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.
6:55 PM
Deedee if you are just going to get normal freesat not freesat + that should be fine as you will normaly have a quad lnb this will let you run 2 extra coax leads to the 2 extra bedrooms if you want 2 freesat + boxs you will need 4 extra coax leads 2 too each bedroom and a octi lnb these are can cost so you can make your own choice hope this helps
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2:09 PM
Staines
i have lost channals 12 and 15 can you help
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johnson's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
1:32 PM
I have a Sky Plus HD box but I have recently cancelled my Sky HD subscription. I understood that now I can use the HD box as a digital box and receive the free channels - freesat? Firstly is that correct?
Secondly, I have plugged my HD box into the TV ariel plus the AV1 or AV2 socket on my tv. The box I have is turning on and is working through my tv but the Sky box can't find a signal and therefore I have no access using the box to any TV channels.
Is there anything I am doing wrong or can do to start receiving the free channels?
BTW I don't know if this makes a difference but my TV is a HD Ready tv.
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3:08 PM
Holly: The answer to the first question is yes, but its Sky free to view that you will be able to watch and not exactly Freesat as such, although both are very similar except that some programmes on Sky FTV are not on Freesat and vice-versa, and of course as you will probably already know that you cannot use the recording side of the Sky box nor play back anything previously recorded.
Secondly, its maybe a slip of the tongue on your part, but an aerial is no use for a satellite box as it has to be connected to a dish, although only one dish lead is required and which has to be connected into the Sky boxes LNB1 input.
If your TV is HD ready then you should just have used the HDMI lead between the box and the TV and leave the scart leads off.
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10:35 PM
Hi there,
I've just bought a flat with two arials, one a two-pronged Sky lead in a suitable place for a TV in the living room, one a normal lead in another room that is not somewhere we want to have a TV.
My wife and I don't watch that much TV and don't want to get Sky. From reading the above discussions it seems that either we could plug one of the prongs from the Sky cable into our HD TV directly, or maybe through a Sky box, and access a version of Freeview channels without having to pay for Sky. Does that seem correct? Advice greatly appreciated.
Best wishes, Col
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Col: If you don't wish to subscribe to Sky, there is Freesat available. You use the same satellite dish to receive it. There are differences in what channels are available.
See: Compare Freeview and Freesat TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
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6:37 PM
I have a sky hd box downstairs and sky+ upstairs.I have freeview HD tvs up and downstairs. If I cancel my HD connection with sky will I still be able to watch BBC,ITV,channel 4 and 5 HD channels. I have no ariels in the house just a sky dish
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Punchykow: You will be able to watch BBC One, BBC HD, Channel 4 and ITV HD if you stop the subscription, as they are broadcast free-to-air. Channel 5 HD requires a subscription.
You will, of course, only be able to watch the channels on you Sky HD box, not the Sky+ box.
If you replace the Sky+ with a Freesat+HD box (which is a simple swap-over) you will get the above HD channels.
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6:36 PM
I subscribe to Sky for a long time, but I only use the internet part of it. I recently ditched the analog aerial, and still manage to receive all free-to-air channels through Sky satellite dish.
My question is, can I change all my old analog tv cables with new digital tv cables and amplifier booster to get a better signal? or this is a bad move?
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11:15 PM
Marlborough
As I receive freeview from a relay transmitter in Marlborough wiltshire, I have a very limited choice of just 14 tv channels. when can I expect to get the full list including itv4?
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Trevor's: mapT's Freeview map terrainT's terrain plot wavesT's frequency data T's Freeview Detailed Coverage