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Upgrading from Sky to Freesat

It takes less than five minutes to replace an existing satellite box with a Freesat one.

It takes less than five minutes to replace an existing satellit
published on UK Free TV

If you have an existing Sky or fSfS (Freesat from Sky) installation and want to go to upgrade to Freesat, it is a simple process.

First, buy the Freesat box from a Argos, Curry.digital, Comet, John Lewes or your local independent shop:



In the box you will find the Freesat box:



Also included will be a remote control, and this model also comes with a SCART cable, a HDMI cable and a stereo-with-composite cable. Unpack the ones you need:



You old Sky box looks like this:



Unplug the mains first from the Sky box, then pull out the SCART (or SCARTs) and then unscrew the connection to the satellite dish.



Remove the Sky box and fit the Freesat box. Reconnect the satellite cable (take care as to not damage the connection) and then the SCART and finally connect the mains power:



The box will look like this:



The box also contains the manual, which has full installation instructions. Finally fit the batteries into the remote control.



The TV screen first displays the box's logo



The first set-up screen allows you to select the TV type, widescreen mode and resolution:



Next the box checks for the satellite signal:



Then there is a check for updated software:



Then you enter your postcode and the box checks it:



The next step is a scan for channels. This takes about 30 seconds:



And that's it. You can now view channels, like 108 for BBC HD:



Or press the GUIDE button for the EPG:



(Apologies for the photos not being of the top quality)



Help with Free satellite?
What can I do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fau1
Can I receive UK TV in Ghana?2
What is a CA module?3
My box says "No Satellite signal being received"4
Is there any way I can get free channels via satellite and have the kind of hard5
In this section
Freesat adds a plethora of new channels in time for Christmas including channel 1
A tale of a two Freesat boxes2
Yesterday, Drama and Really joining Freesat this month3
PBS America joins Freesat for Halloween4
Fixing the Freesat Freetime internet connection problem5
Satellite TV operators FRANSAT, TIVUSAT and our Freesat launch FreeTV Alliance 6

Comments
Thursday, 27 September 2012
C
Craigywaigy2
9:40 PM

Hi, it seems no matter what postcode we type in over a 50 mile radius it won't accept any postcode, shall I try to speak to goodmans?

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Craigywaigy2's 3 posts GB flag
Friday, 28 September 2012
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:19 AM
Wakefield

Craigywaigy2: Try a test code of WF4 1AS and that should result you receiving Yorkshire area TV, if not work then the box has to be defective as nothing external to it can cause the problem you are experiencing as the dishes LNB only determines the polarity of what is received and nothing else.

Sky and Freesat boxes work exactly the same as far as post codes are concerned, the only difference with Sky being that your post code area is coded into the Sky card and this being why only Sky can alter it, whereas with Freesat its the users choice to determine where they want their local news services to be from.




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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
jb38's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:31 AM

Craigywaigy2: Also meant to say that you should carry out a "first time install" on the box before entering the code, this info applicable to Goodmans Freesat PVR's as I am unaware of the model of Goodmans you are referring to.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
A
Alan Cuthbertson
8:15 AM

Hi
I'm in spain watching free view through my sky box with an expired card. Will it work if I buy a free view box and swap it for the sky box? Will I rec HD (the box i'm thinking of getting is a HD box the t.v.is also HD) ready.

Thanks

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Alan Cuthbertson's 1 post ES flag
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

9:44 AM

Alan Cuthbertson: You are watching A Satellite transmission on your SKY box not a "Freeview" transmission which comes from a terrestrial transmitter via a "Freeview" receiver. I am correcting you,as if changing as you set out here, you will require a "Freesat" HD receiver to replace your SKY box. If you are receiving a good signal from your present SKY box - subscription free - then you should consider either of the two Humax Foxsat boxes, one is a DTR recorder the other not. I am assuming that you are connected directly to a satellite dish and not on some sort of third party re- transmitted signal. If in doubt best to check with a local installer before making your receiver purchase.


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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
Thursday, 4 October 2012
L
Leslie Mcintosh
2:11 PM

What size of satalite dish will I require for my caravan to receive a picture in Scotland from freesat?

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Leslie Mcintosh's 1 post GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:34 PM

Leslie Mcintosh: I would suggest around the 55 / 60cm size absolute minimum as that would cater for the more Northern reaches of Scotland, although 50cm is OK (just) for the Central belt downwards.

Its always best to err on the larger side as they are far less critical when it comes to aligning them up than the smaller types that just manage to capture a signal and no more, likewise of course the minutest of movement on their mounting stand or whatever knocks them right off.


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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Saturday, 6 October 2012
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

12:44 PM

Leslie Mcintosh - Just to add to jb38's input. A dish suitable for you would be either a 54/64cm Triax TD series (metal) or the alternative fibre glass models from the same manufacture coupled to an Irderto black single LNB. Such a combination will give you the best possible signal strength and PQ (picture) quality on a correctly figured set up.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
Thursday, 18 October 2012
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

7:45 AM

Apologies Leslie and just in case anyone else is confused on the LNB here. I miss spelled the product it should read "Inverto". Two satellite products are similarly named, but are quite different "Irdeto" is a form of encryption applied to pay per view TV systems.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
Friday, 23 November 2012
K
Khalid
10:39 PM

Mark Aberfan Aerials: Does Sky+ viewing card work on Sky HD box without subscription.

I Have Sky+ white box but I have cancalled Sky subscription 1 year a ago, as I bought a new smart Tv and now I want to have sky HD box, does my old Sky+ viewing card will work on sky HD box ?

Many Thanks

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Khalid's 1 post GB flag
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