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.
12:07 AM
can I use my freeview box (reciever) without an outside dish? My ariel is in the loft. However there seems to be a dish ouside which has been left by previous resident...
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12:33 AM
maria ryan: Dishes can "only" be used by either Sky or Freesat boxes. If you reside in a bad reception area or alternatively one covered only by a Freeview "light" station, i.e: no commercial channels other than ITV, Channel 4/5 etc, then purchasing a Freesat box (around just under 50) would be to your advantage, it providing a full range of channels.
That said is on the assumption that the cable / connection point from the dish is still intact.
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7:32 PM
I have a freesat dish installed, can I just buy a second hand sky+ box and connect it up to receive the freesat channels? Or would I need a subscription card inserted even though im not subscribing?
Many thanks in advance
Kirsty
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3:38 PM
Kirsty:
You ideally need a Freesat box, no card is needed at all. There are some very good boxes available, some are very cheap and should be avoided. A second-hand Sky box will work without a card but may not give you all the channels, so best to buy a Freesat box designed for the purpose.
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This is wildly out of date.
Yesterday, 5* and 5 USA, have been available FTA., and on Freesat, for some time.
They are available FTA on on Sky boxes with no account & no card needed.
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2:24 PM
Hi, we have sky+ box on subscription at the moment, but looking to cancel, as kids moving out soon. I want to buy a bigger TV now my eyes are getting older! Should I get a TV with freesat hd built in, or with freeview hd built in? Thinking this may give most flexibility in the future, covering both bases.... Any thoughts? Thanks, Kev.
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4:22 PM
Kev:
I personally would be looking to get a TV with an HD tuner and Freesat. That way you get the best of both worlds with no subscription costs. You may lose some channels that are unique to Sky subscribers though. Some may suggest merely stopping the subscription but you lose the record facility and can only watch some channels in HD. You can test it by temporarily removing your Viewing Card and seeing what you get. That's why a newer TV will be better.
Make sure the TV actually does have a DVB-T2 tuner to receive the HD multiplexes as more and more channels are being transferred, it is more efficient and allows HD services and the addition of more later. Many TVs sold as being 'HD Ready' do not have an HD tuner! Avoid them at all costs.
I have an LG 32LB585V about a year old. It suits us admirably (I'm 70 and my wife is 76 - she'll kill me for saying!) and it doesn't dominate the room as it's not too big (my brother has a 55" and it's terrible to watch as it's far too big for the room. It's also mounted too high so we all get aching necks!). There are other makes and models that include Freeview HD and Freesat. None, as far as I know, have a record capability. For that you will need a 'set top box' with the facility built-in. They are available for Freeview or Freesat - but as separate boxes as I am not aware of any that do both Freeview and Freesat - unless others can enlighten us.
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Kev: A stand alone Freesat receiver, with an HDD, like those made by Humax, is probably the best option, especially if used to that on a Skybox.
I don't know of any TV sets with built-in Hard Drives.
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Mikesey's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
7:32 PM
Kev: MikeP is correct - get a TV from a decent brand (the big 4) and they should all have Freeview HD as standard (although at least the ones that dont will now have to say!), and both LG and Sony should have at least one generic sat. tuner in the back. Many higher level 4K Samsung sets will have Freesat, as will the occasional Panasonic. Get the right size for the room (one size up from your current isn't a bad rule of thumb), and get the best panel you can for your money. Basically, the more it costs, the better the blacks and the movement is. As a guide, a decent 40-43in 2D set with 3 HDMI's, smart and Freeview HD should be roughly 350.
There are no longer TV's with hard drives for recording built in, and there were very few in the first place. However, pretty much all TV's can record to a USB stick or hard drive. However, since the bulk of them only have one tuner, you can't watch something else while recording a channel. Its much better to buy a PVR, with Miksey's suggestion being an excellent one - as long as you've got Sky plus, etc, its a straight swap.
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12:33 PM
You can plug a standalone Hard Drive recording unit into most modern TV sets to record directly from TV via a usb connection. I have 2x - one for my TV and one for my Technomate TM 6902 European Satellite receiver. Gives up to 4x recordings at once with this set up - and you can watch a pre-recorded programme as you record another - or use them to record say if someone interrupts your viewing say a knock at the door or a phone call - then come back and pick up watching where you left off. Both my Hard Drive boxes I use are the same as used for extra computer space use. One is a Seagate, the other Western Digital. Google for 'usb hdd for tv recording'. There are many options available.
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