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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
Friday, 18 January 2013
E
Emma
9:40 AM
Wrexham

Emma from Amsterdam.

Hi, I already have Sky set up at my home in The Netherlands and receive all of the free channels (BBc,ItV and so on ( No Subscription ) I would like to know can I use a freesat HD box? I saw the pictures on how to set it up but at some point it asks you to enter your post code. Would I use the post code that was used when I had the Skybox in the UK?? Thanks for your help

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Emma's 3 posts NL flag
Emma's: mapE's Freeview map terrainE's terrain plot wavesE's frequency data E's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:51 AM

Emma: Freesat requests a postcode merely to provide the "correct" regional programming. So choose a postcode to give you the regional content you wish to view.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
E
Emma
11:10 AM

Dave, Perfect another question.. Which box would be the best to view the HD channels?

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Emma's 3 posts NL flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:26 AM

Emma: I've never used a satellite receiver (Freesat or Sky) so can only comment on what others have said.

There are good things said about Humax Freeview (terrestrial) receivers, so I gather that Humax Freesat boxes will be good:

Welcome to HUMAX [UK]

TV Recording HUMAX PVR - HUMAX UK Direct Sales Website

(I have no idea how competitive the prices are from Humax Direct so it might be a good idea to have a look around.)

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:27 AM

Emma: I have no idea how competitive the prices are from Humax Direct so you might like to have a look around at suppliers if you do opt for a Humax model.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
E
Emma
12:45 PM

Thanks for all of your help

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Emma's 3 posts NL flag
J
julien piot
11:46 PM

Thank you for replying Ian.

Indeed the Imax is the one that people seem to talk about the most.

I was hoping for something a bit less pricey.

I'll probably get that then.

Cheers.

Julien

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julien piot's 2 posts FR flag
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
L
Lesley
11:38 AM

Mark Aberfan Aerials: Hello. I know absolutely nothing about this, so, if I tried to see what programmes I could receive on freeview (by taking out the sky card), would it revert to sky when I put the card back in? Would the sky settings be removed if I tried to autotune my tv to the freeview channels?

Why is this so complicated?

Thank you.

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Lesley's 4 posts EU flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

2:04 PM

Lesley: Yes, removing the card to see what channels you get without it is OK. You can then insert it again and it should restore your subscription channels.

In such a case, I think that you will find that the BBC and ITV regions will change to their defaults (if your standard ones aren't the same). For example, they may become BBC London and ITV London. I've never used a Sky box but just going on what I've read.

The channels you would be left with on the Sky box would not be "Freeview" ones as that is the name of the terrestrial system in the UK.

The TV most likely has a Freeview receiver built-in for which you will need a terrestrial aerial (the dish is not suitable). Tuning the TV will not affect the Sky box.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Friday, 25 January 2013
L
Lesley
9:18 AM

Thanks Dave. If the channels on the Sky box would not be freeview ones, what would they be please?

The aerial I have is quite old, but the TV is only a few years old - again, excuse the ignorance but would I need to buy a new aerial or could I get away with the one I have?


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Lesley's 4 posts EU flag
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