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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
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
T
terry mullins
5:00 PM

I have been a SKY subscriber for 10 years and have had Sky+HD with satellite dish for the last few years. I have now cancelled the contract and plan to use free services. I have the original Sky box and the digibox which I undestand I now own, together the dish. What other equipment will I need to record programmes? Many Thanks

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terry mullins's 1 post GB flag
M
mark winters
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

6:10 PM

hi terry best to buy a freesat plus box then swop it with your sky hd plus box

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mark winters's 207 posts GB flag
L
lan from notts
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

7:50 PM
Nottingham

want an interactive freesat box with an rf modulator in it? would like to avoid a sky box if poss as this will be for a buisiness address! is there such a box on the market? i know i can convert scart but that can cause pic roblems an disrupt freeview (when an if it works at addrss)

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lan from notts's 253 posts GB flag
lan's: mapL's Freeview map terrainL's terrain plot wavesL's frequency data L's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

7:53 AM

Ian - The nearest you will get to what you are after is likely to be the Echostar "Freesat" recorder but this doesn't have an on board RF modulator. alternatively you will need to look much wider at Free to Air - FTA receivers eg: AZ Box - Dreambox - VU receivers etc rather than "Freesat" branded boxes.

link to this comment
Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

8:01 AM

Ian - In general Linux based receivers are much more adaptable in your stipulated requirements than others.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
Thursday, 21 July 2011
lesnicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

10:33 AM

P.S. Isn't om all comments.

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lesnicol's 991 posts GB flag
Monday, 8 August 2011
L
Lisa
8:43 AM

Hi,
I don't have sky+ just a very old sky box which has packed up. We have decided to go with freesat and as we just bought a hd tv thought we'd get with the times and get hd freesat plus.
Our sky dish has one cable coming in the house does that mean we have to change the cable? My husband is not very technologically minded it's usually me who sets up the tv/DVD/pc stuff so please keep it simple!!
Thanks in advance

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Lisa's 1 post GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

8:58 AM

Lisa: You will need both a "quad LNB" fitted to the dish, and the addition of a second cable. You will probably need to contact a local installation company to provide this for you.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
M
Mary
1:32 PM

Mark Aberfan Aerials:

I currently have Sky+ but want to stop paying into Murdoch's coffers. However, I like being able to record a whole series of a particular programme - would I be able to do that with Freesat? (I can't get Freeview, so my only choice is Freesat - I was hoping to have BOTH, like a friend has but not available to my postcode!) Many thanks

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Mary's 3 posts GB flag
M
Mike Dimmick
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:12 PM

Mary: Yes, Freesat+ recorders can record a whole series. See freesat+ | Record, Pause & Rewind Live TV & On Demand - freesat .

Compare the channels available on Freesat and on Freesat-from-Sky at Compare Freesat and Freesat-from-Sky TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

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Mike Dimmick's 2,486 posts GB flag
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