Sky+ or Freeview

tightbarsteward

I have a Sky + box but no longer want or can afford to pay a Sky subscription for various reasons. I am thinking about getting a Freeview box as you get Sky Sports News, Film 4, & E4 + some others. Problem is I don't have a TV aerial on a Sky+ box & I understand to get Freeview you need a TV aerial. Is there any other way around this other than getting a new aerial installed which I don't really want to pay for.

Could I use my Sky dish for example?

Fifer

No. A sky dish receives signals from a satellite. Broadcast TV (including Freeview) uses terrestrial transmitters which require an aerial to receive. A Freeview box need an aerial. There's no way around it. If you live in a very strong signal area, you might get by with an indoor aerial, but it's unlikely.

espresso

If you stop paying your Sky subscription, you could still receive Freesat

tightbarsteward

espresso wrote: »

If you stop paying your Sky subscription, you could still receive Freesat

You don't get Sky Sports News or E4 with Freesat.

espresso

tightbarsteward wrote: »

You don't get Sky Sports News or E4 with Freesat.

So buy an aerial tight rrrr's!

David_B_2

tightbarsteward wrote: »

You don't get Sky Sports News or E4 with Freesat.

But you get a whole load of other rubbish http://www.sky.com/portal/site/skycom/products/packages/nonsub

The only channels I watch are the none free ones such as Sky sports.

I got a £20 digtial tv card from RS and now get all the freeview stuff on my laptop such as Sky sports news as well.

Maybe cheeper than an ariel and fiitting but not ideal for family viewing

You could try Freeview without. I know of people who use their current ariels fine mainly because of the area they live.

tightbarsteward

David_B wrote: »

But you get a whole load of other rubbish http://www.sky.com/portal/site/skycom/products/packages/nonsub

The only channels I watch are the none free ones such as Sky sports.

I got a £20 digtial tv card from RS and now get all the freeview stuff on my laptop such as Sky sports news as well.

Yeah the only reason I used to subscribe was the football but I have found that watching it streaming online is OK.

What is this card you mention for £20 & what is RS?

David_B_2

The one I had is http://www.itreviews.co.uk/hardware/h824.htm cheapest at the time was via RS as my dad used them with work. Still available http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/rswww/searchBrowseAction.do?Nr=avl%3auk&N=4294961470&name=SiteStandard&forwardingPage=line&R=5185055&callingPage=/jsp/browse/browse.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@0176719801.1187965484@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddlkhdjjfjcefeceeldgkidhgg.0&cacheID=ukie

Work well, and I was very impressed for £20 (now £25). So much so that it came with recording software to record off the TV and other useful stuff so you can create your favourite channels. I think I got 47(ish) channels but my dad only got 40 :-( all available via the little crappy ariel they supplied. Thou I tend to use the small one I had on top of a portable TV and are available for Argos.

Hope it helps.

Fifer

David, I presume you are in a strong signal area. Most people wouldn't get away with a set top or portable aerial (but it's always worth trying). There's no reason why a laptop card would be any more sensitive than a standard Freeview box.

David_B_2

Fifer wrote: »

David, I presume you are in a strong signal area. Most people wouldn't get away with a set top or portable aerial (but it's always worth trying). There's no reason why a laptop card would be any more sensitive than a standard Freeview box.

Yes, we do live in a good idea and seem to be able to get all the crap that nobody else can (or wants), lucky us.

Fifer wrote: »

There's no reason why a laptop card would be any more sensitive than a standard Freeview box.

I'd also agree with that. It's certainly area (singnal strength) and not the equipment.