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.
8:59 PM
John Smith: The only HD channels that can be viewed on a Sky+HD without a subscription are: BBC1 HD / BBC2 HD / ITV1 HD / Ch4 HD and a few others of the news variety, you cannot view Ch5 in HD.
You can of course find out for yourself which channels can still be viewed in HD, simply done by removing your viewing card and running through the HD channels normally viewed.
The aforementioned test is more accurate if the Sky box is switched off after having removed the viewing card, restarting the box minus the card.
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10:52 AM
We are thinking of leaving SKY but use the recording ability of the SKY PLUS box. Will we lose that if we discontinue and what would be an alternative (Would it be Freesat ?)
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Clive: I have the HUMAX
FREESAT-HDR1010 Humax FREESAT-HDR1010 White | freesat+ G2 Box 1TB Hard Drive PVR | Richer Sounds which I paid much more than the current £190.It also has wireless internet access for iPlayer, ITV Player and other on demand services.
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2:57 PM
Hi just moved house and TV upstairs only has sky connector I have an old had sky box (and sky downstairs) but no viewing card.. How do I get it to work for just basic channels ? How would I get a viewing card?.. Without subscribing to sky? Thanks
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5:09 PM
Sally: Sky boxes will work perfectly OK without any card being inserted into the slot, as all the card does when used in a non subscription basis is to allocate the correct news services / adverts etc for the area you reside in, otherwise London is the default region.
Viewing cards purely for this purpose can be obtained from Sky at a once only cost of around £25.00.
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12:23 PM
I unplugged my sky box and unscrewed the two connectors pulled out the scart and the power lead. Leaving the box with no leads in it. I have now put it back exactly as it was and it is showing no signal. Can you suggest anything I can do to fix this.
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9:40 PM
Mrs Sandra hawkins: Try placing the box in standby for 15 secs or so before disconnecting it from the mains, then whilst its in that state swap the two screwed connectors over, that is "if" you are referring to LNB1 & LNB2?
Finally, reconnect the box into the mains supply and allow it to go through its usual set up procedure, which by the way, can take a few minutes to complete.
Is the box in question a Sky+ or Sky+HD device?
Further advice dependant on feedback.
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9:27 PM
I want to have bt tv but only have a dish for free sat can I use this to get freeview with bt or just use Internet for bt tv for sport to my tv
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11:43 PM
Bryn Pond:
A dish only receives signals from the satellite it is aimed at, in your case that would the ones used for Freesat and Sky. Freeview is quite different as it is transmitted using ground-based masts, so you cannot use a satellite dish to get Freeview transmissions, you would need a traditional aerial to get Freeview.
You should discuss your options with BT directly and they can advise how you can receive their services. I am aware that if you use BT as your ISP (Internet Service Provider) you can arrange to have BT TV via that service - but note that you need at least an Infinity package to get sufficient download speed and you may want to consider whether a 20 Gb per month allowance is enough for your needs, if not then chose the Unlimited package.
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2:07 PM
I have moved house and am using the last owners old sky box with two tvs and newly bought freesat boxes. I want to put another tv in my sons bedroom but there was only two downstairs connectors for the satellite and what appears to be a digital aerial cable upstairs. I cant see more than two connectors on the satellite dish. How should I proceed
Thank you
Tricia Camm
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