PM
My daughter has just moved into a property where there is only a Sky (aerial) socket in the lounge, no other aerial socket is available except in her bedroom. She has a free view ready tv. Could someone advise on her options please?
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10:29 PM
It seems I am in a similar situation to the post above. I am now in a property where all Aerials etc lead to a sky dish and my freeview tv can't pick any signal up from it at all.
Is my best move to but a free sat box?
Thanks
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10:39 PM
GailC & JKF:
If you are not allowed to have a Freeview terrestrial aerial installed, your best option (in my opinion) would be to get a FreeSat box. That can use an existing dish that is aimed to get Sky services as FreeSat use the same satellites.
A Dish can *never* get Freeview as it is not a satellite based service but uses the same transmitters on the ground as originally used for terrestrial analogue television.
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