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.
Bryan Preston: 27th June all Freeview channels become available to you. Two weeks before on 13th June BBC Two analogue will be switched off and replaced with BBC standard definition TV and radio digital channels.
There are alternative non-subscription satellite services. There is Freesat and "Freesat from Sky" so you don't have to pay subscription in order to have satellite television.
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6:25 PM
Through your site I understand that if I stop sky subscription I will lose the pause record replay function unless I pay £10 per month. The skyHD box is mine I paid for it without a sky subsidy. Please tell me how sky can legally get away with this, whilst watching free to air channels through our own box, remembering that free view has been forced upon us!! Surely a legal case needs to be taken.
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Roland: You signed a contract with them that specifically allows them to do this!
See Upgrading from Sky+HD to Freesat+HD | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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6:58 PM
My Mum has decided she no longer requires Sky, she has a Samsung Freeview HD TV but no external ariels.
Could you advise whether we will need to install an ariel for her or will she be able to connect directly to the Sky dish?
She is only really interested in ITV and BBC
channels. Her postcode is SG1 0AB.
Thanks Steve
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Steve Pollard: Just stop paying Sky and use the box to watch "Freesat from Sky", fSfS. There is no need to use Freeview.
If you want to have a recording device, swap the Sky box directly for a Freesat+ box.
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9:24 PM
My sky installation was working fine up until Saturday night, sometime between Fri and Sat it lost all channels except Ch5 and Sky News. This is all I can now receive.
I have 75% strength 50% quality on the signal. and the two channels Im getting are fine, no breakouts in picture or sound.
Ive tried a reset of the box, Ive tried a software update neither has made any difference.
The box is a panasonic 2.1.Z
Any suggestions welcome
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11:05 PM
Terry: These older Sky boxes can suffer from power supply problems of a nature that allows their tuners operating voltage to fall off slightly resulting in the signal quality dropping, as 50% is on the verges of being under whats acceptable.
This of course may not be the cause of your problem, although if not the only other thing that can cause a quality drop is the dish having been nudged slightly out of alignment, possibly by a high blustery wind, and so this aspect would require checking.
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4:57 PM
can i watch programs recorded on my sky+ box without a sky signal?
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8:54 PM
tony denvir: Yes! as far as I can remember anyway provided you still have an active Sky card installed, as if the subscription has been cancelled the recording side of the box will have been disabled.
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tony denvir: To add, you must have both an active subscription AND an working satellite connection to *WATCH* programmes on the hard drive.
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