Query about Freesat

[patdavies]

I currently have an unused Sky digital dish as I switched to Virgin cable a couple of years ago.

Can I use this dish for Freesat? And how do I get it installed. The one retailer I asked stated that there was a fixed installation charge that included a dish, but I am assuming I don't need a new dish. When I mentioned this, the only response was a shrug.

[muffin2020]

You can use your sky dish for freesat just scew the lead into your freesat receiver just as you did with your sky box and away you go

[IdaInFife]

AS above if you still have the cable coming into the house just connect this to a sky box. If you do not have a viewing card you can ourhcase a freesat card for £20.

If you so not have the cable then you would need to get an installer to do this but bear in mind that to get a freesat from sky costs £120 so don't pay anymore than that.

Or if you call sky and say you want to come back to sky under the old contract they may arrange free install and you would only need to subscribe for 1 month min which would cost you min £17.

Ida x

[patdavies]

Thanks for the advice so far.

It does however, lead to a couple more questions.

1) the old Sky service was Sky+, which I think has a different LNB from standard Sky. Does this make a difference?

2) If I can use a standard Sky (or Sky+ - I have both) box with a freesat card will this still get me the HD channels, or can the box not support HD?

[IdaInFife]

1. doesn't matter. would only effect you if you wanted sky+ and only had standard box before.

2. No, you need a sky+hd box.

Ida x

freesat - Products and Pricing

[buzby]

Forget Sky - go for the BBC Freesat service - this provides HD and the new Freesat+ PVR records it too. No cards, and more inmportantly, no dependence on Sky.

[matt_smith2000]

I got Freesat via Sky, just rang up and cancelled my subscription, but still use the old Sky box and card.

However, your case is different. If you still have the old Sky box and card, reconnect to the existing cable to the minidish. Then phone Sky, giving them the serial number of your card and you should then get freesat activated. I don't believe you can get HD via Freesat from Sky.

If, however, you need a new box, then there are a plethora of freesat boxes. The Humix box appears to be one of the best one on the market, and you can get them with a built in hard drive for recording too. If you need a new box, then you will also need a new card, which you should be able to buy from the same retailer as the freesat box.

Both the freesat from Sky and BBC Freesat use the same Astra satellite, so you probably don't need to do anything with the exsiting minidish location