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.
Dave Smith: The limit is the number of outputs from the LNB package. A single LNB, one, a quad LNB four and a oct-LNB eight.
Freesat+ recorder boxes, like all satellite recorders, take up two outputs.
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5:49 PM
grateful for advice on the best connections between Humax Foxsat Freesat HDR, Sony Bravia KDL46EX503U(full HD 1080p) and Panasonic DVD RecorderEX77EB (has HDMI socket).
I will be using the Recorder to 1)play dvds and 2) to copy to DVD, recordings held on the Humax hard drive. I am not sure whether this could be achieved by copying direct to a blank DVD or whether I would first need to copy to the recorder's HD and then from there to a blank DVD.
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6:37 PM
Hi
I have Sky Sports 1&2 and also ESPN on BT Vision. I want to watch a match on Sky Sports 1 tomorrow but have to be at a family event whom only have sky but don't subscribe.
Will my BTVision veiwing card for sky sports work on a Sky digibox?
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Ian: You need to be using HDMI to get the pictures from the Freesat box and the DVD, but you will also have to interconnect them with a SCART as recording from HDMI is usually not possible.
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7:07 PM
To Briantist
Many thanks for your reply.I have only one hdmi input on the tv.This would be used by the Humax box. For playing DVD's I can therefore only use the scart from the Panasonic recorder to the scart into the tV.Iwould then have to connect the Panny to the Humax with another scart....is this correct?
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8:56 PM
Ian have you thought about getting a hdmi splitter box that will solve the problem of only one hdmi in the tv.
Best of luck
Ian 123 aerials Oxford
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10:10 PM
Ian 123 aerials Oxford
Many thanks for your reply. I had thought of an automatic splitter but having researched others people's experiences there seems to be problems with compatibility where automatic switching does not work with certain equipment. I am considering the NEET splitter which from Amazon customers feedback may be 'willing' to talk to Humax Foxsat Hdr and my Panasonic DVD recorder. If you have got any ideas on this splitter or others would be grateful for your input.
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2:00 AM
Thinking about getting HD freesat/freeview telly. After subscribing to sky for one year can I keep the equipment and still be able to record on the HD box and view freesat on the SKYdish?
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