Leave Sky and go to Freesat - Any good?

almillar

Without a card in a Sky box, you can receive the UNencrypted channels. No recording
With a card that has had a subscription cancelled, you can receive the free encrypted channels. This is the same as the £25 freesatfromsky cards they sell. Don't buy twice! No recording. Sky have helpfully removed their list of channels.
http://www.sky.com/shop/freesat/home/
With Freesat (a different platform, and a different box, same satellite dish) you receive these channels:
http://www.freesat.co.uk/channels

rwalton159

Thank you almillar ☺

A sky rep, via online chat, told me I'd need a new viewing card to obtain sky freesat! Sounds like bs

I now need to convince my wife to ditch sky.

[Deleted User]

rwalton159 wrote: »

A sky rep, via online chat, told me I'd need a new viewing card to obtain sky freesat! Sounds like bs

They do still retail Freesat From Sky cards , but it's really no different from the channels received via a cancelled viewing card.

On rare occasions, Sky issue new viewing cards to customers and the old ones cease to function. Obviously, only paying customers receive the new viewing card and this would be the only time when those with a cancelled subscription might want to purchase a Freesat From Sky card. Do note that even a box with no card at all will still receive a significant number of channels.

rwalton159

Many thanks

VisionMan

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

They do still retail Freesat From Sky cards , but it's really no different from the channels received via a cancelled viewing card.

On rare occasions, Sky issue new viewing cards to customers and the old ones cease to function. Obviously, only paying customers receive the new viewing card and this would be the only time when those with a cancelled subscription might want to purchase a Freesat From Sky card. Do note that even a box with no card at all will still receive a significant number of channels.

I've only just found this out - there are now only 3 free to view channels that still require a card, all the others have moved away from a pay wall are are now free to air (no card required at all).

almillar

A sky rep, via online chat, told me I'd need a new viewing card to obtain sky freesat! Sounds like bs

100% BS. You already have a card.

prowla

almillar wrote: »

100% BS. You already have a card.

For the Nth time - you don't need a card to view the free channels.

[Deleted User]

prowla wrote: »

For the Nth time - you don't need a card to view the free channels.

:rotfl: :T

almillar

prowla, Moneyineptitude - have a read:

there are now only 3 free to view channels that still require a card

That's far fewer than it used to be, but having the card in, is better than not having it. OP is an ex-Sky subscriber. There's a card in the box. Should she:
a) leave it in
b) take it out
c) pay Sky £25 for another card?

Hint - the answer is a.
If you buy a Sky box, with no card, I would agree that no card is needed (or rather, it's a poor investment), but in the context of this thread, just leave the card in.

[Deleted User]

almillar wrote: »

but having the card in, is better than not having it.

I agree and I think I've explained that over and over. Years ago, it was necessary to have a card for numerous reasons which don't apply today (the BBC was encrypted for example), but it's still better to have a viewing card inserted even today even though the advantages are not so apparent or compelling.