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.
7:09 PM
I have sky multiroom in two rooms downstair. I would like to put freesat in two bedrooms upstairs using standard sky boxes. Will I be able to use the viewing card from one of the multi room boxes to watch my sky subscription channels upstairs occasionally?
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8:34 PM
Michelle Keable: It depends on whether or not when you had first taken out the multiroom subscription that Sky registered the serial numbers of the boxes being used over the one they had provided, that is if they supplied one free as part of the deal, as if they did then the card would not work unless inserted in that particular box as the card would only allow access if the serial number matched to the one programmed into the card.
However this might be academic, as the simple way to find out is to borrow a standard box and try a test with the multiroom card.
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12:17 PM
hi all is there anyway that ya can continue to use planner and programmes that ya have recorded... and also can ya record programemes of the free to air channels using the sky+ boxes. thankyou
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11:10 PM
i have a sky+box and i am thinking of stopping sky can i still watch the programs i recorded if i cancell sky
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6:43 AM
frankie: No! as Sky permanently retains access to the recorder / playback side of the box and will cancel this along with your ability to view their Sky package programmes.
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6:21 PM
I have got hd box in my room and my son keeps coming in and recording all his things he likes and after school is claiming my telly and sky, but he has sky set up in his room but was just getting free channels as got someone who put my television arial up to do it for him and he had basic box.
I wanted to know if i got a box with record play and rewind etc on it-example another BOX which has record on it can i put it in his room and he can play pause etc like in my room and record? What would be case if he used my card in it to watch things on the planner would this work? or would i need get shy to make record play etc pause work and pay for multiroom?
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9:28 PM
jayjay: Your son would not be able to record anything on a Sky+ box unless you had a multiroom subscription, and Sky would likely want to know the boxes serial number as cards are usually matched to the box whereby the card would only work in that particular box.
The other point being, that does your son have two feeds from the dish in his room? as Sky+ boxes as you will no doubt already know requires a dual feed from the dish.
Of course there is nothing to stop you from purchasing a Freesat PVR (recorder) for your son, as its 100% compatible with a Sky dish and connections from, and it doesn't require a contract to use it either!
By the way Freesat PVR's also require a twin feed from the dish.
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9:08 PM
Skegness
hi i have a freesat box and need a freesat box for tv iplayer i also need to no how to put more channeles on but dont no how
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leslierainer's: mapL's Freeview map terrainL's terrain plot wavesL's frequency data L's Freeview Detailed Coverage
10:44 AM
Hi There,
I have an existing sky quad lnb and am planning to run another 2 cables from it to a humax hdpvr, does anyone know if I can use standard satellite cable and f connectors for it rather than shotgun cable with the smaller ones?
Also do you need male connectors for going into the quad or female?
Thanks
Gareth
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5:28 PM
Gareth: It makes no difference what type of satellite cable you use as shotgun twin cable is only used because you can get a neater installation using it, and especially in installations where a Freesat PVR (or Sky+) is being used along with a Freesat TV and possibly a standard Sky box.
Shotgun cable is slightly less efficient on long runs though, and in these type of cases its best to use standard satellite coax such as WF100 or similar.
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