Switchover about to happen and I only have 6 channels

Catbells

The switchover to digital is going to happen in my area soon. At present I have an ariel which doesn't always pick up channels. Sometimes I'm lucky to have 6 channels from the main choice. We get the signal from Crystal Palace which isn't a million miles away but for some reason reception here is bad. Sometimes some channels work and the next minute they break up into an unwatchable picture.

I have a Sky box from the days I used to subscribe to Sky and someone told me that Sky will provide me with a card so that I can access satelite delivery of signal. I was told they would charge a small one off fee for this. Is this true? Thanks.

macman

You can receive Freesat From Sky via your existing Sky box and dish. The viewing card is about £25-do you not have the original though?
You can still receive all the FTA channels without the card.

Catbells

macman wrote: »

You can receive Freesat From Sky via your existing Sky box and dish. The viewing card is about £25-do you not have the original though?
You can still receive all the FTA channels without the card.

I can see a card on the top of the Sky box from here but I haven't tried to receive signal with it. I'll give it a try later as I'll have to connect up the Sky box first. I thought the card was only for receiving Sky signal for the particular package which I used to pay for but which I ended several years ago? I didn't think it would be useful for receiving ordinary TV signal. Will let you know if it works. Thanks.

macman

It doesn't receive an 'ordinary' TV signal, i.e Freeview by an aerial. It gives you all the Sky non-sub channels via the Freesat from Sky platform.
Even without the card you will receive most of the channels.

Catbells

macman wrote: »

It doesn't receive an 'ordinary' TV signal, i.e Freeview by an aerial. It gives you all the Sky non-sub channels via the Freesat from Sky platform.
Even without the card you will receive most of the channels.

Thanks but have just been on the Freeview site and its telling me my area can't receive Freeview yet but will be able to when switchover happens.

victor2

Catbells wrote: »

Thanks but have just been on the Freeview site and its telling me my area can't receive Freeview yet but will be able to when switchover happens.

Freesat and Freeview are not the same. One comes through satellite and the other through an aerial. Freesat is useful in areas where Freeview cannot be received. If you had a dish before, and it worked, it will be able to receive Freesat now.
The channel line up is almost the same. Look here for Freesat details.

macman

But the OP does not have a Freesat box, without which they cannot receive Freesat. They can however receive Freesat from Sky.
Different platforms, similar channels-but not identical.
OP, Freeview availability has no bearing on your ability to receive Freesat or !!!!!!.

Catbells

victor2 wrote: »

If you had a dish before, and it worked, it will be able to receive Freesat now.
The channel line up is almost the same. Look here for Freesat details.

Thanks. So I can get Freesat through the Sky dish?

Catbells

macman wrote: »

But the OP does not have a Freesat box, without which they cannot receive Freesat. They can however receive Freesat from Sky..

Thanks but how can I do this?

Phantom_Flan_Flinger

Catbells wrote: »

Thanks but how can I do this?

As macman says, just connect up your old Sky box.

Catbells

Phantom_Flan_Flinger wrote: »

As macman says, just connect up your old Sky box.

Sounds easy as pie. Thanks. And I've been sitting here all this time without channels when all I had to do was connect the Sky box up.