Freesat

[Bazile]

How do you get Freesat tv , through your sky equipment , when you stop paying subscriptions to sky ?

Do the channels comes through automatically ?

[VHG]

I think you continue to get the free channels.

Note all the special features of your Sky box stop working when you stop paying Sky - you cant even watch programs you have already recorded.

[Sipowicz]

Don't you have to have a freesat receiver?

[Sipowicz]

......which receives the signal from your dish.

[Buenchico]

Any generic satellite receiver gets all of these free channels:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free-to-air_channels_at_28%C2%B0E
A Sky box, without a valid subscription, acts as a generic satellite receiver.

A Freesat box actually receives fewer channels, since it's pre-configured to receive just a subset of those listed in my link. (However you can add further channels from the list manually if you want). It might also add in a few 'red button' facilities (and/or recording facilities) but, at it's most basic, a Freesat receiver won't give you anything that an old Sky box can.

It's worth remembering that, although there are more free channels available with a satellite dish than with a terrestrial aerial (i.e. via Freeview), they might not include the ones you want. For example UKTV doesn't transmit its channels (such as Dave, Yesterday, Drama and Really) as 'free to air' on satellite. If you want to receive those channels you'll need either a Sky subscription or a Freeview aerial.

[Bazile]

Thanks all

[mikey4444]

You don't get "Freesat" but you will get Sky's version of Freeview. I cancelled my Sky subscription 3 years ago, as I never watched 90% of the channels that I had. On the last day of my subscription, the Sky Plus thingy stopped working but I was left with what effectively is Freeview.

I don't get "Dave" though, which may be a blessing.

This is the best way to get Freeview, as the signal quality is first class through my Sky dish. I have never looked back !

[netibiza]

We cancelled Sky for the front room and still get the freeview which we are delighted with, then I got an old Sky box in a market and use it in bedroom (we already had a quad lnb). Mr N does miss the golf and footy though!