Digital television

[gremlin1]

I am soon moving to a property that has a Sky dish installed, with wiring to enable Sky to be watched in most rooms. However there is not a standard television aerial into the property. Is there a way I can make use of what is there to watch digital channels without having to sign up with Sky? I was wondering, for example, if I could connect a Freeview box to the existing set-up. Can anyone help? Thanks

[Ethel]

Sky do freesat - freeview through the dish, no monthly charge.

http://www.freesatfromsky.com/

[Buenchico]

Just for clarification: Terrestrial FreeView signals are broadcast on completely different frequencies to FreeSat transmissions, so you can't connect a Freeview box to the lead from the satellite dish.

As Ethel says, if you want to use the satellite dish for free TV reception, you'll need to get Freesat. The price for this is �150 including the dish, installation, a set-top box and the FreeSat card. If you've already got a Sky box you can buy a FreeSat card for it for just �20. Unfortunately, you seem to be 'stuck in the middle'. The �150 price includes things you don't need (i.e. the dish and installation) but the �20 price requires something you haven't got (i.e. a Sky box). You could try contacting Sky to see if there's a way to buy the box and card without the dish and installation but it might be easier to buy a Sky box from eBay and then just pay �20 for the FreeSat card from Sky

Chris

[gremlin1]

Thank you very much! I hadn't thought of Freesat because of the dish already being there, and didn't realise you could buy the boxes without going through Sky, so that is a great help and much appreciated.

[gastwo]

I can vouch for Chris' answer - we moved to a house that had a dish on the wall - I bought a sky box from Ebay for �20 (plus p & p) and the �20 card from Sky.
Without the card, you can still receive some channels, i.e. the BBC ones, but not all of the ITV. The Freesat card lasts for three years, and then you have to renew.