SKY Box Freeview channels?

Kamran

Hey all, hope you're well,

Quick question. I own a freeview box and I get the usual channels. all for free. just by owning this box.

My friend has SKY, and his box can also pick up LOADS more free-to-air channels, as can be seen on this link below:
http://mysky.sky.com/portal/site/skycom/skyproducts/skytv/channels/freetoair

So, my question is, is there any way I can access these free-to-air channels without paying for a sky subscription? because interestingly the channels I'm interested in are actually free-to-air!! I don't mind buying a box, or perhaps a satellite dish etc, as a one off payment.

Thanks! :T

marc.faulkner

Check out Freesat from Sk.

http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/?pID=3

You will need a box and a dish to pickup the transmissions. You can also pickup a starter pack in Asda for circa £100, and a sky engineer will deliver and install the equipment for you.

HTH

fwor

Yes, you can.

My parents did it as follows: Secondhand Sky box ~with Sky smartcard~ off Ebay for £30, satellite dish from a shop in Germany for 30 Euros - works fine, no subscription required.

They were lucky to get the dish new so cheap, but a secondhand Sky dish complete with LNB should be fine.

Don't skimp on the cable - if you connect it up with cheap stuff you may get a poor signal level.

Kamran

ok, so option 1 is to pay sky £150 and they'll sort out everything, but if I was interested in a DIY job, as fwor said;

I'd need to buy a SKY box with smartcard, and also buy a satellite dish, however, is there any dish in particular I'd be looking to buy? and what about installation? thanks! :T

free4440273

marc.faulkner wrote: »

Check out Freesat from Sk.

http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/?pID=3

You will need a box and a dish to pickup the transmissions. You can also pickup a starter pack in Asda for circa £100, and a sky engineer will deliver and install the equipment for you.

HTH

Thanks, looks promising. What's the catch here then? Why is it differentiated from 'normal' Sky, given that you don't have to subscribe (it's a one off payment of £150, if i read correctly)

Phantom_Flan_Flinger

free4440273 wrote: »

Why is it differentiated from 'normal' Sky, given that you don't have to subscribe (it's a one off payment of £150, if i read correctly)

It's simply that you don't get any of the subscription channels.

Stubert

But you have to bear in mind you do get access to a load of channels you don't get on freeview. But there are many channels that you get on freeview but not freesat. Two that immediately spring to mind are Dave and Virgin 1.

free4440273

Stubert wrote: »

But you have to bear in mind you do get access to a load of channels you don't get on freeview. But there are many channels that you get on freeview but not freesat. Two that immediately spring to mind are Dave and Virgin 1.

So it really is 'swings and roundabouts':D

toasterman

I'd take a look and check how out much it costs direct from Sky.
They supply you with a box, dish, install it for you, and guarantee it all for the first 12 months - if the dish gets misaligned, etc.
After the 12 months, you can cancel the package and equipment is all yours to keep.

The base package is about £16 a month if memory serves - if they do free installation for that (they certainly always used to), then that's £192 for the year, and you get some of the pay channels for the 12 months too.

What on earth are you wanting to watch on Sky free-to-air though? It's all gambling , quiz, and p0rn channels isn't it?
The likes of E4, and Filmfour.. I don't think are included in sky's free-to-air category...even though they're free on freeview.

toasterman

Stubert wrote: »

But you have to bear in mind you do get access to a load of channels you don't get on freeview. But there are many channels that you get on freeview but not freesat. Two that immediately spring to mind are Dave and Virgin 1.

Nuts TV is on freeview but not on Sky. That's a reason to go the Sky route though.. it's a channel so bad it makes the now-defunct L!VE TV look good! :eek:

Inactive

Much of the free stuff on Sky is dross, Holy Channels, Shopping Channels etc. etc.