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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, 7 January 2011
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

9:29 AM

Moptop - Yes - But you will need a twin feed for the "Freesat" box. It will work with a single feed but this will limit it's full recording capabilites. ie: You will only be able to record one channel while watching other. If your happy with that seeing as you also have SKY HD then a "Freesat" Technisat receiver is likely to suit your needs but requires an external laptop Hardrive. Both together would be less expensive. This receiver can also stream music photos and videos from your PC and was "Freesat" receiver of the year 2010. It's horses for courses so If you would prefer a twin tuner receiver - record two watch another - then that's what to go for and modify your cable feed from the dish to give it feeds to the two tuners.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

9:32 AM

P>S Freesat recivers are available on the high street, but good deals also online.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
M
Moptop
6:52 PM
Bournemouth

OK - thanks for that. If I was to decide to modify the cabling from the sky dish how complicated would that be? Could I do it or would I need an engineer?

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Moptop's 3 posts GB flag
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Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

8:57 PM

Moptop - If you have a reasonable grasp as far as DIY skills and the dish is easily accessed without putting yourself at risk then it's straight forward enough. However If at any height at all and if in any doubt it's worth asking a local installer to do this for you. Shouldn't be that costly to do this as you only require a twin cable run and should not need the LNB upgraded as your existing LNB should suffice.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

9:06 PM

P>S If going ahead your self - You can either acquire a single run of cable (Satellite Grade) or New twin core Shotgun SKY type cable suitable terminations and roll of self amalgamating tape. Suggested supplier "Satcure" - online.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
Sunday, 9 January 2011
D
Dave
12:35 PM

Question. I live in the northeast of Spain.
If I buy a Humax foxsat HDR freesat receiver from Amazon, how can i install it without a post code number, or do I use the original Sky post code number.

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Dave's 4 posts ES flag
Monday, 10 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

6:48 AM

Dave: The postcode you enter configures the BBC and ITV regions. You can use any postcode you like.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
D
Dave
10:07 AM

Dear Briantist.
I find your answer very helpfull.
It may also help others.
Thanks
Dave.

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Dave's 4 posts ES flag
Sunday, 16 January 2011
F
Frank
10:45 AM

I just had Freesat installed by my local electrical shop (Claridge Walsall).They used a Humax hd freesat box. I found the box easy to use and well set out.I like the genre sorting method ie music,cooking,film ect choices,saves the chasing and chan/hopping. Stunning picture and sound quality and not intrusive in size.Great move getting freesat.I had freeview but the repeats are horendous.I have been told you can add a lot more free to air so will look into that later

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Frank's 1 post GB flag
Monday, 17 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

7:38 AM

Frank: Thanks for that.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
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